Mailbag question: Concerning your defensive line-up the other day

Posted at 8:00am — 12/20/2009

GBMW,

So recently you posted what you thought the depth chart might look like at the start of spring practice next year. I realize you said that you would probably get arguments, and I don’t want to argue with you so much as posit a different scenario.

I like what you have everywhere else, but as far as the D-line goes, I have a problem plugging Craig Roh into Brandon Graham’s position. This is mainly due to the fact that we complained all this year about our line being undersized, and that Mike Martin and Van Bergen were playing out of position. In a 3-4 defense, the defensive ends are usually much larger. Wouldn’t it make sense to keep Roh where he’s been playing, and instead move Martin to Van Bergen’s DT position, Will Campbell to the NT position, and Van Bergen outside to Graham’s position?

We could still use our LB’s to blitz, if necessary, but it would make us much stronger at the point of attack and allow the LB’s to not have to worry about stuffing the run all the time. Furthermore, I doubt that we’d have to bring our safeties up all the time to help with the run. We’d still get a pass rush out of Roh, and for a DT, Martin is pretty athletic. I just don’t see any reason why this isn’t the smartest way to go. The only thing keeping this from working, I think, would be Campbell ‘s progress. But he saw some good playing time this year for a freshman and got better every week. Additionally, another year under Barwis and going through the Spring and Fall should get him to where he needs to be to start at the NT position. Remember, he doesn’t need to be dominant this early in his career, just serviceable. At that position all he’d be doing is using his big body to stuff the run anyway.

-Nate

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Thanks for the question Nate we enjoy these types of e-mails, comments, etc. So keep them coming.

Honestly we do not mind debates on what other people think or where a player should play. We actually REALLY enjoy talking pure football.

If a defense is playing a pure 4-3 defense what you say makes 100% sense to us as well.

The problem is that despite lining up in a three front much of the time, the defense plays like a 4-3 under defense.

Through a combination of stemming, angling and stunting the defense ends up playing as a four-man front the majority of the time.

The defensive end to the quick side, Ryan Van Bergen’s position, needs to be able to play both a five tech, outside shade on the offensive tackle and maintain contain, but also be able to stem down and play a three tech or outside shade on the offensive guard.

The defensive end away from the quick, Brandon Graham’s position needs to be able to provide edge pressure and angle to the B-Gap and play mesh point against the option.

All of this is asking a lot of the defensive ends.

Maybe now some of you will have a better idea why we are not big fans of a hybrid defense as being your base defense.

Written by GBMW Staff

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