I just noticed that both of our highly regarded defensive tackles were not recruited as DT's. Zettel was brought in as a DE and AJ was brought in as an OG. Could we already have our next DT's on the team and not know it yet? Who are your candidates?
Do we really need to recruit DT's?
- Thread starter psengr82
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I don't think the situation is nearly as bad as some are making it - overreaction to losing McLean and a couple others. That said, relative to other positions, it is the biggest need
I personally feel we need a minimum of 8 DT's. That gives you 3 pairs to play with 1 pair learning, developing and growing. The way I feel Coach Spenser wii utilize his men would see AJ and Zettel playing 70% of the downs. Parker and Barney getting 25%, with White and someone getting 5% strictly as OTJ training and to experience the speed of D1 ball. The remaining 2 are gaining weight, strength, speed.
Not my point, but fine. Upshot is he didn't come here, nevermind why, and many here $h!! themselves. That response was an overreaction
mmp121, Would you really not try to get a Gary or McLean if you could?
Where did this come from? Don't make stuff up for a headline. Of course I want the best recruits but it appears that position doesn't matter as much as it has been made out to mean. If they are big and athletic perhaps they can play where needed?
Where did this come from? Don't make stuff up for a headline. Of course I want the best recruits but it appears that position doesn't matter as much as it has been made out to mean. If they are big and athletic perhaps they can play where needed?
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having been a teaching assistant at uMd years ago (and ohhhh my, what an experience in athletic/sports that was)... i suspect he'll qualify. otoh, if they've done a 180 and actually expect football and BB players to DO something besides play, then likely not. highly likely.
my guess is they will find a way to get him on the field.. which will win them, ahem, borderline kids in the future. 'YO... go to uMd.. they'll fix you up.'
Gaia and Dowery were DTs when they first were recruited. Was AJ really brought in as an OG or was that where the recruiting "gurus" rated him? I don't recall him ever playing OL here. It is much more common for the DT to switch to OL than the other way around. In fact, I can't think of many at PSU making the OL to DL switch. I can, however, think of a few that went from DT to OL (Brown, Rush, Wedderburn, etc.)
I think you got it right. The situation isn't dire but as you said when you look at other positions that are being rebuilt DT is behind. Look how many Olineman and DB's we brought in. Those areas were in much worse shape then the DT situation is currently at PSU. PSU does need a few more DT's, but it isn't nearly as bad as the secondary was a few years ago and the Oline last year
Carter and Buchholz seem like they are going to end up at DT. The pictures I seen from the Big 33 stories Buchholz already looks much bigger then miller and givens. So unless he is finished growing I can't see him staying at DE.
There are two types of DT's in our system. The 3-tech is the quicker, more athletic one who rushes the passer and disrupts the running game. That position can usually be filled by a player moving from another position like Zettel. Or, a bigger kid who gets himself in batter shape. A la Jordan Hill. Buchholz or Carter might be able to do that. I think Antoine White will develop into a good 3-tech tackle from what I've read and seen about him.
The 1-tech is the anchor on the line. Devon Still, DaQuan Jones and Anthony Johnson. That type of kid is hard to recruit. Everybody wants them. There aren't as many around. This is the type of kid we need. Probably two of em. Sometimes you get lucky with a kid like Jones. Or, a diamond in the rough like AJ. I'd be comfortable knowing we had a couple of big studs though.
The 1-tech is the anchor on the line. Devon Still, DaQuan Jones and Anthony Johnson. That type of kid is hard to recruit. Everybody wants them. There aren't as many around. This is the type of kid we need. Probably two of em. Sometimes you get lucky with a kid like Jones. Or, a diamond in the rough like AJ. I'd be comfortable knowing we had a couple of big studs though.
Kamonte Carter has already been moved to defensive tackle, and we are currently in real good shape with 2 JUCO DT's that we are looking at. I think we'll get at least one DT in this class, maybe two, and don't be surprised if Dowrey goes back over to DT when camp starts.
Answers:
1- Yes, PSU (and everybody else) NEEDS to recruit DTs. A couple good DTs will make a HUGE difference on a defense......lousy DT play will kill a defense.
2 - Yes, DTs are one of the toughest positions to recruit - there just are not that many of them out there (you didn't ask that specific question, but I thought it was relevant anyway). Name me the last 3 Pennsylvania Prep DTs that were considered top-end prospects coming out of high school?
3 - Yes, many college DTs are not guys who were listed by the "Gurus" as DTs coming out of high school. PSU (and others) have had several really good DTs that were "ranked" as something other than a DT (see item #2 above).
Sometimes they are guys that the staff sees as future DTs right from the early stages of recruiting (ala Austin Johnson), sometimes they are guys who "morph" into DTs after a few years in the program (ala Zettel)
4 - At PSU (and many other programs) the DT position is really two separate beasts.....one space eating "you can't move him out of the hole" guy (Johnson)....and one quick, penetrating gap-shooter (Zettel). When you are REALLY good, each of those guys has positive characteristics of both positions.
Many of the "can't move him guys" come from the ranks of folks that came out of high school as OL prospects.....many of the "gap-shooters" are bulked up DE types.
So, yes, you need DTs. Yes, they often come from the ranks of guys who were not guys the "Gurus" ranked as DTs. And, yes, right now PSU has a HUGE issue in replenishing the DT depth chart. Assuming Johnson leaves after 2015 (I hope he ends up staying) it is going to be a real challenge for a year or two.
Was not my intention to as you say 'make stuff up for a headline'. My point is I would rather have us recruit a few TRUE DT's each class (boom or bust), and find a few diamonds in the rough from either DE's or OT's that can make their way into the DT position. I would rather not RELAY on the diamond in the rough method to fill in the DT position on a annual basis.
Right now we are lucky that we have our diamond in Johnson, but who's the next run stopping DT who garners a double team from opponents play in and play out?
What is your problem, in general DL or OL position in high school has no bearing on where a player will play let alone excel in college/profrssional.
