I thought the exact same thing.... lol.Weak sauce. We need to up that figure... for the University
I thought the exact same thing.... lol.Weak sauce. We need to up that figure... for the University
Agreed. But from what we have seen from both players this year, what percentage would you put out there that IW leaps Peters? Considering his starting point, IMO that would be one HELLA offseason. Not likely
This is a great point! Beason and Hobbs will allow us to stack the box.B1G Champs. There's a lot of talent returning. Should be some.more studs added through recruiting. And I don't think people are talking more about the impact both Beason and Ford will have on defense and offense next season. It should be a really good year.
This is a great point! Beason and Hobbs will allow us to stack the box.
This is a great point! Beason and Hobbs will allow us to stack the box.
Ya I don't agree with that either. When we get lit up, most the time it is when they find the soft part of our zone in front and to the outside of our safeties.Not really, unfortunately.
Not really, unfortunately.
Am I overestimating their talent by that much?
If we can get more productivity rushing the passer from the front four, so am I.We’re going to plug ahead with our predominantly Cover 4 looks and win (Hopefully) in the manner that Lovie wants to win. And I’m fine with that...sorta.
If we can get more productivity rushing the passer from the front four, so am I.
Do tell! I've got more concerns as well. Did Harding cover up even more sins than we thought? Is there only one good safety on the roster?I think that’s fair, though I personally am more concerned with other areas.
Not really, unfortunately.
They do when you add the fact they have Tony Adams as well with Sydney Brown at S. Quan Martin move there makes S that much better. Still holding out on A.Johnson because that would be championship caliber. They would absolutely be able to stack the box.
In theory, yes. But what we can do and what we will do are two entirely different things. This defense will never see heavy zero.
Tony Adams will also likely not affect anything. Quan Martin may not even be here.
Is Quan Martin unhappy that his play bumped him down the depth chart?
Do tell! I've got more concerns as well. Did Harding cover up even more sins than we thought? Is there only one good safety on the roster?
That’s the talk, people more in tune with that would be better left to speak on the situation that I would. It’s understandable, he would have no path to playing time outside for a team that runs 3 CBs which is NOT what we do. For us, he’s buried.
Moving him to safety doesn’t solve anything on paper. A position change is far more complex than simply telling the kid “You play here now”. Quan doesn’t read well enough to be an asset, he’d have to show a big jump in spring ball for me to say “That could work”.
I believe he played S all of HS so it's not like it's foreign and many predicted that is both where he would end up and his best position when he was recruited.
Of course Lovie had that QB type MLB with athleticism in Urlacher when he was coaching the Bears. The question is who can be that guy for us going forward? Can Shammond eventually fill that role, or is he more of a WLB only? Concerned for when Hansen is gone after next year (and he's been good, but not great, and lacks the ideal athleticism that I think Lovie ideally wants though he's performed admirably).It’s more about the importance of the MIKE in our defensive set. We’ve struggled so much to pressure the QB with 4 down lineman that this aspect of the defense has become our only focus. I think there’s a prevailing thought now that as long as we get more pressure off the edge, our defense will function at maximum capacity because the DL is everything to Lovie Smith. Unfortunately, that’s not correct. For this defense to run like a well oiled machine, we need to win at every level, DL, LB, outside and the deep third and the MIKE is the catalyst to it all. It doesn’t matter how quickly you get after the QB, if your MIKE is out of position or lacking in athleticism to the point where he’s in position but unable to make the play, you’re sunk. This defense puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the MIKE in both phases, run and pass. You very literally cannot win without one.
And yeah you’re right, safety is a problem too.
Michigan St runs Quarters in base too, at least they have in the past, are we running it different from them?
I don't disagree that the Mike is very important. But I would not say it is pressure off the edge that we need, it is the pressure up the middle coming from the DTs. Getting in the QBs face effects his line of sight into those soft spots the Mike covers. It also gives the DEs a much easier angle to the QB when he has to keep backing up. And as we all know, a good DT is going to disrupt the running game as well, allowing the LBs to flow. Think Tommie Harris, Adewale and Alex Brown. I loved those DE as players but they were definitely assisted by how good Tommie was.It’s more about the importance of the MIKE in our defensive set. We’ve struggled so much to pressure the QB with 4 down lineman that this aspect of the defense has become our only focus. I think there’s a prevailing thought now that as long as we get more pressure off the edge, our defense will function at maximum capacity because the DL is everything to Lovie Smith. Unfortunately, that’s not correct. For this defense to run like a well oiled machine, we need to win at every level, DL, LB, outside and the deep third and the MIKE is the catalyst to it all. It doesn’t matter how quickly you get after the QB, if your MIKE is out of position or lacking in athleticism to the point where he’s in position but unable to make the play, you’re sunk. This defense puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the MIKE in both phases, run and pass. You very literally cannot win without one.
And yeah you’re right, safety is a problem too.
I don't disagree that the Mike is very important. But I would not say it is pressure off the edge that we need, it is the pressure up the middle coming from the DTs. Getting in the QBs face effects his line of sight into those soft spots the Mike covers. It also gives the DEs a much easier angle to the QB when he has to keep backing up. And as we all know, a good DT is going to disrupt the running game as well, allowing the LBs to flow. Think Tommie Harris, Adewale and Alex Brown. I loved those DE as players but they were definitely assisted by how good Tommie was.
If a QB is allowed to sit in the pocket with zero pressure, he is eventually going to find a soft spot in the zone regardless of the talent on the back end. Like they say, the spine of the defense is most important - DT Mike Safety