Rewatching the Pinstripe Bowl from 2023…

DMoney

D-Moni
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…and I’m reminded of how dominant Rueben Bain can be. He completely wrecked the game, commanded double teams and played with unreal power against the run and pass.

If this team is going to turn the page on defense, Bain needs to be that guy again.
 
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Massive year for him, obviously.

Optimists view: He suffered a significant injury on literally the first drive of the first game last year, couldn’t do much as far as conditioning during rehab, and wasn’t the same player when he came back. It was essentially a wasted year due to the injury. He’s fully healthy now, in Year 3, his money year, and is going to physically dominate.

Pessimists view: He burst onto the scene as a true freshman with no tape or OCs game planning for him. He came back last year and was healthy but the book was out, and what prevented him from being a 5-star in HS (lack of prototypical size) allowed opponents to stop him from being a game-wrecker. Once OC’s knew his game, he was neutralized.

Nobody knows which is true for sure. We all get to find out in 2025. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I’ve followed this game for a long time, and he certainly wouldn’t be the first athlete I’ve seen with a wasted year due to a significant lower body injury early in a season. But it’s prove it time now. If we’re going to win this league, we need him to be 2023 Bain. 7+ sacks, eating OL’s faces, wrecking shop in the run game and being pretty much unblockable with 1 dude.
 
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…and I’m reminded of how dominant Rueben Bain can be. He completely wrecked the game, commanded double teams and played with unreal power against the run and pass.

If this team is going to turn the page on defense, Bain needs to be that guy again.
We all love Bain and all but you pulled up to talk about a Rutgers. Rutgers!



A game where our defense was bullied. Rutgers!



If you're going to talk about that then talk about the Clemson game or something. Rutgers!?!?



Look where the fan base is where we are nostalgically looking back on how a player dominated Rutgers. A game we lost. A game where the defense as a whole was bullied.



Bro, Rutgerrrrrrrs!?!?!?!?
 
Hopefully he picks a position. He’s 6’3 max, I’m tired of this tweener stuff. Being around 280 ain’t doing nothing for him when projecting him to the next level, not quite big enough for a DT but too big for a DE. Either a 265-270 DE or 290+DT.
 
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just need him to be healthy. ACC OLs aren’t **** and if he can generate pressure like he did his freshman year the defense will be infinitely better.
 
Hopefully he picks a position. He’s 6’3 max, I’m tired of this tweeter stuff. Being around 280 ain’t doing nothing for him when projecting him to the next level, not quite big enough for a DT but to big for a DE. Either a 265-270 DE or 290+DT.
Was Aaron Donald a “tweeter”? 6’1” 280 and will be a first ballot HOFer.

 
We all love Bain and all but you pulled up to talk about a Rutgers. Rutgers!



A game where our defense was bullied. Rutgers!



If you're going to talk about that then talk about the Clemson game or something. Rutgers!?!?



Look where the fan base is where we are nostalgically looking back on how a player dominated Rutgers. A game we lost. A game where the defense as a whole was bullied.



Bro, Rutgerrrrrrrs!?!?!?!?

Not sure on the logic. Rutgers is a physical football team, it’s a good barometer. He also dominated Clemson. Made their OT cry and quit.
 
His body naturally got to 280 which is fine as long as he moved inside. Him and Mesi losing weight and doing everything to avoid DT this season hurts because we are so weak inside. They are both still going to be moved inside some at 270. If Moton continues to get nicked up as he has been, we are in trouble inside. I believe they are both better at 270 and at DE, but I see real problems for us at DT this season. Unfortunately, we don't have that game changing Mike behind them. We shall see. Run Defense?
 
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