Who amoung Underwood, Carter, Brown, Baldwin & Bobek become ready to contribute? The staff seems to be telling Bobek he needs to get it in gear by putting Boren ahead of him. We are probably going to need minutes from a couple of these guys this season.
Hayes put on a lot of weight this off season. How is he performing so far? Where is he playing, DT or DE? Is he a possible OG if needed?
How has Crowell looked? I haven't seen his name on any depth charts but I am seeing Roberts.
They have Boren ahead of Bobek? Thats interesting... hopefully its a motivation thing, or that Boren is just a beast. I thought/still think Bobek would be a Brewster type anchor for 2-3 years at center.
Here's how the D is looking as of yesterday's practice.
DE - John Simon / Steve Miller
DT - Garrett Goebel / Joel Hale
DT - Johnathan Hankins / Chase Farris
DE - Michael Bennett / Adam Bellamy
SLB - Etienne Sabino / Joshua Perry / Stewart Smith
MLB - Curtis Grant / Storm Klein / Conner Crowell
WLB - Ryan Shazier / Luke Roberts
CB - Bradley Roby / Adam Griffin / Tyvis Powell
CB - Travis Howard / Doran Grant
S - C.J. Barnett / Corey Brown
S - Christian Bryant / Orhian Johnson
http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2012/springball/insider_defense_040412.html
They have Bennet playing DE, isn't that something new? Didn't he play DT last year along with bellamy? I know he isn't at school yet, But I would really like to see Noah spence in the lineup this year. Along with a few other freshmen, besides hankins,simon,bennet, they really didn't show me much. We had hardly any sacks, and I don't see guys who are junior seniors making that much of an improvment but i guess we will see.
I think Bennett and Bellamy are too big to play DE on a regular basis. I feel like if we were playing a run heavy team it would be fine to start them there but having them start every game contributes to our lack of a pass rush. I'd like to see Spence, Washington, Miller, Pittman, or Moore get a look at the other side and move those two inside
Yes Bennet played DT last year but Bellamy was a SSDE. I think it has to do with getting their best 4 on the field at the same time and then rotating in quality depth. Big Hank is a DT all the way and last year Fickell said Goebel plays best at DT/NT. Honestly, Simon's best position would be at DT for us but last year we had no playmakers at DE and Simon was our best DLineman and moved out to DE. I think that once we get some of these incoming freshman and/or nathan williams back that we will finally get some speed off the edge and Simon will see time inside and out like last year. I also think that Bennett has not finished filling out yet and that once Big Hank and Goeble move on he will slide back down to DT and Spence and Washington will man the End spots. All we really have to know is that we will have a ton of talent which will allow the coaches to rotate alot of guys around and keep everyone fresh while showing a ton of different looks from the defensive front, from big to fast the D-line should be a strengths regardless of who we are playing.
Simon has dropped weight seemingly in anticipation of playing DE which is where he will play in the NFL, great player but not enough of him for an NFL DT. However, if he's playing LEO instead of SSDE we're in trouble. Given the usual shuffling depending on down and distance, imo, the ideal two-deep for D-line would be something like this:
LEO: Williams, S. Miller
DT. Hankins, Bennett
DT: Goebel, Hale
SSDE: Simon, Bellamy
Urban made some positive remarks re Miller after yesterday's practice which is good since I don't think we can depend on Nate Williams coming back from his injury at full strength. As excited as everyone is about the '12 D-line prospects, there is plenty of talent in front of them, and they will have to do something extraordinary in Summer camp to crack the two-deep.
I agree that there is a lot of talent in front of the '12 d line recruits. However, I disagree that it will extraordinary that some will get significant playing time. What plays in their favor is that they are more speed rush guys and last year we got no pass rush from our DE's. I think Schutt and Pittman may have a hard time getting on the field this year because we have a lot of talented big bodies. And as you mentioned after coming back from surgery we cannot rely on Williams and therefore, I would not be surprised if we dont see a Spence or Washington get significant playing time at LEO. These guys are top 5 De recruits in the nation and they are the one aspect that we are missing from our DLine, speed and athleticism to get to the QB. I would be Shocked If a freshman did did not see playing time. Maybe not a starter but definately within the range of What Bennett saw last year for us
Steve Miller was like a top 10 DE in the country in the 2011 class, as was Hayes. Just because you come in highly touted doesn't mean you start from day 1. I expect Spence and Washington to get snaps, but i don't think they come in and blow out guys who were top players from last year and have a year in the weight room on them
BUCKEYE06, that is a good observation. Sometimes expectations are too big for these freshmen. For the most part you have to come in early (winter, spring) to have a chance to contribute in the fall. I know Urbz says he doesn't want to redshirt people but you still have to EARN playing time.
With an improved secondary and linebacking corp, the pass rush should be back up to par with what were used to. And with the all the depth up front, opposing o lines won't have time to get used to the guy across from them due to the fact that they will be able to rotate fresh legs in like crazy. Not to mention the versatility of our d linemen. They can move them around and give different looks all game. Should be an absolute nightmare for opposing o lines.
It also really depends on how these older guys fit the new scheme. Just look at Baldwin. He was one of the top rated Def guys in state and here he is moved to guard because of how this staff views him.