Tough defensive line play is needed to compete in a physical conference like the Big Ten.
If you can’t develop up front, it will be a tough day at the office.
Last year, the Gophers didn’t have necessary personnel to deploy a competitive defensive scheme. Creativity was hindered and opposing offenses wore Minnesota down, one hand-off at a time.
As the Gophers embark on a new season, spring practice will be a time to evaluate players and how they will fit in the scheme. Defensively, the Gophers are trying to improve a run defense which ranked 68th among FBS programs and a pass rush with just 23 sacks.
In 2017, the inability to be creative defensively was shaped by the overall talent available on defense. In a 4-3 defensive scheme, the need for length and size both inside and on the edge is critical. Minnesota often ran a hybrid defensive package with linebacker Carter Coughlin playing the “R” spot. It’s a versatile position requiring a stand-up rusher with unique athleticism to rush the passer or drop into coverage. Coughlin improved with additional reps at the “R” spot as he worked within a new role. Understanding pass rushing angles and how to set up his moves based upon opponent tendencies are a few obstacles he faced. Essentially, Coughlin serves as a 3-4 style outside linebacker tasked with using his athleticism to make plays.
On the other side, the 5-technique defensive end suits players with length, size and power on the edge. Many of the issues related to the Gophers struggling to stop the run were due to the lack of size or mass on the edge. Minnesota also didn’t have a dominant 1 or 0 technique defensive tackle inside with massive size. Steven Richardson was more of a pure three-technique defensive tackle than a powerful presence. The 0 technique’s job is to defend both A-gaps, while occasionally garnering attention from the guard in double teams.
To better illustrate the alignments I’m discussing, I created a graphic below. The way these are used depend upon the specific defensive package a team is playing within. Alignments can also be tweaked to suit the skill-set of specific players.
Ultimately, the problem Minnesota faced last year was the fact they didn’t have strong defensive line personnel, specifically on the edge, to unleash a full arsenal of creativity. If they can develop defensive line talent, they could send more pressure (stunts, twists, double A-gap blitzes, etc.). Defensive coordinator Robb Smith was limited by low depth across positional groups. More importantly, an already depleted secondary was forced to cover longer down the field.
Good news, though. Minnesota has improved their personnel, specifically within the interior defensive line. They might be young, but P.J. Fleck is starting to notice.
“One thing I’ll say about our D-line, I’m really excited about those guys,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “I love that five to six guys interiorly.”
The Gophers used transfers to immediately bolster the interior spots last year. Alabama transfer O.J. Smith joins the Gophers after spending time with a National Championship program at Alabama. Junior college transfer Royal Silver also provides an option within the interior techniques. Smith measures in at 6-foot-2, 309 pounds and Silver sits at 6-foot-3, 292 pounds. Their size can be used to take on double teams, which in turn will help edge players get after the quarterback.
With Gary Moore, Malcolm Robinson, Noah Hickcox and Nate Umlor on the depth chart, the Gophers suddenly have young options inside to create favorable matchups. More importantly, at the five-technique end spot, Esezi Otomewo has size, athleticism and mass needed to help tame down off tackle runs. Minnesota couldn’t handle the physicality of Big Ten offensive lines and wore down as opponents started to control the line of scrimmage. This year, much of the success up front will come down to improve the body types of the current players, something P.J. Fleck is starting to see.
“We improved in every area of the weight room. A lot of it had to do with our O-line and D-Line getting that much stronger,” Fleck said. “We are a stronger football team. We are more developed football team than we’ve ever been.”
Otomewo is 6-foot-6, 240 pounds and has the measurables to fit well in the scheme. The Gophers will still need to continue building their defensive line and the additions of freshman Elijah Teague, Mayan Ahanotu and Alex Reigelsperger help craft necessary depth moving into 2019 and 2020.
For now, the goal should be to build the defense from the inside out. O.J. Smith has the chance to be a dominating player because of his skill-set and scheme fit. The Gophers will continue recruiting young options who can play the five technique with length, size and developmental frames. In order to compete in the Big Ten, the Gophers must improve in the trenches on both sides of the ball. O.J. Smith can be the anchor for one year as younger players continue to develop. P.J. Fleck believes Smith’s presence will not only provide value on the field, but to the culture he’s continuing to build.
“A lot of players on our team, we’re the only program they’ve seen, we’re the only culture they’ve seen or it’s the second culture they’ve seen,” Fleck said. “But when you bring in people from the outside at times, I like that because there’s times they have a different perspective.”
Many eyes will be on the trenches this spring with plenty of new faces entering the program. If the Gophers want to be competitive, they’ll need to take a major step forward up front on both sides of the ball.
With two transfers stepping in, one can assume the interior defensive line should be better, but on-field evaluations will tell us more.