Is our front seven undersized?

D

dee27

Active Member
I responded to another post about an undersized defense and, after looking at other teams depth charts, I wonder if we're undersized at all. Looking around the conference, most teams dont have two 300+ DT's, and our LB size is very comparable.

The difference maker sizewise is Davis. If he can stay healthy and do well I don't think we're undersized at all. If not it looks like we drop down to Cooper @ 270ish assuming no surprise from Jaleel.

Looking at our schedule the only teams I am concerned about running it down our throats are MSU and Neb. Everybody else is a spread team where being smaller and faster should be an advantage, or considerably less talented than us.

Also, with our DB's being a strength, we should be able to walk up a safety and or blitz a little more often to help out. We even have a new DC who seems open to this possibility:eek:.

I realize our D-line is inexperienced and we certainly need unproven player to step up, but I don't know if size if a problem.
 
iowa teddy...you cannot have it both ways, man! there was a lot of negative feedback about the lack of speed in the Iowa linebacker corps due to their exposure against spread offense teams...the latest craze. Mike Klinkenborg, who was the classic big ten linebacker from the beautiful and progressive city of Rock Rapids, Iowa, got ripped up by this board because he could not cover effectively in the passing game. That was, interestingly enough, also the knock on none other than...ready for this?...Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge!! Iowa has been recruiting LB's who are considerably faster than in the old days. But, they are also less bulky. If you wish, check out the heights and weights of the Wisconsin LB"s, who are highly rated in the big ten for 2012. I think you will be surprised at the comparisons to the Iowa corps. The other knock was why was Norm Parker covering wide receivers with LB's! Well, it was because big ten teams were doing exactly what Iowa plans to do this year...putting too many wide receivers in patterns (or speedy tight ends) for the corners and safeties to cover. It will indeed be an interesting year...and, Iowa knows exactly what they are doing in recruiting to improve their matchups in the new world. Kirk Ferentz did NOT just fall off of the turnip truck.
 
BTW, on the size matters issue: The one statement from a woman that all men will believe without question is, "You are the best I have EVER had!"
 
Once more! Counting Iowa as having 2 300lb DTs is totally disengenuous until these guys actually become contributors. Anybody who has observed the team knows the depth chart right now is really Bigach, Gaglione, and Trinca Passat with Alvis and Davis trying to work themselves into the mix.

Of the two, only Alvis has been an effective player.

Now, the future looks bright in my eyes. With another year of physical development, Cooper will be good. Already Jaleel is showing something no other lineman shows and Faith looks like he has the right stuff to mold into a good one.
 
I agree about having speed.

But I think there's one potential flaw in your argument. Say Iowa does better all of a sudden against spread teams, the majority of the schedule. Because now, Iowa has more speed and less bulk on the Dline and LBers. That is very possible, however unlikely.

You're discounting the personel groups and strategic play on defense. The answer to 'adapting on D' isn't simply to change the type of player, but IMO it should be to change the style of defense. It's a little crazy to say that a good LB 5 years ago should of weighed 240, but now he should weigh 225. If we have guys that are 225, that can hit big RBs and stop their momentum, take on lead blockers, and generally play big, then I'm fine with their size. But if not one, but all of our LBs are <230 that scares me.

I think the ultimate answer could be to not have 3 conventional LB. What if the team had 2 LB, both in the MLB mold and 5 DBs.

2 corners, 1 FS, 1 SS, and 1 rover safety (box player hybrid). This last guy could be Nico Law. Very few of the football teams I've ever played on have run a conventional 4-3. There are so many other options for base personel.

I think changing the packages could be a great answer, that would be a lot easier than changing the LB position
 
kirksie and hitchens will be lucky to weigh 215 pounds by the time the big ten season starts. they might actually be under 210 by season end. thats pretty mac ish
 
I think you guys are missing the point. If you look at the depth charts for all the other big ten teams and compare their starting OLB sizes to ours it's very similar. Penn State and MSU have OLB's that are 230-235. The average size for ALL the OLB's listed in the conference is 226 (Illinois dosen't have it listed). Kirksey and Hitchens are listed at 226 and 224.

If anything our OLB size for the conference is average and Morris is undersized by 10-15, comparatively speaking.
 
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dee27 said:
I think you guys are missing the point. If you look at the depth charts for all the other big ten teams and compare their starting OLB sizes to ours it's very similar. Penn State and MSU have OLB's that are 230-235. The average size for ALL the OLB's listed in the conference is 226 (Illinois dosen't have it listed). Kirksey and Hitchens are listed at 226 and 224.If anything our OLB size for the conference is average and Morris is undersized by 10-15, comparatively speaking.
Click to expand...

so you are admitting our OLB are one pound undersized?
 
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