re: Chizik and Van Gorder disagree

quote:

---

The 4-3 centers around the MLB. The front 7 relies on the Mike LB making plays, and being the "quarterback" of the defense. Weak LB play is the reason we have DB's leading the team in tackles

---

quote:

---

The 4-3 is garbage without a front 4 that makes plays. No matter how good your MLB is. Think about every good Auburn defense the last decade. Everyone had a the MINIMUM a pass-rush specialist at DE,a DT that was great against the run, and a DT that could penetrate and make plays in the backfield. And spare me this "quarterback of defense" bullshite. Has nothing to do with what you said.

Weak & inconsistent DL is why we have DBs leading the team in tackles. I'd love to have a Josh Thompson type player back on the team.

---

Both good points, but the point of the 4-3 is to pass-rushing DEs, DTs that collapse the pocket on the pass and clog the middle/take up blockers on the run and LBs that MAKE tackles. Right now we have 1 of the 3...

The biggest thing is that our LBs don't have high football IQs. They never make plays in the backfield, and are always chasing down plays because they're NEVER a step ahead, ALWAYS a step behind. That's means the have no football IQ, and for the starters to be 2 seniors and a junior, thats BAD.

The DTs aren't much better. In a 4-3 you have 2 playmakers or one playmaker and one stop gap. Like Jay Ratliff was the playmaker, Josh Thompson was the stop gap. Both Senderrick Marks and Pat Sims were playmakers. Nick Fairley was the playmaker, Zach Clayton was the stop gap....now we don't have either. They don't stop the run, take up double teams, collapse the pocket, make plays for losses, get sacks, NOTHING.

The DTs nad LBs are very important in the 4-3...when they play better, the D as a whole will.


*My 1600th post, Hi mom!! Shout out to my wife, Jamila...I love you baby!!