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Your thoughts on D-Line

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Yahtzee43

Junior
Sep 2, 2014
321
218
0
I think we have serious issues here. Our D-Linemen are only occupying 1 blocker and our LBs are getting killed on running plays.

For example, with Elam, I know he is a 5 star and huge guy,, but I just don't see the talent level with him. He was getting stood up, driven out of play or on his back every play. I did not see him make one play, shuffle or swim to make a tackle. Honestly, I question his preparation and conditioning. Sure, he is a huge kid but doesn't seem ready for the conditioning of major college football.

If you watched the 2nd half, he really got even worse and the LBs were constantly feeling pressure downhill since he was only taking on 1 guy.

Maybe I am missing something.
 
C

Chimaera717

Heisman
Oct 25, 2008
6,001
13,064
83
In all seriousness, swap to a 4-3, bench Elam entirely, and bring at least 5 (so one blitzer) on every single down. Our defensive backs are good enough to play man to man the whole damn game - but if we don't get enough helmets at the point of attack, we're never going to win those fights because our guys aren't good enough to do so.
 
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M

morgousky

Heisman
Sep 5, 2009
23,959
43,170
0
Here we go dissecting yet another part of this program called Doops Troops.

The whole system sucks.

Clean house.
 
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D

docholiday51

Heisman
Oct 19, 2001
22,011
26,718
0
We thought they would be a weakness but they are worse than that,the scary (and I mean scary) thing is we don't have anyone to sub in that isn't worse than who is on the field.

Now to the really sad part,our linebackers and secondary are better than last year and good enough to win 6 games but they are out there playing 7 or 8 on 11,this may be the worst d-line that Stoops has had since he has been here.How does that happen in year 4?
 
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T

TACcat7

All-American
Jun 26, 2012
3,987
9,174
96
I've taken bowel movements that could hold its ground more than this defensive line. Blow on them and they fall back ten yards.
 
B

BigBlueTuckian

Sophomore
Jan 9, 2016
309
198
0
Elam was not a 5-star on Rivals. He was a 5-star on another network that thought he was the next Mount Cody because Saban showed interest.

In a 3-4 scheme, the NT must command a double team in order to be effective. Elam cannot cause enough disruption against one OL to ever make the opposing OC consider the possibility of double-teaming him. He is slow, stiff, and lethargic. There is just no other way of saying this. He cannot get down low enough or be in a 3-point stance and be effective. That is why he gets taken out on goal-line situations.

As for the rest of the DL, we are using Miggins and Middleton as DEs when they're more suited for DT. Bell is supposed to be a DE in a 4-3 (playing around 255 lbs) and we are making him a DE in a 3-4 (playing around 275 lbs). He is a step slow.

For the longest time Kentucky has lacked DTs and DEs. They will always find big bodies, the question is are these big bodies quick and athletic. For the last 40 years the answer has been no. Easier to recruit to 4-3 than 3-4.
 
A

akaukswoosh

Hall of Famer
Jan 14, 2006
78,955
120,559
93
For the longest time Kentucky has lacked DTs and DEs. They will always find big bodies, the question is are these big bodies quick and athletic.

And the same thing will be said 20 and 30 years from now no matter who the HC is.
 
B

BigBlueTuckian

Sophomore
Jan 9, 2016
309
198
0
Smashcat said:
For the longest time Kentucky has lacked DTs and DEs. They will always find big bodies, the question is are these big bodies quick and athletic.

And the same thing will be said 20 and 30 years from now no matter who the HC is.
Click to expand...

Agree. The same thing was said 20 and 30 years ago. How many years have we seen fans on these boards get excited about 2 and 3- star DTs just because they are 6'3 and 300 pounds? There are no lack of big bodies in football. Even Division 2 schools will have guys that are that big.

The question is can they move? Do they have quickness, agility, and explosion off the ball? Do the DEs have speed to beat an All-American OT around the edge? These are the players that Kentucky needs and sadly the ones they seldom if ever get.
 
seccats04

seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
14,033
21,872
113
 
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M

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
23jumpboy said:
Go 4-3. Pringle and Elam inside, Ware and Bell outside at ends. Love in the middle, Jones and Allen on the outside. Rotate your tackles with Middieton and Miggins. At least get the line off our linebackers.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately Bell is not SEC quality. He was mistreated and abused numerous times last night. Where is Kengera Daniel? Don't know if he's better, can't be much worse.
 
Y

Yahtzee43

Junior
Sep 2, 2014
321
218
0
23jumpboy said:
Go 4-3. Pringle and Elam inside, Ware and Bell outside at ends. Love in the middle, Jones and Allen on the outside. Rotate your tackles with Middieton and Miggins. At least get the line off our linebackers.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. For our talent and personnel, a 4-3 with your proposed line up makes sense.
 
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J

jc2010

All-Conference
May 13, 2008
4,591
4,367
62
Yahtzee43 said:
I think we have serious issues here. Our D-Linemen are only occupying 1 blocker and our LBs are getting killed on running plays.

For example, with Elam, I know he is a 5 star and huge guy,, but I just don't see the talent level with him. He was getting stood up, driven out of play or on his back every play. I did not see him make one play, shuffle or swim to make a tackle. Honestly, I question his preparation and conditioning. Sure, he is a huge kid but doesn't seem ready for the conditioning of major college football.

If you watched the 2nd half, he really got even worse and the LBs were constantly feeling pressure downhill since he was only taking on 1 guy.

Maybe I am missing something.
Click to expand...
Elam was being used as a pick by Southern Miss, he didn't tackle anyone, he didn't occupy offensive linemen and he was an obstacle to the other defensive players.
 
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B

*Bleedingblue*

Heisman
Mar 5, 2009
39,604
30,454
113
Posted this in another thread a few weeks back. This is the amount of talent we have gotten in under Stoops.


2013 class
Zadarious smith 5.8 4 star
Jason Hatcher 5.8 4 star
Alvonte Bell 5.7 3 star
Jacob Hyde 5.6 3 star
Bud Dupree 5.6 TE
Regie Meant 5.3 2 star basic rivals ranking with no evaluation
Melvin Lewis not evaluated

2014 class


Cory Johnson 5.8 4 star
Matt Elam 5.6 3 star
Lloyd Tubman 5.6
Adrian Middleton 5.6
Denzel Ware 5.6
Tymere Dubose 5.6


2015 class

Alvonte Bell 5.6
Kengra Daniel 5.6
Jovon Provitt 5.5
Courney Miggins 5.3. 2star


2016

Kordell Looney 5.6
Jaylin Bannerman 5.6
TJ Carter 5.4
Naquiz Pringle 5.4
JaQuize Cross 5.3



Some guys were rated higher on other sites like Elam who was a 5 star Tubman a 4 star etc for example. Some were not evalated and some ranked lower due to grades. Example Pringle who hails from south carolina was at one time while in HS was the second ranked DT in south carolina and had offers from SC, Clemson etc. So its not like he is some chump. And a lot of these guys while lower rated had offers from big name schools as well like Carter had Miss St offer him as well.
But the majority of these 2 stars are going to be in their first year here. But you can see the recruiting sliding if you go by star rankings but they are not the end all to evalation.




Clearly we have recruited good enough to put a respectable unit on the field. It is the coaching that isn't up to snuff. The scheme, coaching etc just everything.
 
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