The Duke

[IrishFan93]

I've been thinking about this all winter/spring about putting Duke at Apache and moving Zibby to Strong Safety and putting Bruton in at Free. Zibby is for sure strong enough to make the switch and i LOVE Bruton's speed. I was at the Spring Game and came away very impressed with Bruton's speed/hitting ability (layed the wood to Thomas one play and got me on my feet) i think he can come in and add to an overall slower D-Backfield. Duke + Crum + Smith (or whoever wins the strongside spot) works for me. Looks like the coaching staff doesnt feel that way but that makes sense to me in the long run....overall team D speed goes up and some energy is inserted. Looks good but maybe that is'nt the way Charlie and crew see it. Thoughts???

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Zibby played SS last season. I think there may have been talk of moving Ndukwe to Apache and putting Bruton at FS as you suggested, while moving Maurice Crum to MLB.

I definitely agree with you on Bruton's speed being an upgrade, which is my major concern regarding Ndukwe (and his cover skills). I would like to see Ndukwe have a starting position somewhere next year, I love his dirty style of play---saved our asses against Michigan.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

anyone forsee any chance Vernaglia can be any impact at LB?

 

[IrishFan93]

Against recievers that have down-field speed (PSU/MSU/ScUM) we need D-Backs that can get back on some sort of coverage. Our biggest downfall obviously is Defensive speed and the continuation of opposing recievers burning us in the open field is tiresome. The more team speed we can add the better ( Freshmen step up???) Charlie's Training camp will be interesting for the D-Backs to say the least.

 

[Fitzgerald]

I hope Weis is true to his word and that, if the two freshmen corners are the best corners, and if Smith is one of the best linebackers, they start. Talent over tenure.

 

[irishwavend]

Are you sure about the SS/FS situation last year, because I am pretty sure Tommy was declared the Free, and Ndukwe strong. Neither here nor there, though...they played their positions the exact same way, it seems, and that was by overcommitting too often.

 

[jiggafini19]

They need Ndukewe and Zbikowski back there, keeping the secondary intact. Herring and Bruton are going to get eased into the rotation and should probably have a huge impact in spring of 2007. This secondary should be better, but the linebackers could see some growing pains early.

Smith will play MLB and Richardson OLB. I like the OLB types like Richardson, that 'tweener' DE kind of mold.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Are you sure about the SS/FS situation last year, because I am pretty sure Tommy was declared the Free, and Ndukwe strong. Neither here nor there, though...they played their positions the exact same way, it seems, and that was by overcommitting too often.

It seemed like it changed by the day, as far the announcers went anyway. Some games I'd hear them refer to Tommy as the SS, sometimes as the FS. I think from watching the games it seemed to me he lined up on the strong side more often than not, but who knows?

Either way, I don't believe they had a true FS on the field last year, both Tommy and Ndukwe bit way too hard on play-actions and the like for a FS all year last year, and played too shallow at that. I wouldn't mind sliding Ndukwe down to OLB, and plugging in Bruton at FS. He seems more athletic and more of a true FS by the look of him at least. But I don't think that's gonna happen, I think we're gonna see Weis not play around w/ the safeties and just look for someone to step up at the other OLB position opposite Crum.

 

[scooper]

Our corners are fast. Zibby is fast. The entire D-backfield could improve on their play recognition. However, the biggest weakness of the DB's the lack of a pass rush in front of them. The best corners in the land will get beaten time and time again if the opposing WR's are given time to get open and the QB's are given time to find them. Unfortunately, there are no true pass rushers on the roster right now. Abiamiri is still hoped to be one, but as of yet, he is not. Maybe getting him some help could have an effect.

Look at the guys CW is recruiting this year for defense. For all the needs at DT, a high number of offers and interested players are DE/OLB types with high sack numbers.

Hopefully somebody steps up this year. Maybe someone like Kallen Wade or Morrice Richardson can surprise us with some pass rush help.

For all the fire our DB's take from fans, especially after the Fiesta Bowl, you have to remember just how little help they had last year.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Our corners are fast. Zibby is fast. The entire D-backfield could improve on their play recognition. However, the biggest weakness of the DB's the lack of a pass rush in front of them. The best corners in the land will get beaten time and time again if the opposing WR's are given time to get open and the QB's are given time to find them. Unfortunately, there are no true pass rushers on the roster right now. Abiamiri is still hoped to be one, but as of yet, he is not. Maybe getting him some help could have an effect.

Look at the guys CW is recruiting this year for defense. For all the needs at DT, a high number of offers and interested players are DE/OLB types with high sack numbers.

Hopefully somebody steps up this year. Maybe someone like Kallen Wade or Morrice Richardson can surprise us with some pass rush help.

For all the fire our DB's take from fans, especially after the Fiesta Bowl, you have to remember just how little help they had last year.

Yeah, and the other thing is, don't forget they only had 2 corners they were comfortable w/ on the field last year. You simply can't play w/o at least a nickel corner, let alone a dime corner. When opposing offense go into 3 and 4 wide reciever sets, you're asking to get burned if you stay in a base 4-3. I think that'll change this year, and we'll see somebody get some playing time as a nickel corner (Lambert, Walls, or McNeil probably), and if they can play I think it'll help out that secondary tremendously.

 

[scooper]

Yeah, and the other thing is, don't forget they only had 2 corners they were comfortable w/ on the field last year. You simply can't play w/o at least a nickel corner, let alone a dime corner. When opposing offense go into 3 and 4 wide reciever sets, you're asking to get burned if you stay in a base 4-3. I think that'll change this year, and we'll see somebody get some playing time as a nickel corner (Lambert, Walls, or McNeil probably), and if they can play I think it'll help out that secondary tremendously.

Absolutely correct. Crum is an athletic LB, but he was way overmatched on WR's quite often last year. He was put in many situations that he should not have been in.

 

[kickerbg31]

I know it is certainly an unorthodox system and not a part of Minter's defense, but I would be interested to see what our team would be like in a 4-2-5. WIth the lack of returning linebacker experience, this formation would allow Zibby and/or Ndukwe to play closer to the line with Bruton as more of a true free safety. I think it plays into ZIbby and Ndukwe's strengths and gives them a little bit of a safety blanket over the top.

Basically, this would allow Zibby and Ndukwe to play the run (at which they excel), but we would lose some size and strength at linebacker. I think a normal 4-3 is better for the teams with a traditional offense (Michigan, Penn St.) while a 4-2-5 could really work well against teams that run a spread offense (Michigan St, Stanford, Purdue, etc)

Thoughts?