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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 29, 2007
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Alright, so I'll just let out what we've been holding in as card fans waiting for the football season. We have a tremendously talented incoming D-Coordinator in Ron English coming from what some'll consider a good defensive team (24th and 10th best total defense with him as DC). With all the new coordinators coming in, do you all think they can shape this defense up?
I've been hearing a little rumble here and there that they're playing REALLY hard in practice--as in "take-a-mofo-out" type deal. Maybe it'll only take one season for us to get our swagger back. I sure as hell would love to see some sacks next year. Thoughts?
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 13, 2007
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From what Eric Wood said, English is really good at pushing them (he'd know as the center they are coming at him every down). If they develope a good linebacking core we could be a lot better than last year. There is a ton of talent there, but with so much going on behind closed doors and all the "mental" things it all unravelled last year.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 17, 2007
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I'm really excited to see what Brandon Heath does at Linebacker this year, he's a stud and looks like a star in the making.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 13, 2007
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Heath does look good, so does Axon. If he can be a good senior leader and buy into the new system, the D could be solid. The transfer from Miami that they wanted to be a receiver and he wanted to play D is supposed to be good too (Mitchell?). How often do you see a guy want to hit someone instead of catch the ball?
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 29, 2007
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I thought the only transfer from the MIA was James Bryant (I know that he's playing on the defensive side of things)??? I heard that he got some sorta injury or something, word?...
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 10, 2008
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I am not very optimistic about this defense. I think Coach English is going to be great for the program, but we are just missing too many vital pieces right now. When we start scrambing to fill holes to the point that we are moving running backs to safety and moving safeties up to linebacker, I just think they are playing out of the position that they are used to and the adjustment time is going to be a little longer than one summer.
Last year our defense was a laughing stock at the beginning of the year and then they slowly started to get better. We lost a lot from that defense (including Council.....moron).
Didn't Cantwell throw a 99 yard touchdown the other day? Not a good sign (it is for the offense.....just not the defense - LOL)
I hope and pray I'm wrong - go Cards!
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Reputation:89
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 15, 2008
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Cantwell did throw a 99 yard bomb but remember in 06 Brohm was doing that to our top 15 defense regularly. Cantwell could have been a 3 year starter at most schools in the NCAA. Our defense should improve there really is no way it could get worse right?? I say by 2010 we should be back competeing for a national title Ron English is brilliant defensively we just got to give him his time to get his players..
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Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 20, 2008
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D-Line play will be a big thing for this team. Didn't Earl Heyman's little brother commit? If he can play as a freshman and the rest of the D-line progresses, they can tremendously help the secondary. Perhaps Brandon Heath can use his speed to become a tremendous blitz threat. The kid coming in from Miami is a real physical specimen and is supposed to have tremendous speed and agility as Miami kept trying to convert him to RB. I think the lack of experience and time to develop cohesiveness will hamper progress and we will have some breakdowns that result in long plays. I hope the coaches accept this and respond by using pressure as a band aid for the lack of experience. The new defensive staff will at least make our opponents wonder what they will see in game planning. Burn last years tape because this defense will have a new game plan, but execution is going to be crucial.Offense will be at least OK, so any defensive improvements should prevent shoot-out losses like Syracuse. U-Conn should be playing us here, so hopefully a phony fair catch won't cost us a game. If we don't give UK a 70 yard touchdown pass in the last minute instead of giving up a first down, we have a two win improvement right there. 8 home games will help too. I see 9-4 with a push for the Big East title late in the year as the team matures, but comes up just short. WV should drop off a little with Rodriguz gone, but USF will be legit. Good luck CARDS and eberyone have a little patience. Our BCS time is coming, just gonna take 2-3 years. I have faith in Coach K just because I have faith in Tom Jurich. What he did at Tulsa doesn't matter near as much as TJ'S track record hiring coaches. And a good housecleaning from the Petrino era, while painful short term, is the right path to success.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 25, 2006
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i have high hopes, but i won't be surprised if we flat out suck either.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 19, 2006
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First off, I rarely, if ever post on "other" team boards.
Enlish will only be as successful as your offense lets him. Just watch the 1 Jan 07 Rose Bowl and you'll see what I mean.
Michigan fans failed to realize he was a mediocre D-coordingator because of his 2006 success. But anything would've looked better coming off our 2005 season.
Through his two seasons, he proved he could not "handle" a spread (or variation of).
I attribute his 2006 success to the athletes he had on that team.
Now look at his 2007 season. A loss to Appy State. This loss proves my point on needing the offense to be successful. Michigan's O should have lit up the scoreboard. Had they done that, Michigan wins (even though the D gave up 30+ points). Oregon, crushed made his defense look.....pitiful.
As far as national rankings for his Defense. Look at the competition we played. With the level of players Mighigan gets, they should be there nationally on talent alone.
My intent wasn't to bash English, just to show he really wasn't as good as advertised while at Michigan.
While I hope the best for UL (actually picked UL/UM to play for it all last season), I do not think English is your defensive answer.
GO ARMY!!!
GO BLUE, ALWAYS!!!
Chief
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 10, 2008
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It is amazing to me that the defense can go from being pretty good 2 years ago to being a laughing stock in one season. Unfortunately, it takes 10 times that long to fix it. When we start moving running backs to safety and safties to linebacker, then start scrambing to find Ju-Cos to start right away....you are just trying to plug holes with live bodies. I don't think the defense is going to be any better than last year - could be another long season. Hope Cantwell and Co. can outscore a lot of teams....
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 9, 2006
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I think Cantwell will be O.K. along with the O but English will need at least a couple yr's to leave a mark. Hope the D gets their mind right and knocks heads off. Only time will tell.
GO CARDS
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 13, 2006
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Blah, Blah, Blah! Defense will below par. But that QB...what's his name...Cantwell..will live Brohm's nightmare. GREAT QB...NO SUPPORT again. But better than last years (which was a record breaker) "D".
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 13, 2006
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First off, I rarely, if ever post on "other" team boards.
Enlish will only be as successful as your offense lets him. Just watch the 1 Jan 07 Rose Bowl and you'll see what I mean.
Michigan fans failed to realize he was a mediocre D-coordingator because of his 2006 success. But anything would've looked better coming off our 2005 season.
Through his two seasons, he proved he could not "handle" a spread (or variation of).
I attribute his 2006 success to the athletes he had on that team.
Now look at his 2007 season. A loss to Appy State. This loss proves my point on needing the offense to be successful. Michigan's O should have lit up the scoreboard. Had they done that, Michigan wins (even though the D gave up 30+ points). Oregon, crushed made his defense look.....pitiful.
As far as national rankings for his Defense. Look at the competition we played. With the level of players Mighigan gets, they should be there nationally on talent alone.
My intent wasn't to bash English, just to show he really wasn't as good as advertised while at Michigan.
While I hope the best for UL (actually picked UL/UM to play for it all last season), I do not think English is your defensive answer.
GO ARMY!!!
GO BLUE, ALWAYS!!!
Chief
There's something about Chief that the Great LEE TORSO has always liked. I'm not sure what it is....but Chief....YOU NAILED IT AGAIN! Sincerely...LEE
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 25, 2006
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