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Safeties and DTs -- Are we a complete team for what Hetherman plans to do?

grover

grover

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Problem Statement: From a traditional defense perspective, we are too thin at Safety and DT. Our expected classic Safety rotation at this point includes Poyser and Thomas as starters, and "possibly" Williams and Day as first in. At DT, we have Blay, Moten and Scott (looking in the 280-300 range) with Jones as the expected rotational player After that, you have true freshmen who may contribute at some point. Classically, that looks too thin to be a playoff contender much less winner. Along with place kicker, those two spots are my biggest concern going into summer/fall camp.

Emerging Solution: @Peter Ariz and @DMoney confirmed in their podcasts today and over the past week that the staff is settling on Lucas and Blount as the two players you move if you need help out at DT and Safety. Meanwhile, @Lance Roffers and @Hstokes1447 are firm believers Hetherman's 4i base scheme, and primary passing down schemes favors leaner, faster guys like these two (along with guys like Bobby Pruitt at LB, Lightfoot at Jack, etc.).

Expected Outcome: ?

The Wilforks and Sapps being the exception (and Sapp was "only" 300 at Miami, and both had generational burst), SPEED was a Miami brand during the championship decades. Ironically, it's Big 10 Hetherman who seems to be bringing us back to a speed-first philosophy. When we were great, we could hold the line against the Nebraskas and Oklahomas and Notre Dames, if needed, with only 4 guys. Do we have the dudes to do so in 2025? Can we stop the run with Hetherman's 4i and fast packages? Can we make it through 13+ games into the playoffs with this roster?
 
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grover said:
Emerging Solution: @Peter Ariz and @DMoney confirmed in their podcasts today and over the past week that the staff is settling on Lucas and Blount as the two players you move if you need help out at DT and Safety. Meanwhile, @Lance Roffers and @Hstokes1447 are firm believers Hetherman's 4i base scheme, and primary passing down schemes favors leaner, faster guys like these two (along with guys like Bobby Pruitt at LB, Lightfoot at Jack, etc.).
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But at the same time we just took Kennedy

Ya I could see Mesidor and Blount both getting snaps up and down the DL.
 
skeeter said:
But at the same time we just took Kennedy

Ya I could see Mesidor and Blount both getting snaps up and down the DL.
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I'm just leaning into the arguments being made as to why we haven't fought harder for classic DTs and Ss. Was it by design or failure? I find it hard to believe Mario would rely on luck after the debacle on defense last year and the mediocre stuff we've had on that side of the ball his entire tenure here.
 
The U is back to work said:
Love will rush for 150 on us. I don’t have much faith game 1 in our ability to stop the run. It’s just can we make it 150 on 23 carries as opposed to 11 🤣
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he will get more than 11 carries and probably break 1 or two big runs for 25 plus, but if we can limit their passing game and love to under 150 yards we can still win the game. dont forget Toure, he will be force in the middle that we have not had in a long time.
 
ricardomejias said:
he will get more than 11 carries and probably break 1 or two big runs for 25 plus, but if we can limit their passing game and love to under 150 yards we can still win the game. dont forget Toure, he will be force in the middle that we have not had in a long time.
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Yeah I see us stacking the box and making the new qb beat us. Get up early and this thing may not be close.
 
Hurricajun said:
Yeah I see us stacking the box and making the new qb beat us. Get up early and this thing may not be close.
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Yeah that love guy scares the crap outta me. He outruns angles against good teams. Stack the box. Hold the edges and the dbs need to tackle outside. Lucas and oj are big and can tackle at corner. But that kid frightens me. Probably the best player we play all year I think without putting in research effort.

But stack the box and let our corners play man and if the freshman smokes so be it
 
The U is back to work said:
Love will rush for 150 on us. I don’t have much faith game 1 in our ability to stop the run. It’s just can we make it 150 on 23 carries as opposed to 11 🤣
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As I was reading your post, I was thinking exactly what you said at the end, but 150 on 23 carries is still getting torched that’s over 6 yards per carry
 
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305407cane said:
Yeah that love guy scares the crap outta me. He outruns angles against good teams. Stack the box. Hold the edges and the dbs need to tackle outside. Lucas and oj are big and can tackle at corner. But that kid frightens me. Probably the best player we play all year I think without putting in research effort.

But stack the box and let our corners play man and if the freshman smokes so be it
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He’s really good, reminds me of one of our own Mcgahee. Big back, hard to bring down, and also has the burners, if we can’t slow him down it’s gone be a long day, but none of their WR’s scare me, I say play the run, and see can our corners win thier outside battles
 
grover said:
Problem Statement: From a traditional defense perspective, we are too thin at Safety and DT. Our expected classic Safety rotation at this point includes Poyser and Thomas as starters, and "possibly" Williams and Day as first in. At DT, we have Blay, Moten and Scott (looking in the 280-300 range) with Jones as the expected rotational player After that, you have true freshmen who may contribute at some point. Classically, that looks too thin to be a playoff contender much less winner. Along with place kicker, those two spots are my biggest concern going into summer/fall camp.

Emerging Solution: @Peter Ariz and @DMoney confirmed in their podcasts today and over the past week that the staff is settling on Lucas and Blount as the two players you move if you need help out at DT and Safety. Meanwhile, @Lance Roffers and @Hstokes1447 are firm believers Hetherman's 4i base scheme, and primary passing down schemes favors leaner, faster guys like these two (along with guys like Bobby Pruitt at LB, Lightfoot at Jack, etc.).

Expected Outcome: ?

The Wilforks and Sapps being the exception (and Sapp was "only" 300 at Miami, and both had generational burst), SPEED was a Miami brand during the championship decades. Ironically, it's Big 10 Hetherman who seems to be bringing us back to a speed-first philosophy. When we were great, we could hold the line against the Nebraskas and Oklahomas and Notre Dames, if needed, with only 4 guys. Do we have the dudes to do so in 2025? Can we stop the run with Hetherman's 4i and fast packages? Can we make it through 13+ games into the playoffs with this roster?
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Minnesota starting d-line last year was 285, 290, 310, 254. Miami will be 265, 305, 305, 265. So what’s the big difference?
 
252cane said:
Minnesota starting d-line last year was 285, 290, 310, 254. Miami will be 265, 305, 305, 265. So what’s the big difference?
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I don’t know, which is why I asked the question. From your post, I expect you don’t think there is a difference and our personnel in this scheme will be able to stop the run against top P4 offenses like Notre Dame and Clemson. I don’t mean to put words in your mouth, I’m truly looking for opinions and insights.
 
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Hurricane23 said:
He’s really good, reminds me of one of our own Mcgahee. Big back, hard to bring down, and also has the burners, if we can’t slow him down it’s gone be a long day, but none of their WR’s scare me, I say play the run, and see can our corners win thier outside battles
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They definitely have receivers, Jaden greathouse gave Ohio state problems
 
grover said:
I don’t know, which is why I asked the question. From your post, I expect you don’t think there is a difference and our personnel in this scheme will be able to stop the run against top P4 offenses like Notre Dame and Clemson. I don’t mean to put words in your mouth, I’m truly looking for opinions and insights.
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last year vs power 4 miami was 37th vs the run. Not dominant but not bad. Minnesota was 21st. Now that was with the stunting and twists up front which you can cause you to give up some big runs. Clemson isn’t a great running team. They were average last year.

ND has a strong o-line with an elite back and will be a challenge. They will be starting a young qb. Best thing to do is stack the box and make the young qb beat you
 
252cane said:
Minnesota starting d-line last year was 285, 290, 310, 254. Miami will be 265, 305, 305, 265. So what’s the big difference?
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And that Minnesota defense way 9h against the run, playing in a conference that’s all about running the ball.

It simply comes down to the was Hetherman runs his defense. The NT is designed to cross the centers face while attaching the guard to the strength side or run side thus allowing Mohamed Toure to run free and make plays.

The MLB for the past two seasons under Hetherman have been All Conference players (with both never being All Conference players u til being coached by Hetherman), because Hetherman’s defense is designed to for that LBs to eat.

In addition to NT play Hetherman calls for the other “DT” more like a 4i (Moten or Scott) to attach the Tackle to the run side allowing the stand up Rush (Mesdor) to be one on one with a TE. This concept, if everyone does his job, also allows the WILL (Wes or Bonner) to run free also giving the defense two free defenders to stop the run if the runner makes it out of the backfield.

In terms of depth to play those two DT positions,

NT
David Blay RSR 6-4 303
Ahmad Moten RJR 6-3 305
Justin Scott SO 6-4 290
Artavius Jones RFR 6-3 310
Donta Simpson FR 6-3 300

DT/4i
Ahmad Moten RJR 6-3 305
Rueben Bain JR 6-3 275
Justin Scott SO 6-4 290
Armondo Blount SO 6-4 270
Daylen Russell RFR 6-3 290
 
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