3-4 D if we get Harbaugh?

Submitted by jerseyblue on

Should we be fortunate and get Harbaugh I'm guessing that he would want to continue using a 3-4 defense. Based on our current personnel how smooth/bumpy of a transition would you expect that to be?

Lupe Fiasco

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^

I've always been intruiged with Mike McCray as an edge rusher. He has good size and athleticism, and if I recall correctly he was great blitzer coming out of highschool.

East German Judge

December 22nd, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^

Yeah, but the defense ESPECIALLY since it was on the field for so long, only was able to generate 10 turnovers last year - the 3rd worst total.  And to be honest, the B1G was not that tough of a league so not sure how to explain this stat.  FWIW, MSU defense created 33 and OSU defense created 29.

LSAClassOf2000

December 22nd, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^

I could be wrong, but I think Durkin liked to mix it up a little bit - I had thought the base defense in Florida, for example, was a 4-3 but that he threw in situational 3-4 looks. That's how it seemed in the few times I watched Florida this year anyway. If we could get a defensive coordinator that ran a nice hybrid scheme, that might not be a bad thing at all. 

Billy Ray Valentine

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^

But until Harbaugh is standing at a podium in Ann Arbor, wearing some not-so-cool Addidas Michigan gear, I'd just rather hold off on the "what-ifs."  No ... I'm not of the school-of-thought that message board fanboy chatter can "jinx" real-life events.  I'm just leary of the self-inflicted mental harm that would occur if Harbaugh gives us the "Heisman" after the past few weeks of starry-eyed optimism.

 

For those unfamiliar with my use of the term "Heisman."

 

mGrowOld

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^

So in year 3 of Harbaugh do you think his red shirt sophomores will start replacing some of Hoke's Seniors as Michigan tries to defend it's national championship trophy for the second straight year?

Or will our Heisman-winning QB have to take a seat behind our first time ever SIX star recruit to get him some playing time?

Bo Schemheckler

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^

I think our players could fit in a 3-4, we have a couple NT size players, poggi seems like a DE fit, our current weak side DE's couple probably move to rush LB if properly coached

UMaD

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^

DT is the strength of the team and DE is weak, so it would make sense to put 3 of our DT types out there at once.

Not sure we have the Rush LB types to support it, but we are fairly deep at LB next year.

ThadMattasagoblin

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

It costs less for Michigan to retain Mattison as a linebackers coach or co-defensive cordinator if Harbaugh wants him. I would expect that he would want him in some capacity for continuity and recruiting.

AnklePick

December 22nd, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^

Wormley, Strobel, Hurst, Henry at DE. Pipkins and Mone at NT. Furbush, Charleton, Ojemida, RJS could all play the overhang.

If we choose to go there at least DL and LB are strengths of the team and have depth.