Do you think we will see some 4-2-5 looks this year? We got a lot of experience returning in the secondary and I could see having just Rose and Vance at LB at times. Eisworth is kind of a LB/S hybrid anyways.
Interesting that you asked. I was just putting something together about that, after looking at the roster.
A. CMC has said that Enyi will be spending more time at DT this year. Most people assume that’s at NT, but I’m not sure about that. He’s listed at 6’6” 310 now.
B. Last year they asked Tucker Robertson to keep his weight down, so he could play some end. This year he’s listed at 6’3” 296, which screams “no more DE” to me.
C. They asked Alex Kleinow to move to DT, where he’s now listed at 6’6” 317.
D. There’s already been word on here that Johnny Wilson will play this Fall. He’s listed at 6’2” 272, which doesn’t sound like a DE to me—especially down the road.
E. Josh Bailey and Isaiah Lee are back. At a listed 6’2” 288, Bailey kinda seems like more of a 3-technique guy than a space eater in the middle to me.
F. Latrell Bankston will be a factor somewhere. At 6’0” 300, he’ll be a disruptive force wherever he lines up.
G. Various sources have implied that J.R. Singleton has as much athletic potential as the obviously blatantly gifted T.J. Tampa. At a listed 6’2” 300, I’d hardly be surprised if he played as a true frosh.
Shoot, just with Enyi, Tucker, Josh, Isaiah and Latrell, that’s a guaranteed solid two deep at a NT/3-tech front right there—and the DE’s are still a plentifully plush position.
When I look at that, I don’t think recruiting Howard Brown and Tyler Onyedim is the basis for using more four man front, I think it’s the continuation of a plan to.
And as relatively thin in experience as the linebacking corps is right at the moment, combined with a deep secondary, spending time in a 4-2-5 fits right in with that. As you also noticed.
I think Coach Heacock spent his spare time this offseason at the proverbial drawing board. I guess we’ll see.
