Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Williams & Blum: 1-on-1 with defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit

JakeBrend

JakeBrend

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jun 16, 2025
786
3,559
93
In a sit-down interview with Chris Williams, Iowa State defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit outlines the aggressive identity he and Head Coach Jimmy Rogers are bringing to Ames. Reflecting on his transition from interim head coach at Washington State to Iowa State, Bobbit highlights a recruiting strategy built around culture fit and long-term development over quick fixes. Bobbit and Williams discuss what the new four-down base defense will look like and why he rejects the "bend but don't break" philosophy. Presented by Mechdyne.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CycoCyclone and Letterkenny
Cyclonepride said:
I do like the shift to speed over size on defense. Size is great when you can get there in time, but irrelevant when you can't.
Click to expand...
I agree to a point. Speed on the back end certainly.

But the opposite is true.

Speed is great when you can get there in time, but irrelevant when you can’t tackle.

Although I guess it’s better to have tried to tackle and lost than to have never tried to tackle.
 
danvillecyclone said:
I agree to a point. Speed on the back end certainly.

But the opposite is true.

Speed is great when you can get there in time, but irrelevant when you can’t tackle.

Although I guess it’s better to have tried to tackle and lost than to have never tried to tackle.
Click to expand...
You certainly have to have the will to stick your nose in there once you get there (and that sounds like a recruiting focus for this staff), and enough size and strength to get that done, but another benefit of getting there is that in most cases, your activity should slow the ball carrier at least.

Heacock's defenses were fantastic, but there were times when they (especially the linebackers) would get caught out of position or flat footed as the play developed, and you could immediately tell that there was no chance that they'd recover in time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Letterkenny
Cyclonepride said:
I do like the shift to speed over size on defense. Size is great when you can get there in time, but irrelevant when you can't.
Click to expand...
Still need the DL to be big, which it looks like we have. I liked the emphasis on length at the CB position the Campbell staff had late in their tenure, and it looks like Rogers/Bobbit have the same approach. No more 5'-6" Sam Richardsons out there getting mossed 4-5 times per game.

Agree though, other than the DL, speed is more important than size. LB size just needs to be "big enough". Probably 220-230lb rather than 240-250lb.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cyclonepride
The past 2 seasons have been horrible regarding LB and DB injuries. I believe CW postulated that having a 3 man DL forced LBs and DBs to make bigger hits. Not to mention the non-existent QB pressure. Can you "grow" a LB in size without sacrificing speed?
 
Letterkenny said:
Still need the DL to be big, which it looks like we have. I liked the emphasis on length at the CB position the Campbell staff had late in their tenure, and it looks like Rogers/Bobbit have the same approach. No more 5'-6" Sam Richardsons out there getting mossed 4-5 times per game.

Agree though, other than the DL, speed is more important than size. LB size just needs to be "big enough". Probably 220-230lb rather than 240-250lb.
Click to expand...
Hate to do this, but look across the state. They've consistently produced all conference LB's in that 230lb weight range.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Letterkenny
I met Jesse at the 515 days in Ames downtown a couple months ago. He seems like a great guy; very personable - and very easy to talk with. He seemed to be enjoying Ames.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom
Back