I'm really stoked to see our defense in the coming years. . . .

**mikeiastat** · 11-26-2011, 02:28 PM

Most importantly when they start out good. Heck when they start out even average. This Group really came together and is becomeing a good defense. The day we start the season with a Good D it could be something special.

Well that and with an Offense that isn't leading the nation in shooting itself in the foot. Another pretty poor game from the offense. The turnovers, the false starts were terrible. Really put everyone behind the 8 ball.

JB managed fairly well and woody was woody, but with all the drops, fumbles and mistakes thats about all to really say about the offense. I guess I should say I liked the footwork and actual play from the line too, but mentally the false starts were at some of the worst possible times. Really couldn't get the ball rolling when they play the way they did today as a group.

Anyway, yay d-fense. go get em next week.

CyBer · 11-26-2011, 02:28 PM

Yeah we are losing a lot of talent after this season though.

**heitclone** · 11-26-2011, 02:34 PM

I agree, I think the thing I'm most impressed with is just how great of a tackling team we turned in to.

**mikeiastat** · 11-26-2011, 02:36 PM

I don't know, I'm not an expert, but I just think with the redshirting and building that the coaches seem to be working on, even next years group shouldn't be as rag tag as this unit started out.

Next year might be rough, but next year might be pretty similar and then I hope to see us quit filling the holes in the dam. The structure sure seems to be there on Offense, hopefully we start to see it on D as well.

**demoncore1031** · 11-26-2011, 02:45 PM

need a better pass rush... losing LJ and benton is gonna suck

**mikeiastat** · 11-26-2011, 02:56 PM

At least to me even the pass rush looks better than it did at the begining of the year. The progress our defenses make every year is encouraging. And it would be nice to have the guys from late in the season that didn't comit mind numbingly stupid penalties yes, but for the whole body of work a lesser defender that uses his head, might not leave quite the void for the year. Yes, I'll take LJ with the penalties any day, but he was a wash in some of the early games when he blew the defenses legs off, let alone their feet. I think he was using a bazooka to shoot this team in the foot early on. I know I shouldn't bring it up after he's been playing the way that he has lately, but it's mostly pertaining to how hard it will be to replace the secondary play from early on in the season.

I'm still hopefull that he Both can continue to put that past junk behind them and make the last 2 games what we're going to miss the most. I think they will.

**istater7** · 11-26-2011, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by CyBer

Yeah we are losing a lot of talent after this season though.

At least we have one more year of Knott, Klein, and Reeves.

**snowcraig2.0** · 11-26-2011, 03:01 PM

Yeah we are losing a lot of talent after this season though.

Johnson well be the player we miss. all the other seniors will be replaced by players of equal or greater value.

**CYVADER** · 11-26-2011, 03:05 PM

we lose a lot of starters but we return a lot of experienced depth that will be starters next year. as a collective group, it could be better than this years d. lj is going to be the biggest hole, but we have watson, thomas, and hopefully anthony young to step in for him. benton will be replaced by brackens, matt t will be replaced by george/miller (although we will likely see a lot of broomfield/morgan/mattison in the hybrid role), and we actually should have good depth at d-line despite losing 3 starters there.

**mikeiastat** · 11-26-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by istater7

At least we have one more year of Knott, Klein, and Reeves.

Amen to that. I was thinking the same thing today during the game. I hope the next guys in are learning a lot from these jems.

Best part of that too is they are Mid-west guys w/good heads on their shoulders and aren't from Texas. Nothing agains the guys on the team that are, but I'm sick of hearing how texas recruiting is all that matters these days. (even if it is important)

I know knott is an State guy and Klein is a Wisky product. Is Reeves a Mid-west product? either way, he can be an honarary product if need be. I'm too lazy to figure it out, but his blue collar is one positive that outshines the trashtalking and swagger when I look at the team.

**swarthmoreCY** · 11-26-2011, 03:09 PM

We will take a step back at Rump and LJ's spots, maybe at Benton's as well.

**cyclone87** · 11-26-2011, 03:10 PM

I think the defense will continue to improve, and hopefully become a staple of our teams going forward. If you look at Rhoads history he has alway had really tough defenses, and he has some really good coaches on that side of the ball with Wally and his son.

**CYVADER** · 11-26-2011, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

We will take a step back at Rump and LJ's spots, maybe at Benton's as well.

to start the year we may take a step back at rump and bentons, but as the season goes on those will be fine. you just don't get a lock down corner at isu the likes of lj.

**JUKEBOX** · 11-26-2011, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

We will take a step back at Rump and LJ's spots, maybe at Benton's as well.

The secondary I think will be the same, or possibly a little worse.
The line will keep improving.

**mikeiastat** · 11-26-2011, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by CYVADER

we lose a lot of starters but we return a lot of experienced depth that will be starters next year. as a collective group, it could be better than this years d. lj is going to be the biggest hole, but we have watson, thomas, and hopefully anthony young to step in for him. benton will be replaced by brackens, matt t will be replaced by george/miller (although we will likely see a lot of broomfield/morgan/mattison in the hybrid role), and we actually should have good depth at d-line despite losing 3 starters there.

I don't know if I didn't say it well, but I agree. I'm not an expert, but while we are losing a lot, as a unit, I feel it will be a better starting point than where these defenses started. It won't start off better than what we'll be exiting the season with no doubt, but Wally and the coaches will make some defensive stars where we don't expect. And the total defensive quality will hopefully be more complete with fewer holes and more depth.

Anyway keep pumping us up with the future thoughts. I'm enjoying it, even on a day that the good guys take a fall.