Defensive Line - This is a good sign
- Thread starter JM4CY
- Start date
There are times I get down and frustrated with Cyclone football. Then I think back about 5 or 6 years and imagine having a DL this good was really unimaginable.
If we start seeing the OL pop up on PFF, I don't think I'll be able to handle it.
If we start seeing the OL pop up on PFF, I don't think I'll be able to handle it.
Bailey and McDonald are 1&2 for sacks in the big 12, those two are a problem on passing downs.
Yep just 3 perennially dominate teams, and 1 outlier. Not sure how Vanderbilt snuck in there.
I was thinking about this very thing over the last weekend, and wondering, if we are so deep (7-8 players on the DL), should be be shifting more into a 4-2-5, or even a 4-3 from time to time? I hate to say it, but the TOE has been pretty good historically with a similar defensive scheme (albeit in a 4-3 / 4-2-5 package). In theory we could get even more pressure with 4 and our back half wouldn't have to cover as long and it might put more pressure on the opposing team's OL as they wouldn't be able to double team them all. Just a thought on how to maybe mix things up and give opposing teams one more thing to prepare for.
Having Bailey back is so huge. They would be good without him but he brings that first team all conference talent and performance that turns it from good to great. I think he definitely could have made an NFL roster if he would have taken a chance on himself but glad he didn't.
Imagine how many sacks McDonald would have without all the holding on every passing down.
Ive thought all offseason that we were better set up for a 4-2-5 and I still believe that. Hoping they can flip to that at times to surprise offenses.
we need help in the secondary. don't take a guy from there and add a guy to our strongest unit
I'm sure we'll see some 4 man front, like we have in the past, but it's going to be pretty situational. Given the nature of the league even considering the strength and depth of ISUs DL vs. the LBs, it's pretty tough to play a bunch of 4 man front, because you lose a lot of flexibility. On one hand, McDonald is really well-suited to be an edge guy in a 4 man front. However, Bailey is really a perfect DE in the current three man front.
When Heacock brings a 4th, he likes to change up where it's coming from. He's brought a 4th or 5th from pretty much every position on the field.
So my view on it is going to a traditional 4-3 would probably get the best 11 guys right now on the field. 4-2-5 would probably be a wash vs. the 3-3-5. But the defense loses so much flexibility and unpredictability that it isn't worth it.
I also think when they rush three and drop 8 it takes a TON out of your DL. Rotating lots of fresh guys through the DL is a huge advantage over past years.
All those years some poor juco kid gets built up too much, and has to carry the world on his shoulders.
They are gonna abuse ou's tackles
I'm glad that Bankston got ISU's first sack this year so there wasn't immediate harping that he wasn't as good as everyone said he would be.
This is assuming someone at some point (thinking Florida) hasn't named their child Milver, Nurple, Sorange, or Zunth.
Bankston has been getting some good push up the middle. A sack in each game is not a bad start.
