starting front 7 in a 3-4
- Thread starter inWV
- Start date
Who know really, my best guess:
Freedom. Carlos. Mick
Newby. Jefferson. Webber. Ferguson
At LB. Look out for Roberts (starter by end of year) and Alexander, plus Young will be in there.
At DE: Neal is ideal physically and Kahil will be a factor.
At NT: Who knows who will be backup. Kahil or a recruit like Daniels.
Freedom. Carlos. Mick
Newby. Jefferson. Webber. Ferguson
At LB. Look out for Roberts (starter by end of year) and Alexander, plus Young will be in there.
At DE: Neal is ideal physically and Kahil will be a factor.
At NT: Who knows who will be backup. Kahil or a recruit like Daniels.
Miller will be an interesting guy to watch. With the scheme change I'm not sure where he'll fit. I suppose it depends some on his size by fall camp. Will he be a backer or a situational pass rushing DE. Gonna be a fun spring.
So many of the DE on the current roster could easily move out to OLB, or at least size wise anyways. People always make a big deal between the 4-3 & 3-4 but there very similar. I'd be surprised if all 4 starting LBs in the base D were labeled as LBs on the 2016 roster. Look at a guy like Von Miller, he's a DE most likely in a 4-3 defense. DeMarcus Ware is a prime example of being labeled a LB in a 3-4 vs being labeled a DE in a 4-3.
I hope people give Diaco a chance -- we have a serious talent shortage in the front 7 and scheme isn't going to fix this
Don't you think we're better suited for the switch instead of staying status quo?
Must of us should understand the switch may not give us results right off the bat but with new blood energized in to the system should motivate the defense.
Freedom - 2 yr starter, Mick - 1 yr starter, Carlos, lots of snaps. Newby and Young - lots of reps over the past two years, Weber - spot duty over the past two years. Can we finally get some luck and have a couple of young kids to be ready to play?
I agree and guys like Guy a Thomas will be great as a 3-4 OLB, but it seems like most of our DE lack that kind of athleticism. Miller and maybe Alex Davis could bump out, but guys like Natter, Neal, Stille and King will most likely need to move down or move on.
I'm not as pessimistic about the talent level of some of the young guys as some of the board. Wait and see time. I think we have as much talent as some teams that have a lot of success running the 3-4. It will be interesting to watch.
I fully support the switch and really like Diaco - but you need talent. I think we are going to struggle in the transition. Diaco will be a big upgrade as far as coaching and recruiting - but there needs to be an upgrade in talent which will take time.
- questionable talent
- learning curve to implement a new system
- reliance on freshman (possibly some true freshman)
those three things all point to struggles
Depends how they play it. Personally, I think they won't have their front three play all two gap. At nose, they could go with a smaller, quicker one gap nose tackle and alternate at that spot. As for defensive end, we've got five techs on the roster. That won't be a problem. We should see one larger and one smaller, faster player at both outside and inside linebacker. The key should be to get faster... much, much faster... on defense. Get our best athletes on the field.
good point ... some of the talent issues i mentioned would have been better characterized as youth - talented but need time to develop
Diaco comes into Lincoln with more respect from angry fans than Banker ever had. Diaco isn't the type to blame a talent problem on why his D isn't performing. He's the type to work harder to find a solution. His defense the next 2 or so years may not be the '85 bears but they will be mean and physical and that's all I am asking for. I think a lot of the time, I am pretty grey on this board. I can be a Kool-aid drinker but I've also been banded from this board due to being pissed. Having said that, I think I can speak for some of the angry husker fans and I say, as long as we improve along the way we will be happy with Diaco. As long as his Defense looks like they understand what's going on, I will be happy.
You never really saw improvement from Banker. His team folded on him. I don't see Diaco as that type of guy and the fact that he's coached in South Bend kind of proves that he can handle the pressure.
Really like the potential of Freedom, Carlos and Mick. Neal and K Davis seem to fit this defense too. Add Stille and Newell, and you have 7 guys in the spring going after 3 spots. Hopefully there is an instant impact guy from the 3 DTs they're recruiting.
Linebacker is really interesting. Young, Webber, Newby and Gifford get first look. Ferg, Barry, Q, Simmons, Roberts, Jefferson and Miller are unknown but reports are they're very talented. Former DEs King, Natter, Davis probably project here. 14 guys for 4 spots battling in the spring. I like that.
Let's see if Diaco can plug in the right guys and coach them up. There's young talent here to work with.
For the first year or maybe even two it is going to be hard to determine if it is a talent issue or a learning curve. When you start to see guys in the right place but not making plays then it is a talent issue. We saw this too often, especially in the bowl game, the guys were there, just did not make the play, that is a talent issue.
You have a lot of guys who were recruited at DE either weak or strong side who were to play down all of the time. A move to outside or inside standing up and having coverage responsibilities is much different. I don't think for a second that this transition will be easy. Different responsibilities, eye focus, keys, gaps, etc. In some ways it may be easier for the young guys who don't have to unlearn a lot of stuff.
You have a lot of guys who were recruited at DE either weak or strong side who were to play down all of the time. A move to outside or inside standing up and having coverage responsibilities is much different. I don't think for a second that this transition will be easy. Different responsibilities, eye focus, keys, gaps, etc. In some ways it may be easier for the young guys who don't have to unlearn a lot of stuff.
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Alex Davis and Neal need to turn it up! They have the ability and been around long enough now it's time to get it done.
I think this is realistic.. Freedom is actually not a very good fit for this D. He's not fast enough to move to OLB and not big enough at DE. There will be a learning curve but I think you see something like this.
DE- Deonte Thomas, Stolt, Neal, Freedom, King, Davis
NT - Davis Twins
OLB- Colin Miller, Q Alexander, Guy Thomas
ILB- Ty Ferg, Berry
ILB- Weber, Jefferson
OLB- Newby, Roberts
We do need D recruiting to pick it up. Future is bright if we stick to it though
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I think Freedom stands up and moves to OLB alongside Newby. ILB Young and Weber with Ferguson and Barry backing up. Neal is a natural 5 tech so if he can step up he should start.
LE Mick
RE Neal
NT Carlos
LOLB Freedom
ROLB Newby
ILB Weber
ILB Young
LE Mick
RE Neal
NT Carlos
LOLB Freedom
ROLB Newby
ILB Weber
ILB Young
Freeman to big and slow for LOLB in my opinion.
agree >> your OLBs needs to be able to drop in coverage as well
don't see Freedom covering a TE
IMO This is more of what I think it will look like. OLB need to be more of a hybrid DE/LB type. ILB is meant to be more of a traditional LB
DE- Deontae Thomas, Freedom, King, Natter, Newell
NT - Davis Twins, Stolt, Watts
OLB- Colin Miller, Alex Davis, Guy Thomas
ILB- Ty Ferg, Berry, Roberts
ILB- Weber, Jefferson
OLB- Newby, Neal, Alexander
Great point, HCMR marveled multiple times how Domann seemed to get everywhere on the field.
The question is whether Freedom can move well enough to achieve the coverage needs of the position. He looks to be a little light for a 3-4 DE. But not by much, as Wisconsin's starting DEs are only about a dozen pounds heavier. Neal would be a load at DE in this defense.
Any word on Stille filling out his long frame and getting on the field? I know him more for his wrestling prowess, but I am rooting for him on the gridiron for the Huskers.
Would say that JoJo might be a bit light to play base OLB. Maybe he plays on passing downs.
The measurables of Neal would be wonderful...if they were paired with a different motor.
Charlie McBride's first year switch from the 5-2 to the 4-3 didn't go so well. The next year...... Wow
Freedom is a big dude, he can put on 10-15 #, Neal can put on some good weight as well, they will be
DEs, Stolt will be a DE, Davis twins at NT, OLBs have to be very athletic & be able to run, we have a lot
of athletic guys who will battle it out at LB. Stille, Miller, Thomas fit the OLB mold 6'2 to 6' 4" 235 to 245
& have wheels. Some guys may fit in 3rd & long packages etc, idea is to have athletic guys that can move.
The scheme gives u a lot of options as well, especially with pressures, blitz can come from anywhere.
Less predictable, more speed off the edge, more able to set the edge, motion by the O doesn't reset
the D pkg, jet sweeps are easier to defend, defends the spread option better. Can drop 8 into coverage,
Less reliance on nickel & dime coverages & personnel. Can play more zone & keep your safeties deeper,
should result in fewer chunk plays.
Bottom line it is easier to recruit to, front seven will be 500 mile radius guys.
DEs, Stolt will be a DE, Davis twins at NT, OLBs have to be very athletic & be able to run, we have a lot
of athletic guys who will battle it out at LB. Stille, Miller, Thomas fit the OLB mold 6'2 to 6' 4" 235 to 245
& have wheels. Some guys may fit in 3rd & long packages etc, idea is to have athletic guys that can move.
The scheme gives u a lot of options as well, especially with pressures, blitz can come from anywhere.
Less predictable, more speed off the edge, more able to set the edge, motion by the O doesn't reset
the D pkg, jet sweeps are easier to defend, defends the spread option better. Can drop 8 into coverage,
Less reliance on nickel & dime coverages & personnel. Can play more zone & keep your safeties deeper,
should result in fewer chunk plays.
Bottom line it is easier to recruit to, front seven will be 500 mile radius guys.
I honestly think this switch, though it is not as major as some think, will fit the personnel beautifully.
Given that it has been said that the hardest position to recruit is DT, having to recruit for one rather than two should help. There are a lot more kids out there who fit the bill for LB than DT.