US Army All-American Bowl Open Thread
January 5th, 2019 at 8:38 PM ^
I’m not saying play it exclusively - just sprinkle it in. Florida exposed us a few times when they audibled to a run play and their linemen plastered our smaller DBs and Vipers at the second level. OSU and ND did similar things - ran at Vipers and we got swallowed up. It’s kind of what ticks me off about football these days - offenses have so many advantages including getting to the LOS early and checking with coaches to get into different plays - feel like the play clock should be less.
January 6th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
It didn't happen too often. I don't know that we should take anything away from the Florida game other than when 4 starters don't play AND you lose transfers AND you get a bunch of injuries, things are going to get bad. Michigan could have played a set with Gil/Ross, Bush, and Furbush, but that couldn't happen.
At the linebacker position alone, Michigan was down Devin Bush, Devin Gil, and Drew Singleton from the beginning of the year. Obviously, Singleton didn't play much defense before he left, but he might have been one of the good-sized options you're yearning for; Bush was the conference's Defense Player of the Year, and Gil had a ton of playing experience.
January 5th, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
I feel like Dax at viper would be a complete waste of his talents. Would he thrive at viper? Probably. Should he be used there? I don't think so
January 5th, 2019 at 5:32 PM ^
We took 2-3 other recruits that might end up there anyways, so I would hope not as well.
January 5th, 2019 at 5:51 PM ^
Don brown needs to make a position called hawk for the DBs so Dax can play that. Opposite of what Peppers was
January 5th, 2019 at 7:26 PM ^
He has one, it's called Rover (Kinnel played it this year, and was mediocre at it)
January 5th, 2019 at 11:28 PM ^
It seems like we just tell half the defensive recruits they can play viper. Everyone wants to be Jabril or Khaleke. I think we told Anthony and Singleton they could be vipers. I think we told JKP.
January 5th, 2019 at 5:58 PM ^
Curious to know why you think he would be wasted at viper? Viper is kinda a marquee play-making role in Don Brown's defense, so I can understand why someone with his altheticism would get a long look there. The only thing that jumps out at me is the bigger need at the safety position given our current roster.
January 5th, 2019 at 6:14 PM ^
Dax’s skill-set is geared more towards coverage in space if needed and freedom to roam to make plays since typically a free safety is left unblocked. I agree he would eventually be able to play towards the LOS but I think it would a.) not be in his first year since I have a hard time thinking he’ll be physically ready and b.) wouldn’t best fit his attributes with today’s sophisticated, spread offenses. Kinnel was a quality player for us but his vision and tackling were his best qualities - he was exposed a bit when he had to cover - Dax changes that and basically brings another corner to the safety position similar to Marlin Jackson.
January 5th, 2019 at 7:24 PM ^
Could also just be a situation where he expressed interest in that position and the coaches said they'd give him a look. His best days IMO will be at Rover (and looks like he will be badass at that).
January 5th, 2019 at 6:44 PM ^
Viper doesn't make a lot of sense to me for Hill. Viper isn't responsible for much in the way of coverage, and that is Dax's forte. It seems to me that an elite free safety plays right into the Don Brown secondary philosophy. I'm pretty excited to see how Brown will use a guy like Hill.