Updated Defensive Depth Chart -- 1/3/19

[rok]

Bethel, Patchan, Garvin, Ford have each played two-plus seasons and beyond that you have Silvera, Rousseau, Miller, Joyner, Martin that have at least been around for a bit. So that's 9 returning DL which is a little light but not critical considering Blissett, Harvey, Williams, Holley, Muñoz are all signed. Perhaps the defense takes a small step backward but the back 7 should be good enough to avoid a big drop off.

 

[twes.305]

Bethel, Patchan, Garvin, Ford have each played two-plus seasons and beyond that you have Silvera, Rousseau, Miller, Joyner, Martin that have at least been around for a bit. So that's 9 returning DL which is a little light but not critical considering Blissett, Harvey, Williams, Holley, Muñoz are all signed. Perhaps the defense takes a small step backward but the back 7 should be good enough to avoid a big drop off.

The DB is a concern due to depth not talent, and the front 4 is a concern due to talent not depth.

 

[rok]

The DB is a concern due to depth not talent, and the front 4 is a concern due to talent not depth.

There's enough depth/talent across the board that if our coaches need to get creative in some spots they can do so. We're still in the position to sign a few more recruits and add a grad transfer. We've freaked out like this about depth since 2016 and things have worked out. We'll be fine.

 

[deleted19794]

Bethel, Patchan, Garvin, Ford have each played two-plus seasons and beyond that you have Silvera, Rousseau, Miller, Joyner, Martin that have at least been around for a bit. So that's 9 returning DL which is a little light but not critical considering Blissett, Harvey, Williams, Holley, Muñoz are all signed. Perhaps the defense takes a small step backward but the back 7 should be good enough to avoid a big drop off.

Other than the stars he was handed, I didn't see anyone develop under Jess. We will find out what he's all about this season. Please don't tell me he developed Willis, he was already highly thought of.

 

[Invalid Username]

Move Frier to safety. No way in **** we should let Knowles on the field. Awful.

 

[Invalid Username]

Is there any hope for Tyreic Martin?

No, unfortunately.

 

[rok]

Other than the stars he was handed, I didn't see anyone develop under Jess. We will find out what he's all about this season. Please don't tell me he developed Willis, he was already highly thought of.

Garvin had almost 20 TFL and Tito came along nicely. Securing Bogle would be nice.

 

[twes.305]

There's enough depth/talent across the board that if our coaches need to get creative in some spots they can do so. We're still in the position to sign a few more recruits and add the grad transfer. We've freaked out like this about depth since 2016 and things have worked out. We'll be fine.

Theres definitely more recruits and we can get good grad transfers, but the Dt talent and de position are not great from talent. The only Des ready to go and are good is Garvin and gregory everybody else still has to prove themselves and Gregory is still a ?, due to injury. From the Wisconsin game u could tell the only Dt that really had and impact was Tito, everybody else was getting manhandled. Yes we have recruits coming in but the DL is a grown man position,they will need sometime to develop.

 

[deleted19794]

Garvin had almost 20 TFL and Tito came along nicely. Securing Bogle would be nice.

Garvin was here and on his way, Tito was serviceable at best. Nesta wasn't a factor. Jess has to show me he can develop someone and if you watch anyone other than Joe, Garvin and Gerald, I don't see it just yet.

 

[OrangeBowlMagic]

Garvin was here and on his way, Tito was serviceable at best. Nesta wasn't a factor. Jess has to show me he can develop someone and if you watch anyone other than Joe, Garvin and Gerald, I don't see it just yet.

Well, those kids were collectively on the field for over 80% of the plays. How much of an impact do you want from a kid playing 11 snaps a game? I'd hope the guys playing almost every down are your best players and the ones that people notice are developed.

 

[deleted19794]

Well, those kids were collectively on the field for over 80% of the plays. How much of an impact do you want from a kid playing 11 snaps a game? I'd hope the guys playing almost every down are your best players and the ones that people notice are developed.

There is a reason they are only getting 11 snaps a game, they are not very good. Watch Clemson, they have 3 first rounders up front, but they find a way to get back ups in all game long. Their starting front four is a bit better than UM yet the sub often because they trust the back ups. We have developed no one thus far, hence 11 snaps a game.

 

[bluenose]

Defense will be fine. The concern is OL, QB, and WR.

 

[Coach Macho]

Huh? that DL is jacked with talent ( though some untested) I do think we need to another DT/DE in grad transfer but I like the DL a ton. It is the safeties that have me concerned to be honest.

Jacked with talent? Where?
Nesta and Garvin are legit.

Rousseau ain't done **** yet except beat our OL in practice. (not the achievement we originally thought it was)
Patchan is relatively pedestrian.

And the DT's are straight trash. Really no other word to describe them. They're not difference makers.

 

[Calinative]

Jacked with talent? Where?
Nesta and Garvin are legit.

Rousseau ain't done **** yet except beat our OL in practice. (not the achievement we originally thought it was)
Patchan is relatively pedestrian.

And the DT's are straight trash. Really no other word to describe them. They're not difference makers.

SDE - Garvin / Patchan
3tDT - Ford / Bethel
1tDT - Nesta / Miller
WDE - Rousseau / Harvey

We have Talent. They are unproven other than Garvin, for sure. But We definitely have a lot of potential there. Bethel is at least an average level starter if we need him to. Garvin is going to be legit next year. The only question is will Rousseau step up. I'm confident both Nesta and Ford will step up, but really confident at least one of them will. If Rousseau steps up, we'll be legit.

depth on the other hand.....we probably need a transfer or two.

 

[Coach Macho]

SDE - Garvin / Patchan
3tDT - Ford / Bethel
1tDT - Nesta / Miller
WDE - Rousseau / Harvey

We have Talent. They are unproven other than Garvin, for sure. But We definitely have a lot of potential there. Bethel is at least an average level starter if we need him to. Garvin is going to be legit next year. The only question is will Rousseau step up. I'm confident both Nesta and Ford will step up, but really confident at least one of them will. If Rousseau steps up, we'll be legit.

depth on the other hand.....we probably need a transfer or two.

The starters you have listed don't look too bad but (1) Nesta is still young and (2) Rousseau is a question mark.
I have faith that Nesta will good though, and Rousseau looked elite in practice.

But you know like I know, depth on the DL is vital. The starting 4 might look decent but after that it gets ugly.
I'm just thinking in terms of being a championship level team. We're far off on the DL.

 

[Calinative]

The starters you have listed don't look too bad but (1) Nesta is still young and (2) Rousseau is a question mark.
I have faith that Nesta will good though, and Rousseau looked elite in practice.

But you know like I know, depth on the DL is vital. The starting 4 might look decent but after that it gets ugly.
I'm just thinking in terms of being a championship level team. We're far off on the DL.

I agree that the depth is bad for sure. However IF we do land a grad transfer DE and DT, we are fine imo. As long as we have 4 that can play solid rotational minutes/starting mins at each position, we're in a good spot.
DE - Garvin, Rousseau, Patchan. And we have Harvey and maybe even Bogle who look like they are going to be ready for some early PT like Garvin was. Land an experienced DE grad transfer to be a depth guy who's trying to finish his career on the beach, and we are looking good at DE imo.
DT - Bethel, Ford, Nesta. Definitely more risky here, so it'd be really nice to land a starting caliber DT or at least a guy who can be heavy in the rotation just in case. But I do think Ford and Nesta will step up. Martin is a waste of space, and expecting any of the freshman to be ready would be crazy. Miller probably is too raw as well, but I'm sure could play some snaps when called on.

Basically if our DLine coach just does his job and gets Ford, Nesta, and Rousseau ready to play to their talent level, we will be very good with the starting Line. Land a grad transfer DL or two, and we will have very good depth.

Honestly I agree with others, Safety is a larger concern for me. Mainly because I don't think Banda is a good actual coach of the position, and secondly because Hall didn't even get to play as much as I would have liked, third Carter didn't play as good as I had hoped, and 4th this staff for some reason loves playing Knowles. With Jackson, Redwine, and Jaquan leaving, Im MUCH more worried about DB than DLine. Not even close really.

 

[Cribby]

this defense is about development right now. theres talent but kids just need to make the jump.
last year i was scared to death about the defense and they stepped up so im not concerned

Willis covered up a lot

 

[Cribby]

Rousseau is going to fly past Patchan. He is the most talented player on the team.

We need some more size and depth on the DL. A grad transfer like Tito would be a godsend.

We need multiple lol

 

[Coach Macho]

I agree that the depth is bad for sure. However IF we do land a grad transfer DE and DT, we are fine imo. As long as we have 4 that can play solid rotational minutes/starting mins at each position, we're in a good spot.
DE - Garvin, Rousseau, Patchan. And we have Harvey and maybe even Bogle who look like they are going to be ready for some early PT like Garvin was. Land an experienced DE grad transfer to be a depth guy who's trying to finish his career on the beach, and we are looking good at DE imo.
DT - Bethel, Ford, Nesta. Definitely more risky here, so it'd be really nice to land a starting caliber DT or at least a guy who can be heavy in the rotation just in case. But I do think Ford and Nesta will step up. Martin is a waste of space, and expecting any of the freshman to be ready would be crazy. Miller probably is too raw as well, but I'm sure could play some snaps when called on.

Basically if our DLine coach just does his job and gets Ford, Nesta, and Rousseau ready to play to their talent level, we will be very good with the starting Line. Land a grad transfer DL or two, and we will have very good depth.

Honestly I agree with others, Safety is a larger concern for me. Mainly because I don't think Banda is a good actual coach of the position, and secondly because Hall didn't even get to play as much as I would have liked, third Carter didn't play as good as I had hoped, and 4th this staff for some reason loves playing Knowles. With Jackson, Redwine, and Jaquan leaving, Im MUCH more worried about DB than DLine. Not even close really.

Yeah you're right. It's a lot scarier back there. Those guys are our last line of defense.

 

[Martycane]

With all the changes, here's how I see the defensive depth chart as it stands today. Of course, changes are certain and we'll update this as we go. Returning starters in CAPS. Definite starter in Bold.

WDE -- Patchan/Rousseau, Harvey, Bogle?
3T -- Silvera/Ford, Blissett, Munoz, Martin
1T -- BETHEL, Miller, Holley
SDE -- GARVIN, Joyner, Williams

Striker -- FINLEY, McCloud, D. Smith
MLB -- QUARTERMAN, Jennings
WLB -- PINCKNEY, Steed, Wilder (injury?), Huff, Brooks

CB -- BANDY, Blades Jr., Frierson
CB -- Ivey, Bethel, Couch
S -- Carter, Knowles,
S -- Hall, K. Smith

Initial thoughts -- 6 returning starters off one of the top defenses in the country is not a bad start. Plus Carter played a good bit for a 7th experienced kid. Obviously we know the LB position will be one of the best in America, regardless of your opinion on the kids coming back. There is a LOT of talent in that secondary, but you have to expect regression with losing 4 and 23 and that experience and familiarity. The DL is really scary. As I've said for a year, there's no more important kid on this team next year than Scott Patchan. It is absolutely imperative that he at least somewhat replaces Joe Jackson, or at least a combo of him and Rousseau can at least come close. But Patchan has a lengthy injury history, Rousseau hasn't played and was already lost for a season due to injury, we have ZERO depth at both DE and DT. Jon Ford? Hello? If he can make a jump, those top 3 could at least be OK while the young kids learn behind them. But I expect a major drop off on the DL with the losses of Willis and Jackson. All of these kids here need to stay healthy and significantly improve.

Who am I missing? Does Sam Brooks project long-term at WDE how I have him listed? Will Joyner slot behind Garvin this year? Where will Frierson and Bethel settle?

Why does almost everyone forget about Joyner? With a year under his belt, won't he be a good option at DE? He was a well-regarded recruit, no?