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Spring Preview: The Defensive Line

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Fact is that all 4 guys will take a lot of snaps Nesta, Willis,Ford & Bethel
be great to add more bodies other than Illinois transfer... where are those Clemson grad transfers ?
DE doesn't look promising as well with depth being the issue
wow better be focused on adding depth in front 7 with JUCO help in terms of a plug and play
 
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You mention the departed DL coach in the preview but nary a mention of the new one and what he could possibly bring to the table. Do you think how the guys respond to the new coach may be a factor too in the Spring?
 
Love me some Nesta Silvera, but there is no way in **** that he will be one of our starting DTs. It will be either Ford or Tito lined up next to G. Willis with Bethel subbing Willis. Nesta will battle Ty Martin for the 5th spot.

Would not want him pressed into duty beyond 4th in the rotation as a true Freshman.
 
We likely won't have the luxury of redshirting Rousseau. Only five deep at DE. With DJackson coming off an injury and Patchan injured more often than not. We've got quality talent at DE, but depth is terrible.
 
is Martin a DT or is a move to De possible? Actually, does anyone have a picture of this kid? does he exsist?
 
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Combo said:
We likely won't have the luxury of redshirting Rousseau. Only five deep at DE. With DJackson coming off an injury and Patchan injured more often than not. We've got quality talent at DE, but depth is terrible.
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Bethel will be the backup SSDE to D Jackson. Garvin and J Jackson play the WDE along with Patchan and Rousseau.

The DT rotation will be Willis and Tito starting. Ford and Bethel will be the backup DT. Martin and Silvera will be 3rd team. Miller will rotate in if he gets in game shape.

Bethel will be listed as backup DT and DE, but will play starter minutes (40+ plays per game).
 
I'm expecting Willis, Bethel & Ford to ball out.

Coach Simpson has a difficult task set out for him, he's gonna have to get Nesta ready to play & contribute early. I'm only expecting Tito to basically play the Moten role as a rotational guy who gets snaps in the run game & gets a couple TFL's here & there. The real challenge will be if he can get Miller ready to play any, not start, just get a few snaps similar to what we did with Ford last year.

Not worried about the DE's JJack & Garvin will eat, once DJack gets back healthy he'll do what he's always done. We're gonna miss Chad & Trent, especially Chad, our fans loved to criticize him but people have no idea how important he was in setting the edge & how effective he was in the run game.

The fact that Rousseau is an EE puts him on track to play & not shirt this season, and he should. Basically use him the same way we used Garvin last year, late situational pass rusher. Don't bog things down by trying to make him defend on run downs, just keep it simple & let him rush the passer. With that Pterodactyl like wingspan he could get a strip sack or two just like Garvin did, he just has to reach over an OT and grab a QB out the pocket lol.

Keep Patchan healthy & let him go get the QB which he's good at & if Coach Simpson can get anything out of Tyreic Martin he'll deserve a raise lol
 
Thank you guys for the feedback! This is my first article so this is still a learning process. I did leave out incoming freshman Jordan Miller, who was a late bloomer in the recruiting process whom Miami picked up late. He is expected to be a project and could take a couple of years to develop. Personal confidence on Silvera is kind of high but it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
 
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If Silvera starts against L$U we have a problem. We’ve either suffered key injuries or Willis got in trouble again or both. No way a true frosh starts at DT over experienced existing players. Silvera is not going to be able to bull rush an SEC offensive lineman 30 days after stepping foot on campus. Not happening.
 
I don't see any player on the dline redshirting,..

I wouldn't be concerned at all if Nesta started but i think it's best to have him 2nd string behind Willis aside from passing downs.

I don't think DJax is the best option at SDE. Garvin has that rare type of natural strength to play SDE at an elite level. I still think moving Bethel over to SDE is best for the team.

Bethel / Ford / Willis / Jackson
Garvin / Tito / Nesta / DJax
Willis / Miller / Martin / Patchan
 
Bethel is not a d end. how many times does this need to be said to you. richt, kul, Diaz all discussed Bethel at d end after signing day when discussing depth at def tackle. he's too big and too slow to play d end. he's not a d end here.

are you this dumb?
 
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5XNC said:
Bethel is not a d end. how many times does this need to be said to you. richt, kul, Diaz all discussed Bethel at d end after signing day when discussing depth at def tackle. he's too big and too slow to play d end. he's not a d end here.

are you this dumb?
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What in god's name are you talking about? Bethel was moved two years after he enrolled. He was a DE up till that point in time. And he's smaller than Chad Thomas. You think he's a fulltime DT at 6'3 272lbs? lmao. He's actually a perfect DT/DE swing candidate, a guy that will do what Thomas and Jackson did on 3rd downs. He'll back up D Jackson on running plays, play DT on passing downs, and backup Willis at 3T.
 
5XNC said:
Bethel is not a d end. how many times does this need to be said to you. richt, kul, Diaz all discussed Bethel at d end after signing day when discussing depth at def tackle. he's too big and too slow to play d end. he's not a d end here.

are you this dumb?
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How many times do you need to be told that he may have to play there by necessity. We all know he's better off at DT. But given our pathetic DE depth, it's possible he may have to help out there.
 
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The DT will amass about 1800 total snaps in a season. 12 games x 75 snaps x 2 positions.

Willis 500
Tito 450
Ford 400
Bethel 150
Silvera 150
Martin 150

The DE will amass about 1800 total snaps in a season. 12 games x 75 snaps x 2 positions.

D Jackson 450
Bethel 350
J Jackson 400
J Garvin 400
Patchan 100
Rousseau 100
 
I would rather Ford or Bethel come in at DT, not Silvera. I want the frosh to get their feet wet, not have to be relied upon.
 
Bennubird said:
Thanks for the write up. Nesta played in the Army All American game. I doubt we redshirt Rosseau because we need depth. He's already added good weight with plenty of time to add more. It would be great for Nesta to be so dominant that he can start, but I would expect that to start the season at least we would see Bethel or Ford starting with Nesta no doubt getting plenty of playing time.
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The problem with freshmen starting, especially on D, is that the longer season catches up with them when the games matter the most. Better for the men folk to carry the heat of the day and bring the young big guns in to make easier kills. Fresh legs for that title game.
 
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