When young players like Myles Mouton, McKinley Whitfield, Nigel Carter and Jarion Anderson step up and make plays, that is what spring games are all about.
LINK: Seizing the opportunity
LINK: Seizing the opportunity
Defense steps up in Spring Game; Young players seize opportunity
- Thread starter Chris Harmon
- Start date
I have to agree with the secondaries drastically improving. It's tough to guage though without having to defend Lucas, but they played great man to man. Our defensive line is gonna have to out more pressure this year or there's gonna be some wide open targets for tight ends and RB's on delayed routes. We ran an occasional wheel route with the RB and he was wide open every time, but never got thrown to.
The other play that was there for the taking...a lot...was the play action and throw to the H-back who ran down the seam. One was dropped in the end zone for a sure TD, and the other ended up being like a 20 yard play to Reiderer.
I'm beginning to think a lot of our defensive success this year will hinge on
the DL....A couple of things would help....1) An occasional blitz on other than
3rd down, and a much more aggressive approach on 3rd and long...This
"3 down lineman, eight men back" approach is way too much like a "ladies in
waiting" attitude toward defense...We were terrible in defending third and
long......The passer had all day.....
Last year we need both pass rushers and CBs. Our secondary has improved and our DL have three freshman who will contribute immediately. We just need to find the right combination to play DL.
We have more defensive help on the way. The secondary will be much improved this season. We have two sub 4.4 CBs with size and safeties with experience this season. Our LB need to be ready for check downs to the RB and TE.
It's so hard for true freshman to come in and play up front. I hope we have 1 that can come in and contribute but I wouldn't expect any pups to come in and be real difference makers out of the gate. It's a mans game in the trenches and most are boys at 18. It'll take most of them 8 games at 25-30 snaps per game for their head to quit spinning when they go in.
It's much easier for kids that play in space, but even most of them will feel overwhelmed early on. I would be hopeful, but not expectant.
Totally agree. Too many freshmen in the front rotation means that you have to scheme to cover up any of their deficiencies. That can make you unbalanced or create isolation opportunities against a particular gap. Our linebacker corps struggled enough last year without more responsibilities added in this year.
But it also makes the future look pretty good too. Especially if they are able to contribute early
Rios has some nice size at 301 but everyone else on the goal line defense will have a hard time stopping teams big backs. If half way ready the need for the big cat Stevenson at 320 sure would fill a void. Martin is a stud LBer on the goal line but if he get banged up again Revels at 234 may be an option. My wish is for these two freshmen and the DB Hill being somewhat ready for the defense.
Two freshmen will come in and compete for a spot on the rotation. Stevenson and Robinson will be in rotation along side Brubaker, Rios, Carmen, Shindelar and Smith. Mouton could play both DE and DT positions this season. The freshman only need to create a stalemate at the line of scrimmage and let the LBers clean up.
No big deal. Just anchor down against a center/guard combo block while maintaining gap integrity and getting off on the ball. Also need to remember your run stunt game and getting a good pass rush against a high hat when getting off on the snap. Easy money for a pup
I hope they all come in ready to play, but I think that's very wishful thinking.
I hope they all come in ready to play, but I think that's very wishful thinking.
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These young men will come in ready to compete for playing time. You have Stevenson, Robinson and Williams who has the size to compete for a spot on the defensive line rotation. These guys play at the top of high school level and come from football program that are close to college level. These kids know the score, they know they coming in to shore up the DL and they coming in hungry. There is no wishful thinking that's the expectation of a freshman player who measurements equals or better than a starting DT.
I wish you'd post more. We rarely know what we're talking about, so it's nice to read some stuff from someone who does.
After looking at our defense last year the only hope that I readily see is if the freshmen that come in are ready to play. I hope that Hurricane Monty and staff have recruited over every player we have on the defensive side of the ball. If not it will be a long season on defense. I hope the offense can once again overcome our defensive woes.
Some people don't want to except the fact that three freshman DL will be battling for a spots on the defensive line rotation. I believe these young guys will come in hungry for a spot.
That's great that they want to battle and be competitive...but that doesn't make them ready for D1 competition nor does it make them savvy enough to recognize formations and audible calls. Frm'r is right on. There's more to being a great DL than size/strength.
FYI, Rjjackson4 is former TU running back & Freedom Bowl MVP Ron Jackson. He has his own opinion from his own experiences as a player. Even if he wasn't a former player, he is entitled to his opinion.
Tulsafanzz, people attack opinions when it doesn't agree with their own, I have seen freshman DT come in and play in our defensive rotations. They wasn't asked to be an All American just provide depth and stalemate so our Linebackers can make plays. If you haven't notices TU Defensive Line don't slant or twist much.
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Again, I hope these kids come in ready to play, but I am not expectant. In that we disagree. I have seen true freshman offensive and defensive lineman play as well, but not usually because they were ready, it was because we were so weak up front, and in most cases they were very forgettable as impact players their first year. Maybe we are held hostage with what is on the roster. We will see. We were when I was a true freshman. I played every game, not because I was any good but because we were so bad. But to say I made any real impact would be a stretch.
Stevenson is the one out of three that has a substantially different body type than the kids currently on the roster. Is he a good 320 or a bad 320? I don't know as I haven't seen him in person. But most 320lb DL out of SEC country not going to SEC schools are the latter in my experience. But that doesn't mean he couldn't come in and possibly plug a hole in obvious run downs. We will know in the first week of fall camp.
We are the thinnest at DT and so I understand the argument that those two will have a legit shot at coming in and playing. However I do disagree that playing 3a Louisiana high school ball is anywhere close to college level. And Robinson was playing Grove, Coweta, and Tahlequah this past fall. Neither kids high school competition has prepared them, IMO, for playing the 1 and the 3 tech against the cats that they will see in the first four weeks of games this fall. It will be worlds apart. Maybe they are ready, perhaps you have seen them play in person, as I have not. I too am making assertions based on past observations. Nothing disrespectful about disagreeing.
Stevenson is the one out of three that has a substantially different body type than the kids currently on the roster. Is he a good 320 or a bad 320? I don't know as I haven't seen him in person. But most 320lb DL out of SEC country not going to SEC schools are the latter in my experience. But that doesn't mean he couldn't come in and possibly plug a hole in obvious run downs. We will know in the first week of fall camp.
We are the thinnest at DT and so I understand the argument that those two will have a legit shot at coming in and playing. However I do disagree that playing 3a Louisiana high school ball is anywhere close to college level. And Robinson was playing Grove, Coweta, and Tahlequah this past fall. Neither kids high school competition has prepared them, IMO, for playing the 1 and the 3 tech against the cats that they will see in the first four weeks of games this fall. It will be worlds apart. Maybe they are ready, perhaps you have seen them play in person, as I have not. I too am making assertions based on past observations. Nothing disrespectful about disagreeing.
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Also not meant to be disrespectful in any way to these kids. Whether or not they are ready when they get on campus says nothing about their potential career in blue and gold.
This. No offense to Mr. Jackson or the dozens of the members of the Letterman's Association who I know lurk here, but playing college football doesnt necessarily give you unique insight. Experience helps, but it isn't everything. They have more invested in the program at TU than I do and many wake up every day with a reminder of the sacrifice they made as they limp or slump towards the shower when they get out of bed. So I respect that and will typically defer to it, but it doesnt trump my right to respectfully disagree, especially when approximately 10% of the college football coaching ranks are filled by men who never played a down -- including several past Coaches of the Year. On the other hand, John Blake played defensive line. He coached defensive line. He played freshmen on the defensive line as a head coach. John Blake's decisions were disastrous and he became one of the worst coaches in the history of college football.
So count me in the group of people that wishes that more former players posted here and provided their insights. It would add a lot to a board that sometimes gets stale. But understand that other people may disagree and that is part of the attraction of this board -- seeing different viewpoints. Also understand, as I do over on the soccer board, that the game has changed. What you are seeing now can't always be properly evaluated using your experience as time goes on. I learned my lesson on that over there in a big way.
Not to mention a year to get their grades straight may be the difference between a one year career and a four year career with a diploma. The team may need them. They may be ready to play. But playing them immediately may not be the best decision for them, or the team, in the long run.
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We can disagree about freshmen players making the defensive rotation but saying ex-players dont necessarily have an unique insight into a game we love make you a little off center. We put in the time, efforts and sacrifices to shape and mold ourselves into the best player possible barring injuries. We study film and know what can and cannot work in todays football. I mean no offense but if you never played the game at a high level then your just a fan behind a computer.
I know John Blake and he coach at TU in 88. He made some mistakes as an Head Coach sure. He made some as assistant coach but make no mistake about it, John Blake was one of the best recruiters in college football. When a team wanted to improve the quality of players to come to their school John Blake was the man.
So 10% of the coaches who never played a down of football was given the opportunity to coach by a coach who played a down of football. The ball boy can be a coach if he is allowed to be the assistant coach and follow that coach success. The ball boy can be a head coach but his assistance coaches were football players.
Seeing that we have different view points, I can say this as a freshmen coming to the University of Tulsa, I wanted to make a statement as a freshman. At 6'0 175 4.3 speed I was the fastest player on the team. I was ready to play but the coach redshirt me. I was taken off redshirt but I was injured the same week in practices. I had a mindset to play as a freshman and injury stop me. These freshman players coming in will have the mindset to play as freshmen some will and will redshirt. It will be up to the coaches to decide if he need a 6'3 320 DT in the middle or gamble with 6'3 280 DT in the AAC west. If Mouton reach 280lbs by August then the freshman can redshirt but time will tell.
If he has the right physical stature he will succeed...hmmm. No brains and/or maturity or experience required for success? I don't buy that the right build is the only thing stopping defensive and offensive lineman from having success as freshman. It is a large component of the equation, but not the sole variable.
I understand how important the physical attributes are. But I don't buy that the majority of successful DL and OL coaches say that if he reaches such and such physical attributes we can redshirt another player. It is a bit too cut and dried not to look at attributes of the way a player plays the game, and to only consider that single attribute as the sole cut-off.
Marcus Dupree came into camp ready to play. He has a lot of regrets regarding personal decisions he made based on immaturity and lack of mental toughness. Adrian Peterson come into camp ready for the NFL. He turned into a college and pro MVP. I think the skills beyond the measuring tape and weight room log matter at every position, but much more so on the lines. Just my $.02.
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