Your defensive tackles

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grizgirl
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Your defensive tackles

Post by grizgirl » Tue Apr 26, 2016 12:55 pm

Now that you've brought in two new JC guys what do you think of that group? Is it better than last year? If so, how much better?


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bobcat99
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by bobcat99 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:09 pm

We won't have anybody as good as Sheridan was, but Yates should improve on a good year, and we have a lot more depth. Scheme will be different too, and that will play as big of a role as anything.



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wbtfg
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by wbtfg » Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:15 pm

Scary good.

At this point it's impossible to know how we'll look. Sheridan was an animal who will be difficult to replace. Choate is obviously a DL guy, and Gregorak has stated numerous times that DT is the most important position on the field, so the staff obviously understands the urgency there.

Fingers are crossed.



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VimSince03
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by VimSince03 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 1:17 pm

grizgirl wrote:Now that you've brought in two new JC guys what do you think of that group? Is it better than last year? If so, how much better?
A little early but we definitely needed more size and depth at the position and we got that with these two. I think everyone saw how awful our run defense was last year. So here is my early answer to your questions with predictions:

My prediction is that the group will be headlined by sophomore Tucker Yates (6'0", 310 lbs.) and junior Brandon Hayashi (6'0", 310 lbs.). Behind them will be senior Joe Naotala (6'2", 275 lbs.), sophomore Zach Wright (6'3", 250 lbs.), senior Robert Wilcox (6'1", 260 lbs.), junior Fou Polataivao (6'1", 290 lbs.), and junior Matt Brownlow (5'9", 310 lbs.). We got size and depth from the two new guys and I believe Hayashi was a big get with Polataivao providing depth. Zach Wright is undersized but had a very good spring along with Robert Wilcox (both are converted DE's). Brownlow and Naotala will provide more depth. Naotala started alongside Wright this spring as Yates was dealing with a broken hand but the addition of the two new JUCO guys might push Naotala down the depth chart. I think the group is deeper and bigger than last year.

Is it better than last year? Our defensive tackles weren't bad last year but obviously our run defense was an issue and we haven't had a good pocket push up the middle since Zach Minter graduated. Quarterbacks have had a pretty comfortable pocket playing against MSU the past two years. No denying that. This group has the potential to be much better than last year because it is deeper than just four guys (we really only had three last year) and our depth is now bigger.

Reasons why this group won't be better? One of the two JUCO guys has to be productive next year and Tucker Yates has to take the next step and stay on the field. He flashed as a freshman last year. Zach Wright and Robert Wilcox can be those interior pass rushers that we've needed. However, if these situations don't work out, our defense will be a work in progress once again.

Overall, if the guys buy-in to Choate's teaching (he is a nationally prominent defensive line coach at the college level), this group should take off the next few years. Like bobcat99 said, scheme will play a big role. You don't need a bunch of Zach Minter's to run a stout defense. You need good depth and guys playing on the same page.


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grizgirl
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by grizgirl » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:30 pm

wbtfg wrote:Scary good.

At this point it's impossible to know how we'll look. Sheridan was an animal who will be difficult to replace. Choate is obviously a DL guy, and Gregorak has stated numerous times that DT is the most important position on the field, so the staff obviously understands the urgency there.

Fingers are crossed.
Did he really say that!? I wonder what he thinks of Stitt moving Kidder to DE because I think Kidder was first team all conference last year at DT.


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Bobcat80
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by Bobcat80 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:48 pm

I hope we see a lot of this in the fall.




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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by VimSince03 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:51 pm

Maybe this:

Image


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bobcat99
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by bobcat99 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 2:58 pm

grizgirl wrote:
wbtfg wrote:Scary good.

At this point it's impossible to know how we'll look. Sheridan was an animal who will be difficult to replace. Choate is obviously a DL guy, and Gregorak has stated numerous times that DT is the most important position on the field, so the staff obviously understands the urgency there.

Fingers are crossed.
Did he really say that!? I wonder what he thinks of Stitt moving Kidder to DE because I think Kidder was first team all conference last year at DT.
I would assume you're going to run more of a 3-4 if Kidder is going to DE. He could probably pull off a 5 tech.

The reason DT is so important, probably most important is because it doesn't matter how good of an outside rush you have if you have no interior push. That's why our DE's had good sack numbers when Minter was here. The QB couldn't step up in the pocket. It's also why I love that Wilcox is going to DT. He's going to be a pass rush specialist, and it's going to work well IMO.



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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by GoCats18 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:09 pm

I might be way off on this, but from what I have heard from players in interviews I think the key difference this year comes down to coaching. I keep getting the vibe that the previous staff was hard to play for and didn't do much as far as coaching/teaching and getting players motivated and ready to play. I think we have a lot of talent and I think if these kids are willing to give everything they have for this staff and take advantage of what they are being taught, I think we will see dramatic improvement from last year. I could be very wrong though.


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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by Bobcat80 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:11 pm

VimSince03 wrote:Maybe this:

Image
That movie still cracks me up.



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VimSince03
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by VimSince03 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 3:12 pm

Bobcat80 wrote:
VimSince03 wrote:Maybe this:

Image
That movie still cracks me up.
Underrated.


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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by technoCat » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:35 pm

VimSince03 wrote:
Bobcat80 wrote:
VimSince03 wrote:Maybe this:

Image
That movie still cracks me up.
Underrated.
Ok I'll be THAT guy, what movie is that?


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RickRund
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by RickRund » Tue Apr 26, 2016 4:59 pm

technoCat wrote:
VimSince03 wrote:
Bobcat80 wrote:
VimSince03 wrote:Maybe this:

Image
That movie still cracks me up.
Underrated.
Ok I'll be THAT guy, what movie is that?
I can't believe you asked that question...
I am just glad someone asked before me..... :mrgreen: :?:


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Audi alteram partem: listen to the other side.

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VimSince03
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by VimSince03 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 5:18 pm

RickRund wrote:
technoCat wrote:
VimSince03 wrote:
Bobcat80 wrote:
VimSince03 wrote:Maybe this:

Image
That movie still cracks me up.
Underrated.
Ok I'll be THAT guy, what movie is that?
I can't believe you asked that question...
I am just glad someone asked before me..... :mrgreen: :?:
Necessary Roughness. Cmon guys.


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Colter_Nuanez
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by Colter_Nuanez » Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:44 pm

grizgirl wrote:
wbtfg wrote:Scary good.

At this point it's impossible to know how we'll look. Sheridan was an animal who will be difficult to replace. Choate is obviously a DL guy, and Gregorak has stated numerous times that DT is the most important position on the field, so the staff obviously understands the urgency there.

Fingers are crossed.
Did he really say that!? I wonder what he thinks of Stitt moving Kidder to DE because I think Kidder was first team all conference last year at DT.
Gregorak's favorite saying is "mass kicks ass. And if you don't have mass in the middle, get ready to get your ass kicked."



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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by TomCat88 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 8:48 pm

Colter_Nuanez wrote:
grizgirl wrote:
wbtfg wrote:Scary good.

At this point it's impossible to know how we'll look. Sheridan was an animal who will be difficult to replace. Choate is obviously a DL guy, and Gregorak has stated numerous times that DT is the most important position on the field, so the staff obviously understands the urgency there.

Fingers are crossed.
Did he really say that!? I wonder what he thinks of Stitt moving Kidder to DE because I think Kidder was first team all conference last year at DT.
Gregorak's favorite saying is "mass kicks ass. And if you don't have mass in the middle, get ready to get your ass kicked."
Jerry Ball. Anyone remember him? 6-0, 330. Underrated, but very effective player in the NFL.


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VimSince03
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Re: Your defensive tackles

Post by VimSince03 » Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:06 pm

TomCat88 wrote:
Colter_Nuanez wrote:
grizgirl wrote:
wbtfg wrote:Scary good.

At this point it's impossible to know how we'll look. Sheridan was an animal who will be difficult to replace. Choate is obviously a DL guy, and Gregorak has stated numerous times that DT is the most important position on the field, so the staff obviously understands the urgency there.

Fingers are crossed.
Did he really say that!? I wonder what he thinks of Stitt moving Kidder to DE because I think Kidder was first team all conference last year at DT.
Gregorak's favorite saying is "mass kicks ass. And if you don't have mass in the middle, get ready to get your ass kicked."
Jerry Ball. Anyone remember him? 6-0, 330. Underrated, but very effective player in the NFL.
Pat Williams was better 8)


"There's two times of year for me: Football season, and waiting for football season."

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