Harrison Hunt and LT have the size and quickness to put at DE opposite of Johnson. Just a thought. Have one of them along with Ford , Nesta , and Johnson would make for a strong front four. We still have enough depth to rotate guys the entire game.
I don't know but that kid is good; he's a local kid that is going to play in the pros. Which ****es me off; Jimmy Jones was the best local prospect to play in the NFL, and he was a Cane.
Good post. I get what you are saying regarding everybody being down on the LBs and them feeding off of that. However its going to take a bit more than that to improve the play of that group. I could see guys like Brooks and Huff making a huge leap as well as kids like Keontra Smith, and maybe Cave. I like Flagg but I see him as a utility, depth type. What I don't see happening is a LB corps led by any combination of Jennings, Steed or Flagg as starters having some amazing transformation. Its high time that the younger faster more athletic kids start developing. They've been on training wheels for long enough.Great posts in this thread. Enjoyed reading them and y’all getting me pumped
Between Manny, Shoop, Simpson, Ed Reed, TRob and some advice from JimmyJ, we should see a great game plan, now can the players execute it is another thing. But for me, I’d like to see a progressive scheme and game-plan w/adjustments rolled out for this game. That’s most important for me. It’s time for our coaching to improve as well (not just a expectation of player improvement) especially in big games. Shoop needs to earn his keep in this game.
If we perform good in this game Patke deserves some credit as well. I’m surprised many Canes fans don’t notice the pattern of us justifiably having a view of our weakest position group during the off-season and then that very group exceeds our expectations during the season. I’m expecting the LBs to show up this season. Our teams are very externally motivated, when they get counted out they show up. Overall we have to get back to believing in ourselves and doing the work regardless of what the outside sentiment is.
I am fine with trying that big DL you described but instead of Nesta at SDE, I would try either JHH or Elijah Roberts. Many have asked the question of who we have that could possibly matchup with Alabama's Left Tackle Evan Neal. He may be a true freshman but Leonard Taylor IMO is perfect for that assignment. Taylor lacks experience but his prodigious physical gifts are exactly what we need to neutralize Evan Neal.
Bingo!!! Spot on analysis.
Yeah I’ve heard Blake didn’t work well with the backers and his rotations sucked, and his methods on the line were different from Strouds so the kids were getting mixed messages.
That UNC performance was one of the worst coaching jobs I have ever seen. Phillips and Roche coming up field every play to be just taken out of the play and never adjusting. I think Simpson would have made those guys games a lot more complete and sound. Don’t get me wrong I love a freak end who can get to the QB but I also like one who plays fundamentally sound and has a feel for the game instead of just trying to wreak havoc every play by coming up field no matter where the play is going.
100% agree, bama will pound & pound till we stop the run. can the DE's set the edge ??. will the O line get any push upfront ??Saban will probably just keep it simple. The world saw what UNC did to us on the ground last year. Why put any pressure on his young QB? Off the rip, we will receive a heavy dose of ground & pound, quick short passes to RB’s, and screens. Offensively, they will test us up front and see if we can compete. Gotta pass that test first, or it could get ugly. That’s when he’ll open it up and let Bryce get loose. They would love to embarrass us on a National stage and put out any fires that we have created on the recruiting trail.
First half, we gotta get in the phone booth with these boys, lock up and bang it out. Prove we belong to be there. The longer we keep it close, the more pressure that young QB will feel.
