JasonS
Football Moderator
Everyone tends to focus on the offense, and rightfully so. The WR corps has the chance to be amazing. Collaros showed what he could do last year. Pead, Goebel, and Williams make up a physical and explosive RB group. The OL brings back some very good and experienced players. We know all about the offense that Butch Jones ran at Central Michigan and what they were able to accomplish. What we don't know is how good this defense is going to be. Anyone who tells you anything different is either clueless or lying (or both). That is why I am going to focus a little bit on the defense this year compared to last year's team. I think there are 3 reasons why this year's defense will be better than last year.
1. Switching back to a 4-3 from a 3-4.
Let's be honest, it was a very curious decision to switch to a 3-4 last year. There was not a single player on the team that was recruited to fill a spot in a 3-4 and the most important piece to that puzzle is a NT that has to be double teamed and wreaks havoc when he isn't. Asking one of our defensive tackles to be that guy was both unfair and impossible. When your NT can be blocked by 1 offensive lineman, you now have 4 other linemen to block 6 other players (2 DL and 4 LB). Add in a TE and a FB and all of a sudden the advantage sways heavily to the offense. Alabama was able to be successful in the 3-4 because Terrence Cody commanded a double team and allowed a couple line backers to run free. If you don't have that type of player, play a 4-3 base defense. By default this year's team will be more consistent defensively just by switching back to the 4-3 and I think, more productive.
2. The LBs are a year older and wiser.
For the first time in a while we haven't heard all offseason about how our success at LB is dependant upon a player that is either new to the position or a freshman. This year we are both deep and experienced at LB with JK Schaffer, Walter Stewart, and Robby Armstrong (just to name a few). Part of the issue with the 3-4 is that you now need to find more LBs to play and play well. This roster didn't have enough experienced LBs last year. That shouldn't be a problem this year. I look for the 3 I mentioned above to have extremely productive years for the Bearcats this year provided they stay healthy. Armstrong is coming off a knee injury but was a productive player before that injury. JK Schaffer is a junior this year and Walter Stewart is a redshirt Sophomore. Add Robert Martin (JC Transfer), Maalik Bomar (SO), Dorian Davis (JR), Ricardo Thompson (RS JR) and you have a very solid group of LBs.
3. The Secondary will have opportunities to make plays.
I feel like our defensive backs were hung out to dry a bit last year because the front 7 struggled to get consistent pressure on opposing QBs. I don't think that will be as much of a problem this year and as a result I look for guys like Drew Frey, Dominique Battle, and Reuben Johnson to have big seasons. While there are still some questions about this group overall, I think they will be a pleasant surprise. They are young but there is some experience there in Frey (RS SO) and Battle (JR). Johnson is a sophomore and so is another talented player, Chris Williams. I think the secondary is good enough and athletic enough to match up with any receiving group on the schedule. I look for the turnover numbers to resemble those of the UC Orange Bowl run and a good amount of those will come from this secondary.
1. Switching back to a 4-3 from a 3-4.
Let's be honest, it was a very curious decision to switch to a 3-4 last year. There was not a single player on the team that was recruited to fill a spot in a 3-4 and the most important piece to that puzzle is a NT that has to be double teamed and wreaks havoc when he isn't. Asking one of our defensive tackles to be that guy was both unfair and impossible. When your NT can be blocked by 1 offensive lineman, you now have 4 other linemen to block 6 other players (2 DL and 4 LB). Add in a TE and a FB and all of a sudden the advantage sways heavily to the offense. Alabama was able to be successful in the 3-4 because Terrence Cody commanded a double team and allowed a couple line backers to run free. If you don't have that type of player, play a 4-3 base defense. By default this year's team will be more consistent defensively just by switching back to the 4-3 and I think, more productive.
2. The LBs are a year older and wiser.
For the first time in a while we haven't heard all offseason about how our success at LB is dependant upon a player that is either new to the position or a freshman. This year we are both deep and experienced at LB with JK Schaffer, Walter Stewart, and Robby Armstrong (just to name a few). Part of the issue with the 3-4 is that you now need to find more LBs to play and play well. This roster didn't have enough experienced LBs last year. That shouldn't be a problem this year. I look for the 3 I mentioned above to have extremely productive years for the Bearcats this year provided they stay healthy. Armstrong is coming off a knee injury but was a productive player before that injury. JK Schaffer is a junior this year and Walter Stewart is a redshirt Sophomore. Add Robert Martin (JC Transfer), Maalik Bomar (SO), Dorian Davis (JR), Ricardo Thompson (RS JR) and you have a very solid group of LBs.
3. The Secondary will have opportunities to make plays.
I feel like our defensive backs were hung out to dry a bit last year because the front 7 struggled to get consistent pressure on opposing QBs. I don't think that will be as much of a problem this year and as a result I look for guys like Drew Frey, Dominique Battle, and Reuben Johnson to have big seasons. While there are still some questions about this group overall, I think they will be a pleasant surprise. They are young but there is some experience there in Frey (RS SO) and Battle (JR). Johnson is a sophomore and so is another talented player, Chris Williams. I think the secondary is good enough and athletic enough to match up with any receiving group on the schedule. I look for the turnover numbers to resemble those of the UC Orange Bowl run and a good amount of those will come from this secondary.
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