Defense looking ahead

[MtnBuff]

DL - If Alfano is immediately eligible, that changes my outlook on the defense substantially. A rotation of Alfano, Lang, Sami, and Mustafa looks nice, particularly along with the young guys who have seen a ton of PT this year in Rodman, Murray and Williams.

OLB - Guy Thomas also changes the outlook for me if he can come in and be a dude. He and Wells should be solid and I’m intrigued by Pell, but depth is thin. Need Harris to commit

ILB - Landman, Jones, JVD, Allen and Ham should create a ton of experience, athleticism and competition.

CB - Miller, Blackmon, Bethel, Trujillo and Luckett create some solid depth, but also a lot of unknowns on the injury front. IF miller and Blackmon can return to 100% and stay healthy, it’s a pretty formidable group that can go 5 deep. That doesn’t include JC transfer Striker, who should be expected to be in the mix as well.

S - Rakestraw looks like a dude going forward to me. Outside of him, though, it’s pretty scary. Hopefully another grad transfer is added and Gonzalez is that guy from day one. Depth is scary thin regardless.

Edit: Forgot about Star... Perry seems to be a shoe-in for the role next year. Not sure about depth, but Perry looks pretty good to me.

Overall, I think this can be the deepest and most talented defense CU has had since 2016, but it all relies on guys returning from injury, staying healthy, Alfano getting the waiver, and some talented unknowns living up to expectations.

Need to see where it all shakes out but even if as should be expected some guys don't we will still see a more talented defense than we have had in recent years. Just the idea of not having to struggle to find 11 players who belong out there at one time will be a step up.

Couple things to add to your comments.

If Alfano is able to play and is close to what we expect he changes the entire defense. we suddenly have the potential to see pressure on the passer without having to bring extra rushers every time creating gaps. We obviously can and still will bring extra guys but not being forced to changes the look a lot. Also the attention he earns make getting plays out of the other end be it Johnson or Lang much higher.

Harris would also immediately change to ability to rush the passer and to make negative yardage plays on the edge, something we have been missing. (Still hoping for Ivey as well in ideal world.)

 

[Duff Man]

Harris is almost certain to redshirt.

 

[CPVbuff]

No, the depth is fine

LB: Landman, Jones, Wells, Montgomery, JVD, Allen, Q Perry, Ham, Pell, Gustav, and Robinson

CB: Blackmon, Miller, Trujillo, Luckett, Oats and Thomas add Transfer from Miami

Yes, safety depth is short (Yikes)
Rakestraw, Perry, Lewis, Noyer

Luckett and Trujillo have a chance to be great! I still hope Oats flips to offense Like the idea of Allen at star This is freaking great The recruiting momentum is so strong. I see a few more big surprises coming!

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Rezjohn Wright not being here until Summer is unfortunate. Wonder if between that and his injury situation, if he is a RS candidate in 2020 (maybe get into 4 games) since he is a 3 to play 2 guy.

Edit: This is, of course, assuming Adam and Chase are correct in their Crystal Ball predictions and he does sign with CU

 

[hawg1]

Luckett and Trujillo have a chance to be great! I still hope Oats flips to offense Like the idea of Allen at star This is freaking great The recruiting momentum is so strong. I see a few more big surprises coming!

Can Allen execute the coverage responsibilities of the Star? This is a complex role. He had problems grasping ILB. That seems like a big step to me.

 

[Bread]

This D needs a legit Star.

Is Perry not that guy going forward in your opinion?

 

[hawg1]

Is Perry not that guy going forward in your opinion?

Partially. I will be curious how he develops into the role of run support like Star requires similar to an OLB. I’m not sure he will move to the Money role like Taylor does in the dime package. On the other hand, I think he can handle coverage on a slot receiver (although this is different than his natural S instincts) and I like him in the blitz role.

It took him a long time to be ready for snaps.
Star a complex role. It will be interesting to watch his development.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Partially. I will be curious how he develops into the role of run support like Star requires similar to an OLB. I’m not sure he will move to the Money role like Taylor does in the dime package. On the other hand, I think he can handle coverage on a slot receiver (although this is different than his natural S instincts) and I like him in the blitz role.

It took him a long time to be ready for snaps.
Star a complex role. It will be interesting to watch his development.

If he’s not Star, he needs to be moved to Safety full time ASAP. Easily the weakest position on the team right now and his presence there would certainly help the outlook.

 

[Bufffan68]

I too am impressed with the improvement in the D. A fellow ABer commented to me he thought the players were finally getting the system down. IDK what it is, but the way they physcially manhandled a good UW OL was impressive. We played physical UW football better than they did!!!!! I'm so psyched for the future >insert Timbuk3 reference here<

 

[CULifer]

I think you guys are both right.

On paper we have more physical talent (especially adding in the expected upcoming recruiting class) than we have had for years. I'm not seeing us starting and/or playing a lot with MWC level athletes. We are starting to build a roster of P5 level athletes. We are going to actually have more than 3 defensive linemen who belong in a PAC12 game, we aren't going to have a Gamboa type out there just begging offensive coordinators to attack him.

Trouble is that it is potential. Potential means you haven't done it yet, and you may never.

We can project this RS-Freshman from last year or that incoming HS or JC player but history has clearly shown that a certain number of incoming players never do turn out to be what they were projected to be. Not talking about the guys who don't make it on academics or legal issues or other off field stuff. Just dealing with the reality that no matter how good a recruit looks on paper that is no guarantee of actual results.

Don't go Switzerland on us now.

 

[Bread]

If he’s not Star, he needs to be moved to Safety full time ASAP. Easily the weakest position on the team right now and his presence there would certainly help the outlook.

Eh, if you do that then you have no one with experience in a role that's vital to this defense.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Eh, if you do that then you have no one with experience in a role that's vital to this defense.

Well it’s predicated on having someone else who can play Star. I don’t think they really have that guy outside of Perry though. Maybe Jash Allen who has been practicing there a lot recently?

 

[The Ogre]

I too am impressed with the improvement in the D. A fellow ABer commented to me he thought the players were finally getting the system down. IDK what it is, but the way they physcially manhandled a good UW OL was impressive. We played physical UW football better than they did!!!!! I'm so psyched for the future >insert Timbuk3 reference here<

Fifty thou a year still buys a lot of beer, but not as much of everything else.

But, yeah, it’s hard to temper the excitement with the recent results. Same for offense andvd special teams. It’s only getting better.