DEFENSE????????

by **huskerpony** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:39 am

Just looked at our recruiting list for the first time in a while.

Is anyone concerned that we seem to only have 6 defensive players on the list? I am glad to see the focus on offensive linemen, but seeing as we have some issues getting the score run up on us every week, shouldn't there also be some focus on getting some defensive guys? 6 seems pretty low to me--even for a team that already has some depth, not to mention a team that gave up more than 30 points in 11 out of 12 games (and 28 in the other one!)

Anyone know if we have had some through that just haven't committed yet? Or is the Two-Million-Dollar-Man just going to be another one of these offensive gurus who doesn't care what is happening on the other side of the ball?

by **Scoops** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:04 am

Concerned? Yes.

According to the list posted here (http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=31719) the defensive players headed to Dallas are:

Marquis Frazier - DT
Taylor Reed - LB
Braylon Williams - DE
Brandon Henderson - listed as a DE, but I'm hearing LB is in his future
DB James Scott
DB K.J. Viafale

Plus, ATH Deonte McDade is supposed to play CB
WR Chayse Joubert is projected to play DB

We're going after others: DB Lazarri Middleton, S Jordan Garrett, S Ryan Clark, DB Isi Sofele, LB Rufus Porter, and a few more.

I'm with you Ã¢â‚¬â€ not enough for our taste, but not quite as lean as six.

by **OC Mustang** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:30 am

We are severely shy on interior defensive linemen, recruits or otherwise.
This is the position whose lack of depth gives me pause.

by **giacfsp** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:59 am

Who am I forgetting here among returning DTs?

Zac Thomas
Mickey Dollens
Chris Parham
Torlan Pittman
Evan Huahulu
Jimmy Chase
Marquis Frazier (reportedly a January enrollee)

Anybody else?

by **jimhagle** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:46 am

Not only is there any depth on the d-line but lack of size is staggering too.

by **George S. Patton** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:32 am

Scoops wrote:Plus, ATH Deonte McDade is supposed to play CB

Someone else said he was recruited to play slot receiver. So which is it?

by **IknowSports** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:12 am

George S. Patton wrote:
Scoops wrote:Plus, ATH Deonte McDade is supposed to play CB

Someone else said he was recruited to play slot receiver. So which is it?

McDade will be playing WR....

On another note...the interior DL will be worse than last year if we do not get one or two JUCO monsters...the game is won and lost in the trenches. It does not matter how good our secondary and LB's are, if you dont have pressure up front and DT's to occupy blockers. I am very optimistic about our DE's next year, althoguh I do feel yenga should be moved to OLB. Dizer (if he can stay healthy) and Thompson at the ends should be a formidable pass rushing tandem...rotate flemming in there as well.

by **jkflamebo** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:19 am

IknowSports wrote:On another note...the interior DL will be worse than last year if we do not get one or two JUCO monsters...the game is won and lost in the trenches. It does not matter how good our secondary and LB's are, if you dont have pressure up front and DT's to occupy blockers. I am very optimistic about our DE's next year, althoguh I do feel yenga should be moved to OLB. Dizer (if he can stay healthy) and Thompson at the ends should be a formidable pass rushing tandem...rotate flemming in there as well.

agree completely. if you dont put pressure on the qb, our secondary gets torched. if you cant stop the run at the line, our lb's are forced to make key tackles (doesn't go well). we need a haywood or two to immediately play and be an impact. if we dont pick up any juco DTs, expect same defense next year

by **jimhagle** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:20 am

We need McDade more on defense than offense. We have a ton of receivers.

by **IknowSports** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:30 am

jimhagle wrote:We need McDade more on defense than offense. We have a ton of receivers.

let's not get carried away here....we have two high quality recievers (Against C-USA Defense) the rest are marginal or un-proven..although I think Loftin will be a solid third option...who is 4th, beasley, willis?

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:43 am

If we don't get some serious help on the defensive line its going to another long year on defense. Frazier is a step in the right direction but I don't feel comfortable going into next season with Pittman, Huahalu, Dollens as our other options at DT. If you watched our games this year it was amazing how little push or penetration our line was able to produce. It put our linebackers and secondary in a completely no-win situation. Yenga plays his heart out but he struggles at time against the run. Is there any chance of some our backup offensive linemen moving over to the defensive side of the ball?

by **Stallion** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:46 am

Zac Thomas is availiable too I think. He has decent size and added significant weight and strngth last year. Thompson eventually will end up inside.

by **IknowSports** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:49 am

StallionsModelT wrote:If we don't get some serious help on the defensive line its going to another long year on defense. Frazier is a step in the right direction but I don't feel comfortable going into next season with Pittman, Huahalu, Dollens as our other options at DT. If you watched our games this year it was amazing how little push or penetration our line was able to produce. It put our linebackers and secondary in a completely no-win situation. Yenga plays his heart out but he struggles at time against the run. Is there any chance of some our backup offensive linemen moving over to the defensive side of the ball?

it has been said before...but there is a reason they are on the o-line. If they were athletic enough to play DL, they would be playing there by now. I have heard that Chris Atchison will be a DT at smu...that will not help this year though, because he is only 265 now, even if he is 280 by the time next season starts there is a huge difference between 18 year old boy playing in the trenches against 21 and 22 year old men. It is very rare for a true freshman to be able to play OL or DL and be good his first year..the one's that can, are studs

by **Stallion** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:52 am

True-but its not so unusual for a defensive lineman to play as a freshman. Offensive Lineman should be routinely redshirted-and more Offensive Lineman across the country are redshirted than at any position on the field.

by **Casey** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:17 am

That would be interesting if Thompson ends up inside. Personally, I'd doubt it, because of his speed, although he obviously has the frame to carry the necessary weight. But I've been led to believe they expect him to remain outside and develop into a monster defensive end.

Zac Thomas is in the rotation, as Scoops said, and maybe a starter at this point. We don't know if Frazier is "a step in the right direction or not" because none of us have seen him play - let's not assume greatness just because he's the ever-elusive JUCO lineman. Yes, we all hope he becomes a star, but this remains a position of serious concern.

Living where I do, I obviously don't get to many Mustang Club dinners or anything like that, but in talking to some friends who get to visit with the coaches every now and then, it sounds like they're as excited about Pittman as anyone.

DEFENSE????????

DEFENSE????????

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