'16 FL S Devin Studstill (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[Shamrock Theories]

I'm no expert on scheme, but I like the relative simplicity of having one guy with full responsibility for the back end of the defense. Even if our safeties played error-free football--which they have proven incapable of doing in BVG's defense--leaving Tranquill back there by himself is basically the same as leaving no one back there. That's not a knock on Tranquill, he's an excellent football player, he's just playing out of position. Let Redfield and/or Studstill play deep, rep them a ton playing in coverage, and pray that things finally click for Redfield or that Studstill is ready from day one.

I had similar thoughts. Basically Tranquil isn't great in space, so putting him back there is a waste.

It also may indicate extreme confidence in our corners- likely Cole and Shaun specifically.

 

[koonja]

Listening to 24/7 podcast with Loy and Ironside/Sharpley were saying that from the practices they saw and spring game they reckon ND is moving towards more of a single high safety look with Redfield/Studstill back there on their own with Tranquill playing more in the box almost like a 4-4 look (we have seen this before alot vs option teams under BVG)

Also on the BGI podcast they mentioned that BVG seemed to be running alot more press-man coverages this spring ala Dantanio/Chris Ash defenses. Will be interesting to see if this is all true come the summer

Do you have a link to this podcast? Trying to find it and can't.

 

[dublinirish]

Do you have a link to this podcast? Trying to find it and can't.

it just comes up in my podcast unplayed episodes list. - Notre Dame Podcast - Apr 24

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/irish247.com/id958289950?mt=2

 

[gkIrish]

Listening to 24/7 podcast with Loy and Ironside/Sharpley were saying that from the practices they saw and spring game they reckon ND is moving towards more of a single high safety look with Redfield/Studstill back there on their own with Tranquill playing more in the box almost like a 4-4 look (we have seen this before alot vs option teams under BVG)

Also on the BGI podcast they mentioned that BVG seemed to be running alot more press-man coverages this spring ala Dantanio/Chris Ash defenses. Will be interesting to see if this is all true come the summer

This frightens me. We had two safeties failing to patrol the deep parts of the field last year, and now we want to rely on only one?

Tranquill's best position is operating as a freestyle guy in the box, so that's cool. But I'd rather see him doing that as a part-time nickle or dime on third downs in a 3-3-5 or 3-2-6 alignment, that way we still have two safeties deep.

Was going to post the same thing. We are going to get beat deep early and often if we take this approach.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

I had similar thoughts. Basically Tranquil isn't great in space, so putting him back there is a waste.

It also may indicate extreme confidence in our corners- likely Cole and Shaun specifically.

I know its early, but I already have extreme confidence in Shaun Crawford. My only worry is about Cole Luke getting beat deep by speedy WRs. Luke has always been very technically sound as a CB, but he doesn't have elite top end speed.

 

[koonja]

In a 4-4 with a deep safety, that safety will play deeper than any safety in a 4-3. So I'm not saying we won't give up big plays with this strategy, but as far as getting behind our defenense, it'd be more unlikely.

A 4-4 doesn't seem realistic, though, in today's college football. I feel like we need more DBs on the field if anything.

 

[IrishLion]

In a 4-4 with a deep safety, that safety will play deeper than any safety in a 4-3. So I'm not saying we won't give up big plays with this strategy, but as far as getting behind our defenense, it'd be more unlikely.

If I know that I'm playing against an ND defense that wants to move one of their safeties into the box quite a bit, I'm running four-verts 3 or 4 times per game and hoping that I catch them with that single high safety.

Do not like.

EDIT: As for your added statement, I agree with you. I'd like to see three safeties on the field on third down. Let Tranquill run around underneath with Max and Devin deep.

 

[dublinirish]

Was going to post the same thing. We are going to get beat deep early and often if we take this approach.

I am guessing BVG is hoping the outside Cb's can bump and run and give the DL some seconds to generate a pass rush. If the Cb's were to stand off the D would get nickel and dimed all the way down the field. As Driskell said on BGI this week it's harder for a offense to complete 40 yard bomb's on critical downs than 5/10 yard /curls/hooks/out's on every play

 

[gkIrish]

In a 4-4 with a deep safety, that safety will play deeper than any safety in a 4-3. So I'm not saying we won't give up big plays with this strategy, but as far as getting behind our defenense, it'd be more unlikely.

Yes but you are also relying on one safety to clean up any missed tackles by the corners. With our tackling issues, I don't like situations where 2 missed tackles = touchdowns for the opponent.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Yes but you are also relying on one safety to clean up any missed tackles by the corners. With our tackling issues, I don't like situations where 2 missed tackles = touchdowns for the opponent.

Does a 4-4 require you to have 4 LB personnel on the field or does it just refer to the player set? Because a 4 - 4 that includes 1-2 of our hybrid FS/LB or FS/CB doesn't sound so bad. They can bump and run or crash down on the flats/run plays.

 

[dublinirish]

When i say 4-4 i mean 8 guys in the box, not so much the personnel makeup FYI

 

[gmnysdad]

Maybe this is moving to something similar to the Seattle Seahawks. Essentially Earl Thomas patrols deep and Cam Chancellor is a box safety. The corners play press, but are responsible for deep thirds. It allows you to be creative with LB's, but also protects deep.


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[gkIrish]

Does a 4-4 require you to have 4 LB personnel on the field or does it just refer to the player set? Because a 4 - 4 that includes 1-2 of our hybrid FS/LB or FS/CB doesn't sound so bad. They can bump and run or crash down on the flats/run plays.

I think traditionally it means 4 linebackers but technically it's just 8 in the box.

It's potentially a great defense when you have 2 elite DBs and an elite safety. The problem is that we don't have that. It's also problematic because teams run 4 wide sets in college and you get stuck with OLBs covering wideouts.

 

[koonja]

I think traditionally it means 4 linebackers but technically it's just 8 in the box.

It's potentially a great defense when you have 2 elite DBs and an elite safety. The problem is that we don't have that. It's also problematic because teams run 4 wide sets in college and you get stuck with OLBs covering wideouts.

I think if you're optimistic, you can argue that. With how good he is and how much experience he has, Cole Luke is close to elite as far as college football goes IMO. He's not a freak, but he's going into his 3rd year starting and is a pretty solid athlete. And Crawford is arguably better than Luke already. So there's your corners.

Max is an elite athlete in his 3rd year, and he might thrive in a situation where instead of playing shallower on half of the field, he plays deep covering the whole field, and can play downfield with his speed the whole time, rather than somewhere in the middle because of the shallower half. I could see this working really well actually because of the personnel.

And for the 4 wide, obviously you have to run nickel if that happens and this 4-4 won't work in every situation.

 

[IrishLion]

And Crawford is arguably better than Luke already.

That IS optimistic.

Crawford is the slot coverage man we've been waiting for, and it looks like he'll be fine on the outside in base sets.... but better than Luke already?

 

[koonja]

That IS optimistic.

Crawford is the slot coverage man we've been waiting for, and it looks like he'll be fine on the outside in base sets.... but better than Luke already?

I think every podcast has had at least one analyst say Crawford is our best cornerback right now. I'm sure there will be growing pains, but people are saying he's already passed Luke as THE guy.

 

[gkIrish]

I think if you're optimistic, you can argue that. With how good he is and how much experience he has, Cole Luke is close to elite as far as college football goes IMO. He's not a freak, but he's going into his 3rd year starting and is a pretty solid athlete. And Crawford is arguably better than Luke already. So there's your corners.

Max is an elite athlete in his 3rd year, and he might thrive in a situation where instead of playing shallower on half of the field, he plays deep covering the whole field, and can play downfield with his speed the whole time, rather than somewhere in the middle because of the shallower half. I could see this working really well actually because of the personnel.

And for the 4 wide, obviously you have to run nickel if that happens and this 4-4 won't work in every situation.

Well the alignment would obviously shift but I don't know that we will have the right personnel out there all the time. We will have to see I guess.

 

[IrishLion]

I think every podcast has had at least one analyst say Crawford is our best cornerback right now. I'm sure there will be growing pains, but people are saying he's already passed Luke as THE guy.

That would be nice, because Luke is a very good corner.

Hopefully he's good enough to cover for the safety play behind him for the first part of the season.

 

[koonja]

Well the alignment would obviously shift but I don't know that we will have the right personnel out there all the time. We will have to see I guess.

Without Joe out there, I fully expect our 11 men on defense to line up on one hash and start a body pyramid whenever there is a personnel shift from the offense.

 

[zelezo vlk]

In this 4-4 an OLB will not be covering the 4th receiver, it'll be Rochell. Duh.

 

[irishfan]

Maybe we'll see Studstill and Max next to eachother with Tranquill playing his rover/monster underneath on 3rd downs?

I hope so. I've seen this in the NFL the last couple years more and more where teams put 2 Free Safetys in on passing downs and let their strong safety roam near the line (usually worried about a TE or RB out of the backfield). The Patriots have been big with this since re-acquiring Pat Chung since he can't play in space to save his life but is great near the LOS.

I always thought Shumate was a very similar player to Chung, and really thought he should have been used in that role....never that impressed with Shumate in coverage in space, but he was always impressive stopping the run and getting to play near the LOS. Would have loved to see him play in that old Slaughter role we used to use.

 

[IrishLion]

In this 4-4 an OLB will not be covering the 4th receiver, it'll be Rochell. Duh.

Jarron Jones is dropping to a deep third.

But seriously, a base 4-4 set wouldn't be on the field against 4-wide, or hopefully even 3-wide, unless something went terribly wrong.

I don't mind the idea of Tranquill dropping down into the 4-3 and becoming an extra LB with coverage ability on standard downs when the offense has two WR's on the field, but it still makes me nervous considering the history of safety play in BVG's defense.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Jarron Jones is dropping to a deep third.

But seriously, a base 4-4 set wouldn't be on the field against 4-wide, or hopefully even 3-wide, unless something went terribly wrong.

I don't mind the idea of Tranquill dropping down into the 4-3 and becoming an extra LB with coverage ability on standard downs when the offense has two WR's on the field, but it still makes me nervous considering the history of safety play in BVG's defense.

Something that BGI brought up on a podcast last week or the week before was that we've only seen Tranquil in coverage a couple times, and it's possible that he was so terrible because he was thinking too much, as opposed to just attacking. They weren't expecting Drue to be Earl Thomas, but they think he could be okay in coverage, if he knows how to take the right angles etc

 

[IrishLion]

Something that BGI brought up on a podcast last week or the week before was that we've only seen Tranquil in coverage a couple times, and it's possible that he was so terrible because he was thinking too much, as opposed to just attacking. They weren't expecting Drue to be Earl Thomas, but they think he could be okay in coverage, if he knows how to take the right angles etc

I didn't mean Tranquill dropping down makes me nervous, I meant only one safety deep in Max/Devin makes me nervous.

I have no doubt that Drue would thrive if he was allowed to freestyle near the LOS, especially since he could probably handle coverage against TE's/RB's. I just have doubts that he'll get enough opportunities based on the shaky back-end play.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I didn't mean Tranquill dropping down makes me nervous, I meant only one safety deep in Max/Devin makes me nervous.

I have no doubt that Drue would thrive if he was allowed to freestyle near the LOS, especially since he could probably handle coverage against TE's/RB's. I just have doubts that he'll get enough opportunities based on the shaky back-end play.

True. I just wanna see him stay healthy. Lou Somogyi said that his first half against Georgia Tech might've been the best first half he'd seen by a safety at Notre Dame.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

True. I just wanna see him stay healthy. Lou Somogyi said that his first half against Georgia Tech might've been the best first half he'd seen by a safety at Notre Dame.

He played very well that game. I think he may have had a few TFLs that game, which really killed the game plan for GT.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Studstill is a star in the making

 

[arrowryan]

I hope you're ready to roll young bull

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

I hope you're ready to roll young bull

This!! Some young guys are gonna have to step in.

 

[BoredIrish]

I think this will play out like K Russell in his freshman year.