Recruiting Gators could land top 2 TE's in the state?

[gatormandan]

Post of the year. We don't have the horses like Bama and FSU. Michigan just out-everything'ed us.

Same record with Grier or without.

You sure do hope so...

 

[T REX]

You sure do hope so...

Hope for what? I'd like us to get the top two DTs in the state but that ain't happening.

 

[BMF]

Hope for what? I'd like us to get the top two DTs in the state but that ain't happening.

Top 2 DT's?? Hell, we whiffed last year (signing ZERO) so I'll just take ANY DT!!

 

[GatorJ]

Top 2 DT's?? Hell, we whiffed last year (signing ZERO) so I'll just take ANY DT!!

1 or 2 DTs - MAX per cycle. It's really a crapshoot. I'd rather pull in elite DEs and convert them if they outgrow the position. Assuming you hit at about a 25% rate with DTs and you bring in about 3-4 DEs with 1-2 with elite size and speed, you'll keep your DT pipeline full.

But to your point, ZERO DTs is pitiful. Though I think the staff really thought Manuel was coming until the last week.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

1 or 2 DTs - MAX per cycle. It's really a crapshoot. I'd rather pull in elite DEs and convert them if they outgrow the position.

That's a terrible plan especially for a 3 man Saban type front defense, which we seemed to play a lot more in the Spring Game. A 3 man front essentially requires 3 DTs who can handle 2 gaps. DEs can't do it. Most DEs can't handle one gap. 2 gappers keep the LBs clean.

The reason Saban adopted the defense he did is because so few DEs can play run defense.

When you are weak in the middle, in our case at both DT and inside LBs, you end up doing exactly what we have been doing, moving the safeties up to clean up the runs and cover the gaps. Having your safeties leading the team in tackles and blown coverages is a great way to get clubbed, like we did the last three games.

I suspect we will make a big push for 3 or more DTs plus try to sign a juco or two also to make up for the last two disastrous classes.

I don't know if a switch to more 3 man front (with the Buck/Rush standing up) is the future or if it was just the result of lack of DT depth. We shall see.

 

[MertzJay26]

That's a terrible plan especially for a 3 man Saban type front defense, which we seemed to play a lot more in the Spring Game. A 3 man front essentially requires 3 DTs who can handle 2 gaps. DEs can't do it. Most DEs can't handle one gap. 2 gappers keep the LBs clean.

The reason Saban adopted the defense he did is because so few DEs can play run defense.

When you are weak in the middle, in our case at both DT and inside LBs, you end up doing exactly what we have been doing, moving the safeties up to clean up the runs and cover the gaps. Having your safeties leading the team in tackles and blown coverages is a great way to get clubbed, like we did the last three games.

I suspect we will make a big push for 3 or more DTs plus try to sign a juco or two also to make up for the last two disastrous classes.

I don't know if a switch to more 3 man front (with the Buck/Rush standing up) is the future or if it was just the result of lack of DT depth. We shall see.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Im sorry. Were we supposed to be talking about the other Noles you really love?

 

[MertzJay26]

I'm sure you made good points in there, just wasn't feelin like reading all of it.

We are still boys tho brah

 

[GatorJ]

That's a terrible plan especially for a 3 man Saban type front defense, which we seemed to play a lot more in the Spring Game. A 3 man front essentially requires 3 DTs who can handle 2 gaps. DEs can't do it. Most DEs can't handle one gap. 2 gappers keep the LBs clean.

The reason Saban adopted the defense he did is because so few DEs can play run defense.

When you are weak in the middle, in our case at both DT and inside LBs, you end up doing exactly what we have been doing, moving the safeties up to clean up the runs and cover the gaps. Having your safeties leading the team in tackles and blown coverages is a great way to get clubbed, like we did the last three games.

I suspect we will make a big push for 3 or more DTs plus try to sign a juco or two also to make up for the last two disastrous classes.

I don't know if a switch to more 3 man front (with the Buck/Rush standing up) is the future or if it was just the result of lack of DT depth. We shall see.

I guess my point is that the hit rate on a DT turning out is very low. Whether it's due to scholastic achievement or overgrowing their bodies. We have recruited quite a few of them but they just haven't panned out. There's been more of a move toward converting the DE to a DT as they grow and fill out their bodies. If a DT outgrows his body he can be nothing else.

Again, I'm not saying don't recruit the DT, but DEs must also be recruited for the possibility of becoming a DT. Not all the DEs, but some of them.

Similarly to the way that Bullard and Jefferson were recruited.

 

[alcoholica]

1 or 2 DTs - MAX per cycle. It's really a crapshoot. I'd rather pull in elite DEs and convert them if they outgrow the position. Assuming you hit at about a 25% rate with DTs and you bring in about 3-4 DEs with 1-2 with elite size and speed, you'll keep your DT pipeline full.

But to your point, ZERO DTs is pitiful. Though I think the staff really thought Manuel was coming until the last week.

Who's the 2016 JUCO DT that's still in play?

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I guess my point is that the hit rate on a DT turning out is very low. Whether it's due to scholastic achievement or overgrowing their bodies. We have recruited quite a few of them but they just haven't panned out

Didn't Jaye Howard come in somewhere like 230-240 and grow into a pretty good DT at around 300# by the time he left? He outperformed a few guys who were recruited as DT during his time here as I recall.
The other problem is that usually it takes 2 years for true DT's(inside guys) to get on a level of physicality where they are a productive part of a rotation or just an outright starter. Even as talented as Brantley is he struggled quite a bit in his freshmen and sophomore season....other guys like Holley and Clark have been pretty much invisible so I see your reasoning for a need to over recruit at the DE position for now. However it would be nice to get a couple of 320-330# maulers to dominate the middle of our defensive line so our talented DT/DE types like Jefferson won't be double teamed during most of the game.

 

[alcoholica]

It's just a tough position to recruit. you need numbers like OL

 

[BMF]

I guess my point is that the hit rate on a DT turning out is very low. Whether it's due to scholastic achievement or overgrowing their bodies. We have recruited quite a few of them but they just haven't panned out. There's been more of a move toward converting the DE to a DT as they grow and fill out their bodies. If a DT outgrows his body he can be nothing else.

Again, I'm not saying don't recruit the DT, but DEs must also be recruited for the possibility of becoming a DT. Not all the DEs, but some of them.

Similarly to the way that Bullard and Jefferson were recruited.

We're recruiting several JUCO D-lineman, but these same DL's are being recruited by Alabama and everyone else...so we'll see. Some of the DE to DT's work out just fine...but I'd like to see us sign a legitimate DT or 2 each class. We can't go 0-fer and expect it not to hurt down the road. Polite will be a DT before it's all said and done and so will Ancrum, so hopefully that fills the gap. We need a few good MLB's too.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I'm sure you made good points in there, just wasn't feelin like reading all of it.

We are still boys tho brah

 

[GatorJ]

Didn't Jaye Howard come in somewhere like 230-240 and grow into a pretty good DT at around 300# by the time he left? He outperformed a few guys who were recruited as DT during his time here as I recall.
The other problem is that usually it takes 2 years for true DT's(inside guys) to get on a level of physicality where they are a productive part of a rotation or just an outright starter. Even as talented as Brantley is he struggled quite a bit in his freshmen and sophomore season....other guys like Holley and Clark have been pretty much invisible so I see your reasoning for a need to over recruit at the DE position for now. However it would be nice to get a couple of 320-330# maulers to dominate the middle of our defensive line so our talented DT/DE types like Jefferson won't be double teamed during most of the game.

One thing Bama does well is recruit DT JUCOs. Minimizes the risk of bringing in a kid that can't maintain weight so never sees the field. See Khairi Clark.

 

[BMF]

One thing Bama does well is recruit DT JUCOs. Minimizes the risk of bringing in a kid that can't maintain weight so never sees the field. See Khairi Clark.

Well, Jarron Reed signed w/ us....then had to go back to JUCO....and signed w/ Bama the next year. That one hurt. He was a BMF! We did well w/ Jacobs a few years ago. But I agree w/ you, Bama has done great filling their (few) recruiting voids by adding JUCO's...and it seems most of them are along the D-line.

Regardless what happens, we need to shore up our DT position this off-season. We lose a lot the next year/2 years and if these smaller guys (DE's expected to be DT's) don't grow or mature as expected we'll be very, very thin there. Hopefully we land a top JUCO or a transfer.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

We need a few good MLB's too.

You ain't kidding. I really miss having a strong, 245-250#er in the middle like Bostic and Spikes....It escapes me how such a "power football" advocate like Muschamp missed so badly at "power positions" like NT/DT, TE, MLB, and offensive line. While our defense has been pretty good over the last 4 or 5 years I think much of that had to do with a few super talented players who could make up for some of the shortcomings around them....at least until we played top level teams, then we got exposed at the core of what he preached which was power football 101...