Injured.
Still not practicing?
Is Richards practicing?
Who else is out with injuries?
Injured.
Don't forget the inability to set the edge with LBs or DEs. Hopefully that's gone with the coordinator change. I still remember from 4th grade tackle football that the ends HAVE TO GET UPFIELD on sweeps to force the RB inside where the rest of the team is so the other 10 can make the tackle. I know I don't know more than any football coach, but **** if it isn't painful watching Tyler Baron (and others) not set the edge properly. Ever. I do know that stunts get called sometimes and sometimes the offense has the perfect play called, but I really hope this gets fixed.We'll probably immediately know. Last season, our Safeties were something like I've never seen - lost, missteps, late, obscene angles, etc - in 35+ years of obsessing over football.
But, opponents also legitimately picked on our LBs in high leverage spots. We had guys getting isolated in the passing game on critical 3rd downs and other key game situations (red zone, pinned back, etc.).
I keep reading about the CB room flip, but this LB/Safety insanity needs to end if we want to more consistently get off the field. While we were 49th in the nation in 3rd down stop %, it sure felt like, when we badly needed a stop, we were 1000th.
The upgrade in talent and depth at LB and CB is eye opening. Don’t know how we won’t be significantly improved on Defense this season.Linebacker. Coach Hetherman said he wanted to prioritize length and athleticism, and it certainly seems that way through two weeks and a scrimmage. Mohamed Toure looks like a legitimate impact player, Wesley Bissainthe is playing well at 230 (over 40 pounds over his freshman weight), Kellen Wiley looks like an alien, and Chase Smith is earning real reps.
Throw in Popo Aguirre, Kamal Bonner (who is generating internal buzz) and the versatile Bobby Pruitt and you have an interesting group. Stopping Notre Dame is a different deal than flying around on Greentree, but the scrimmage was a very good start.
On defensive coordinator number 3 so who actually knowsThat assumes the problem wasn't coaching at all.
How many of the clowns here are on wife number three?On defensive coordinator number 3 who actually knows
People seemingly forgot he recently blew out his knee.Think he’s rehabbing from surgery/injury
Gotta see it on Saturdays. No Flaggs out there.
How many of the clowns here are on wife number three?
Right? How many times do you have to lose a thumb to a band saw to decide maybe woodworking isn't for you?
That sounds like an expensive proposition.How many of the clowns here are on wife number three?
Not if you're smart enough to stay poor until you find the right one.That sounds like an expensive proposition.
If Toure is healthy, he is going to rock some Irish groupers on opening night.A healthy Toure changes that room completely.
He may have our LBs & DBs too low, but after our showing last season can you blame him? I can understand why any of those commentators would be rating the defense lower than what might actually be.Just picked up my copy of Phil Steele yesterday, and he has the units ranked nationally as follows:
D-Line:
ND - 4 - notes they're loaded with depth and potential and should have a heavy rotation of quality guys especially at edge
Miami - 11 - Notes that Rueben Bain is a stud but less depth
LB:
ND - 3 - predicts Bowen/Sneed to start in heavy rotation with Ausberry and KVA, who he says would start for most schools
Miami - 26 - seems like they have some upperclassmen with late round draft grades, but no studs
Other unit rankings you didn't ask about
QB: ND 64, Miami 9
RB: ND 2, Miami 16
Receivers: ND 14, Miami 23
O-line: ND 3, Miami 6
DBs: ND 1, Miami 24
ST: ND 11, Miami 67
Thoughts? I think he has Miami's LBs and DBs way too low. Also, I think Miamis online is top 4 at worst.
If we go Legit 4-3 gimmeEveryone has learned Heatherman is going to be very multiple with this D. Different sets moving people around for games and O formations. I am guessing we come out with a mostly 4-3 against ND to stop the run while obviously playing multiple formations also. I will also guess Toure, Wes and Chase are the starters in 4-3 for that game.