Any chance ND Switches from a 3-4 to a 4-3?

[chicago51]

Some posters on this site have already brought this up and I figure I'd ask the question and start the conversation on it.

Any chance ND switches from 3-4 to a 4-3 possibly keeping some 3-4 stuff in this year while Nix is still here, while also running more 4-3, then go to 4-3 full time in 2014?

Personally I have no knowledge of this happening and personally actually prefer the 3-4 slightly over the 4-3. That being said:

1 - ND has yet to find a replacement for Nix at NG (and hasn't really tried that hard to either, EV despite being over 300 lbs was not being recruited for NG).

2 - Both Ishaq and Okwara could easily be 4-3 DEs.

3- ND has more athletism at Safety which would beneficial for the Cover 2 and Quarters coverages that are typically used more often in the 4-3 (although not necessarlily see point #4). I know last year ND kept both safeties back alot but typically in the 3-4 they one will see more Cover 1 looks (or Cover 3 with the SS in playing the flat) were it is man coverage one safety, typically the best athlete playing the center field, and less athletic safety (the Zeke Motta's of the world) typically playing in the box more and often matching up with TEs in coverage.

4- Just me thinking here but maybe ND plays more of Denver Broncos style 4-3 which has alot of 3-4 principles. Even though the Broncos play a 4-3 Von Miller almost always rushes the passer as the Broncos, almost always send 5 and like to play Cover 1 (man to man plus FS playing center field) behind it.

 

[Emcee77]

I'm no x's and o's genius but I don't see us moving to a 4-3. Do I get why we haven't seemed focused enough on getting a true NT, at least until this cycle? No, I do not. But I just haven't sensed enough of a general change in the personnel we recruit to lead me to believe that a schematic change is coming.

 

[chicago51]

I'm no x's and o's genius but I don't see us moving to a 3-4. Do I get why we haven't seemed focused enough on getting a true NT, at least until this cycle? No, I do not. But I just haven't sensed enough of a general change in the personnel we recruit to lead me to believe that a schematic change is coming.

You are most likely right on this. I never even thought it was likely but maybe possible.

I am really trying to make sense of why we haven't got a replacement for Nix yet. Although 3-4 DEs often body wise are able to be 4-3 DTs however for the most part ND still seems to be recruiting for the 3-4 with the exception of NG.

 

[cyrano]

I don't know if we'll switch, but I think we'll play 4 men down much more often after Nix graduates or even when he's not in the game.

Also, a change could occur if Diaco were to leave and the replacement DC was more comfortable with a 4-3 and felt it best optimized our use of personnel.

Right now there are just too many unknowns to predict what might occur in 2014-15.

 

[irishog77]

I know we've speculated about this for a while. The lack of finding a true NG in the past couple of cycles has perplexed many.

Does anybody know if Kelly has ever directly addressed it in a press conference or interview? And if not, would be a good question for one of the beat guys to ask. Or to see if Jimmy Mac can sneak into BK's office and ask him directly?

 

[Irish YJ]

Perplexed as well. I think someone provided some stats around how many times we used a four man front. IIRC it was plenty. Might have been Whiskey as he's typically the King of fact and data. Regardless of our desire, we'll see a whole lot more next year purely out of neccessity if not by design.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Perplexed as well. I think someone provided some stats around how many times we used a four man front. IIRC it was plenty. Might have been Whiskey as he's typically the King of fact and data. Regardless of our desire, we'll see a whole lot more next year purely out of neccessity if not by design.

We've showed an even front ~50% of the time during the Diaco era. Though a 4-down look from a 3-4 is still schematically different from a true 4-3.

 

[NDinFL]

Perplexed as well. I think someone provided some stats around how many times we used a four man front. IIRC it was plenty. Might have been Whiskey as he's typically the King of fact and data. Regardless of our desire, we'll see a whole lot more next year purely out of neccessity if not by design.

Exactly, he (whiskeyjack) discusses it here:

OFD Podcast, Episode 3: Golson, Vanderdoes, & ROI - One Foot Down

 

[Irish YJ]

Exactly, he (whiskeyjack) discusses it here:

OFD Podcast, Episode 3: Golson, Vanderdoes, & ROI - One Foot Down

Thank you kind sir.
Knew it had to be Whiskey. Love me some fact and data.
and FWIW, I'm perfectly happy with flexing based on personnel. Benefits to both depending on the O you are facing. I do see some substance in the DB points made, and our ability to go 4-3 more.

 

[NDinFL]

Thank you kind sir.
Knew it had to be Whiskey. Love me some fact and data.
and FWIW, I'm perfectly happy with flexing based on personnel. Benefits to both depending on the O you are facing. I do see some substance in the DB points made, and our ability to go 4-3 more.

No probs.

I agree, I think you can't just throw a black and white label on the defense that ND runs...

3-4, 4-3, 2-5, etc...

Whatever, as long as we have our best athletes on the field I couldn't care less

 

[Irish YJ]

No probs.

I agree, I think you can't just throw a black and white label on the defense that ND runs...

3-4, 4-3, 2-5, etc...

Whatever, as long as we have our best athletes on the field I couldn't care less

Yep. As long as the strategy is to flex, and not a full conversion of D, I'm good. I hate it when a new coach comes in, changes the entire D, doesn't have the right personnel, does crappy for the next couple years because they lack the right guys, gets replaced by another coach, D changes again, etc., etc..

I really wish however we could steal Clark away from Miami. Nix2.0 potentially. Long shot, but hoping he finds Jesus (TD Jesus that is).

 

[irishroo]

Some posters on this site have already brought this up and I figure I'd ask the question and start the conversation on it.

Any chance ND switches from 3-4 to a 4-3 possibly keeping some 3-4 stuff in this year while Nix is still here, while also running more 4-3, then go to 4-3 full time in 2014?

Personally I have no knowledge of this happening and personally actually prefer the 3-4 slightly over the 4-3. That being said:

1 - ND has yet to find a replacement for Nix at NG (and hasn't really tried that hard to either, EV despite being over 300 lbs was not being recruited for NG).

2 - Both Ishaq and Okwara could easily be 4-3 DEs.

3- ND has more athletism at Safety which would beneficial for the Cover 2 and Quarters coverages that are typically used more often in the 4-3 (although not necessarlily see point #4). I know last year ND kept both safeties back alot but typically in the 3-4 they one will see more Cover 1 looks (or Cover 3 with the SS in playing the flat) were it is man coverage one safety, typically the best athlete playing the center field, and less athletic safety (the Zeke Motta's of the world) typically playing in the box more and often matching up with TEs in coverage.

4- Just me thinking here but maybe ND plays more of Denver Broncos style 4-3 which has alot of 3-4 principles. Even though the Broncos play a 4-3 Von Miller almost always rushes the passer as the Broncos, almost always send 5 and like to play Cover 1 (man to man plus FS playing center field) behind it.

1: I'm perplexed as well. It's not that they haven't found a replacement (320 pounders with great athleticism don't grow on trees), it's more that it doesn't seem to be a point of emphasis in recruiting at all that baffles me.

2: You're right, much of our personnel is better suited to a 4-3 than a 3-4. Day, Williams, Okwara, and Rabasa all come to mind. That said, Jones, Rochell, Deeb, and Jaylon are all better fits in our current 3-4.

3: Not sure what you're really saying here - you need athletic safeties in any scheme.

4: The personnel required to actually pull that off is nearly impossible to assemble in college football. You would essentially need 3 All-American caliber DBs and an All-American caliber pure pass rusher. Bama's close, but even they don't run a Cover 1. With the talent we have coming in at LB, I'd like to see something like a Cover 2 Zone 3-4, which would allow us to take really advantage of Jaylon's incredible cover skills.

All that said, my opinion means nothing. Diaco is one of the best DCs in the country and has forgotten more about defensive football than the rest of us combined will ever know. He'll get us in the right sets.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Once again....Nix is a rare combo of speed, power, size, and athletic ability. They dont go on trees, and the staff has had to bust their asses with Nix for him to be at this point. Its not exactly like the staff wanted to lose Eddie Vanderdoes. The NG position was just fine with Cywnar/Ian Williams. As long as the NG takes up 2 OL ND wins.

 

[kmoose]

If we are talking about switching from the 3-4, to the 4-3, because of the lack of a dominant NT, then we have to consider one other thing: Do we have a dominant MLB? The 4-3 requires an outstanding MLB, to be truly effective. I don't see that kind of MLB on this roster, yet. The grass is not always greener.................

 

[irishroo]

If we are talking about switching from the 3-4, to the 4-3, because of the lack of a dominant NT, then we have to consider one other thing: Do we have a dominant MLB? The 4-3 requires an outstanding MLB, to be truly effective. I don't see that kind of MLB on this roster, yet. The grass is not always greener.................

Less than 1% chance this ever happens, but if Diaco ever did want to switch to a Tampa 2 out of a 4-3 base, Jaylon Smith is a prototype MLB in that scheme...

 

[kmoose]

Less than 1% chance this ever happens, but if Diaco ever did want to switch to a Tampa 2 out of a 4-3 base, Jaylon Smith is a prototype MLB in that scheme...

He may have the size and speed, but he has yet to prove that those physical attributes will translate to the D-IA field at a high level.

 

[WestCoast]

Once again....Nix is a rare combo of speed, power, size, and athletic ability. They dont go on trees, and the staff has had to bust their asses with Nix for him to be at this point. Its not exactly like the staff wanted to lose Eddie Vanderdoes. The NG position was just fine with Cywnar/Ian Williams. As long as the NG takes up 2 OL ND wins.

I understand what you're saying about not necessarily needing an exact replacement to Nix, but who on the roster could even be the 2014 Cwynar/Ian Williams?

Reports are they specifically want Springman lighter and playing end. J.Jones is 6-6. Rochell is 6-5 and reports are he hasn't been tough enough so far. Day is one of the best ends, so moving him inside (other than in 4 down situations) solves one problem but creates another. Matuska is 6-5 will be a soph. Hounshell hasn't been healthy and after a 2nd injury to the same shoulder may be looking at a medical. Marquis Dickerson? I don't look down on him because he's a walk-on. If he can play at D-1 level great, but when was the last time a walk-on locked down a 1st team position and played at a D-1 level? Some freshman?

According to all public reports Vanderdoes was going to play DE anyway. Maybe that was coach speak and privately they planned to put him at NT anyway? Either way, he's not going to play at ND any longer so it doesn't matter.

So the problem is not that the coaches have failed to recruit a "Nix" type replacement. It's that they haven't even landed a Cwynar/Williams in 3 recruiting classes.

I'm not worried about it. It's the coaches' problem. But it's a problem that seemingly has no answer right now.

 

[irishroo]

He may have the size and speed, but he has yet to prove that those physical attributes will translate to the D-IA field at a high level.

True, I should have said potential prototype MLB

 

[irishroo]

I understand what you're saying about not necessarily needing an exact replacement to Nix, but who on the roster could even be the 2014 Cwynar/Ian Williams?

Reports are they specifically want Springman lighter and playing end. J.Jones is 6-6. Rochell is 6-5 and reports are he hasn't been tough enough so far. Day is one of the best ends, so moving him inside (other than in 4 down situations) solves one problem but creates another. Matuska is 6-5 will be a soph. Hounshell hasn't been healthy and after a 2nd injury to the same shoulder may be looking at a medical. Marquis Dickerson? I don't look down on him because he's a walk-on. If he can play at D-1 level great, but when was the last time a walk-on locked down a 1st team position and played at a D-1 level? Some freshman?

According to all public reports Vanderdoes was going to play DE anyway. Maybe that was coach speak and privately they planned to put him at NT anyway? Either way, he's not going to play at ND any longer so it doesn't matter.

So the problem is not that the coaches have failed to recruit a "Nix" type replacement. It's that they haven't even landed a Cwynar/Williams in 3 recruiting classes.

I'm not worried about it. It's the coaches' problem. But it's a problem that seemingly has no answer right now.

Cam McDaniel

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I've given up worrying about DT recruiting. Countless pixels have been spilled here over the ideal physical profile of Diaco's NT, but then the staff went ahead and moved Schwenke and Springmann inside (which nobody saw coming).

Based on that alone, one might conclude that they simply recruit the best DL they can get, and move the least athletic ones inside. Sounds too simplistic to be true, but I'm not sure how else to interpret it.

And if that's the case, we probably have nothing to worry about.

 

[koonja]

It's pretty simple. The staff prefers a 3-4, but they can adapt. It's hard to find true NT's, and they will recruit them hard. But if they can't land one, they'll adjust accordingly and they're fine with that.

 

[NDWorld247]

Once again....Nix is a rare combo of speed, power, size, and athletic ability. They dont go on trees, and the staff has had to bust their asses with Nix for him to be at this point. Its not exactly like the staff wanted to lose Eddie Vanderdoes. The NG position was just fine with Cywnar/Ian Williams. As long as the NG takes up 2 OL ND wins.

This.

Reports are they specifically want Springman lighter and playing end. J.Jones is 6-6. Rochell is 6-5 and reports are he hasn't been tough enough so far. Day is one of the best ends, so moving him inside (other than in 4 down situations) solves one problem but creates another. Matuska is 6-5 will be a soph. Hounshell hasn't been healthy and after a 2nd injury to the same shoulder may be looking at a medical. Marquis Dickerson? I don't look down on him because he's a walk-on. If he can play at D-1 level great, but when was the last time a walk-on locked down a 1st team position and played at a D-1 level? Some freshman?

According to all public reports Vanderdoes was going to play DE anyway. Maybe that was coach speak and privately they planned to put him at NT anyway? Either way, he's not going to play at ND any longer so it doesn't matter.

Height is irrelevant. Some of the top 2014 NFL Draft NT prospects are 6'5" or taller. It's all about playing with leverage and I'm confident the staff will find someone, and train them accordingly, before the 2014 season. Any time you lose a high first round draft pick the production will drop, but it is not as if our defense will become a sieve because we don't have Nix.

I am convinced the real reason Vanderdoes had a problem with the staff is they changed their tune about his future position. EV was adamant about not playing NT pre-signing day and I think he stuck to his guns when the staff told him he would be Nix's replacement in 2014 and beyond.

As far as switching base defenses...it's not happening.

 

[IrishLax]

This.



Height is irrelevant. Some of the top 2014 NFL Draft NT prospects are 6'5" or taller. It's all about playing with leverage and I'm confident the staff will find someone, and train them accordingly, before the 2014 season. Any time you lose a high first round draft pick the production will drop, but it is not as if our defense will become a sieve because we don't have Nix.

I am convinced the real reason Vanderdoes had a problem with the staff is they changed their tune about his future position. EV was adamant about not playing NT pre-signing day and I think he stuck to his guns when the staff told him he would be Nix's replacement in 2014 and beyond.

As far as switching base defenses...it's not happening.

Yeah... no.

 

[WestCoast]

Height is irrelevant. Some of the top 2014 NFL Draft NT prospects are 6'5" or taller. It's all about playing with leverage and I'm confident the staff will find someone, and train them accordingly, before the 2014 season. Any time you lose a high first round draft pick the production will drop, but it is not as if our defense will become a sieve because we don't have Nix.

You failed to comprehend what I was writing. TurningPoint said the defense does not need a "Nix". It can survive with a "Cwynar/IWilliams". My question to him, and now to you since you so intelligently replied "this" is, who on the roster is the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams? The coaching staff have had 3 full recruiting classes to bring one in and no one seems to be able to tell who fits that role.

My point in listing out the names of the defensive lineman was to show the roster is filled with a bunch of DEs and not a single NT, even of a Cwynar/IWilliams caliber. Yes, someone 6-5 or taller could conceivably play NT (though I'm not aware of any that do in the NFL), but that does not answer the question. "Who will it be?" is the question. I don't doubt that someone on that list can play DT when the defense is in 4-down, but that is different that playing NT in 3-down.

For 2013, the depth chart is Nix, Schwenke, Stockton. Unless the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams plays ahead of Schwenke for a significant portion of the season, the person who takes over playing NT full time in 2014 be a potential first time player at the position without significant minutes. Does not sound promising.

Another important note, Cwynar and IWilliams were both upperclassmen when they played NT. Day, Springman, Jones and Hounshell are upperclassmen, the other options will all be sophmores or freshman.

So who on the roster will be the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams? Don't give me a general thoughts of what it takes to play NT, give me a name - who will it be?

Someone will obviously have to fill that role. My point is if the coaching staff believes a Cwynar/IWilliams player can suffice, have they signed that kind of player? According to all public reports, the defensive lineman signed to date were all recruited to play end, not nose tackle. They did recruit nose tackles but they failed to land any of them in three recruiting classes.

So people who have asked [who will play NT?] raise a valid question. People who act as though it is not a valid question need to answer the question in the specific (by giving a name), not the general. Otherwise stop acting as though it is not a valid question.

 

[Emcee77]

You failed to comprehend what I was writing. TurningPoint said the defense does not need a "Nix". It can survive with a "Cwynar/IWilliams". My question to him, and now to you since you so intelligently replied "this" is, who on the roster is the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams? The coaching staff have had 3 full recruiting classes to bring one in, and so far they have not.

My point in listing out the names of the defensive lineman was to show the roster is filled with a bunch of DEs and not a single NT, even of a Cwynar/IWilliams caliber. Yes, someone 6-5 or taller could conceivably play NT (though I'm not aware of any that do in the NFL), that does not answer the question. "Who will it be?" is the question. I don't doubt that someone on that list can play DT when the defense is in 4-down, but that is different that playing NT in 3-down.

For 2013, the depth chart is Nix, Schwenke, Stockton. Two run out of eligibility, the other graduates and likely goes to the NFL. So unless the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams plays ahead of Schwenke for a significant portion of the season, will the person who will take over playing NT full time in 2014 is a potential first time starter at the position and will have had no significant playing time at NT.

Another important note, Cwynar and IWilliams were both upperclassmen when they played NT.

So who on the roster will that Cwynar/IWilliams? Don't give me a general thoughts of what it takes to play NT, give me a name - who will it be?

Someone will obviously have to fill that role. My point is if the coaching staff believes a Cwynar/IWilliams player can suffice, have they signed that kind of player? According to all public reports, the defensive lineman signed to date were all recruited to play end, not nose tackle. They did recruit nose tackles but they failed to land any of them in three recruiting classes.

So people who have asked [who will play NT?] raise a valid question. People who act as though it is not a valid question need to answer the question in the specific (by giving a name), not the general.

We've previously said when this has come up that the staff appears to think that they can just put the least athletic of our big DEs at NT. For instance, Kona was recruited as a 220 lb. DE, then moved into the middle. Among guys with eligibility in 2014, Springmann has the physicality and size to play NT, although it's true that his length and mobility make him more of a true DE. Jarron Jones certainly has the physical tools in terms of strength and size, although he may not have ideal tenacity or physicality. And then there's Day, who also certainly has the physical tools as well as the tenacious on-field attitude, but I don't think we'll want to waste his athleticism in the middle. Then there's also Rochell, who has a big enough body to play NT at least situationally, like Tuitt does now, or even the preferred walk on Dickerson, who may put on enough weight to play NT.

So we've got options. True, none of them is really exciting. But as I think TP was trying to say, the NT doesn't need to be exciting. If you have an exciting NT, that's strictly a bonus. All the NT really has to do is two-gap. A beast like Springmann is certainly capable of doing that. Other guys too, probably. Hopefully we'll have Josh Frazier or Khairi Clark, lol.

 

[LoveThee]

We saw what happened when Nix came out of the Pitt game. Sure, having him is a luxury, but it might be a luxury that separates us from an elite defense and a very good one. I am fine with having a very good defense, but I don't see a lot of depth along the DL and not a lot of options to play NT.

I trust the staff though and I am intrigued to see what they come up with

 

[ulukinatme]

You play with the personnel you have and adapt accordingly. If we don't have a true NG that can take up two blockers in the middle, which is a crucial piece to the 3-4 front, you would almost expect that we would get forced into a more 4-3 setup eventually. We may have some guys that can grow into an okay NG for a 3-4, but right now Nix is kind of it imo.

 

[WestCoast]

We've previously said when this has come up that the staff appears to think that they can just put the least athletic of our big DEs at NT. For instance, Kona was recruited as a 220 lb. DE. Among guys with eligibility in 2014, Springmann definitely has the physicality to play NT, although it's true that his length makes him more of a true DE. Jarron Jones certainly has the physical tools in terms of strength and size, although he may not have ideal tenacity or physicality. And then there's Day, who also certainly has the physical tools as well as the physicality, but I don't think we'll want to waste his athleticism in the middle. Then there's also Rochell, who has a big enough body to play NT at least situationally, like Tuitt does now, or even the preferred walk on Dickerson, who may put on enough weight to play NT.

So we've got options. True, none of them is really exciting. But as I think TP was trying to say, the NT doesn't need to be exciting. If you have an exciting NT, that's strictly a bonus. All the NT really has to do is two-gap. A beast like Springmann is certainly capable of doing that. Other guys too, probably.

I understand all of those as in-our-head possibilities. Do you agree that "who will play NT in 2014" is a valid (and not easily answerable) question?

 

[Emcee77]

I understand all of those as in-our-head possibilities. Do you agree that "who will play NT in 2014" is a valid (and not easily answerable) question?

I think Springmann is more than an in-our-head possibility. I'm certain I've seen him line up at NT or at least heard that he worked at NT in practice. He'll be fine there, hopefully with a precocious true frosh working in and with Day sliding over on passing downs.

Yes, I certainly agree that it's a valid question. How could I possibly deny it. As Whiskey said above, we've discussed it endlessly on this board ever since it became apparent late in the 2013 cycle that the staff did not intend to take a true nose tackle in that class.

 

[NDWorld247]

I am convinced the real reason Vanderdoes had a problem with the staff is they changed their tune about his future position. EV was adamant about not playing NT pre-signing day and I think he stuck to his guns when the staff told him he would be Nix's replacement in 2014 and beyond.

Yeah... no.

No? So you are buying the sick grandmother excuse? Facts:

1. EV was ADAMENT about not playing the 0-technique.
2. BK called him a NT during his NSD interview. The minute I heard this I thought either a.) the staff changed his mind or b.) he was duped.
3. EV would have been the clear successor to Nix in 2014.

Perhaps you aren't aware of what happens once a player has signed his LOI. The process of de-recruitment happens. After months of everyone telling these recruits how great they are, college coaches start to break them down. It's like the Army. They sign up and then get broken down. I believe the 'trust' that was lost between EV and the staff has everything to do with his future position. You don't have to agree with that, but come with something more intelligent than "Yeah...no".

You failed to comprehend what I was writing. TurningPoint said the defense does not need a "Nix". It can survive with a "Cwynar/IWilliams". My question to him, and now to you since you so intelligently replied "this" is, who on the roster is the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams? The coaching staff have had 3 full recruiting classes to bring one in and no one seems to be able to tell who fits that role.

My point in listing out the names of the defensive lineman was to show the roster is filled with a bunch of DEs and not a single NT, even of a Cwynar/IWilliams caliber. Yes, someone 6-5 or taller could conceivably play NT (though I'm not aware of any that do in the NFL), but that does not answer the question. "Who will it be?" is the question. I don't doubt that someone on that list can play DT when the defense is in 4-down, but that is different that playing NT in 3-down.

For 2013, the depth chart is Nix, Schwenke, Stockton. Two run out of eligibility, the other graduates and likely goes to the NFL. So unless the 2014 Cwynar/IWilliams plays ahead of Schwenke for a significant portion of the season, will the person who takes over playing NT full time in 2014 be a potential first time player at the position? Does not sound promising.

Another important note, Cwynar and IWilliams were both upperclassmen when they played NT. Other than Day, Springman and Hounshell, the other options will all be sophmores or freshman.

So who on the roster will that Cwynar/IWilliams? Don't give me a general thoughts of what it takes to play NT, give me a name - who will it be?

Someone will obviously have to fill that role. My point is if the coaching staff believes a Cwynar/IWilliams player can suffice, have they signed that kind of player? According to all public reports, the defensive lineman signed to date were all recruited to play end, not nose tackle. They did recruit nose tackles but they failed to land any of them in three recruiting classes.

So people who have asked [who will play NT?] raise a valid question. People who act as though it is not a valid question need to answer the question in the specific (by giving a name), not the general.

My comprehension of the paragraph I quoted was you were saying Jones, Rochell and Matuska were too tall to play NT. If that was not your point, then why list their name and height and hardly anything else to back up your stance that they couldn't be Nix's replacement? You insinuated that NTs can't be 6'5" or taller which is simply not true.

I agreed with TP's post because everyone seems so concerned about life post-Nix, but the reality is a.) Nix doesn't grow on trees, b.) the staff didn't plan on losing EV (which supports my argument that they planned on using him at NT and he wasn't happy about it) and c.) as long as the NT takes up two blockers, we win. I agreed with everything he said.

To answer your valid question (not my intention with my previous response), Day is the closest body type to I. Williams. We really don't have anyone else that is 6'2"-6'3" and 300lbs.

Cynwar was 6'4", 285-300 and we have a few of them. Jarron Jones (6'6", 300lbs), Springman (6'6", 300lbs) and Rochell (6'5", close to 300lbs by the time 2014 rolls around). I don't believe Matsuka will be moved inside and I am not relying on a true freshman (Hayes) in 2014, although I trust the staff will bring in someone closer to a true 0-tech that can contribute.