SIAP - How interchangeable are the athletes in the 4 LB spots?

Dec 1, 2002
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I think we saw who the 4 best were last night, can Gifford or Newby move to that outside spot so we can get them both on the field at the same time.

If it happened last night I didn't notice, I was watching at a tail gate so it is hard to focus on details.

TIA
 

jflores

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2004
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I wouldn't say tremendously so. We just don't have a true 3-4 OLB on the roster right now short of Davis (fairly newish to football) and Guy Thomas (redshirt).

Its perhaps the main reason folks expected the 3-4 to have a transition mode, besides the questionable depth at NT (which Deontre Thomas relieved some concern about last night).

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Diaco's first call last night was to Parsons.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
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I wouldn't say tremendously so. We just don't have a true 3-4 OLB on the roster right now short of Davis (fairly newish to football) and Guy Thomas (redshirt).

Its perhaps the main reason folks expected the 3-4 to have a transition mode, besides the questionable depth at NT (which Deontre Thomas relieved some concern about last night).

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Diaco's first call last night was to Parsons.
On one of the few plays he was in, Davis got burnt badly. I think Gifford is our best linebacker and should have been starting last year.
 

TwinsRRUs_rivals79748

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2011
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I am pretty sure I saw both Gifford and Newby on the field at the same time towards the beginning of the game on opposite sides. Around the same time I noticed Stoltenberg out of the game very early on.
 

jlb321_rivals110621

All-American
Aug 8, 2014
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I wouldn't say tremendously so. We just don't have a true 3-4 OLB on the roster right now short of Davis (fairly newish to football) and Guy Thomas (redshirt).

Its perhaps the main reason folks expected the 3-4 to have a transition mode, besides the questionable depth at NT (which Deontre Thomas relieved some concern about last night).

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Diaco's first call last night was to Parsons.

If the 3-4 is so malaligned with our current personnel that it is going to take a couple of recruiting cycles to get the right players then we shouldn't be running it. It is too early to judge this defense but if changing schemes involves a major step back and a couple of years to get the right players then it was a horrid decision to change. Plenty of teams compete at a high level running a 4-3 and I'm sure there are plenty of top notch DC that run the 4-3 that would have been happy to pick up for the phone for 800k. There is nothing magical about the 3-4.. Our defensive scheme should be the one that gives us the best chance to win NOW not 1-3 years from now based on some theoretical advantages that Def Coordinators will debate until the end of time

Our OLB looked lost at times out there

Hopefully just growing pains and the def will show huge improvements prior to conference play.
 
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Hard4Corn

All-Conference
Aug 4, 2003
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True. It's easy to see why Micah Parsons would be a great fit for the 3-4. He'd be a great fit in any defense I guess but his ability to rush the passer and his speed would make this defense ideal for him
Yes but he wasn't put in a good position either. He shouldn't even be out there against 4 receiver sets.[/QUOTE
 

Headcard

Heisman
Feb 2, 2005
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Yes but he wasn't put in a good position either. He shouldn't even be out there against 4 receiver sets.
Would really like to see more nickel and dime against those sets. Get athletes like Reed and Bootle on the field to match their speed.
 

jflores

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2004
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If the 3-4 is so malaligned with our current personnel that it is going to take a couple of recruiting cycles to get the right players then we shouldn't be running it. It is too early to judge this defense but if changing schemes involves a major step back and a couple of years to get the right players then it was a horrid decision to change. Plenty of teams compete at a high level running a 4-3 and I'm sure there are plenty of top notch DC that run the 4-3 that would have been happy to pick up for the phone for 800k. There is nothing magical about the 3-4.. Our defensive scheme should be the one that gives us the best chance to win NOW not 1-3 years from now based on some theoretical advantages that Def Coordinators will debate until the end of time

Our OLB looked lost at times out there

Hopefully just growing pains and the def will show huge improvements prior to conference play.

Either scheme is fairly malaligned. In the 4-3 we don't have a true rush end type either.

Whether it's Riley that fixes the personnel situation or the next guy the personnel issues are such that no one Is walking in here for a million and starting out with a top 15 D.

Personally I think the three four decision was a pretty good one considering we've had more luck lately getting the guy Thomas and parsons of the world interested than parella has gotten top 4-3 ends interested
 

TFrazier_rivals269992

All-Conference
Jun 8, 2001
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Maybe we should try the old Chicago Bears 46 defense...hopefully we can find a scheme that works with our current personnel. Winking
 

cubsker_rivals142943

All-Conference
May 29, 2003
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not sure we have one guy who would start for mich or ohio st on defense. our lack of athleticism is glaring. watch iowa vs wyoming if you really want to feel sick.