Depth Chart

**San Francisco Cy** · 08-31-2009, 12:40 PM

In my opinion, our front seven is the scariest for me on this team. And five of the seven are seniors. I have been trying to figure out for the past couple of hours if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

**cycloneman003** · 08-31-2009, 12:58 PM

Just realized this. We have 8 Seniors that are going to be starters this year on defense, including both DE's, our NT, and our entire starting LB corps..... dont know whether to be horrified for the youth we'll see next year, or to be happy because this hasnt been a good defense.

**heitclone** · 08-31-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneman003

Just realized this. We have 8 Seniors that are going to be starters this year on defense, including both DE's, our NT, and our entire starting LB corps..... dont know whether to be horrified for the youth we'll see next year, or to be happy because this hasnt been a good defense.

I'm struggling with the same thing. My biggest hope is that some of these young guys step up this year and take some PT away from the seniors, just so we can have some experience coming back next year.

**CloneIce** · 08-31-2009, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by BooneCy

I'm sorry, but I am still a little surprised about Free Safety. Smith was our leading tackler last year, wasn't he? I know that our pass coverage did suffer, but is O'Connell really that big of an upgrade? Is their an insider out there, that has any insight?

I don't know the specific situation, but based on Smith's level of play the past two years, it is certainly possible he could be beaten out for the starting spot. Good in run support but sub-par in coverage in my opinion. I think just about every starting safety we had in the 6 years before he took over the spot could beat him out, except for Caleb Berg. So I guess it is possible that he did get beat out, though he is probably dinged up mostly.

**CyCy** · 08-31-2009, 01:56 PM

Chizik sure didn't do much for defensive recruiting. Seven of our 11 defensive starters are left over from Mac. Of the 29 players listed on the defensive depth chart 15 are Mac's recruits, 8 are from Chizik and 6 from Rhoads.

**zdorr40** · 08-31-2009, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneman003

Just realized this. We have 8 Seniors that are going to be starters this year on defense, including both DE's, our NT, and our entire starting LB corps..... dont know whether to be horrified for the youth we'll see next year, or to be happy because this hasnt been a good defense.

IMO, this has been our greatest weakness over the last 3-4 years and it still has not been addressed.

**CyBelieve** · 08-31-2009, 02:19 PM

The depth chart was for a standard 4-3. Maybe for NDS we will play this way but I think what is on Cyclone Report with the 4-2-5 is more accurate what will be on the field. Only Garrin & Smith start at LB's in this one.

College Player Database - Depth Chart

**CyBelieve** · 08-31-2009, 02:25 PM

I am no fan of GC, but if I look at the 2/3 deeps on the depth chart: Lyle, Laing, Maggitt, Johnon, Reump, Black, Banks, Benton, LJ & Bell are all GC's. You can give AJ as well as a split between him in CPR.

Like I said, not a huge fan, but that's a pretty big part of our D

**CycloneWarning** · 08-31-2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by CyBelieve

The depth chart was for a standard 4-3. Maybe for NDS we will play this way but I think what is on Cyclone Report with the 4-2-5 is more accurate what will be on the field. Only Garrin & Smith start at LB's in this one.

College Player Database - Depth Chart

I expect we will not see a 4-2-5 extensively used until conference play against some of the spread-like offenses. We should definitely play a 4-3 against Iowa and its rushing attack and go to nickel on obvious passing downs.

**CyBelieve** · 08-31-2009, 02:37 PM

We basically ran a 4-2-5 the last year of MAC and year one of GC with Banks being the LB. Converted Safety at 210lbs wasn't a typical LB. Worked then, I see it working this year too. But out the best 11

**CYCLNST8** · 08-31-2009, 03:38 PM

Don't be surprised to see some of the underclassmen earning starting spots as the year progresses...

**Aclone** · 08-31-2009, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by CyBelieve

The depth chart was for a standard 4-3. Maybe for NDS we will play this way but I think what is on Cyclone Report with the 4-2-5 is more accurate what will be on the field. Only Garrin & Smith start at LB's in this one.

I don't think that we'll need a nickel or dime package against this team.

Originally Posted by CycloneWarning

I expect we will not see a 4-2-5 extensively used until conference play against some of the spread-like offenses. We should definitely play a 4-3 against Iowa and its rushing attack and go to nickel on obvious passing downs.

Bingo. The staff said at the start of two-a-days that they would run the 4-2-5 "about 50% of the time". I was pretty sure they meant most of that to come against the "fling it" schools of our conference.

**Cyclonestate78** · 08-31-2009, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by CyCy

Chizik sure didn't do much for defensive recruiting. Seven of our 11 defensive starters are left over from Mac. Of the 29 players listed on the defensive depth chart 15 are Mac's recruits, 8 are from Chizik and 6 from Rhoads.

Chizdick didn't do much more then collect a paycheck he didn't earn and lie with every breath he took. Thank God we now have a staff that can be honest. It inspires confidence.