Arnett thread #1,467 What's His Defense Going To Look Like

[Ozarkdawg]

Forgetting all the bitching and moaning about the hire, the guy is on board now.
So the only questions that matter now are what is his staff going to be and then what does the line up look like. I know there's no way to answer that right now.

Assuming the guys in the portal don't go and Whitson gets another season, this is what we have left from this season.
Almost enough to pencil in likely starters {based on current roster}, but thin enough to scare the crap out of you. No proven depth or anyone that would likely push the starter group in any of the categories. EDIT: Bledsoe and McClendon may be the biggest exceptions for depth. They contributed and may be closer to taking the next step.
Womack and Addison may get some time but that's probably it out of the signing class. It looks like we'll need A LOT more than just OL and DL. Who would even be a likely starter at the other corner???
Unless some LB and safeties are ready to take a big step, we need to hit the portal in each group.

Classification below is from this past season.

LB
7	Zakari Tillman	6' 2''	235	Jr.
16	Derion Gullette	6' 3''	240	R-So.
11	Tyler Lockhart	6' 2''	225	Fr.
0	Fatt Forrest	6' 2''	235	R-Fr.
10	Jalen Smith	6' 2''	230	R-So.
30	Montrell Chapman	6' 3''	230	Jr.
31	LaKendrick James	6' 2''	250	Jr.
32	AJ Rice	6' 1''	240	Fr.
41	Tyshun Willis	6' 2''	250	Fr.
48	Turner Reeves	6' 0''	200	Fr.
DL
43	Will Whitson	6' 5''	295	Gr.
23	Trevion Williams	6' 4''	295	R-Jr.
35	Kalvin Dinkins	6' 2''	320	R-Jr.
42	DJ Reed	6' 4''	285	R-So.
46	Joseph Head Jr.	6' 4''	255	R-So.
55	Colin Coates	6' 2''	320	Jr.
90	Kai McClendon	6' 2''	315	So.
92	Jaray Bledsoe	6' 4''	315	R-Jr.
94	Corey Clark	6' 4''	310	R-Jr.
97	Terrance Hibbler Jr.	6' 3''	310	R-Fr.
99	Diesel Moye	6' 5''	345	R-Jr.
S
2	Isaac Smith	6' 0''	220	Jr.
5	Stonka Burnside	6' 0''	200	So.
9	Tony Mitchell	6' 1''	215	Jr.
14	Lo'Kavion Jackson	6' 1''	200	Fr.
18	Sekou Smith Jr.	6' 0''	180	Fr.
19	Cyrus Reyes	6' 1''	200	So.
28	Tanner Johnson	6' 0''	185	R-Jr.
29	Boogie Johnson	6' 2''	200	R-Fr.
34	Vic Sutton	6' 3''	215	R-So.
CB
20	Jett Jefferson	6' 1''	190	Jr.
	???
33	DK McGruder	6' 2''	175	Jr.
47	Sean Pleasant	6' 2''	170	Fr.
15	Jayven Williams	6' 2''	185	R-Jr.
17	Kyle Johnson	5' 11''	185	Fr.
24	Elijah Cannon	6' 0''	180	R-Fr.
38	Jaylen Antoine	5' 11''	180	Fr.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

We will sign around 25 - 30 in the portal.

 

[DAWGSANDSAINTS]

I could coach 5* Jimmie and Joes.
It’s going to take some great 3*’s and a bunch of 4* guys and one or two 5* guys to make a difference!

 

[Dawg1976]

Just buy all the 5 & 4* available and we’re good.

 

[bulldoghair]

Arnett can possibly snag more “tweeners” for his scheme in the portal. More undersized Swiss Army knife type guys. His 3-3-5 may can mask talent gaps with speed over size and size depth. Might could get better bang for buck in the portal because we may not have to go head to head for the same type of 4-2-5, 3-4, or 4-3 player like every else runs in the SEC. I think maybe only South Carolina runs a
3-3-5 or something similar. This is a positive outlook. However I expect Lebby’s offense to be a detriment to the defense just like it has been.

 

[Ozarkdawg]

Arnett can possibly snag more “tweeners” for his scheme in the portal. More undersized Swiss Army knife type guys. His 3-3-5 may can mask talent gaps with speed over size and size depth. Might could get better bang for buck in the portal because we may not have to go head to head for the same type of 4-2-5, 3-4, or 4-3 player like every else runs in the SEC. I think maybe only South Carolina runs a
3-3-5 or something similar. This is a positive outlook. However I expect Lebby’s offense to be a detriment to the defense just like it has been.

I think LB speed will be better than his last stint. Bookie wasn't the fastest LB we've every had and Jett definitely lacked speed but they both knew when to be in the right place. I hope that play translates even better to what should be faster guys.

 

[bulldoghair]

I think LB speed will be better than his last stint. Bookie wasn't the fastest LB we've every had and Jett definitely lacked speed but they both knew when to be in the right place. I hope that play translates even better to what should be faster guys.

Those two guys are perfect examples of two hybrid guys that Arnett’s 3-3-5 scheme allowed to become stars. Their toughness, IQ, and motor were elite, and Arnett let them hunt instead of babysit gaps.

 

[HotMop]

Forgetting all the bitching and moaning about the hire, the guy is on board now.
So the only questions that matter now are what is his staff going to be and then what does the line up look like. I know there's no way to answer that right now.

Assuming the guys in the portal don't go and Whitson gets another season, this is what we have left from this season.
Almost enough to pencil in likely starters {based on current roster}, but thin enough to scare the crap out of you. No proven depth or anyone that would likely push the starter group in any of the categories.
Womack and Addison may get some time but that's probably it out of the signing class. It looks like we'll need A LOT more than just OL and DL. Who would even be a likely starter at the other corner???
Unless some LB and safeties are ready to take a big step, we need to hit the portal in each group.

Classification below is from this past season.

LB
7	Zakari Tillman	6' 2''	235	Jr.
16	Derion Gullette	6' 3''	240	R-So.
11	Tyler Lockhart	6' 2''	225	Fr.
0	Fatt Forrest	6' 2''	235	R-Fr.
10	Jalen Smith	6' 2''	230	R-So.
30	Montrell Chapman	6' 3''	230	Jr.
31	LaKendrick James	6' 2''	250	Jr.
32	AJ Rice	6' 1''	240	Fr.
41	Tyshun Willis	6' 2''	250	Fr.
48	Turner Reeves	6' 0''	200	Fr.
DL
43	Will Whitson	6' 5''	295	Gr.
23	Trevion Williams	6' 4''	295	R-Jr.
35	Kalvin Dinkins	6' 2''	320	R-Jr.
42	DJ Reed	6' 4''	285	R-So.
46	Joseph Head Jr.	6' 4''	255	R-So.
55	Colin Coates	6' 2''	320	Jr.
90	Kai McClendon	6' 2''	315	So.
92	Jaray Bledsoe	6' 4''	315	R-Jr.
94	Corey Clark	6' 4''	310	R-Jr.
97	Terrance Hibbler Jr.	6' 3''	310	R-Fr.
99	Diesel Moye	6' 5''	345	R-Jr.
S
2	Isaac Smith	6' 0''	220	Jr.
5	Stonka Burnside	6' 0''	200	So.
9	Tony Mitchell	6' 1''	215	Jr.
14	Lo'Kavion Jackson	6' 1''	200	Fr.
18	Sekou Smith Jr.	6' 0''	180	Fr.
19	Cyrus Reyes	6' 1''	200	So.
28	Tanner Johnson	6' 0''	185	R-Jr.
29	Boogie Johnson	6' 2''	200	R-Fr.
34	Vic Sutton	6' 3''	215	R-So.
CB
20	Jett Jefferson	6' 1''	190	Jr.
	???
33	DK McGruder	6' 2''	175	Jr.
47	Sean Pleasant	6' 2''	170	Fr.
15	Jayven Williams	6' 2''	185	R-Jr.
17	Kyle Johnson	5' 11''	185	Fr.
24	Elijah Cannon	6' 0''	180	R-Fr.
38	Jaylen Antoine	5' 11''	180	Fr.

Relentless Effort.

 

[Ozarkdawg]

Those two guys are perfect examples of two hybrid guys that Arnett’s 3-3-5 scheme allowed to become stars. Their toughness, IQ, and motor were elite, and Arnett let them hunt instead of babysit gaps.

Arnett did have a better reputation as a DC than Hutzler so maybe that will also assist in attracting some talent that we were not getting.
If he can pick up 2-3 guys that can contribute like Randy Charlton and Aaron Brule (who got in a log jamb with Bookie and Jett) that would be good. Hopefully a notch better than others that did contribute because they did bring in Jackie Matthews, Londyn Craft, Khamauri Rogers, Chris Keys, and Hunter Washington.

 

[Howiefeltersnstch]

2 top drawer edges and at least one good corner and Arnett will make it work

 

[Ranchdawg]

Arnett did have a better reputation as a DC than Hutzler so maybe that will also assist in attracting some talent that we were not getting.
If he can pick up 2-3 guys that can contribute like Randy Charlton and Aaron Brule (who got in a log jamb with Bookie and Jett) that would be good. Hopefully a notch better than others that did contribute because they did bring in Jackie Matthews, Londyn Craft, Khamauri Rogers, Chris Keys, and Hunter Washington.

We need another Whitson at DE plus a backup plus a beast for nose guard. Add a safety and CB. I think we are in good shape.