Addressing Our DT Problem

[kccanefan]

I’m not trying to say our DT recruiting hasn’t been a major disappointment

But people should also go watch Jones tape

That dude is a ******* freak

I agree he's a freak, but is he going to stick? Anyone know what's the deal with Moten? He injured. Haven't seen him playing much.

 

[Cane4life18]

Acheampong is a wild card here, though. Depends on how his body develops as to if he stays outside as a jumbo edge (where his skill set out of HS indicates), or if he bulks up enough to be a massive pass rushing DT inside. At his height/length, he could be more Calais Campbell-type and stay outside than anything...but we will see.

I think the portal is going to be worked regardless. If we see LT/JHH jump to the league, I think heavy on the portal is going to be the way we go. Remember we had no idea this time last year that guys like Gore/Deen would even be options for our roster this year, and they've been a big help. That or some JUCO names we don't know yet...in the advent of the Portal, JUCO kind of gets forgotten, but that could help us with instant impact too.

And here's hoping maybe our HS DT recruiting perks back up with some success down the stretch the rest of the season.

I'm counting Acheapong as a DT he's too **** big to be on the edges when we're in our base 4-3 and he'll just continue to grow and get bigger in a college nutrition/development system. In a 3-4 or 3-3-5 set he's ideal as a SDE.

We have to hit the portal regardless of what happens. Depth is a concern.

 

[Cane4life18]

We need 3-4 guys that can play good ball. Snap counts for this year:
JHH 229
LT 207
Deen 111
Gore 71
Moten 70
Licht 52
Horton 21
Campbell 7

JHH returning would be a BIG win. Burroughs plus Collins/Campbell/Moten/Horton gets us 6 that should be "good" with Bain & Mesidor being able to play 3T as well. Jones & Russell replace Horton/Campbell snap counts and you always take any elite DT that wants on-board.

No guarantee Mesidor returns. With his injury history it might actually make sense for him to declare.

 

[90scane]

No guarantee Mesidor returns. With his injury history it might actually make sense for him to declare.

There is no guarantee on anyone returning with NIL/Portal.

JHH/Mesidor/LT are three starters for 2024 along with Bain. Talk about QB pressures and Run Stopping!

Add Burroughs, Horton, Moten to the DT mix
Add Lightfoot, Kelly, Wayne to the DE mix

That would get us pretty close to a championship-level DL.

 

[JHallCanes]

I agree he's a freak, but is he going to stick? Anyone know what's the deal with Moten? He injured. Haven't seen him playing much.

Your guess is as good as mine brother

I would think/hope Guidry would be more attractive for DL in the portal but the portal to me is not a game we want to rely on for DTs

 

[Cane4life18]

There is no guarantee on anyone returning with NIL/Portal.

JHH/Mesidor/LT are three starters for 2024 along with Bain. Talk about QB pressures and Run Stopping!

Add Burroughs, Horton, Moten to the DT mix
Add Lightfoot, Kelly, Wayne to the DE mix

That would get us pretty close to a championship-level DL.

It's a good group but I want more explosion and flexibility on the edges. We're missing some of that on the edges.

 

[90scane]

It's a good group but I want more explosion and flexibility on the edges. We're missing some of that on the edges.

Kelly and Mesidor are hurt. Moss was a big whiff. Harvey is limited. Washington and Wayne are young.

2024- Kelly, (mesidor & harvey if they return), Wayne, Washington, Lightfoot, Rudloph, Pickett. Wouldn't be shocked if they let Moss transfer and try to land another proven DE.

 

[Dwinstitles]

Putting LT/JHH aside, we'll lose Deen, Gore, Licht.

We'll have next year:

Moten
Cambpell
Acheampong
Horton
Burroughs
Jones (FR)

Would be great to convince 1 of 2 of JHH/LT to really solidify. It will be interesting to see how we use the portal b/c our depth is really hinging on the development of Collins/Campbell (2 huge dudes) and Horton.

Horton looks good


Pause

 

[sharkindaawater]

Are these players in the DL room out of eligibility/ leaving after this year?

-Taylor
-Jake L
-Gore
-Deen
-Harvey
-JHH
-Mesidor

Please someone correct me or fill in on the turnover for next year

 

[AUcane]

Are these players in the DL room out of eligibility/ leaving after this year?

-Taylor YES
-Jake L - NO
-Gore - YES
-Deen - NO
-Harvey - YES
-JHH - YES
-Mesidor - YES

Please someone correct me or fill in on the turnover for next year

 

[LuCane]

Kelly and Mesidor are hurt. Moss was a big whiff. Harvey is limited. Washington and Wayne are young.

2024- Kelly, (mesidor & harvey if they return), Wayne, Washington, Lightfoot, Rudloph, Pickett. Wouldn't be shocked if they let Moss transfer and try to land another proven DE.

Are you referring to Bobby Washington? I think he's a LB all the way here.

 

[90scane]

Are you referring to Bobby Washington? I think he's a LB all the way here.

I agree but with Guidry's D, I could see him getting a ton of opportunities to line up as a rush DE. Heck, Flagg was playing DE some vs Clemson. Washington is a good pass-rushing LB. Is he an answer for DE no but we are talking about how to improve our pass rush and he will be one player that will help.

 

[Handsome Squidbum]

I think enough has been documented on how atrocious our DT recruiting has been this year so this post is meant to be more of a solutions based post.

Step 1: Retain Our Best
Our biggest DT recruits this year isn't in high school right now they're on our roster. That would be #56(LT) and #81(JHH). Recruit them back for another season. Keeping those two would automatically put us in position to have a dominate and ultra productive line. Two senior vets that have been through the ringer of CFB is always a net positive. DT is a grown man position and having two grown men at the position only benefits us as a team.

Step 2: Go Out and Get a Freak
Next, I'm going out to the state of Texas and bringing home the freak of nature called Shemar Stewart. I know some of you are going to say F him, Let him rot in Aggieland, etc. Shemar has the potential to be a true difference maker with his size-speed combo. I also bring up Shemar because we need to be realistic with our expectations. We have a better chance at landing a Shemar than a random DT from oos that really doesn't have an incentive to be here. Shemar also has 2 years of eligibility remaining after this year.


Step 3: Solidfy Depth
I'd go out into the portal or Juco ranks and try to land a player with at least 2 years of eligibility left, thus helping us for the 24' and 25' season. This would give us 8 at DT for spring.

Step 4: Remain Flexible
Keep a spot open for a 9th spot as injuries may occur in spring or a big time surprise happens where the opportunity to land a quality piece presents itself. But I'd only take players with at least 2years of eligibility. This helps in terms of the 25' season.

This plan gives us 8 deep with the potential to add a 9th. we'd be mostly set for the 2024 season. We'd also add 3 potential pieces for the 25' season.

Thoughts?

Best solution:

Hire Charlie Partridge away from Pitt. He's making 535k there. He'll be able to find underrated talent and coach it up.

 

[Cane4life18]

Your guess is as good as mine brother

I would think/hope Guidry would be more attractive for DL in the portal but the portal to me is not a game we want to rely on for DTs

We need to keep on winning. Win and we'll be in a better standing with these DT recruits as long as we come correct with the financial commitment.

 

[LuCane]

I agree but with Guidry's D, I could see him getting a ton of opportunities to line up as a rush DE. Heck, Flagg was playing DE some vs Clemson. Washington is a good pass-rushing LB. Is he an answer for DE no but we are talking about how to improve our pass rush and he will be one player that will help.

I'd expect Malik Bryant to play that position more than Washington. I'd love to keep Washington in space. That dude can run.

Even if one of our guys stay, still think we need another DT. Even if Mesidor stays, still think we need another DE.

Mesidor, Bain, Kelly, and need someone else - unless Wayne makes a big leap. Like Lightfoot's film and he appears to have the requisite height/weight, but hate relying on a True Frosh. What we're seeing from Bain is like a comet.

At DT, JHH or LT, Burroughs, Moten, Horton, someone else, Campbell, incoming Frosh. Expecting a true Frosh DT or relying on significant leaps from Moten and Horton aren't impossibilities, but if we can find ourselves a portal DT, count me in.

 

[Cane4life18]

I’m not trying to say our DT recruiting hasn’t been a major disappointment

But people should also go watch Jones tape

That dude is a ******* freak

Jones is talented but we can't rely on just Jones. We needed to add at least 3 bodies to our DT room but didn't. Betting on one player to hit at a position is a dangerous proposition.

 

[Odysseus]

There is no guarantee on anyone returning with NIL/Portal.

JHH/Mesidor/LT are three starters for 2024 along with Bain. Talk about QB pressures and Run Stopping!

Add Burroughs, Horton, Moten to the DT mix
Add Lightfoot, Kelly, Wayne to the DE mix

That would get us pretty close to a championship-level DL.

Brooooo if we somehow got all these dudes to return we would destroy the ACC. And Bain might F around and have 15 sacks like Will Anderson

 

[NC_Canes_11]

We have a DE problem imo

We've gotten nothing from projected starters Kelly and Mesidor.

Harvey, Chantz, Moss, Wayne, Achempong have contributed little.

3-3-5 defense makes sense for us and I hope Guidry sticks to it.

Correct. Without Mesidor, the DE room is all potential and very little production thus far. Gonna have to leave Bain out there until further notice.

 

[JHallCanes]

Jones is talented but we can't rely on just Jones. We needed to add at least 3 bodies to our DT room but didn't. Betting on one player to hit at a position is a dangerous proposition.

No offense, but like, pretty obvious

 

[Cane4life18]

Kelly and Mesidor are hurt. Moss was a big whiff. Harvey is limited. Washington and Wayne are young.

2024- Kelly, (mesidor & harvey if they return), Wayne, Washington, Lightfoot, Rudloph, Pickett. Wouldn't be shocked if they let Moss transfer and try to land another proven DE.

I'm not counting Moss out just yet. Kid had good tape coming out of Bishop Gorman. Talent is there, the requiste weight needed to play at the P5 level isn't. He needs to keep trying to add weight.