That's true but having guys that are 6'6"-6'7" and if they can get their hands up it could really cut down on the throwing lanes. It's not always about sacks. Sometimes just making the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket can pay dividends.
Fall Camp Depth Chart
- Thread starter DSMCy
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It's also like having an extra DT on the field to help hold the line of scrimmage. Look around the league; you'll see lots of schools playing a short stout nose guard @ about 6'2" 310lb, an athletic rangy DT @ about 6'5" 290lb, a pass rushing DE @ about 6'4" 247, & a strong DE @ about 6'6" 275.
I think that's the ideal setup for a four man front and what this staff is aiming for. For too many seasons we've watched our D line get blown off the line of scrimmage against the run. Our best line so far this century was McCarney's 05 squad: Berryman, Moorehead, Curvey, & Leaders. Though a bit undersized, they played with great leverage and were tenacious. More importantly you need a killer instinct no matter how big you are.
While you are NOT wrong, keep in mind that now is the best time to be optimistic unless and until the team starts winning the first, second, third games, etc. And of course we are not the only ones that do this. Living here in Omaha, you should hear the talk about Big Red. They might go 12-0 this year. Their unknown transfer QB from powerhouse Tulane is a sure-fire NFL quarterback once he is done at Nebraska. Their defense is going to stop everyone from going anywhere. Winning the BIG West is well within their grasp. But I don't blame them a bit, we should all be excited for our teams before the season starts. What should we be doing instead, talking about how ISU is going to win 2 games this year? No thank you!
Somebody said that it couldn't be done
But he with a chuckle replied
"I wouldn't be one to say it is so
Until I can give it a try!"
So he buckled right in
With a trace of a grin
If he had a worry, he hid it.
And he started to sing
As he tackled that thing
That couldn't be done. And he did it.
I would give credit if I knew who originally wrote this. I just know it from memory. Go State!
Since forever we've had a DLine that usually has 1 pretty decent player and rest just meh or worse and the interior 2 spots barely had a kid at 290 with the depth on the interior being 280 ish..and let's be honest not all that talented depth along with DEs at times on the field at 230-240..
Lima- 300
Trent- 290+
Jahmal- 315
Tongo(we will see)- 315+
Leo- 290
Eyioma- 290
Benton- 250 ish
JD- 250 ish
Bailey- 260
Size doesn't guarantee effectiveness but it sure doesn't hurt. Maybe this year in 4th qtr we will sub in a 290+ lb kid who is fresh instead of a 270 lb kid.
I'm kinda excited to see our secondary..I think we will have some athletes back there and am intrigued to see Wilkerson the Georgia transfer
Lima- 300
Trent- 290+
Jahmal- 315
Tongo(we will see)- 315+
Leo- 290
Eyioma- 290
Benton- 250 ish
JD- 250 ish
Bailey- 260
Size doesn't guarantee effectiveness but it sure doesn't hurt. Maybe this year in 4th qtr we will sub in a 290+ lb kid who is fresh instead of a 270 lb kid.
I'm kinda excited to see our secondary..I think we will have some athletes back there and am intrigued to see Wilkerson the Georgia transfer
Have you seen they way those two are built? They're not exactly bloated walruses. Now we just need to stick the two of them in a cage and beat them with a stick until they hate the world.
Why was everyone surprised by spears being listed as a starter? He was rated as a 3 star 84.11 on 247 with 2 other power 5 offers. I was actually surprised we didn't hear his name more last year. He is only a red shirt soph so it isn't like he is waiting really late to start pushing for playing time
Mostly because he's listed ahead of Reggan Northrup who played a lot more than Spears last year. I feel some of this might be the staff's way of motivating Northrup more than anything.
CMC said he was proud of the work put in by Spears this entire offseason, and he's earned the #1 spot on the pre-camp depth chart. That doesn't mean he'll be the game one starter, but he's being rewarded for his efforts this offseason.
For sure I know none of these guys are locked into the starting positions but like I said he should at least get some playing time.
All speculation aside, I'm not sure we have ever had this many big bodies ready to play on the D-line. Now maybe they all aren't ready like Leo, but I imagine he can hold his own on the inside. Rugby is a brutal sport.
I agree that was a good group, but I think Hayward, Reed, Harklau and DeRonde was better.
I'll disagree with that. Hayward was a stud. Berryman was just as productive though. Reed and Curvey were similar players. Moorehead has ISU records for sacks. He was better than DeRonde, although DeRonde was good. Leaders was clearly better than Harklau though. IMO, 2005 was a better run stuffing DL with better starters. What the 2000 group had was better depth with Tharpe and a young Jordan Carstens. If the 2005 group had two guys like that as backups, that team would have went 11-1 IMO.
I am thinking Lanning has made a permanent move for the most part. I am thinking Noland along with Kempt as backup.
I really like our size and our numbers on the DL. We finally have competition across the line. Competition will make these guys better as a whole. In the past, we had to play a guy like Jhaustin Thomas before he was really ready because the guy behind him was an undersized freshman or a walk-on. Now we have depth we haven't had before. Someone like Leo can play this year, but the staff can control in what situations. This should help prevent mistakes and help the defense as a whole.
The d line in 2017 will be interesting but in 2018 it should be really good. The starters for sure. We might even have some depth. Lima tongamoa and Leo will all be in their second year. Johnson, Bailey and Uwazurike will be in year 3 in the program. We will still have benton as well that by that time will very experienced.
I'm not sure if any will be elite pass rushers, but their size alone should make it harder for teams to push us around...and it has been a long time since that has happened. I wouldn't be surprised if 3-4 are on NFL rosters at some point
I'm not sure if any will be elite pass rushers, but their size alone should make it harder for teams to push us around...and it has been a long time since that has happened. I wouldn't be surprised if 3-4 are on NFL rosters at some point
For me, the meaning of the word "depth" is proven quality players. We've got promising players, seems like, but we don't have depth . . . yet. jmho.
This is my favorite time of year. So much to be excited about for the football program. I know last year it didn't translate in the W/L column, but anyone that couldn't see the difference between Sept and November is smoking something. I'd be surprised if CMC doesn't lead a team to 6 or 7 wins this year or next.
I agree with your entire post. But like Phil Steele said what he doesn't like is ISU's schedule. It's gonna be pretty tough to get the road wins I think we'll need to get to six wins. If Campbell can get to six wins with this schedule he will have really shown us something. I think he can.
How many close games have we lost over the last couple years? Or forever, haha, but I digress!
Anyway, yes the schedule is hard, always is. But if I were a betting man and the O/U was 5 I'd bet the over this year. I really think that'd be a win or a push at worst.
