CPA

Heck, when was the last time we could consistently put two legitimate pass rushers on the ends? Everything else is gravy.

But yeah, I can't remember a faster defense since teams have started to emphasize speed over size.

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It would not surprise me to see Hayseed move down to the Will in obvious passing downs. Something like this:

Fleming and Neal at bookends
Johnson and someone other than Williams at DTs
Hayseed and Brian Smith at LB
Walls, McNeil, Blanton, McCarthy, and Brown in the defensive backfield

If we're playing cover three, let the two safeties roam the underneath zones, and let Blanton play centerfield in cover 3 or something.

I agree that Neal and Fleming are both best suited as pass-rushing DEs. I agree that B. Smith is best suited for Sam. I just worry about Te'o, however talented, being entrusted with the Mike spot as a true freshman. It seems like he'd be better at Will to start off, but there are conflicting reports on whether Filer is a better fit on the outside or inside.

I just didn't like the way he was used. I think Tenuta/Brown really thought they could us that speed at LB (plus the leaps over a blocking RB are pretty sweet).

I wouldn't be shocked to see him move down to LB in passing downs with Tenuta now calling D. I keep thinking I'm gonna see him blitz up the middle after lining up 2 men off the TE and never seemed to see that in 2008. I know he could do it. If nothing else, he'd at least be pretty disruptive leaping over a blocking RB right in the middle of the formation.

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Sometimes I rhyme slow sometimes I rhyme quick.

that we had to move Travis Thomas to linebacker for 2006. That's how depleted we were.

Sh*t. Sandwich.

No offense to these guys' efforts but...

Crum as a four-year starter?
Travis Thomas moved over from RB?
Hayseed moved down from safety?
Joe Brockington?
Steve Quinn?

Sam:1. B Smith 2. S Smith
Mike:1. Filer 2.McDonald
Will:1. Teo 2. Little Poz

DE's:Fleming, Neal

Here's the pool of candidates. Fleming, Neal, Ryan, and Wade are all listed as OLBs, although I would bet some would play DE (if not all?). For the purposes of this exercise, you can move two guys to DE.

Filer
Fleming
Fox
McDonald
Motta
Neal
Posluszny
Ryan
B Smith
S Smith
T Smith
Te'o
Wade

DE - 1. Fleming 2. Neal (rotate a lot, try to get both on the field in passing situations)

Sam - 1. B Smith 2. S Smith
Mike - 1. Te'o 2. T Smith
Will - 1. Filer 2. Posluszny

When was the last time we had this many athletic LBs to move around like chess pieces? I feel like it's been rather stagnant for the last few years...