re: USCe - Your 2014 Defense and Signees

DT and LB should be a strength. DE is thin and inexperienced. English has a very quick burst, very similar to Clowney, but nowhere near the power or strength. I just don't see him being able to hold up against the run as an every down player, but he has gained some weight, so hopefully that'll help.

Safety should be solid. Williams was kind of disappointing last year, but I think he'll step up as the leader back there. Corner is scary.. we return nobody with meaningful experience. We have a couple of talented freshman coming in and I'm positive at least one will end up as a starter.

Overall, expect to see some type of hybrid scheme similar to the way we used Norwood in 2009 to take advantage of our LB's and stack the middle of the field with our DT's. Our DC prefers man coverage, but played more zone last year to alleviate stress on our young linebackers and safeties. I think you'll see a return to more man to man to make things simpler for the young corners.

Ward is an under-appreciated DC. I'm sure we will take our lumps early in the year, but he'll get them back to the normal style of stingy defense we have been accustomed to by the middle of the year; very much like 2013.