4-2-5

[catnaz]

There has some speculation about this because of Yates and RR's comment that we'd see some alignment adjustments (but we'd have to wait to see what they are).

I looked up Boise State and their 4th lineman is the hybrid DE/OLB they call the STUD position. It looks like their starter this year is 6-4 235.

After Turituri went down last year, Miller was moved to SLB and I thought played very well there and with a couple of sacks down the stretch, so at 6-3 236 now, I'd think he'd fit the bill. Also, seems like a natural position for Franklin. I'm wondering if Neves at 6-5 235 will be there instead of the Mike, especially with Ippolito, Kenny, and Cobb being moved back. We also have Cochran and Nelson coming in the fall who seem like natural STUDs, so even with Turituri out, I'm thinking now that we're in pretty good shape for a 4-2-5.

[Wildcat Jones]

According to Hansen, with loss of Scooby, we have no Pac12 worthy talent. I am really looking forward to seeing how improved (between focus on fundamentals, motivation from new staff and hopefully far fewer injuries than last year) our D will be this year. Bearing down on no respect from the has been/never was.

[b_dog]

Hansen loves being interviewed as The Expert on Arizona athletics.

Usually, it's by out-of-town media that doesn't know any better or is too lazy to do their own homework. And he is consistently dismissive and downplays UofA's chances. It's like: "The local yokels here think they'll win the national championship every year, but if you look through the roster like I have, you'll see that they don't have any Pac-12 talent. I think it's just a matter of time before this whole thing implodes and Coach X either gets fired or leaves for another job." It's like death and taxes; he's like a gossipy little old lady. He is desperate to not be thought of as some hack who's been stuck in the same job for 40 years working for a mediocre to bad backwater newspaper. Well, the Ogden Flash certainly is a worldly and sophisticated sort. I remember early on in the Sean Miller Era, Hansen went on one of the local radio stations. Either the Star has some kind of a trade-out deal with them in exchange for putting their sports people on as self-promotion for their stories, or they've got a lot of folks with unjustifiably big egos. Lots of hyuks and strokes and very little of worthwhile content. In any event, Hansen went up and down the lineup prior to the season, dissing each player in turn and saying "who's supposed to score?" I'm pretty sure that turned out to be the Derrick Williams conference champion Elite Eight team, coming off the year when they didn't make the tournament.

He can sure pick 'em.

[Gimino]

Here's a look at why Sani Fuimaono is smiling about the new D...

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/31217384/arizona-football-notes-rich-rodriguez-spring-practice-change-defense

[Black Oaks]

I prefer a defense where the defensive linemen are turned loose to tackle. It seems to give the offense more problems. I understand linemen blocking for linebackers, I just do not like it.

Bearing Down on attacking with everything you got

[catnaz]

Nice write-up by AG, and really appreciate the insights. My understanding is the line in the 4-2-5 has a DE, DT, NT, and Stud. If Sani is being moved to DT (between tackle and guard), is incumbent starter Bruno going to NT? Just wondering what the depth chart may look like now in a 4-2-5 since there's some movement.

Also with the mention of Mariscal -- is he running at FS? We only have Flannigan-Fowles returning (maybe Brewer but more of a CB, certainly size-wise). We're woefully thin at safety with the departure of Allah, Parks, and Lopez, so it'd seem that Magloire will move back to spur with Jones at bandit.

[Black Oaks]

Nice write-up by AG, and really appreciate the insights. My understanding is the line in the 4-2-5 has a DE, DT, NT, and Stud. If Sani is being moved to DT (between tackle and guard), is incumbent starter Bruno going to NT? Just wondering what the depth chart may look like now in a 4-2-5 since there's some movement.

Also with the mention of Mariscal -- is he running at FS? We only have Flannigan-Fowles returning (maybe Brewer but more of a CB, certainly size-wise). We're woefully thin at safety with the departure of Allah, Parks, and Lopez, so it'd seem that Magloire will move back to spur with Jones at bandit.

I would like to see Parker Zellers at DT or DE. He is smart and quick. JJ Allen will be interesting to see at DE. If Fotu ever gets off probation, I liked his aggressiveness. Also Ulloa at safety, it will be interesting to see if he is the Ball Hawk like his nickname says. I think we have lots of Stud candidates. One thing I found frustrating was the third and long guys last year seem to give up just enough for a first down. I would like to see more stops than first downs on third and long.

Bearing Down on things to see

[Gimino]

Hard to tell exactly who is where in the secondary, and we're not going to get a lot of chance to see with our own eyes. Flannigan-Fowles is playing more of an up safety, Marsical seems more of what would be the old 'bandit"... Maschack, on the first day, was the one playing back. Magloire ... who knows... he is just a hybrid S/LB, no matter what they end up calling him. Definitely a X-factor as a guy who can be at the line of scrimmage or covering one-on-one.

[Black Oaks]

Hard to tell exactly who is where in the secondary, and we're not going to get a lot of chance to see with our own eyes. Flannigan-Fowles is playing more of an up safety, Marsical seems more of what would be the old 'bandit"... Maschack, on the first day, was the one playing back. Magloire ... who knows... he is just a hybrid S/LB, no matter what they end up calling him. Definitely a X-factor as a guy who can be at the line of scrimmage or covering one-on-one.

I want to see who plays the "Bondurant" position

[b_dog]

Most recently, it sounds a little bit like Paul Magliore will be the hybrid, depending on where he lines up, and whether he rushes the passer or drops back into coverage. Seems to me we did something like that with Shawn Jarrett years ago in the first years of Desert Swarm. Bruschi and Waldrop got all the ink, but Jarrett was the wild card.