What's different about this Defense?

[husker70]

I would begin with the back seven. From safety to corner we are solid and deep. We can cover, play against the spread. We have tacklers in the secondary. That's four now the linebackers. There has been a lot of talk about great linebackers at Minnesota, and while the season is still young, Mr. Wilson is truly a middle line backer who has speed, quickness, and hits like a ton. When he hits a runner, QB, or receiver they go down. This is something we have been missing for say 10 years. But then there is Campbell, who is a freak. Always applying leverage, long armed, quick and great sense of field awareness. And the silent man, the player who simply does his job. Jack Lynn. I could argue that is the trait of the back seven. Each one doing their jobs.

Now the front four. We get Alex Keith back this week. He was off to a great start, before getting injured. At the opposite side TC. He needs to come up big at the Big House. And when it comes to just do the job its Botticelli, and the true freshman.

This is a team, needs to play as a team. Too often, the focus is on a player when it needs to be on 11 playing together. Whether it is a home, or on the road. In the morning, afternoon, or night.

 

[Sparlimb]

Remembering the horrific defenses of our past 25 years, they all had certain traits which our defense today does NOT:

* 1st down runs averaged about 8 yards. Setting teams up in 2nd and short to easily make a first down or go play action and beat us deep.
* CB's who couldn't cover the other team's best receiver. Either not fast enough or not good enough in reading the play.
* A zone coverage scheme that left something like 35 pockets of great space to catch a ball.
* Linebackers who were so engaged by blockers they got a great look at the running back heading towards the safeties.
* A DLine who at their most successful moments only caused opposing QB's to roll out and burn us deep.

All that said, DWilson is the best LB I remember for a very long time. His natural ability to attack the line of scrimmage and come through the right hole to tackle is very instinctive. The secondary, while certainly not infested with 4 star athletes, clearly has been taught good coverage schemes. When Eric Murray decides he is going to shut someone down, he can play nooky-blankey as good as any corner I remember. I do think our back 7 are several steps up in ability from our front line, but I sure like what I've seen out of Richardson. If we could have a solid defensive line in the next couple of years the defense will be scary. Granted that's assuming we can find more LB's of Wilson and Campbell's stature.

 

[jaymil]

We get Alex Keith back this week.

Kill said yesterday he won't count him out but I don't think Keith playing this week is a slam dunk by any means.

 

[Dr.Don]

What's different?

1. We have some horses.
2. The horses are being coached up by a stable staff not using the Gophers as "up the ladder venue".
3. More fans are interested.
4. More students are interested.
5. More GopherHolers are sharing their expertise.
6. Dr.Don is less critical of GH'ers.
7. The defense is fun to watch.
8. We are a better team with a good defense.
9. You continue on with my list..

 

[Sparlimb]

What's different?

1. We have some horses.
2. The horses are being coached up by a stable staff not using the Gophers as "up the ladder venue".
3. More fans are interested.
4. More students are interested.
5. More GopherHolers are sharing their expertise.
6. Dr.Don is less critical of GH'ers.
7. The defense is fun to watch.
8. We are a better team with a good defense.
9. You continue on with my list..

10. Both Sparlimb and Dr. Don like beer and are above .500 in the daily pick 'em.

 

[Dr.Don]

11. Tinyarch has become our resident preacher.

 

[Sparlimb]

12. Defensive TDs per week has been shown to be equal to the number of "Nothing short of Greatness" threads on page 1 of the football forum.

 

[Dr.Don]

13. In game threads are closely monitored by Admin, and they are not afraid to ban someone for wishing injury to one of our guys so his/her fav gets to play.

 

[Sparlimb]

14. Our defense is inspired by the success of the Minnesota Lynx, although mentioning a Minnesota Pro team in any thread risks the wrath of several AGHP's (angry gopher hole posters).

 

[KoolAid]

Jack Lynn seems to be getting better and more confident each week. Hopefully he's our anchor for the next couple years after Wilson.

 

[GophersInIowa]

but I sure like what I've seen out of Richardson.

I've been extremely impressed with him so far. He's going to be very good after a year or two in the weight room.

 

[Sparlimb]

15. The defense obviously gets it schemes from one of the 45 self-promoting daily gopher crap site adds posted daily on GH.

 

[Spoofin]

Jack Lynn seems to be getting better and more confident each week. Hopefully he's our anchor for the next couple years after Wilson.

Jack Lynn is very fast and instinctive. He will be very very good.
Kool-Aid! Oh-Yeah!