I would like to switch Ware to linebacker and see what he could do there... I believe that's what he'll be in the NFL... I think with Ware at the linebacker spot, along with Jones, and 2 d-ends that could hold down their position, UK might be 8-3 going into the UL game... That's how close we are to a ranked team... Actually, without the ends, we should be 7-4 right now... That first game was a disaster...
If UK had just two more good defensive ends...
- Thread starter Gary4UK
- Start date
We're not getting either of them..
Wright to FSU
Paschal to Notre Dame... I don't know why you'd want to go there right now but of course we're going to lose a recruiting battle with a 4-7 team.
+ Paschal will play DT in college.
You very well may be correct, however, I choose to believe the view of persons better positioned to render that judgement!
Yep our d ends look like Sec lbs and our best lb Jones looks like a safety. Young guys and their good but undersized. Juco is something we need to look at for size
1. Jordan Jones is a fine size Lber for SEC. He weighs about 220 as a true Sophmore. For comparison Alabama's great WLB (Reuben Foster) weighs in at 230 pounds. To be honest, Jordan is the only LBer we've got that looks like other teams LBers.
2. I think our main problem is we lack talent at MLB in Love and Elam was a total bust at NG. Pringle and Dubose are doing what they can and we just get no penetration or play making in the middle of our defense.
3. I'll argue I don't think we coach/scheme our DL/OLB that well. Ware is still pretty brutal vs. the run game and he has talent to be way better IMO. The 3-4 scheme where we don't explode on snap of ball is a killer to me and a reason why we generate hardly any negative plays on defense...our whole game plan is to contain a play vs. attack a play.
2. I think our main problem is we lack talent at MLB in Love and Elam was a total bust at NG. Pringle and Dubose are doing what they can and we just get no penetration or play making in the middle of our defense.
3. I'll argue I don't think we coach/scheme our DL/OLB that well. Ware is still pretty brutal vs. the run game and he has talent to be way better IMO. The 3-4 scheme where we don't explode on snap of ball is a killer to me and a reason why we generate hardly any negative plays on defense...our whole game plan is to contain a play vs. attack a play.
I like Eli Brown a lot, think in another year, he could be pretty good.
Next year, I think you have to consider 4-3:
Ware and Allen at DE, maybe some younger kids or JUCOs backing them up, e.g., Kengara Daniel, Alvonte Bell, maybe Paschal if we get him; Pringle, Elam, Middleton, Dubose, et al at DT: LB would be Jones and Brown at OLB, and Love/Daniels at MLB.
Next year, I think you have to consider 4-3:
Ware and Allen at DE, maybe some younger kids or JUCOs backing them up, e.g., Kengara Daniel, Alvonte Bell, maybe Paschal if we get him; Pringle, Elam, Middleton, Dubose, et al at DT: LB would be Jones and Brown at OLB, and Love/Daniels at MLB.
Right now, we have 2 DL. One more would be good.
Actually need another OT more than anything. Two wouldn't hurt.
I don't think 1 RB - Koback - is too much.
Love less than impressive imo. Think KD takes over in Spring - unless you're assuming two MLB.
You better delete this comment haha. I got attacked from all angles when I said preseason that I would like to see them beef up Allen and put his hand in the ground. We desperately need Dlineman that can win a one on one matchup and get to the QB.
Agree that DL/DE need to be priority going forward.
Specifically at the DT position I think speed and athleticism are a must. Would like to see a couple hybrid type of athletes be brought in as opposed to traditional big boys like Elam at the DTs. The D, especially up front has just lacked some pop off the line.
Would also agree that UK needs to hit the Juco trail hard, as well as the the transfer wire. Not only for the DL, but for all positions.
I believe that CMS and company are at a point in their journey that can go one or two ways very quickly. They can take the next step and get this program to an 8 regular season win level or stall out at struggling to get 6, and even regress as other programs in the east start to get back on track.
The SEC east window is closing, so time is very important and I don't think that they can afford to wait on younger talent to pan out at certain positions which is why it is so important to look for some older guys.
Specifically at the DT position I think speed and athleticism are a must. Would like to see a couple hybrid type of athletes be brought in as opposed to traditional big boys like Elam at the DTs. The D, especially up front has just lacked some pop off the line.
Would also agree that UK needs to hit the Juco trail hard, as well as the the transfer wire. Not only for the DL, but for all positions.
I believe that CMS and company are at a point in their journey that can go one or two ways very quickly. They can take the next step and get this program to an 8 regular season win level or stall out at struggling to get 6, and even regress as other programs in the east start to get back on track.
The SEC east window is closing, so time is very important and I don't think that they can afford to wait on younger talent to pan out at certain positions which is why it is so important to look for some older guys.
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I remember having a couple decent defensive ends a few years back yet we couldn't set the edge or create anything even resembling a pass rush..talent wasn't the reason we got pushed around on the d-line against Austin Peay
Pretty obvious why a kid named "Joshua" "Paschal" who goes to school at "Our Lady of Good Counsel" would choose to go to Notre Dame.
You can blame the Pope for this one.
This is our ideal front 7 next year on D:'
DE Ware
DT Pringle
DT Middleton
DE Allen
WLB Eli Brown
MLB Love (need to coach up Kash to take it but staff has given all the PT to Love for some reason)
SLB Jordan Jones
But we're going to stick with Eilliot for reasons unknown and still be in this multiple/3-4 defense:
Jack OLB Ware
DE Bell or Kenegra Daniel
NG Pringle
DT Middleton
SLB Allen
MLB Love
WLB Jordan Jones
DE Ware
DT Pringle
DT Middleton
DE Allen
WLB Eli Brown
MLB Love (need to coach up Kash to take it but staff has given all the PT to Love for some reason)
SLB Jordan Jones
But we're going to stick with Eilliot for reasons unknown and still be in this multiple/3-4 defense:
Jack OLB Ware
DE Bell or Kenegra Daniel
NG Pringle
DT Middleton
SLB Allen
MLB Love
WLB Jordan Jones
Stoops has to realize sooner or later that he is just not getting it done recruiting quality HS dlineman. Sure, sign a few if they are good enough and give them a few years to develop, but right now just think UK needs to go the K State route and hit the JUCO ranks very hard. I will be shocked if UK gets either or both Wright and Paschal. Hopefully they are in on some quality JUCO guys right now. The dline needs serious upgrades before this program takes the next step.
'Cuse all the ND wonks put Paschal to ND in their Crystal Ball predictions after his OV there...
Pretty much 100% agree. Seems like Laster and Kobie Walker + Bonner and Bannerman could be backups at OLB and DE as well. Would help tremendously if we could land Paschal, a really talented freshman could get significant PT at DE next season at UK. I have about given up on Elam to be anything more than a role player in short yardage or goal line situations.
Brown needs to strengthen up a bit more it seems. He weighs 215 at the moment, which isn't bad, but he looks really small out there. He's supposedly only 5 pounds lighter than Jones, but Jones looks much thicker.
I would like to see more of Kash. I think he has a great nose for the ball, but what I have concerns about with him is his ability to move laterally. Here is a clip of one of the plays that Daniel is in. Something about it looks just kind of awkward. It could just be a bad play for him, but I am not sure. He bit on the run to the right and then attacked the blocker. It was great that he was able to then get off the block, but he then looks very strange when trying to attack the ball carrier. What do you guys think about this? Is there any concern about some lateral quickness and ability or will he be fine? By the way, I think that Daniel is a beast and where he does excel is playing downhill and shedding blocks. Later in that drive he takes on an H-back blocker and attacks the correct shoulder in order to come off the block and make a tackle. He probably needs to read the play a bit quicker as it was still a 5 yard gain, but that is often times the type of play that will go for a huge gain because the UK linebacker can't get off the block.
Play starts at 3:19:30 or so.
(Credit to BWO for the video. I hope he doesn't mind my sharing).
I also really liked what I saw out of Jordan Bonner at the end of the game. Would like to see him get healthy and continue to improve. Seems to really be able to do well making open field tackles and has good athleticism.
Ware/Allen at DE in the 4-3 would give UK 2 really small SEC DEs re SEC running game. May help in the passing game but those guys would get trampled by strong SEC ground game teams.
Allen needs to gain weight for sure, but Ware is 255 pounds, plenty big enough to play DE. I still say that Love could also be moved to DE, he is almost the same size as Ware. Besides, we are getting "trampled by strong SEC ground game teams" as it is, and several other not so strong teams, got to try something different in 2017.
I have to admit this is a better idea than using 1 qb on short pass plays and the other qb on long pass play.
TraVaughn went to Arundel High School, it's a public high not a private Catholic school, many of which ND has its tentacles in across the country.