Re: David, a few questions.

Note: This post isn't just for David. I appreciate any comments from anybody on these topics.

I'm not asking you to break any confidences or share off-the-record info. But, just wondering it you know anything or, if you don't know, what is your speculation. (It is far superior to mine.)

1. Cade. I find it hard to believe that Cade hasn't told Dabo what his intentions are for next year. I can't believe he would walk into Dabo's office this week and say, "I'm heading to the NFL." I think it is possible he and Dabo have talked about it, maybe for weeks. (I know that after Venables went to OU Dabo made it clear that Brent had kept him advised every step of the way during the process.) And, I think if Cade was leaving for NFL then Dabo would have been making plans for what to do next. Is he really comfortable with Vizzina taking the reins next year? And, even with that, is he satisfied with the back ups? So, I gotta think that Cade is coming back next year.

Questions: What is your gut feeling? When do you think an official announcement, one way or the other, will be made?

2. Coaching changes.

Questions: What is your gut feeling? Any changes? If so, which ones? When do you think an announcement, if there is going to be a change, will be made? (At what point can we say, "Well, it doesn't look like any staff changes are coming"?

3. Portal.

Questions: Do you expect anyone on the roster now will enter in the next few days? Which positions, if any do you think Dabo will be looking for? When do you think those guys will be coming for a visit? (Running back, LB, DL?)

4. Defensive problems, particularly run defense.

Question: How much of the problems were due to talent, depth of talent, injuries or coaching?

Thanks.

RememberTheDanny

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Adding to your observations re Run defense

Dec 22, 2024, 5:49 PM [ in reply to I think that Cade is definitely coming back but he does ]

Excellent take, BTW.

To add to your run defense critique, the single biggest personnel problem was the absence of two true ‘good team quality’ starters at DE. That was apparent to everyone when P.Woods started the first few games at DE. Indeed, Woods played well at DE as far as run defense. Unfortunately, the extra running required if a DE, combined with the (surprising to me) absence of weight loss by Woods, made it incumbent to sub him out often and for longer breathers. When this didn’t happen, then Woods lost his top-end effectiveness too quickly.

I’m not sure, even if Woods had lost the ~20+ pounds that our coaches seemed to have expected him to lose in preparation for a season at DE, whether Woods would have gained enough ‘extra wind’ to be a superior DE.

With Woods being at 315 instead of 295, we really had no true very-good-team starter quality DE to complement TJ Parker.

We all watched our not-ready-to-start DE players (Denhoff, J.Lawson, AJ Hoeffler) being unable to shed blocks from the OTs in time to be a threat to cutting off the outside tackle run plays. Our not-ready-to-start DEs would typically be unable to disengage from the OT’s block until after the RB or WR ran past our DEs not named TJ Parker. Thus, when running plays went to the non-TJ Parker side, the work of covering up for our DE deficiencies lay with our LBs and DBs.

Given this foundational problem (we didn’t have enough players to fill out even the starting lineup of a good team’s defense), TJ Parker had to play too many snaps, and our essentially zero depth (but excellent starter quality) LB group got worn out and were less effective by mid-Q2 and by late Q3 of contested games. By Q4 of contested games, TJ Parker, Woodaz, and B.Carter were playing in guts.

For 2025, there is reason for optimism. Will Heldt has, at the least, the ability to provide high quality depth at DE; clearly we’re all hoping that he’ll be a top end / starter quality DE to accompany TJ Parker. Furthermore, another year of S&C over the spring and summer should amplify the benefit of playing many snaps during the 2024 season for J.Lawson, Denhoff, and Hoeffler. Finally, there’s hope that D.Mayo’s RS year will make him ready to contribute in 2025.

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David, a few questions.

I suspect Dabo may bring a Co-DC. Weve had Co-OCs and it worked.***

Re: I suspect Dabo may bring a Co-DC. Weve had Co-OCs and it worked.***

Mickey Conn has been co-DC since 2022***

I think that Cade is definitely coming back but he does

Re: I think that Cade is definitely coming back but he does

Adding to your observations re Run defense

Re: I think that Cade is definitely coming back but he does

Obviously not David