Disguise, aggression, and limiting big plays are a few of my first thoughts, and I will break them more down in detail in a minute. The one thing I am looking forward to most are in game adjustments. The previous staff was really subpar at adjusting on the fly, in my opinion, especially after the half. It just really cost us in some games. I fondly look back on Coach Elko's DC tenure as having games with mostly outstanding adjustments that kept us in most games despite sluggish offenses. He did have issues with some teams, like Bama, but man, everyone did. So, what are we looking like next year...?
Play to Our Strengths - Plainly, the previous staff got caught up chasing stars and paid for it. So did Coach Elko and the new staff coming in, though the damage on defense was not as bad as it could've been. In the initial 2 deep on the D Line, we still have highly regarded dudes like Turner, Stewart, Dindy and Hicks, plus the additions of Scourton and Howell. Throw in Kennedy, Sylla and White, and the the true fish and we have a lot a talent to work with there, especially with better S&C and coaching on technique. My question is..."Is the D Line going to be the strength of our defense next season?" I'm already on record as saying I believe Nic Scourton is going to lead the SEC in in sacks, so I think y'all can see where I'm headed. But it may be in a way that's a little different than what you imagine...
Return of the 3 Man Front?! - Stop screaming or I'll sick all the Swifty-Kelce-ites on you faster than BADASH can say "meh" after we sign a criminally underrated 4 star RB in 2025 class! Listen, I dislike the 3 man front as much as anyone here, but Coaches Elko & Bateman have history here. They both like disguising fronts, formations, blitzes and coverages...a lot...and I do mean, a lot! Don't believe me?! Go back and look at video from both of them as DCs at Army, Notre Dame, UNC and A&M. Just because it starts in a 3 man doesn't mean it will stay there, more than likely, it won't. Coach Bateman, at Army, would usually send at least 4, sometimes 5 or 6, but you wouldn't know who. Coach Elko did much the same thing for us. I do see Scourton as being the Michael Clemons type linchpin to build around and on the other side, we will have pass rush specialist similar to Tyree Johnson. Just don't know who it will be yet. This time around, though, I believe we are stronger at the 3 tech, so we will have a better inside rush.
"With OLB Comes Great Responsibility" - Just no replacing an All American, yet still in our defense the WILL line backer has to be a force. We saw it in Coach Elko's defense. It will be no different this time. Whoever plays next to York has to be able to shed blocks, set the edge, read, react, tackle, cover, blitz...yeah, pretty much everything...and do it very well. The good news. We have guys. The other news. We just don't know who they are yet. We have players who seem more like Edges to me but may play WILL for us, and of course, there are the true fish. Howard may have the inside track with experience, but Sanford, there's just something about that kid.... We got lucky with York. Will lightning strike twice?! I'd be lying if said the losses of Jackson, Nolen, and Raikes don't concern me as far as tying up blockers, especially in the run game. I like Regis and hopefully Samu and Johnson will be rotation guys, but we must keep the backers clean to make plays. I've been harping for another true nose tackle....
Got the numbers, but the players...?! - That's going to be the big question going into and coming out of the Spring. Whelp, we can't say we didn't go out and address it in the portal and I suppose in the prep signing class (Terry Bussey, anyone?), because we did! How well we addressed it is only going to come out when the kids really start going through the workouts, drills, practices and so on. But here's point I'd like to make. I was watching one podcast on us and the guy presenting said that of all our transfers that 20 had starting experience. That is a lot and most of it is in the secondary, albeit some at different levels. Ags, we're just not going to miss on all of them. The staff has just too good of a record on evaluations, development and coaching. I also believe that some of the holdovers are going into the Spring with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Some have a chance to be really solid players as they get coached up...Brooks, Rogers, Thomas, McCall, all come to mind.... But they also know how many players have been brought in for their jobs. I think more than a few don't like it, but hey this is big boy football. Iron sharpens iron.
Super Sunday Gig'em, Naturally!!!
Play to Our Strengths - Plainly, the previous staff got caught up chasing stars and paid for it. So did Coach Elko and the new staff coming in, though the damage on defense was not as bad as it could've been. In the initial 2 deep on the D Line, we still have highly regarded dudes like Turner, Stewart, Dindy and Hicks, plus the additions of Scourton and Howell. Throw in Kennedy, Sylla and White, and the the true fish and we have a lot a talent to work with there, especially with better S&C and coaching on technique. My question is..."Is the D Line going to be the strength of our defense next season?" I'm already on record as saying I believe Nic Scourton is going to lead the SEC in in sacks, so I think y'all can see where I'm headed. But it may be in a way that's a little different than what you imagine...
Return of the 3 Man Front?! - Stop screaming or I'll sick all the Swifty-Kelce-ites on you faster than BADASH can say "meh" after we sign a criminally underrated 4 star RB in 2025 class! Listen, I dislike the 3 man front as much as anyone here, but Coaches Elko & Bateman have history here. They both like disguising fronts, formations, blitzes and coverages...a lot...and I do mean, a lot! Don't believe me?! Go back and look at video from both of them as DCs at Army, Notre Dame, UNC and A&M. Just because it starts in a 3 man doesn't mean it will stay there, more than likely, it won't. Coach Bateman, at Army, would usually send at least 4, sometimes 5 or 6, but you wouldn't know who. Coach Elko did much the same thing for us. I do see Scourton as being the Michael Clemons type linchpin to build around and on the other side, we will have pass rush specialist similar to Tyree Johnson. Just don't know who it will be yet. This time around, though, I believe we are stronger at the 3 tech, so we will have a better inside rush.
"With OLB Comes Great Responsibility" - Just no replacing an All American, yet still in our defense the WILL line backer has to be a force. We saw it in Coach Elko's defense. It will be no different this time. Whoever plays next to York has to be able to shed blocks, set the edge, read, react, tackle, cover, blitz...yeah, pretty much everything...and do it very well. The good news. We have guys. The other news. We just don't know who they are yet. We have players who seem more like Edges to me but may play WILL for us, and of course, there are the true fish. Howard may have the inside track with experience, but Sanford, there's just something about that kid.... We got lucky with York. Will lightning strike twice?! I'd be lying if said the losses of Jackson, Nolen, and Raikes don't concern me as far as tying up blockers, especially in the run game. I like Regis and hopefully Samu and Johnson will be rotation guys, but we must keep the backers clean to make plays. I've been harping for another true nose tackle....
Got the numbers, but the players...?! - That's going to be the big question going into and coming out of the Spring. Whelp, we can't say we didn't go out and address it in the portal and I suppose in the prep signing class (Terry Bussey, anyone?), because we did! How well we addressed it is only going to come out when the kids really start going through the workouts, drills, practices and so on. But here's point I'd like to make. I was watching one podcast on us and the guy presenting said that of all our transfers that 20 had starting experience. That is a lot and most of it is in the secondary, albeit some at different levels. Ags, we're just not going to miss on all of them. The staff has just too good of a record on evaluations, development and coaching. I also believe that some of the holdovers are going into the Spring with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Some have a chance to be really solid players as they get coached up...Brooks, Rogers, Thomas, McCall, all come to mind.... But they also know how many players have been brought in for their jobs. I think more than a few don't like it, but hey this is big boy football. Iron sharpens iron.
Super Sunday Gig'em, Naturally!!!
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