claydawg09

I think with the inside backer blitzes you really get into a chicken v the egg scenario. We do it to try to get pressure obviously but we do it more often than others because we knew our edge guys this year weren’t great. But maybe they’re not great because if the rb or te does one little thing they have to pause for a quarter second to consider if there could be some type of draw/screen/ delayed run coming. Other teams leave that responsibility solely on the inside backer so the edges can rush freely. So if our edges don’t look great we at least have to consider that it could be that we’re almost putting too much emphasis on run stopping and neglecting the pass rush side. I am hopeful that a lot of the frustrations of 2025 were more personnel based. We had to play the older guys more because the younger were just too inexperienced or not bulked enough to play more on possible run downs. I hope that’s the case. If not, we need to take a much longer look at the athlete we recruit for edge and what we are asking them to do.

Lots of layers to this but it’s a defensive scheme issue. Our Jack linebacker which is the primary stand up guy on the edge is taught to worry about the run first. This year that was mostly Q Johnson. Guys who got time/ cross trained there include but are not limited to Chris Cole, Gabe Harris, Zayden Walker, Elo Modozie, and Kris Jones and 3 true freshmen.
There’s probably something out there that charts this, but I want you to think about every 3rd or 4th down of 6 or more yards to go we faced on D this year. I would just about guarantee that over 50 percent of those we had the edge guys stunting or twisting. Meaning they’re not the one designed to get the pressure. They’re muddying up the water for the O line assignments and while they might get home it’s more so designed so the blitzing linebacker gets the pressure. A lot of other teams play it similar to the way most NFL teams do. 3rd/4th down 6 plus to go is turn the DL loose, particularly the ends, and let them get after the QB. We’ve never done that under Kirby. Ever. Hell Travon Walker spent 3 years here and maxed out with like 4 sacks in 2021. He’s had 10+ sacks now for 2 or 3 seasons in the nfl. It’s a matter of opportunity. If we gave our edge guys more opportunities,, they’d get more sacks but our defense might not be as good against the run.
Now speaking specifically on 2025, I was never really pleased with what I saw from Q Johnson when he got 1 on 1 rush opportunities. He seemed uncreative and lacked any semblance of a move. But he was a damn demon against the run so he’s gonna get the most opportunities because he’s on the field more. I also give him some grace because he’s a converted QB. While other guys were practicing rips and swims and spins he was trying to hit the deep over in stride.
I think most would agree with my sentiments on Q but what was the alternative this year? Chris Cole is a really talented pass rusher. He finished the year with 4 and left 4 easy ones on the field by rushing too recklessly. Problem is he’s also our best cover linebacker. We lose that when he rushes. Zayden Walker came on late but he’s really supposed to be in inside backer. He doesn’t have the size to hold up out there and you could see that if he didn’t get an advantage with his initial burst he probably wasn’t gonna win the rep. Elo Modozie was a late panick grab after Damon Wilson’s bitch arse left us in a predicament. Modozie took a while to adjust to SEC play but he also just lacks the twitch to be a good pass rusher at this level. Gabe was great at 5 tech against the run this year but he gained weight to do so. Went from 240 to 270. Lost a step in the process. Less pass rush.
I know that was a lot but it comes down to our scheme not allowing a lot of opportunities for anyone to put up numbers especially regarding sacks. And obviously if you thought Uzo missed recruits you have to pay credence to NIL and the fact that he won’t have to do that in Dallas anyways. He’s a good coach. You don’t go from Colorado to Georgia to the Cowboys by being bad at your job.

You’re not wrong but you Can’t live your life that way man. Be hopeful. Enjoy it.

I’m guessing we try to lure Jarvis Jones away from Carver Columbus or try to poach C-Rob from Bama.

The CCC focused mainly on our entrenched donors and milking more and more out of them. The new Glory Glory collective will do that as well but will also have a strong “crowd sourcing” angle that will more resemble what ole Miss is doing. Also those in the know are saying the leaders behind the new collective are much more aligned and organized than the CCC ever was.

The Calicut thing is real interesting. All the charges were dropped but I fear it was based off a technicality and his accomplice dying at a party after the event so he could basically dump all the blame on him. Would love to have his skillset. (6’2” 200 pound safety/ star). But idk if we will let him come after what transpired.

Just a general transfer note. Of all the guys that left a grand total of 3 players actually went to possible playoff teams. Kelly went to Ohio state. Aguero went to ole miss. Jordan Thomas went to South Carolina. And I’m being nice calling 26 ole miss and South Carolina possible playoff teams. My point is a lot of our fanbase panics when we lose guys but that vast majority go to schools that are not in our league both SEC wise and championship caliber wise.

Like Rod Rob. Ohhh we can’t lose him. Well he ended up at UAB. If he was so unlosable why didn’t he end up somewhere better? Ondre Evans went to NC state. Good program but not our level. The rest ended up at Colorado, Kansas, etc. the depth would’ve been nice but it gets tiresome when fans act like every guy who exits is just a year away from being an all American. Possibly. But most of the time that’s not the case.

Allegedly Cortez Hankton hit on his mom during a recruiting visit in high school that Verron wasn’t on. Do with that what you will.

I’d feel comfortable with Juan dropping a few more pounds and playing LT and Greene at RT. However I’m highly concerned who comes in for them if they get hurt.

You mean the game he played with a torn labrum and literally got shoulder surgery at 8am the next day? But he played anyways because he knew him with one arm was still better than the alternative? That game? Yea I think they’ll either overlook it or view it as a positive character moment.