I'm hoping this squad regroups and figures out what they need to do to improve. I know we were down Watts and Mitchell last night, which hurt.
Everyone keeps talking about how 2021 is the year. But I'm really questioning how this defense gets better next year with Neal, Watts, and Barnes not likely to be coming back for another year.
okay, presume Diaco is still here in a year, let’s start with known commodities
DE Karlaftis
NT
DE
Dog Mitchell
ILB Alexander
ILB
Cat
CB Howard
S Allen
S
CB
If I was to use the talent, experience and solid play of the 2003 Purdue defense as a standard, that’s what I feel good about going into next year. I’m not gonna get into whether or not those players have backups, because the other positions all have more pressing and primary concerns..
DE (or 4-3 DT) - I’ll think about watts snd barnes returning when they announce they are returning ..
So, this position I feel good about. You can’t do much better than getting Steven Faucheux and then having him gaining strength in the program for two years before you need him. I’m sure Nat may correct me but it seems like Hudgins may be slotted here, and if so that’s good for competition.
NT - I have yet to see anything from Lawrence Johnson that shows me that he’s a force as a 3-4 NT or will be by next year. This needs to be the force of your defense, like Lorenzo meal pre injury, or you don’t have a 3-4 defense. Whether Johnson, in year 4 in the program, can look like it.. is a major question. Also, can Austin make a move? Year 2 may be a little early.
this is a major question. Sitting around like “oh it’s our year” takes about the low level of thought that had people planning their trip to the big ten championship this year.
ILB - Next to Alexander, hardly what I’d call a great best Linebacker (using the 4-3 standard and taking Mitchell out of it) you’re depending on Khali Saunders to go from little used reserve to solid starter. With three games left this year, as much as I’m high on Saunders, that’s hardly this slam dunk proposition
Cat - Graham doesn’t suck but he still looks lost a lot. He’s just not that good in coverage, which can come with time.. but I’m not seeing anything that tells me he will be this ace in coverage next year using the cat standard
S - I really like Grant and think that he has the TALENT to be our second best defensive player next year .. but he’s no cam Allen in coverage and may be a coverage liability next year.
I love how Minnesota ran that stupid Seth green crap and everyone stood around looking like helpless marks and grant came in put a stop to that stupid sorry ass crap that never should have worked 18 times in the first place real quick. He’s like george... he’s not cut from the same cloth as a lot of the rest of the guys ..
But he’s got a ways to go in coverage.. not like jalen graham distance 🙄 but a ways..
CB - Mackey gets a free pass from a lot of people on the whole Jared sparks 2017 train of thought.. and I don’t doubt that he works hard and is a good kid.
but he’s not that athletic for a corner and can be used by opposing OCs pretty easily. Like I’ve been saying for years..what I wouldn’t do for anthony brown and Brandon king back.
so that’s where we are at on just not having any exploitable starters, forget backups..
and These opposing coaches are pros..give Them one guy they can exploit and they will go out and make a living ...
Like the 2003 defense. The three guys who didn’t get drafted still weren’t these busters where opposing coaches could stop a video and say “THAT GUY! THAT GUY IS GONNA ALLOW US TO MAKE A LIVING ON SATURDAY”
