Let's talk 2024 defense | Catamount Sports Forum

wcugrad95
Redshirt Junior

Posts: 2,518

Let's talk 2024 defense Aug 21, 2024 13:46:13 GMT -5

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Post by wcugrad95 on Aug 21, 2024 13:46:13 GMT -5

EDIT: I'll add players to this list as people bring them up...

I know there has been plenty of talk on here about the defense, but I went back a good ways and didn't find a thread specifically about it. We had some talks about the O-line, and of course we frequently have mentions about Cole and the returning skill players on Offense (along with the departing guys we lost). But how improved can the D be under what seems like a very determined and fired up new DC in Coach Odom?

I'll start if off with mentioning some guys we lost but who should be big for us this year - Sudipo and Nelson. I honestly think having the 2 of them last year might have helped in the games we lost. Not saying they would have made us win - but no doubth they would have made us better defensively.

We have also signed a lot of guys. So who should have a big year? Who will maybe break-out? Here are some other guys coming back with significant playing time and some stats:

DBs:
Ed Jones IV
CJ Williams
Samaurie Dukes
Mateo Sudipo
Lee Campbell

LBs:
Antoine Williams
Hayward McQueen
Antarron Turner
Blue Monroe
Wesley Scott

D-Line:
Curtis Fann Jr.
Jaquarius Guinn
Caleb Fisher
Tahjae Mullix
Chris Morgan
Micah Nelson

We have a lot of newcomers (including a few DBs and DL transfers), so who else should we be looking for/counting on? The best defenses tend to rotate lots of guys out, so we need a lot more names on this list - especially in the front 7. Would be good to see us playing 20 guys or more on that side of the ball.

Last Edit: Aug 22, 2024 4:45:35 GMT -5 by wcugrad95

The Cats
Legacy

Posts: 25,644

Let's talk 2024 defense Aug 21, 2024 15:12:44 GMT -5 wcugrad95 and wcatradio75 like this

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Post by The Cats on Aug 21, 2024 15:12:44 GMT -5

Per Coach Bell on the defense...

I think our defensive line now has caught up. I think they're up there and now can go be a positive for us up front on the defensive side of the ball. And then you add that quarterback who's now a veteran, who's got two years left, who is player of the year. So now you've got that guy who we know is the leader of this football team. I think those little, those three things, O line, D line. The way we've come together as, as those two that are positives now for our program. And then you add the quarterback that's coming back off a player of the year. I think that tells us we're a lot better program. I think, and then I think adding our coaching staff, you know, we lost some people, but I thought for the most part, when you had Jerry Odom as our defensive coordinator, we are a much more balanced program than we've been any other time that we've been here. What I mean by that. I think, you know, we've always been a great on offense, but I think now you add the defense. we can out there this year, special teams, I think we're much more balanced football team in all three phases as far as our players and our coaching staff. And that's what has me excited.

The, the areas that we needed with some portal guys. And so what we've done, you know, let's say we've got some linebackers we think are really good players at that Mike position, that middle linebacker position, but they're both freshmen and sophomores, like redshirt freshmen, sophomores are young. They hadn't played a lot of football. So we brought in Wesley Scott, a guy who knows the system. Who's made a lot of tackles in the system, but all conference player. a senior. So we needed to just compliment that position with a veteran guy. And so we went out and got him in the portal. And so we've done that at three or four positions. D tackle. We felt like we needed a couple of experienced guys to help with depth there, while our young guys continue to grow. So we went out and got some guys there. So we've complimented with the portal. The portals helped us compliment certain areas that we needed some veteran leadership. And I think it's done. It's been good for us

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wcugrad95
Redshirt Junior

Posts: 2,518

Let's talk 2024 defense Aug 22, 2024 4:00:02 GMT -5 The Cats and wcatradio75 like this

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Post by wcugrad95 on Aug 22, 2024 4:00:02 GMT -5

Yeah - I missed Wesley Scott. LOTS of stats from Jerry Odom's defense, and he should bring a veteran presence and a nose for the football to a talented LB room.

Another guy I missed is Lee Campbell. I remember Coach Bell being pretty high on him in some of the coaches shows. Lee had 3 starts last season and had 44 tackles.

Added those guys to my list. We also have these transfers:

Amarian Robinson - DB (Youngstown State)
Quez Royal - DB (Campbell)
Jamichael Wilson - DLine (Tusculum under Jerry Odom)
Ugo Nosike - DLine (Eastern Michigan)

Adding those guys puts us up around the 20+ I hope we can rotate in and out on D. We also signed quite a few guys on defense, so seems like we will have some talent and experience to go along with Coach Odom's drive and enthusiasm.

Last Edit: Aug 22, 2024 4:50:37 GMT -5 by wcugrad95