Epeneza to outside linebacker?

when's the last time you saw an OLB that big? I'm guessing never or "a high school game" would be your answer. Use him as a rush DE on passing downs, more if he can handle it. Special teams as well. Talents like that are wasted on the sidelines.
 
mopkins said:
I expect AJ to rotate in from day 1, but not be a starter right away. The kid is a freak
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I do too. I think on obvious passing downs dude needs to be in there pinning his ears back. I have no problem working him in. Hesse isn't bad either. Plus splitting up those reps will only keep them all more fresh for the 4th quarters of games which always seems to be an issue for our DL....
 
Hawkfnntn said:
I do too. I think on obvious passing downs dude needs to be in there pinning his ears back. I have no problem working him in. Hesse isn't bad either. Plus splitting up those reps will only keep them all more fresh for the 4th quarters of games which always seems to be an issue for our DL....
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Correct me if I am wrong...it seems our D-line stays out there and doesn't rotate much.
 
IndianaHawk said:
Correct me if I am wrong...it seems our D-line stays out there and doesn't rotate much.
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I think the last few yrs they've done a little more rotating. But yeah there were some seasons where it was that first group of 4 out there playing 85% or more of the snaps it seemed like. What we aren't sure of is if that's a depth issue or combination of things. I think they'll be green with Lattimore at DT but the DE position is going to be about as deep as it's ever been. I don't want to see a worn out tired Hesse in there in the 4th q when there's a Nelson or AJP at 100% on the sideline... And I don't think that'll be the case they'll keep them fresh and have guys going in playing situational football too.
 
I don't understand why there are so many people that think he will move inside. His skillset is much better suited for DE and having a player like him on the outside is lethal.
 
It will be nice for us to be able to rotate some on the dline this year and keep people fresh. From a recruiting standpoint it's nice to see Iowa get back to having depth at that position. To play like Iowa plays and to compete in the big10 you need to be able to play at least 6 guys on the dline and not have drop off.
 
LGEND24 said:
I don't understand why there are so many people that think he will move inside. His skillset is much better suited for DE and having a player like him on the outside is lethal.
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Couldn't agree more. Maybe occasionally move him around on obvious passing downs where maybe you could match him up with the weak link of the Oline we are playing against. Something like that. But to put him at DT full time would be a huge waste. We potentially have a JJ Watt/Jadavion Clowney type of talent here and allowing him to get double teamed inside easily all the time wouldn't be the best use of his skill set. Just because there's more of a need at DT than DE doesn't mean that's what you do with him. If putting Hesse on the bench more snaps is what it means than so be it. Hopfully Baazata and Lattimore stay healthy and can play the bulk of those inside reps. With Matt Nelson rotating in some. I think they have a plethora of options actually all around and our front 7 is going to wreck some serious havoc.
 
I would say just leave our LB group as-is and just add in AJ at DE, which is where he's comfortable.
"Comfortable" matters when you're a freshman seeing action because everything around you is different.
As freaky good as we all think this kid will be, there will still be a big adjustment to the overall speed of the Div-1 game. If he catches on early that will just free up our LBs to do some exciting things, as the offense will be focusing in on AJ on every down.
Now he just needs a great nickname.
 
Please chill out... The kid is a stud but he is yet to have a college practice. You do realize that one of our deepest positions on defense is DE? If he is able to earn the time on the field I would be thrilled. Let's remember who is the head coach. KF will not let him be fed to the wolves.
 
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