'14 KY DT Matt Elam (Kentucky Verbal)

[chubler]

Reps.

Exactly. Despite "recruiting for this system for many years", we are lacking in ILB and specifically NT. Both positions are critical to a 3-4. Meanwhile, we have plenty of DT depth and guys that can play with their hand in the dirt. We had the players for a 3-4 last year because of Teo and Nix. Next year, we don't have anything near that. What we have is great personell for for a 4-3.

Just my opinion here, but I don't live in this world some of you seem to inhabit where excellent interior D-linemen aren't absolutely critical on defense, period. If we don't have the talent at DT, running a 4-3 isn't magically gonna fix something- the other team's gonna win the line of scrimmage regardless. Defense starts up the middle, every time, all the time. I challenge you to name a single elite defense at any level that didn't have excellent interior defensive linemen. Hell, even a single very good defense. It just doesn't happen.

For that reason, I don't see how a 4-3 is gonna help us. Who's gonna move into the middle? The same guys who we're talking about rotating in at NT are the ones who are gonna be playing DT in a 4-3, and our abundance of CAT/DE guys are all still gonna be DE's at best, so I just don't see how a 4-3 helps. Additionally, Tuitt and Day lose the opportunity to use their rush abilities, which is what made them special in the first place. Just don't see it helping.

 

[dwshade]

To those guys that say the NT isn't that important in the 3-4:



After Bud Wilkinson, Collier was probably one of the first 3-4 experts. I would think Wilkinson would think the same way. Nose Tackle is considered the most physically demanding position in football. You are essentially asked to control the A gap, the center of all the action, and typically eat up at least 2 blockers. Typically in the 3-4 you're asking 3 DL to eat up 4 blockers, or sometimes 5, so your linebackers are free to make plays. If your NT isn't capable of the job, that makes it harder on your DE's and then your LBs.

I think JJ can play the position. Now that he has the coach's trust, I think he'll emerge as a good player. He probably won't be on the level of Nix, maybe if he plays all 4 years. The prospects behind him are a little worrying though, we're obviously not deep at the position, and JJ is still inexperienced. To make matters worse, we've struggled picking up ILBs, which is probably the #2 most important position in the 3-4. It's no wonder theres talk that we'll shift to a 4-3, especially since we're picking up an abundance of guys that can play as either 4-3 DE or maybe CAT/OLB.

Great, you quote a guy who coached 25 years ago. But more to the point no said it wasn't an important position. We're saying he doesn't have to be a 330 behometh or Louis Nix. As Emcee correctly pointed out smaller guys have manned the position successfully. Struggled with ILB's? Grace, Deeb, Moore, Randolph, Martini, Morgan, Sykes can all play the position very well. Not to mention that when we go to the big nickel package we take one ILB out and replace him with another safety. The "sky is falling" crowd needs to chill. NT and ILB will be just fine.

 

[dwshade]

Just my opinion here, but I don't live in this world some of you seem to inhabit where excellent interior D-linemen aren't absolutely critical on defense, period. If we don't have the talent at DT, running a 4-3 isn't magically gonna fix something- the other team's gonna win the line of scrimmage regardless. Defense starts up the middle, every time, all the time. I challenge you to name a single elite defense at any level that didn't have excellent interior defensive linemen. Hell, even a single very good defense. It just doesn't happen.

For that reason, I don't see how a 4-3 is gonna help us. Who's gonna move into the middle? The same guys who we're talking about rotating in at NT are the ones who are gonna be playing DT in a 4-3, and our abundance of CAT/DE guys are all still gonna be DE's at best, so I just don't see how a 4-3 helps. Additionally, Tuitt and Day lose the opportunity to use their rush abilities, which is what made them special in the first place. Just don't see it helping.

Correct, it doesn't help by going to a 4-3. And a 3-4 defense gives you more flexibility in terms of personel against spread offense and option teams. That is why Kelly, while at Cincinnati, made the decision to go to the 3-4 and it will continue to be our base defense.

 

[woolybug25]

Just my opinion here, but I don't live in this world some of you seem to inhabit where excellent interior D-linemen aren't absolutely critical on defense, period. If we don't have the talent at DT, running a 4-3 isn't magically gonna fix something- the other team's gonna win the line of scrimmage regardless. Defense starts up the middle, every time, all the time. I challenge you to name a single elite defense at any level that didn't have excellent interior defensive linemen. Hell, even a single very good defense. It just doesn't happen.

For that reason, I don't see how a 4-3 is gonna help us. Who's gonna move into the middle? The same guys who we're talking about rotating in at NT are the ones who are gonna be playing DT in a 4-3, and our abundance of CAT/DE guys are all still gonna be DE's at best, so I just don't see how a 4-3 helps. Additionally, Tuitt and Day lose the opportunity to use their rush abilities, which is what made them special in the first place. Just don't see it helping.

I didn't say that we lacked DT talent, I said the opposite in fact. We have very good defensive tackle talent, I said we lacked NT talent. We don't have any "true NT's" on the team. There is a difference between DT and NT.

The fact remains that you have to have a NT that takes up, at a minimum, two offensive lineman. We have good talent that can play DT (Jones, Day, Springmann), but none of them are stout NT dudes. They are all much better suited for DT's in a 4-3.

Don't get me started on ILBers...

 

[Domina Nostra]

I didn't say that we lacked DT talent, I said the opposite in fact. We have very good defensive tackle talent, I said we lacked NT talent. We don't have any "true NT's" on the team. There is a difference between DT and NT.

The fact remains that you have to have a NT that takes up, at a minimum, two offensive lineman. We have good talent that can play DT (Jones, Day, Springmann), but none of them are stout NT dudes. They are all much better suited for DT's in a 4-3.

Don't get me started on ILBers...

-----------------Tuitt-------Day--------Jones------Williams--------------------
--------------Rochelle--Springman--Hounshel----Okwara
Smith/Tanquil----------------Morgan/Grace---------------Councell/Randolph

 

[woolybug25]

-----------------Tuitt-------Day--------Jones------Williams--------------------
--------------Rochelle--Springman--Hounshel----Okwara
Smith/Tanquil----------------Morgan/Grace---------------Councell/Randolph

That's the shit i'm talkin' about...

 

[gkIrish]

-----------------Tuitt-------Day--------Jones------Williams--------------------
--------------Rochelle--Springman--Hounshel----Okwara
Smith/Tanquil----------------Morgan/Grace---------------Councell/Randolph

I've always been a big supporter of the 4-3 but never actually saw a breakdown like this. Makes me want it even more. We have no ILB depth and Ishaq translates better to a 4-3 DE than a LBer.

 

[woolybug25]

I've always been a big supporter of the 4-3 but never actually saw a breakdown like this. Makes me want it even more. We have no ILB depth and Ishaq translates better to a 4-3 DE than a LBer.

Add Hayes at DT, Trumbetti at DE and dare I say it.... Morgan at ILB... and that is a damn fine squad stacked with depth. It looks way different in a 3-4.

I didn't even mention how well Yeargin and Martini fit into that depth. It gives us the best starting lineups with a great mix of experience as well. A 3-4 forces us to play a lot of really inexperienced guys at LB.

 

[IrishinTN]

Why is everyone forgetting about Deeb?

 

[woolybug25]

Why is everyone forgetting about Deeb?

Shameful of me.... I think he will be excellent. Good catch.

 

[IrishinTN]

Shameful of me.... I think he will be excellent. Good catch.

Me too.

 

[NDPhilly]

Trumbetti, Blackenship, Bonner, and Williams all look like 4-3 DEs. We'd have a Ton of depth there.

 

[IrishLion]

Maye the staff really has been preparing for the potential to move to 4-3 on a more "full time" basis. Doesn't Randolph project better as an OLB as well, even though he's at ILB for the 3-4?

 

[Irish#1]

Is everyone forgetting this is Elam's thread? lol

 

[Domina Nostra]

The current LB coach for the Jets has Kelly connections, lots of success at UGA as a DC, and ran a 4-3.

 

[stlnd01]

The current LB coach for the Jets has Kelly connections, lots of success at UGA as a DC, and ran a 4-3.

Who, this guy?
New York Jets: Brian VanGorder

Worked at Grand Valley State 23 years ago? I guess that's "Kelly connections." He's certainly been around. Was a defensive coordinator for a pretty good NFL team in the Falcons. Also that atrocity of Auburn in 2012 (where his defense apparently gave up the most points in a game for Auburn in almost a century). Who knows...

 

[ulukinatme]

If Tuitt sticks around, in a 4-3 look I imagine he and Day would take up the DT spots. He would be a force on the inside, kinda like that guy from Pitt, being able to split double teams if he comes back speedy and powerful next season. Ishaq would be one end, and Rochelle or someone else holds down the other DE spot. JJ probably starts in place of Tuitt if he's gone.

 

[NDPhilly]

Tuitt is literally the Prototype 3-4 DE. Maybe if he got down to 290lb he could play 4-3 DE. Julius Peppers is listed at 6'7" 287, Mario Williams at 6'6" 292, and Greg Hardy 6'4" 290.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Anyone know what Kelly drives?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just Riding Around In Coach Stoops Mercedes <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BigBalla&src=hash">#BigBalla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BBN&src=hash">#BBN</a> <a href="http://t.co/hSub7dz5ZY">pic.twitter.com/hSub7dz5ZY</a></p>— Matt Elam™6⃣9⃣ (@FballIsLife69) <a href="https://twitter.com/FballIsLife69/statuses/411886402297933824">December 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[IrishinTN]

I think they are showing him what he'd receive for committing to them.

 

[IrishInFl]

Anyone know what Kelly drives?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just Riding Around In Coach Stoops Mercedes <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BigBalla&src=hash">#BigBalla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BBN&src=hash">#BBN</a> <a href="http://t.co/hSub7dz5ZY">pic.twitter.com/hSub7dz5ZY</a></p>— Matt Elam™6⃣9⃣ (@FballIsLife69) <a href="https://twitter.com/FballIsLife69/statuses/411886402297933824">December 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A new Bugatti

 

[BeauBenken]

A new Bugatti

Private jet.

 

[Bluto]

Monte Carlo SS with green and gold metal flake, 22's and spinners! The recruits would be beating down the door.

 

[Cackalacky]

 

[Buster Bluth]

On a serious note I thought he drove an Escalade?

 

[Me2SouthBend]

On a serious note I thought he drove an Escalade?

No, you're confusing him w Trent Richardson when he was a freshman at Bama.

 

[RyCo1983]

No, you're confusing him w Trent Richardson when he was a freshman at Bama.

Actually it was a Yukon

Trent Richardson's 2011 Yukon With Nice Rims -- Nothing To See Here : Outkick The Coverage

 

[Irish2015]

On a serious note I thought he drove an Escalade?

Yeah, he does drive an Escalade.

 

[Irish#1]

Anyone know what Kelly drives?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just Riding Around In Coach Stoops Mercedes <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BigBalla&src=hash">#BigBalla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BBN&src=hash">#BBN</a> <a href="http://t.co/hSub7dz5ZY">pic.twitter.com/hSub7dz5ZY</a></p>— Matt Elam™6⃣9⃣ (@FballIsLife69) <a href="https://twitter.com/FballIsLife69/statuses/411886402297933824">December 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Careful Matt it's the old bait and switch. He's showing you a nice car and you'll end up with a dump of a team.

 

[Meacon Irish]

Drives a Mercedes, but coaches a Pinto?