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We recruit a lot of o-linemen, and our big d-linemen get moved over to the o-side of the ball. Why not use some of the recruits this year on the d-line in run situations. They have size, you have a month to teach technique, and it may help add depth to a very depleted line. Does anyone know why this is not a possibility, especially since Brandon could just move them back next year?

Is irony defined by your tagline?

In all seriousness, I think our defensive line relies on smaller guys that are quick and can get around. Any larger guy we have had on the line the last few years has gotten moved to offense.

I don't think it's a stupid question at all.

It won't happen because I think cw08 is right. Our defensive coaches prefer smaller linemen who get blown off the ball and gouged for huge rushing totals. As such, we always take any semblance of a good run stuffing DT and move him to OL.

Makes perfect sense to me because it's worked out so well for our defensive front for so long, I'd hate to see a shift in philosophy.

daspollak,
Your question makes so much sense that is why it will never happen with the coaching staff that we have.

daspollak wrote:We recruit a lot of o-linemen, and our big d-linemen get moved over to the o-side of the ball. Why not use some of the recruits this year on the d-line in run situations. They have size, you have a month to teach technique, and it may help add depth to a very depleted line. Does anyone know why this is not a possibility, especially since Brandon could just move them back next year?

If GB actually pulled this I might end up with an aneurysm from the shock.

At the D1 level it isn't as simple as saying "hey big guy, stand there and tackle the ball carrier". THere's a lot of technique involved in both OL and DL play and I really don't think it would be a good idea to try to have a freshman learn both..they have a hard enough time learning the one side of the ball.

Besides, I don't think our tiny little DL did such a bad job last year against Kent, Buffalo and Toledo. They were gonna run all over us...or so the smart folks here thought...I don't recall the games actually playing out that way though

Flipper wrote:At the D1 level it isn't as simple as saying "hey big guy, stand there and tackle the ball carrier". THere's a lot of technique involved in both OL and DL play and I really don't think it would be a good idea to try to have a freshman learn both..they have a hard enough time learning the one side of the ball.

Besides, I don't think our tiny little DL did such a bad job last year against Kent, Buffalo and Toledo. They were gonna run all over us...or so the smart folks here thought...I don't recall the games actually playing out that way though

You can add Michigan State to that list as well. We did pretty well there. It was our pass defense that cost us that game unfortunately.

You would be amazed how many of these players play two-way in HS. I know you don't want to confuse these young men, but we have a need and they can help fill it. Im not asking them to be everydown players, but to come in and help out in run situations; 3rd and short and goal line. I just want our team to fill a need and be a better team.

P.S. From looking at the thread about the recruits, I've noticed that all the sites have us with different players. Does anyone have any clue which one is most accurate.

Flipper wrote: Besides, I don't think our tiny little DL did such a bad job last year against Kent, Buffalo and Toledo. They were gonna run all over us...or so the smart folks here thought...I don't recall the games actually playing out that way though

C'mon Flip, you're smarter than that. You know as well as anyone that you can handpick a couple games here and there to support just about any position. Hell I can pick a few random games to make it look as though Damion Easley should be in the baseball hall of fame. It's consistency that matters, not performing well on a few hand picked occasions.

And for what it's worth we weren't that great in all of those games mentioned anyways. Kent ran for 254 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry, while Buffalo ran for 159 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. Yes, the team did a great job getting fired up and stopping the MSU & UT running games, but that's not something they've been able to do with any consistency in a long time.