a few random thoughts for next year

[okanst07]

after watching the bowls and the BCS title game i had a bunch of random thoughts.

1 - Seeing Ted Gin made me wonder why we didn't see Walls, Zbikowski, Prince etc. get more chances on kick returns. If guys aren't doing it let's see someone else with speed in there having a go.

2- I like the way teams use the Harvin's, Bush's, etc. in the flat or backfield. I hope Charlie has something similar for Armando Allen next year.

3- We've done defense to death here but I see top defenses changing up their formations, and scheme during the game, Florida would rush 3, 4, 5 or 6 guys. It changed sometimes 5 DB's, etc. I liked the creativity

4- The next level for us on Offense is a blazer (Allen) who can scare a defense into sitting on their heels a little bit. I know people have talked about this, but, seeing Ginn go out and the effect it had on OSU shows up big.

5- I think I like the 3-4 personally, was wondering if next year we ran it if we'd be successful. Perhaps we line up
DE - Trattou, Ryan
DT - Laws
OLB - Crum, Zbikowski
ILB - Richardson and Brockington

 

[irishranger]

I think CW would like to play a 3-4, only problem is we are not athletic enough at the LB position yet to run it well. Maybe with some of these young def backs we are geting we can do just that and then line up the linemen and LB's just as you suggested.

 

[Katzenboyer]

The 3-4 has been talked to death around here, and it's simply not going to happen.

Being a fan of the Pats, I've seen the 3-4 for years now with Belichick. Most 3-4 defenses utilize different "styles" -- Pittsburgh blitzes quite a bit through theirs, San Diego aggressively fills gaps, and New England plays consistent and disciplined but usually not attacking.

But in each case, the 3-4 uses a very SPECIFIC type of personell -- and ND simply does not have it.

First off, the nose tackle in the 3-4 has to be MAMMOTH. I'm not talking the 290-300 pounds range -- I'm takling 320-340 pounds. The best nose tackles in 3-4 schemes are the big guys -- Jamaal Williams, Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton, Sam Adams, Ted Washington, etc. All these guys are pushing over 320 pounds. The size is needed to tie up the lineman, who allow the linebackers to roam free and make plays.

Second, the DE's in 3-4 defenses are MASSIVE as well. Not 240 pounds -- but pushing 300. Richard Seymour is 310. Ty Warren is 300. The lightest DE on the Patriots is Jarvis Green -- and he's 285. Same thing for the Chargers. Castillo plays DE, but was a DT in college -- he's right around 290.

If we used any combination of Trattou, Neal, or players of that size, they'd be outside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme, and not defensive ends. And as for our linebackers -- well, we just don't have enough quality linebackers right now to play the 3-4 scheme.

You have to recruit VERY specifically to play the 3-4 scheme. Watch Saban recruit at Alabama -- he always runs the 3-4, he did it at LSU and he'll do it with the Crimson tide. Right now, we just don't have the talent or personell to run the 3-4, and if we wanted to implement it, it probably wouldn't happen for another 3-4 years because it takes a very specific type of recruit to fit that system.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I posted this on another thread, but here are the size of DEs and LBs in some of the NFL's 3-4 schemes.

Merriman: 272 pounds
Carlos Polk: 262 pounds
Randall Godfrey: 245 pounds
Porter: 250 pounds
Hagans: 243 pounds
Farrior: 243 pounds
Colvin: 250 pounds
Banta-Cain: 250 pounds
Bruschi: 247 pounds
Vrabel: 261 pounds
Adalius Thomas: 270 pounds
Ray Lewis: 250 pounds

You can also take a look at the defensive ends on these 3-4 teams:
Olshansky: 309 pounds
Castillo: 290 pounds
Bailey: 305 pounds
Aaron Smith: 295 pounds
Seymour: 310 pounds
Ty Warren: 300 pounds
Jarvis Green: 285 pounds

We simply do not have the players to play the 3-4 effectively. It's NOT a system where you can just say "hey, let's play three down lineman and four linebackers." It would be destroyed if you don't have the right group of players, and right now, we don't.

 

[solo]

On thing is for sure, we need a gimmick to cover up our lack of defensive talent or to do something differently. Whther we need to roll the dice and blitz more. run the 4-2-5, or something else. When what you are doing isn't working, do something else!

 

[okanst07]

When what you are doing isn't working, do something else!

That line I guess just sums up my thoughts on the defense. I'd like to see some creativity. If you play Navy why not move Zibby into a LB spot and play 4-4-3. Ya know, be different.

 

[scooper]

On thing is for sure, we need a gimmick to cover up our lack of defensive talent or to do something differently. Whther we need to roll the dice and blitz more. run the 4-2-5, or something else. When what you are doing isn't working, do something else!

Minter blitzed quite often but the blitzes were poorly designed and the players were not right for it. I got tired of screaming at the TV at having a guy start from 10 yards back and run toward the line after the snap. He might as well have told the guards before the play that he was coming.

 

[FleaFlicker]

We don't have the players to even switch sets like Florida was doing. That has a lot to do with it. We basically had 11 guys that could play defense, and nobody else seemed ready. Which is dramatically different than a team like Florida, who probably has 20 or so defenders play throught an entire game. And NOT in garbage time, they are real contributors.

As with everything, it starts with recruiting. It's just too bad no one really like playing Defense for ND right now. Because good defense and good offense perpetuates itself through recruits. Just like we are getting great offensive recruits because CHarlie is known for his offense.

We NEED a D-Coordinator that can bring that confidence and success to our defense, then we'll start getting the numbers and types of recruits that we need to be a defense like the Florida's of the world.