The Bobcat Nation

Assuming that the defense is a 4-3 next year instead of a 3-4, what position do you think will be the strongest?

Personally I think it will be the D-line because of experience and size. The O-line will be tough as well, especially if Siataga moves to OG.

The O-line would look something like this:

LT- Jensen
LG- Birkeland
C- Verlanic
RG- Siataga or Beniger
RT- Hirst

The D-line would look like this:

DE- Papich
DT- Saucedo
DT- Macciola, Hoffenbacker, or Rothenberger (great football names)
DE- Matakis or Lowe if they move him back to DE

Bottom line is that our defense is very deep next year, and we don't have to worry about injuries nearly as much as we used to.

profisme wrote:Assuming that the defense is a 4-3 next year instead of a 3-4, what position do you think will be the strongest?

Personally I think it will be the D-line because of experience and size. The O-line will be tough as well, especially if Siataga moves to OG.

The O-line would look something like this:

LT- Jensen
LG- Birkeland
C- Verlanic
RG- Siataga or Beniger
RT- Hirst

The D-line would look like this:

DE- Papich
DT- Saucedo
DT- Macciola, Hoffenbacker, or Rothenberger (great football names)
DE- Matakis or Lowe if they move him back to DE

Bottom line is that our defense is very deep next year, and we don't have to worry about injuries nearly as much as we used to.

The encouraging thing about this is that in listening to Coach K speak a few weeks ago, he mentioned that the D-line is where our team begins. So, to be coming into the season with a strong core of players is exciting.

I don't think Beniger will be a starter. Maybe Smith or DeCock. I expect them to move Saucedo to OL not Siataga.

Beniger will be good before he is done, I fully believe that. DeCock would be too big to be at OG, in my opinion. You don't want your entire OL to be too tall for your QB to see over. DeCock will again challenge Jensen for the starting spot on the line, but I don't think he will end up being anything but a backup next year. Siataga has the better build for OG than Saucedo does.

profisme wrote:Beniger will be good before he is done, I fully believe that. DeCock would be too big to be at OG, in my opinion. You don't want your entire OL to be too tall for your QB to see over. DeCock will again challenge Jensen for the starting spot on the line, but I don't think he will end up being anything but a backup next year. Siataga has the better build for OG than Saucedo does.

I didn't know that Siataga was an OL. I thought that he was strictly a DT.

Birkeland was a DT to begin with, and we got a 3 year starter on OL out of him. I don't know if Brant ever played OL before college, but I also don't know if Siataga did either. In any case, Siataga can play on whichever line he pleases, I just want him on the field. He is a tough competitor and loves to be out there.

Siataga needs to stay on D. Saucedo needs to stay on D. EASY!

profisme wrote:Assuming that the defense is a 4-3 next year instead of a 3-4, what position do you think will be the strongest?

Personally I think it will be the D-line because of experience and size. The O-line will be tough as well, especially if Siataga moves to OG.

The O-line would look something like this:

LT- Jensen
LG- Birkeland
C- Verlanic
RG- Siataga or Beniger
RT- Hirst

The D-line would look like this:

DE- Papich
DT- Saucedo
DT- Macciola, Hoffenbacker, or Rothenberger (great football names)
DE- Matakis or Lowe if they move him back to DE

Bottom line is that our defense is very deep next year, and we don't have to worry about injuries nearly as much as we used to.

Kolone should be on the DT position too.

profisme wrote:Assuming that the defense is a 4-3 next year instead of a 3-4, what position do you think will be the strongest?

Personally I think it will be the D-line because of experience and size. The O-line will be tough as well, especially if Siataga moves to OG.

The O-line would look something like this:

LT- Jensen
LG- Birkeland
C- Verlanic
RG- Siataga or Beniger
RT- Hirst

I think Verlanic will still be a year away from starting, my guess is that Birkland moves back to Center and Decock starts. OR if Verlanic does start (I guess he did twice this year) Decock will start in front of Beniger.

All I know is I like having these options on the D-line and O-line.

I'm guessing it will be Jensen, Birkland, Verlanic, Hansen, and Hirst

Helcat72 wrote:I'm guessing it will be Jensen, Birkland, Verlanic, Hansen, and Hirst

They are saying that Hansen is very good! Has he added weight? He came in about 255 lbs.

Siataga will stay D Line. I don't know where you got that he was going to the O Line. Saucedo is the one they are thinking of switching back to the O Line. (Remember he was there last year!) Kramer thinks that Saucedo has NFL potential on the O Line.

Macciola will not play DT in a 4-3. They brought him in for his pash rushing abilities (20 sacks as a So. in JC) from the end position. Not only that, he only weighs 240 lbs.

Matakis will not play DE. He weighs 280+ and doesn't have the speed. He will play DT because of his size and strength combination.

spider wrote:Siataga will stay D Line. I don't know where you got that he was going to the O Line. Saucedo is the one they are thinking of switching back to the O Line. (Remember he was there last year!) Kramer thinks that Saucedo has NFL potential on the O Line.

Macciola will not play DT in a 4-3. They brought him in for his pash rushing abilities (20 sacks as a So. in JC) from the end position. Not only that, he only weighs 240 lbs.

Matakis will not play DE. He weighs 280+ and doesn't have the speed. He will play DT because of his size and strength combination.

Matakis will be a BULL in the middle if we go back to the 4-3. I guarantee you we have the players next year to make the 4-3 a VERY VERY POTENT part of our defense. Those 4 down lineman should keep the OL of our fast LB's and let them make the play. Lowe should remain at strongside LB as he is very big but still very mobile. I see VERY VERY good things from our D next year. DL is DEEP

spider wrote:Macciola will not play DT in a 4-3. They brought him in for his pash rushing abilities (20 sacks as a So. in JC) from the end position. Not only that, he only weighs 240 lbs.

Matakis will not play DE. He weighs 280+ and doesn't have the speed. He will play DT because of his size and strength combination.

How about making the transition with Macciola to rush LB like we did with Clive this year - especially since he has such great speed.

Matakis is a stud. Lets hope he comes back from the knee injury. He can dominate at this level, absolutely dominate!

Cat Pride wrote:

spider wrote:Macciola will not play DT in a 4-3. They brought him in for his pash rushing abilities (20 sacks as a So. in JC) from the end position. Not only that, he only weighs 240 lbs.

Matakis will not play DE. He weighs 280+ and doesn't have the speed. He will play DT because of his size and strength combination.

How about making the transition with Macciola to rush LB like we did with Clive this year - especially since he has such great speed.

Matakis is a stud. Lets hope he comes back from the knee injury. He can dominate at this level, absolutely dominate!

I agree on Macciola. He can definately play rush LB for us this year. He is built just like Clive.

DE – Kolone
DE – Papich/Macciola
DT – Matakis/Hoffenbacker (?-think he’s still a year away)
DT – Siataga/Saucedo (may go O-Line)

OLB – Lowe
MLB – Daly/Mauia
OLB – King/Ashley

CB – Davis/LeBlanc
CB – Austin/Smith(?)
S – Force
S – Fuller/Guazerro

(looks like the best D in the conference)

TE – Barnhart/Parker/Bostick
T – Hirst
T- Jensen
G – Birkeland/DeCock/Smith/Beniger/Hanson
G – same as above
C – Birkeland/Verlanic

QB – Carpenter/Coppack
RB – Groves/Taito

WR – Lulay (I know everyone says he isn’t fast enough, but something tells me…)
WR – Brown/Transfer/Rundle
WR – Roosevelt/Transfer/Green

(Might have to be patient with this unit for a while)

Special Teamers: Speights, Fletcher, Retoriano, Cerise, Ashley, Mauia, Curley, Parker, Bostick. Kick offs/punter: Bolton. Kicker: Hastings. Backup: Fisher.

What about Chris Smith??? Haven't heard anyone mention his name. I remember he was a great get out of H.S. and had D1 interest. Should be a redshirt soph. next year? I remember he was pretty vicious during the Shrine game...

Oops - just re-read and saw he is projected as a guard...

What about Nolan Lee, does he figure into the WR mix?

I would really like to see Lulay and Rundle get some good playing time next year. I haven't seen Tyler play, but is seems like everything I have read regarding Spring ball/scrimmages has been good. Same deal with Rundle. If Tyler is half the gamer that his brother is, I think we are in real good shape. I've seen Rundle play in high school, and he is a clutch player with excellent hands, and not afraid to catch in traffic from what I have seen. I think Rundle can surprise a lot of people if given the chance.

I would prefer to see these guys ahead of Roosevelt at WR (due to better hands). I actually thought Roosevelt was pretty exciting at kick return last year before he got hurt, I wouldn't mind seeing him in that role. This year our kick returns weren't much.

What about McDonald,TE. I know he was on special teans as a sophmore before he got injured in the bye week scrimmage. The reason I ask is I was told that the were thinjing of moving him to defense??? Anybody know any more.