Comments on: Keeping Focused

By: Hawgfan100

Hawgfan100 — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:38:25 +0000

Also, what about Tank with the linebackers when he returns? Should be some help at the position, yea?

By: Hawgfan100

Hawgfan100 — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:36:57 +0000

What about Rasner at FS? Word is he's taking Leon's time with 1's now?

By: Walking on Sunshine

Walking on Sunshine — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:20:55 +0000

I like the safety rotation of Anthony Leon, Tramain Thomas and Elton Ford. Coaches are raving about Leon's progress and gains in the offseason. Thomas and Ford have proven to be playmakers in the past.

Mitchell is looking crisp, definate run/pass threat. Is a "willing runner" as Coach McGee says. Wilson looks good, and is a natural in the Pistol (Shot) formation. (Get ready for lots more of that when Mallett leaves).

As for the linebackers…just my opinion…I don't think there's a linebacker on campus that could start for a quality, top tier, Division I defense right now. Soph's Terrell Williams (6-3, 237) and Austin Moss (6-3, 227) are still improving, and may emerge. But the others are all juniors and seniors and seemed to have maxed out.

By: opionatedblowhard

opionatedblowhard — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:44:43 +0000

How do you feel about the safety position? Do we have any linebackers that can hit, plug a hole and cover a back out of the backfield? How does Mitchel stand up against Wilson?

By: Soupdhog

Soupdhog — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:19:17 +0000

On one hand, our offense did the same thing to most SEC defenses last year. The bad news is that our 2nd and 3rd string QBs are tearing up our defense this spring.

I will withhold judgement until fall, but if our defense doesn't improve it will be a shame. We have a chance for a special season if we could improve by 60 YPG on defense.

By: GolfHog

GolfHog — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:41:02 +0000

It's hard for me to get too excited about Spring ball this year. Don't get me wrong. I love Petrino, love the team he has built, at least on the offensive side of the ball. Wouldn't change a thing.

And,

With incremental improvement, we have the same questions as last year with very little change except an 8-5 season and some time in the wieght room. Petrino will get it done. But, this is the SEC. It has always been about line play, offense and defense. You must win in the trenches. And, about defense. We are still going against the grain here, swimming up stream.

It is an exciting style of play. If it works, it may change some of the ways we think about football in the SEC. Or, we may have a bit more work to do.

By: Walking on Sunshine

Walking on Sunshine — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:58:52 +0000

The defense may have been holding some stuff back Friday, but not a lot. Anthony Leon and Ramon Brodway both tallied sacks from their secondary positions. They did that "holding back" some early on, but not so much of late. HDN used to do that all the time, making his offense look better. Very true that they can't hit the QB, which makes a big difference.

Like I said, not a final verdict on the defense yet.

By: Hawgfan100

Hawgfan100 — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:34:45 +0000

"Yikes!"

[eye-roll] Yeah, its a good thing our defense doesn't have to play our offense every game next season. And its good that the D can run more than its base defense when it feels the need (as opposed to only when the coaches allow it in favor of the 'seeing what the O can do'…) And it will be really great when our defense can hit the QB every time it earns a hit on him instead of…you know…

Let's see what the Hogs put on the field next year for defense rather than intimating our D may be stillborn in the Spring, shall we?