corbi, gocatsgo, whoever the hell else wants to respond
- Thread starter FloridAlum
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Remember that Fitz likes to play a four man rotation on the DL - so we really need four guys capable of starting each year. We also do quite a bit of situational substituting. Our freshness is one of the keys to our success up front. Also, as much as we hope to avoid them, injuries do happen. We'll see, hopefully this year, how Carnifax is able to come back from his. We looked so deep at DB a year ago and still had to move a guy from WR by mid-year just to cover the position.
We have depth all across the DL including DT so I am not sure you have to move anyone. That being said, I could see Gaziano, Kent and O'Rourke being able to play inside at some point. Leota is a great addition to this group because he projects more as a speed rush specialist and we don't really have a guy like that other than potentially Mark Gooden. Bottom line, we are stacked on the DL and the line of scrimmage is where games are won. If we can duplicate this type of talent and depth on the OL, look out.
The younger Miller looks like he can play inside, though I think he is quicker than his older sibling (sorry-cannot remember if it is Alex who is the elder--think Sam is younger)
Sometimes I've seen folks argue to what extent the system a player will be recruited into and looking at examples of how past talent at his position was utilized matters. All I'll say, is while it's probably not a deciding factor in itself, I would think that the fact that Iffy led the B1G in sacks last year isn't hurting our case with DL recruits this year. They can also point to Dean Lowry the year before, who last year was a mid round pick and carved out a role on a playoff team in GB.
A far cry from DE U yet, but it's a good pipeline to have and hopefully it keeps flowing!
I was actually counting both Miller Brothers as defensive tackles, although this might be an incorrect assumption
I think Sam is more comfortable as a DE but he may quickly be forced inside given the depth we are building at DE.
Also I forgot to include Mr. Gooden in the original post. Sorry. It was not deliberate
DT depth? Short term ... Yes. But the Miller brothers are both on the light side and Big Jake is the only other DT among the pups. Need to get a couple of stout run stuffers in this 2018 class. I agree though that Kent and O'Rourke will likely grow into situational insiders. On the other hand, if we keep recruiting DEs as we have, maybe Kent or Carnifax gives us a ball buster at TE? Maybe O'Rourke is seen as the answer at LOT? Lots of options when you have young, high quality jumbo athletes.
GOUNUII
His HS play showed a guy who was very crafty getting to the QB and playing with his hand on the ground. We don't really have a bend the edge speed rusher at DE and I think he and the Leota kid who just committed are most like to fill that role. In terms of size, Gooden looked to be beefed up in the few glimpses I saw of him on TV yesterday. He'll get to 245-260 and that is plenty big enough to be a rotational DE in the Big Ten.
Seems like we are building a group of big, versatile linemen. Some might get bigger, but this falls under the "good problem" category.
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