Spring Thoughts (Defense)

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If you have good DTs, you win ball games. Extremely excited to watch that group this season.

Wonderful news on M. Young. I was in the camp that thought we were thin at CB, and I didn't love what I saw from Young last year. While I still think we are thin, Young locking down one of the CB spots is great news.

And for all the hype we give him, I still feel that Shaq is UNDERrated. What a luxury to have a MLB with that kind of head on his shoulders. A true captain of the defense. Love that kid.


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You and I debated this a bit last season and, until it shows up on gameday, it's actually still unsettled. I don't remember the reasons you gave for not liking what you saw, but always respect your opinion. What was it about his game you didn't like?

He just doesn't pass the eyeball test. Underdeveloped, skinny. I remember him being dragged a few times.

Someone else mentioned he had a nose for the ball, but I didn't see that. He didn't jump off the screen as a playmaker, which is why I am so happy to hear he played like one this spring.

I probably took that 4 games losing streak out on Young and Redwine a little too much. We couldn't stop anyone though. That is when I soured on both of them.


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Got it. To me, he flashes nearly everything I look for in a corner, sans size. He looks like a Nickel, but plays like Brent Grimes outside. He has acceleration, great feet, change of direction, and is aggressive. Most of all, he finds and plays the ball - something we've generally lacked. I've said this story a couple times on here already: I've been high on him since last year's fall practices where I watched his feistiness allow him to break up a pass intended for Njoku and stand over him in practice. That sorta "I don't realize I'm 5' 9" 180 attitude" goes a long way - especially in college. We'll see if he keeps improving.

I love hearing that he looks good in practice. Obviously it's hard to evaluate from a technical aspect without seeing a player live like that. You guys that get to attend practices and whatnot are the eyes for the rest of us, and that why I log on to this site every day.

I am actually going to go back and watch some film on Malik now that he appears to have a starting role locked down. Going to especially focus on those last 4-5 games of the season where he seemed to be getting a lot more burn.


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Amari will play a lot. He's the perfect mix of talent, intelligence, and secret rage. Clarktavious Kent.
Yup...

Smart, violent kid, with a high IQ who handles his business in the classroom...

Those types always find their way on the field.
 
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Over article good but---

"D.J. just ran 11.22 100M and he may get faster before he�s done. For perspective, Dalvin Cook�s personal record was 11.18."

Go check the alumni records on Mile Split--Athletic net you quoted from did not have his 2014 times listed

Dalvin Cook---- 2014----Personal Records
100m - 10.92
200m - 22.58
Dalvin Cook - Stats



"Deepest group on the team. Coach Kool can replace Kendrick Norton and Richard McIntosh with Anthony Moten and Gerald Willis without missing a beat." (a little over enthusiastic here?)

Moten and Willis are on par with Norton and McIntosh???????

You are correct about the speed of Cook but even at 10.92 he is considerable smaller that Johnson which makes Johnson's speed that more impressive.
Regarding Moten and Willis they will be drafted but not as high as Norton and McIntosh who look like impact players at the next level.

I gave you a up vote as I cannot understand why people down voted you especially for the facts about the track speed. and the people gave no explanation for the down votes...maybe its that time of the month for those people.

Maybe UM fans are sick of seeing guys constantly go out of their way to rescue that piece of **** scumbag traitor Dal Cuck on this board.
 
Here's my guess at the Defense:

SDE - Chad Thomas/ Demetrius Jackson/ D.J. Johnson/ Scott Patchan

DT - RJ McIntosh/ Gerald Willis/ Pat Bethel/ Jon Ford/Martin
DT - Kendrick Norton/ Anthony Moten/ Tyreic Martin/ Ryan Fines

WDE - Joe Jackson/ Jonathan Garvin/ Trent Harris/ Patchan

WLB - Michael Pinckney/ Darrion Owens/ De'andre Wilder/ Terry McCray

MLB - Shaquille Quarterman/ Mike Smith/ Bradley Jennings Jr

SLB - Zach McCloud/ Charles Perry/ Jamie Gordinier/ Waynmon Steed(RS)

(Once Steed comes back healthy, he can actually play both W/S LB spots, he's that good, but I think he's best at Will)

LCB - Malek Young (will play the Elder role in Diaz's Defense, with better Ball skills)
RCB - Dee Delaney
NCB - Trajan Bandy
CB4 - Jhavonte Dean (will backup Delaney)
CB5 - Michael Jackson (will backup Young)
CB6 - Ryan Mayes/ Tyler Murphy
CB7 - Terrance Henley (ST's only)

FS - Sheldrick Redwine/ Amari Carter/ Derrick Smith
SS - Jaquan Johnson/ Robert Knowles/ Romeo Finley

Good stuff...Only differences I'd have is I think Owens may be the first backup at both outside positions, the clear #4 if he doesn't beat out Pickney... which I d on't think he will. I also think Ford will redshirt.
 
Here's my guess at the Defense:

SDE - Chad Thomas/ Demetrius Jackson/ D.J. Johnson/ Scott Patchan

DT - RJ McIntosh/ Gerald Willis/ Pat Bethel/ Jon Ford/Martin
DT - Kendrick Norton/ Anthony Moten/ Tyreic Martin/ Ryan Fines

WDE - Joe Jackson/ Jonathan Garvin/ Trent Harris/ Patchan

WLB - Michael Pinckney/ Darrion Owens/ De'andre Wilder/ Terry McCray

MLB - Shaquille Quarterman/ Mike Smith/ Bradley Jennings Jr

SLB - Zach McCloud/ Charles Perry/ Jamie Gordinier/ Waynmon Steed(RS)

(Once Steed comes back healthy, he can actually play both W/S LB spots, he's that good, but I think he's best at Will)

LCB - Malek Young (will play the Elder role in Diaz's Defense, with better Ball skills)
RCB - Dee Delaney
NCB - Trajan Bandy
CB4 - Jhavonte Dean (will backup Delaney)
CB5 - Michael Jackson (will backup Young)
CB6 - Ryan Mayes/ Tyler Murphy
CB7 - Terrance Henley (ST's only)

FS - Sheldrick Redwine/ Amari Carter/ Derrick Smith
SS - Jaquan Johnson/ Robert Knowles/ Romeo Finley

Good stuff...Only differences I'd have is I think Owens may be the first backup at both outside positions, the clear #4 if he doesn't beat out Pickney... which I d on't think he will. I also think Ford will redshirt.

Nah owens wont play sam. In this scheme he plays will or could play mike.
 
I like our DT depth, but saying we'd could replace Kendrick Norton and Richard McIntosh with Anthony Moten and Gerald Willis without missing a beat is a massive, massive, massive overstatement.

Norton and McIntosh are potential first rounders. I'm not saying that Moten and Willis are just as good. But when you can replace your top DTs with two fresh, physically gifted, fourth-year NFL talents you are where you need to be.

Kool will have no hesitation pulling them if they start believing the hype like the 2002 line. Fortunately, those guys haven't even shown signs of laziness.

I agree that they're talented. I was just saying that for those who believe the two backups could step in & we wouldn't miss a beat was a bridge to far.
 
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Here's my guess at the Defense:

SDE - Chad Thomas/ Demetrius Jackson/ D.J. Johnson/ Scott Patchan

DT - RJ McIntosh/ Gerald Willis/ Pat Bethel/ Jon Ford/Martin
DT - Kendrick Norton/ Anthony Moten/ Tyreic Martin/ Ryan Fines

WDE - Joe Jackson/ Jonathan Garvin/ Trent Harris/ Patchan

WLB - Michael Pinckney/ Darrion Owens/ De'andre Wilder/ Terry McCray

MLB - Shaquille Quarterman/ Mike Smith/ Bradley Jennings Jr

SLB - Zach McCloud/ Charles Perry/ Jamie Gordinier/ Waynmon Steed(RS)

(Once Steed comes back healthy, he can actually play both W/S LB spots, he's that good, but I think he's best at Will)

LCB - Malek Young (will play the Elder role in Diaz's Defense, with better Ball skills)
RCB - Dee Delaney
NCB - Trajan Bandy
CB4 - Jhavonte Dean (will backup Delaney)
CB5 - Michael Jackson (will backup Young)
CB6 - Ryan Mayes/ Tyler Murphy
CB7 - Terrance Henley (ST's only)

FS - Sheldrick Redwine/ Amari Carter/ Derrick Smith
SS - Jaquan Johnson/ Robert Knowles/ Romeo Finley

Good stuff...Only differences I'd have is I think Owens may be the first backup at both outside positions, the clear #4 if he doesn't beat out Pickney... which I d on't think he will. I also think Ford will redshirt.
I think Ford will Redhsirt too, I should've specified that but I thought it goes without saying lol.
 
I thought Mike Smith was a player coming out of high school and he show flashes the middle to end of last season. Glad to see he's fully recovered in making an impact
 
Sheldrick Redwine may have more upside as a safety than Jaquan Johnson if it really ends up working out for him there. Jaquan Johnson is very talented of course but he always seemed like one of those "high floor / low ceiling" type of recruits to me.
 
DJ Johnson is a freak of nature.... that combination of size and speed is ridiculous right of High School ****.
 
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If Brad Kaaya ****ing came back for another season we'd win the god **** ACC.
For as much **** as we give him, he was a top QB...and with a clearly improved OL, and this **** Defense. Man.

Too bad he had to ****ing leave. I think it's probably the right decision for him, since he could end up being a 2nd round pick but god **** it man, if he would have stayed, what could have been....

I just watched Kaaya murder an accuracy competition at an all-star skills challenge. He won hitting targets with ease, clearly superior to the other participants and it was laughable. Made me miss and appreciate him. He and Dalvin Cook's supportive interactions were weird to witness.

all this crying and whining over a QB that wouldve choked and lost us winnable games this year as well... let it go, we're better off.
 
If you have good DTs, you win ball games. Extremely excited to watch that group this season.

Wonderful news on M. Young. I was in the camp that thought we were thin at CB, and I didn't love what I saw from Young last year. While I still think we are thin, Young locking down one of the CB spots is great news.

And for all the hype we give him, I still feel that Shaq is UNDERrated. What a luxury to have a MLB with that kind of head on his shoulders. A true captain of the defense. Love that kid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You and I debated this a bit last season and, until it shows up on gameday, it's actually still unsettled. I don't remember the reasons you gave for not liking what you saw, but always respect your opinion. What was it about his game you didn't like?

He just doesn't pass the eyeball test. Underdeveloped, skinny. I remember him being dragged a few times.

Someone else mentioned he had a nose for the ball, but I didn't see that. He didn't jump off the screen as a playmaker, which is why I am so happy to hear he played like one this spring.

I probably took that 4 games losing streak out on Young and Redwine a little too much. We couldn't stop anyone though. That is when I soured on both of them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got it. To me, he flashes nearly everything I look for in a corner, sans size. He looks like a Nickel, but plays like Brent Grimes outside. He has acceleration, great feet, change of direction, and is aggressive. Most of all, he finds and plays the ball - something we've generally lacked. I've said this story a couple times on here already: I've been high on him since last year's fall practices where I watched his feistiness allow him to break up a pass intended for Njoku and stand over him in practice. That sorta "I don't realize I'm 5' 9" 180 attitude" goes a long way - especially in college. We'll see if he keeps improving.

I love hearing that he looks good in practice. Obviously it's hard to evaluate from a technical aspect without seeing a player live like that. You guys that get to attend practices and whatnot are the eyes for the rest of us, and that why I log on to this site every day.

I am actually going to go back and watch some film on Malik now that he appears to have a starting role locked down. Going to especially focus on those last 4-5 games of the season where he seemed to be getting a lot more burn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Consider me limited to D$'s invites re: watching practice. He's really the one with access. I've just caught limited glimpses. Fall 2016 was a great glimpse, though. And, Malek Young and Joe Jackson really flashed.
 
U got the wrong poster Krazy. I've always given Kaaya due criticism of at times chronic 3 and outs, lack of leadership (stoic, not enough fire), and the inability to rise to the occasion and win/control the big games. But dudes could spin the rock and made numerous beautiful throws just like the ones he displayed at the skills challenge.
 
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Malek Young is a natural playmaker as well, Jhavonte Dean is going to have to look like an all-american to take his spot.
 
Like D Money mentioned in his OP, Demetrius Jackson is low-key elite at disrupting QB passing lanes and batting down balls. He may not always get to the QB, but he ends up being a major disruption on passing downs as a result.

I remember him doing it a lot in his HS highlight tape, and he's definitely carried it over to the next level.

The play that sticks out for me is 4th down early in last year's FSU game, Dalvin Cook is wide open in the flats for what would likely be a TD, but D Jax gets in the passing lane and swats away what would otherwise be an easy completion for Francois (at the 2:30 mark in the video below)

[video=youtube_share;8oyGsRfFb84]https://youtu.be/8oyGsRfFb84?t=148[/video]

Man the defense played their *** off in that game, we really blew a great opportunity to finally beat those ******** again

i know right get mad looking at this ish again!
 
Thanks. Great write up.

One of my first thoughts was: Fines should move from DL to the OL. I would like to see what he can do at guard.

What say you?
 
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