Talent improvement on Defense

[OldManCane]

Here is the post-spring depth chart for last spring (2013) and the star ranking of each kid out of high school. Following that is our current depth chart. Draw conclusions from that what you will.


DE Anthony Chickillo (4)
DT Curtis Porter (3)
DT Olsen Pierre (3)
DE Shayon Green (2)

OLB Alex Figueroa (injured most of year) (3)
ILB Jimmy Gaines (2)
OLB Denzel Perryman (4)

CB Ladarius Gunter (2)
S AJ Highsmith (2)
S Deon Bush (injured most of year) (4)
CB Antonio Crawford (3)



Here's this year's...

DE Anthony Chickillo (4)
DT Calvin Huertelu (3)
DT Jelani Hamilton (4)/Olsen Pierre (3)
DE Al Quadin Muhammed (4)

OLB Alex Figueroa (3)
ILB Denzel Perryman (4)
OLB Raphael Kirby (4) / Jermaine Grace (4)

CB Tracy Howard (5)
S Deon Bush (4) / Jamal Carter (4)
S Dallas Crawford (3)
CB Artie Burns (4)

 

[Odin]

Enough talent not to be anywhere near 90 and 114 total defense like we've been the last 2 years.

 

[poncho0091]

Here is the post-spring depth chart for last spring (2013) and the star ranking of each kid out of high school. Following that is our current depth chart. Draw conclusions from that what you will.


DE Anthony Chickillo (4)
DT Curtis Porter (3)
DT Olsen Pierre (3)
DE Shayon Green (2)

OLB Alex Figueroa (injured most of year) (3)
ILB Jimmy Gaines (2)
OLB Denzel Perryman (4)

CB Ladarius Gunter (2)
S AJ Highsmith (2)
S Deon Bush (injured most of year) (4)
CB Antonio Crawford (3)



Here's this year's...

DE Anthony Chickillo (4)
DT Calvin Huertelu (3)
DT Jelani Hamilton (4)/Olsen Pierre (3)
DE Al Quadin Muhammed (4)

OLB Alex Figueroa (3)
ILB Denzel Perryman (4)
OLB Raphael Kirby (4) / Jermaine Grace (4)

CB Tracy Howard (5)
S Deon Bush (4) / Jamal Carter (4)
S Dallas Crawford (3)
CB Artie Burns (4)

It's a good comparison. Now lets see what it produces on the field.

 

[FloppyBootStomp]

The great equalizer

 

[poncho0091]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

 

[CaneAlmighty]

Here is another way to look at it..
What team is more talented and has more depth, the 2011 defense or 2014 defense?
I'll go with the 2014.
Now factor in not having to deal with suspensions and outside distractions that the 2011 defense had to deal with and consider that that defense was ranked 45th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense and you should be able to deduce that the 2014 defense should end up being ranked top 30 in yards and top 15 in points. Throw in a better offense to help them out and you're looking at top 25.

Now as you can see I'm not pulling out these projections out of thin air but rather using a logic based argument using facts to base them on.

 

[OldManCane]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

So do you think Curtis Porter, Shayon Green, Jimmy Gaines, AJ Highsmith and Ladarius Gunter would have started for that defense? I'm gonna go with "no."

Main point of the OP was, though, to show that we've upgraded our talent a lot from last year, so we should expect to see a better product on the field.

 

[OldManCane]

Here is another way to look at it..
What team is more talented and has more depth, the 2011 defense or 2014 defense?
I'll go with the 2014.
Now factor in not having to deal with suspensions and outside distractions that the 2011 defense had to deal with and consider that that defense was ranked 45th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense and you should be able to deduce that the 2014 defense should end up being ranked top 30 in yards and top 15 in points. Throw in a better offense to help them out and you're looking at top 25.

Now as you can see I'm not pulling out these projections out of thin air but rather using a logic based argument using facts to base them on.

2011 was much more talented.

 

[CaneAlmighty]

Here is another way to look at it..
What team is more talented and has more depth, the 2011 defense or 2014 defense?
I'll go with the 2014.
Now factor in not having to deal with suspensions and outside distractions that the 2011 defense had to deal with and consider that that defense was ranked 45th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense and you should be able to deduce that the 2014 defense should end up being ranked top 30 in yards and top 15 in points. Throw in a better offense to help them out and you're looking at top 25.

Now as you can see I'm not pulling out these projections out of thin air but rather using a logic based argument using facts to base them on.

2011 was much more talented.

hmmmmmmmmmm NOPE.
I know the NFL draft is not the end all be all. But only 3 players have been drafted from that defense.
2 third rounders and 1 5th rounder.
So Come again?

From this 2014 defense I project 8. and thats not counting impact guys like Wyche that are coming in.
2014 is more talented and Deeper.

 

[OldManCane]

Here is another way to look at it..
What team is more talented and has more depth, the 2011 defense or 2014 defense?
I'll go with the 2014.
Now factor in not having to deal with suspensions and outside distractions that the 2011 defense had to deal with and consider that that defense was ranked 45th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense and you should be able to deduce that the 2014 defense should end up being ranked top 30 in yards and top 15 in points. Throw in a better offense to help them out and you're looking at top 25.

Now as you can see I'm not pulling out these projections out of thin air but rather using a logic based argument using facts to base them on.

2011 was much more talented.

hmmmmmmmmmm NOPE.
I know the NFL draft is not the end all be all. But only 3 players have been drafted from that defense.
2 third rounders and 1 5th rounder.
So Come again?

From this 2014 defense I project 8. and thats not counting impact guys like Wyche that are coming in.
2014 is more talented and Deeper.

Oh 2014, for some reason I thought you were talking about last year's defense where we had no players drafted.

2014 should be a better defense than 2011.

 

[poncho0091]

Here is another way to look at it..
What team is more talented and has more depth, the 2011 defense or 2014 defense?
I'll go with the 2014.
Now factor in not having to deal with suspensions and outside distractions that the 2011 defense had to deal with and consider that that defense was ranked 45th in total defense and 17th in scoring defense and you should be able to deduce that the 2014 defense should end up being ranked top 30 in yards and top 15 in points. Throw in a better offense to help them out and you're looking at top 25.

Now as you can see I'm not pulling out these projections out of thin air but rather using a logic based argument using facts to base them on.

Fair enough, I can only hope you are right.

 

[poncho0091]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

So do you think Curtis Porter, Shayon Green, Jimmy Gaines, AJ Highsmith and Ladarius Gunter would have started for that defense? I'm gonna go with "no."

Main point of the OP was, though, to show that we've upgraded our talent a lot from last year, so we should expect to see a better product on the field.

As their careers went at Miami, no, but if they had started day 1 at Mich st under those coaches, who knows.

 

[theibisrules]

The great equalizer

He looks like he's ready to let Duke reel off 25 straight points in the pic

 

[OldManCane]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

So do you think Curtis Porter, Shayon Green, Jimmy Gaines, AJ Highsmith and Ladarius Gunter would have started for that defense? I'm gonna go with "no."

Main point of the OP was, though, to show that we've upgraded our talent a lot from last year, so we should expect to see a better product on the field.

As their careers went at Miami, no, but if they had started day 1 at Mich st under those coaches, who knows.

I doubt it. I think the Michigan State staff just did a better job finding under the radar kids than Randy Shannon did.

Unless you want to give Mark D'Onofrio credit for developing Muhammed Wilkerson, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Terrance Knighton, etc who played for him at Temple.

 

[poncho0091]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

So do you think Curtis Porter, Shayon Green, Jimmy Gaines, AJ Highsmith and Ladarius Gunter would have started for that defense? I'm gonna go with "no."

Main point of the OP was, though, to show that we've upgraded our talent a lot from last year, so we should expect to see a better product on the field.

As their careers went at Miami, no, but if they had started day 1 at Mich st under those coaches, who knows.

I doubt it. I think the Michigan State staff just did a better job finding under the radar kids than Randy Shannon did.

Unless you want to give Mark D'Onofrio credit for developing Muhammed Wilkerson, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Terrance Knighton, etc who played for him at Temple.

I can't argue him developing those guys. I just wish he could develop these guys.

 

[Spidercane]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

So do you think Curtis Porter, Shayon Green, Jimmy Gaines, AJ Highsmith and Ladarius Gunter would have started for that defense? I'm gonna go with "no."

Main point of the OP was, though, to show that we've upgraded our talent a lot from last year, so we should expect to see a better product on the field.

As their careers went at Miami, no, but if they had started day 1 at Mich st under those coaches, who knows.

I doubt it. I think the Michigan State staff just did a better job finding under the radar kids than Randy Shannon did.

Unless you want to give Mark D'Onofrio credit for developing Muhammed Wilkerson, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Terrance Knighton, etc who played for him at Temple.

NO. I think Michigan State just did a better job of scheming for their talent and coaching their kids up.

We do neither.

Our version of the 3-4 (2 gap, read and react) is not what suits Miami. Miami is a traditionally aggressive in your face defense.

We don't have the horses to play 2 gap. Good coaches scheme to the talent of their teams year to year.

Even Golden said every team is different every season. Our coaches are too stubborn to change or just not very good teachers/coaches.

It's like having a pocket passer who doesn't run fast and the coordinator or coach is insistent on running the triple option. Makes no **** sense.

 

[Canesfan1899]

I found this comparison interesting, so I looked up Michigan State who was #1 in avg yds per game. Pretty much all 3 stars which shows we don't need a team full of 4 and 5 stars to be even respectable. This is what good coaching can do.

Marcus Rush DE (3)
Shilique Calhoun DE (3)
Damon Knox NT (3)
Joel Heath DT (3)
Ed Davis LB (3)
Darien Harris LB (3)
Taiwan Jones LB (3)
Darien Hicks CB (3)
Trae Waynes CB (2)
RJ Williamson S (3)
Curtis Drummond S (3)

Unfortunately we don't have that kind of coaching on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Gatorhater]

The great equalizer

He looks like he's ready to let Duke reel off 25 straight points in the pic

Actually, he looks like he will not even NOTICE Duke reel off 25 straight points.

 

[Gatorhater]

It is year four. If we have enough talent and do not play a lot better, it is Al's fault for bad coaching, scheme, or assistant coach hiring. If we do not have enough talent it is Al's fault for not recruiting better or bad play development. The excuses are all gone. This year Al proves to be the young up and coming coach most thought him to be, or the snake oil salesman many now believe him to be. For me, I am off the train, down the line ready to start removing the tract in front of him. BUT I will not start removing it until we see the product on the field. If we get trashed by Loserville again and by Cornhuskers, I do not want to wait until next year. Mid-season on an off week is just fine. Max I give Al is the Cincy game to show he can frigging coach. If I am AD, the discussions with Chud and Greg are scheduled for week 3 or 4 at the latest, and I am telling Donna either one gets to have Butch as coordinator if they want.

 

[hoover437]

One of the problems our team has had over the years and it started with clappy is the players thought they were smarter than the coaches. That I'm at the U now, so I'm first round talent and I'm smarter than you. Sam Shields, the junior class that left and most didn't get drafted, and Robinson's dad/him not buying into the system, was a problem. I hear the crowd saying adjust the scheme. I want to wait to see how we look with guys with a different attitude and who wants to buy into Al's system. i do believe this year's defense could be way better than 11. We have high draft picks all over the place. That's if it's not the scheme. Waiting to see.