I think we're going to see a lot of teams try to power run up the middle this year, and whether or not we can stop it consistently will determine how good we are going to be.
I was thinking about this, as it's really our only question mark on the D. Our outside D looks ridiculous, but our inside is unproven. That said, I think our inside guys will be very, very good... they are just unproven as of yet.
Think about it... outside of the defense is Gross-Matos / Simmons / Toney / etc... That group is super talented at the 1st string AND pretty darn deep. Then you have Parsons and Brown outside at LB, and follow that up with Reid & Castro-Fields in the secondary. There aren't many teams with that type of speed and talent on the outsides at every position.
However, up the gut is more a question mark. Windsor is solid, and will be very good bu the other spot is up for grabs. Personally I think Mustipher is going to develop into a super talented DT, but he may not be there yet. Hansard was injured last year but has come back strong, and Shelton is good depth too. However, as I said they are unproven and I believe teams will test them early in the season.
LB is Jan Johnson, who is solid but nothing special. He doesn't have Brooks' athleticism and Brown the freshman is probably a year away from taking over that MLB position. As for the safeties, Again one position is up for grabs but I think the person who wins it will be good.
I think this unit will be special, and probably even better in 2020 (especially at LB). However, just looking at the paper, that's how I'd attack them... up the middle. Most likely Pitt will be are biggest test early in the season to see if we can hold up against a more power run offense. I think we will pass that test well.
I always felt Givens leaving early was our biggest loss. I really wish he would’ve come back for another year.
I always felt Givens leaving early was our biggest loss. I really wish he would’ve come back for another year.
Yes, I do think he was a loss... but I feel Mustipher has all the tools to be a better version of Givens. Unfortunately, that will probably happen in 2020, I think it's a year early for him to be that good. He'll most likely rotate in for Shelton... who is a damn good DT is his own right.
Another thing... look at the beef we have at the DT spot now: Shelton: 311 / Mustipher: 311 / Hansard: 316 / Barber: 290 / Windsor: 285. That's a lot bigger than we've been up front in a while, as every single guy listed there is bigger than any of our starters on the DL over the past three years. Remember the last big, talented guy we had at the DT position??? Austin Johnson. Not bad.
The Cothran, Cothren, and Givens were all undersized, and now we have the talent AND size to really cause havoc up front. Hopefully, our DTs have the motors those guys did. I'm not really worried though, I think our DT play this year will be exceptional.
All that beef should let the LB’S run wild lol
