Some time back I mentioned that it will be interesting to see how recruiting and the defense evolves in the future as recruiting allows for change.
Coach Knorr has been tasked with developing a defense that's more effective while the team is primarily full of the same players it had before in the front line. I SUPPOSE IU has made this switch because it's easier to find quality linebackers in recruiting than it is lineman. When you are only fielding 3 guys instead of 4 you can find 3 good ones easier than 4. I deduce that.
In the 3/4 defense, you can play a two gap or single gap defense.
The Two Gap relies on bigger, bulkier lineman who can absorb a double team and hold their position to free up the linebackers to make a play. It's where you see your Vince Woolfork's and other BIG NG's.
The single gap is manned by smaller, quicker guys who are responsible only for one gap and they slant or loop and attack it looking for penetration and disruption.
That's what IU plays.
If you look closer at IU's personnel, guys like Green, Latham, Hoff and Rayner seem to not fit the ideal single gap mold.
However, since they made the switch, the lineman for the last two classes, and the kids they are recruiting, tend to be of a different body type. More long slashers than bulky thumpers.
While the defense may improve this season (hopefully) they are still 2 recruiting cycles from being what they CAN and need to be in terms of personnel to play an attacking, slanting, looping defense. By then guys like Robinson, McCrayIII, Meminger, Cater, Barwick, will be seasoned players.
It will be interesting to watch it develop.
Coach Knorr has been tasked with developing a defense that's more effective while the team is primarily full of the same players it had before in the front line. I SUPPOSE IU has made this switch because it's easier to find quality linebackers in recruiting than it is lineman. When you are only fielding 3 guys instead of 4 you can find 3 good ones easier than 4. I deduce that.
In the 3/4 defense, you can play a two gap or single gap defense.
The Two Gap relies on bigger, bulkier lineman who can absorb a double team and hold their position to free up the linebackers to make a play. It's where you see your Vince Woolfork's and other BIG NG's.
The single gap is manned by smaller, quicker guys who are responsible only for one gap and they slant or loop and attack it looking for penetration and disruption.
That's what IU plays.
If you look closer at IU's personnel, guys like Green, Latham, Hoff and Rayner seem to not fit the ideal single gap mold.
However, since they made the switch, the lineman for the last two classes, and the kids they are recruiting, tend to be of a different body type. More long slashers than bulky thumpers.
While the defense may improve this season (hopefully) they are still 2 recruiting cycles from being what they CAN and need to be in terms of personnel to play an attacking, slanting, looping defense. By then guys like Robinson, McCrayIII, Meminger, Cater, Barwick, will be seasoned players.
It will be interesting to watch it develop.
