'14 KY DT Matt Elam (Kentucky Verbal)

[Luckylucci]

"Day, Springman, Rochelle, Matuska, Hounshell, Hayes, Dickerson, Trumbetti, Blankenship, Bonner, Ishaq, Okwara, Jarron and maybe Tuitt and maybe Elam. I am not nearly as worried as everyone else. "

Day is a DE, and a sometimes DT. So, not a true DT
Sprinigman is coming back from a serious knee injury
Rochelle is a DE as well, but maybe can grow into a DT. But, still not a true DT.
Matuska, not ready!
Chase Hounshell, 2 lost years because of major injury and looking at a medical. Most likely done. Or close to it.
Haye, he is our best chance at a true DT IMO. Only 272 now, and can grow into it.
Dickerson, lost his senior year to a back injury. 260 pounds. So, he is far-far away IMO.
Trumbetti, very interesting. I think this kid is special. But, at DE. Not a true NT that needs to take up blocks.
Grant Blankenship is really-really light. And will be a DE. But very athletic.
Bonner, RAW and is not a true DT.
Ishaq-DE Not a DT.
Okwara, DE but played DT because of major injury issues. Tooooooooooo Light for DT to take up blockers.
Jarron is our only True type DT (outside Hayes, and he isn't even here yet). The only one.
Tuitt is gone IMO. And he is DE. Can do both, but he is DE in our scheme. Putting him inside all the time is taking away his edge rush abilties.

So, we have exactly 1 possible true NT/NG in the whole bunch. I am extremely worried. EXTREMELY. We lost Eddie to transfer. WE didn't get any, zero NT/NG in the 2013 recruiting cycle. Got 1 in the 2012 and Tony/Tuitt/Chase in the 2011. And 1 has major injury issues (may end career) one coming off serious knee injury/1 most likely going to the NFL.

We have to get as many DT's as possible in this recruiting class. We don't have any guys that can take up 2 blockers right know. And with Nix gone, that is a serious issue. WE will have to make some major changes to our defense because of it. Stanford had Gaffney run for 190 against us and nother guy with 40 yards. BYU had 2 100 yard guys against us. So, even with Jarron and how well he playe we got gashed. WE need DT's, and need them bad. IMO

Otherwise we will have to work differently with our scheme. And I am sure Diaco will do that. Without Nix and most likely Tuitt, a lot of things will have to change.

You may be confusing DT and NT. Day is a 3-4 DE and DT in the 4-3. Just like depending on personnel sometimes Tuitt plays 4-3 DT. We have and will have plenty of guys to play DT. Unless we get Elam we will be short on guys that can play NT.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I wonder if he still considers Alabama after Saban leaves for Texas?

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Lucky, I am not confusing it. I know the difference. I am just saying True NT/NG. I know we interchange them all at times. But, we are super short on guys that truly play the middle of the 3 in the 3-4. The Nix position.

Now we can do other things to mask not having a true Nt/NG type. But, we really need one IMO.

 

[Luckylucci]

Lucky, I am not confusing it. I know the difference. I am just saying True NT/NG. I know we interchange them all at times. But, we are super short on guys that truly play the middle of the 3 in the 3-4. The Nix position.

Now we can do other things to mask not having a true Nt/NG type. But, we really need one IMO.

Just clarifying, because your original post said DT quite a few times and a lot of those guys including Day are DT's just not NT's. There was never a reference to NT's so thats where the confusion was.

 

[johnnycando]

Can't feel good about Saban going in for the visit.

 

[Cackalacky]

Fuck it. Lets get 7 CATs 6'6" and 300lbs each. Teach them to be DOGs. Then the Offense wont know what the hell is going on or who is doing what.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Lucky, sorry for the confussion.

 

[johnnycando]

Fuck it. Lets get 7 CATs 6'6" and 300lbs each. Teach them to be DOGs. Then the Offense wont know what the hell is going on or who is doing what.

Then they'll run up the A and B gap every down. Nickel and dime. All day.

 

[Cackalacky]

Then they'll run up the A and B gap every down. Nickel and dime. All day.

ALL DAY!

 

[cody1smith]

I wonder if he still considers Alabama after Saban leaves for Texas?

Is this a real possibility or just humorous posts still?

 

[Irish#1]

Since Diaco brought his 3-4 to South Bend, virtually all of our NT reps have been taken by the following players:

• Ian Williams (6'2'' 305)
• Sean Cwynar (6'4'' 285)
• Louis Nix (6'2'' 345+)
• Kona Schwenke (6'3'' 303)
• Tony Springmann (6'6'' 296)
• Jarron Jones (6'6'' 305)

I used to be among those wringing their hands over our lack of a "true" NT to take over in Nix's absence, but I've long since given it up. We're likely exaggerating the importance of having a NT that fits within a very specific physical profile, and the difficulty of successfully playing NT in a 3-4.

My understanding is that it's not especially hard to do if you've got the requisite strength and technique; Saban's NTs are plenty effective, but they rarely get the sort of pub Big Lou has. Nix was special because he could also pass-rush effectively from a 0-1 tech, which is rare. But I'm not worried about our pass-rush going forward, are you?

Not so much!

Don't forget the most brilliant thing Bob Diaco may have done all season is to put a "true linebacker in the nose tackle position" to follow an opposing ball carrier or quarterback! (I think it was mostly Romeo, but Prince and a couple of others may have taken a snap or two.) I say this just to add further credence to your point WJ. There are times, and teams you would rather play with mobility on defense. (However what made Lou 1 out of 1 on this is that he actually with his size had the ability to get after the quarterback, as you noted.) Can you imagine being a qb with some wheels and having this guy gaining on you? Santa Maria!

That was part of my point earlier. You cannot replace a guy like Louis Nix III. Don't try. Get on to what is next.

How is that preferred walk on from Arkansas, Marquis, doing? Didn't he have some of the players talking about him? Was it ball?

Agree........We were fortunate for Lou to develop like he did with his skill set. Look at the NFL and there are very very few NT's that fit this mold. The Colts went to the 3-4 when Pagano came on board and then drafted Chapman out of Bama. I was ecstatic (after not using that word forever, I've used that word twice today!?) but he's not turned out to be that really good NT everyone is looking for. Jones experience this year will pay great dividends next year.

 

[Irish#1]

Is this a real possibility or just humorous posts still?

It still has wings.

 

[chubler]

Given our JUCO limitations I truly don't understand why we wouldn't at worst treat NT like QB and take one per cycle. Maybe even two if we can get two really good ones. But with that said, I don't think the sky is falling.

Look at the amount of capable big bodies we've got right now. We may not be able to play the theoretical ideal or vanilla DE-NT-DE 3-4 front, but what we can do is play with 4 down linemen and rotate a fairly impressive bunch of guys through our defensive front, several of whom are capable of dropping off the line if need be. It might require an adjustment from Diaco in terms of gap responsibility without one designated player consistently two-gapping, but if we make the right adjustments we should be able to field a defensive front nearly as formidable as 2012's, albeit employing different tactics.

 

[Irish#1]

Can't feel good about Saban going in for the visit.

But we're countering with BK and most of the staff.

I don't look at it as a last ditch attempt to get him. I think this is an attempt to strengthen our position and maybe lock him up. With the dead period looming they probably want him to have a nice lasting impression to refer back on during the dead period.

 

[Domina Nostra]

It still has wings.

I live in Alabama, and I can confirm that it's not over yet. The report about his getting a big raise/extension was a rumor from an Alabama board.

Can't feel good about Saban going in for the visit.

I will feel better with Kirby Smart in there.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Did you even watch Jones against Stanford?

Yes, in fact, I was there. Jones held his own against one of the best interiors in college football, but they still got a huge chunk of yards per rush on them. I'm not saying Jones won't cut it at NG, but I believe his talents are best served at DE in ND's scheme.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Bama was able to fill its need at NT twice by going the JUCO route. Without that option they would not have been able to man that position with a typical NT. Look at recent recruiting classes and show me where all these Louis Nix types were. Bama does not have 7 guys who can play the position. Not worried in the slightest. And remember we are actually in a 4-3 look 40-50% of the time anyway. Sorry I don't live in your "the sky is falling world."

True. While we do run a 3-4, I do see more 4 down sets. Like Bama, we don't run a typical 3-4. I'm still concerned due to the lack of size and quantity of interior d-linemen.

 

[CanadalovesND]

ALL DAY!

Haha schmidt is the man

 

[Luckylucci]

Saban's visit went great with Elam and his mother. Saban spent most of the time telling Matt's mother that he was the only NG they are recruiting (cough, cough, BS) the other guys are outside guys. Told Matt's mother that he's staying at Bama. She loved him and spoke very highly of him.

 

[dublinirish]

Saban's visit went great with Elam and his mother. Saban spent most of the time telling Matt's mother that he was the only NG they are recruiting (cough, cough, BS) the other guys are outside guys. Told Matt's mother that he's staying at Bama. She loved him and spoke very highly of him.

LOL, did he compliment her on the curtains in the house as well?

 

[ulukinatme]

Saban's visit went great with Elam and his mother. Saban spent most of the time telling Matt's mother that he was the only NG they are recruiting (cough, cough, BS) the other guys are outside guys. Told Matt's mother that he's staying at Bama. She loved him and spoke very highly of him.

Well, Saban is most likely staying in 'Bama, but I can't see where they've taken 4 DTs already and none are projected to be NT? A couple of those are big boys, while a few are certainly going to be 3-4 DEs.

 

[ulukinatme]

LOL, did he compliment her on the curtains in the house as well?

He said he would take her hand in marriage if her son would commit

 

[Ricochet]

Saban's visit went great with Elam and his mother. Saban spent most of the time telling Matt's mother that he was the only NG they are recruiting (cough, cough, BS) the other guys are outside guys. Told Matt's mother that he's staying at Bama. She loved him and spoke very highly of him.

Saban doesn't see it as lying as Elam is the only NT he's recruiting because Josh Frazier is already in the fold so it's not lying when he says that Elam is the only NT he's recruiting .

SEC logic and ethics.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Yes, in fact, I was there. Jones held his own against one of the best interiors in college football, but they still got a huge chunk of yards per rush on them. I'm not saying Jones won't cut it at NG, but I believe his talents are best served at DE in ND's scheme.

So then you saw that the linebackers were frozen by play action and other things and that they were often hitting the wrong gap, causing that crease that the Stanford runners used.

My point being, if you expect anything better than Jones and Springman, (could be), maybe we need a new defense?

(Because in addition to Lou's plug 'em up, Jarron can get his arms up and swat down even more balls than Lou did. Just a point.

 

[SoJerseyIrish]

Commit to the school Matt and not the coach.

Odds are the NFL is going to come calling for more College Coaches due to the recent success of Chip, Cheat Carroll and Cry Baby Harbaugh. There is a very good possibility Saban and BK might not ever see you graduate.......pick the school, not the coach!

 

[Irish#1]

Saban's visit went great with Elam and his mother. Saban spent most of the time telling Matt's mother that he was the only NG they are recruiting (cough, cough, BS) the other guys are outside guys. Told Matt's mother that he's staying at Bama. She loved him and spoke very highly of him.

Saban always plays up to the mom. I also heard that he asked Matt to wait outside while he had his way with his mom.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Saban always plays up to the mom. I also heard that he asked Matt to wait outside while he had his way with his mom.

"Your momma sure does care about your education, son. You don't say much do you?"

"eh, eh, eh, eh, eh.."

 

[GBdomer]

"Your momma sure does care about your education, son. You don't say much do you?"

"eh, eh, eh, eh, eh.."

had me rolling

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Notre Dame And Coach Kelly Will Be Here For A In Home Visit Today At 7</p>— Matt Elam™6⃣9⃣ (@FballIsLife69) <a href="https://twitter.com/FballIsLife69/statuses/410763928957108224">December 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[dublinirish]

Saban always plays up to the mom. I also heard that he asked Matt to wait outside while he had his way with his mom.

BK needs to get Bon Jovi on the staff