Yesterday reports came out the Cats are looking at running a 3-3-5 Defensive Scheme. Most people would agree UK's weakness in 2010 will be the Defensive Tackle position and their strength will be the secondary. During an interview yesterday, Joker stated by moving Matt Lentz to Strong Side Linebacker it would allow the Cats to get out of the Nickel Package more often. I agree with Joker's statement 100%. Lentz is fast and can tackle well in the open field. Personally, I felt UK jumped into the Nickel package too often last year, especially against Mississippi State.
Granted it probably sounds worse than reality, but the head coach is talking about getting out of the Nickel Package and the Defensive Coordinator is talking about three man front schemes. I think running three man front schemes on defense will allow SEC running backs to run wild against the Cats.
Please feel free to comment.
A 3 man front will get destroyed in the SEC unless you have GREAT linebackers. We do not, yet. I would not want to have an 'experiment' year next year.
ReplyDeleteI agree, we are not Alabama, with our base defense we ran last year we were run over by most offenses. I think we are trying to emulate
ReplyDeleteAlabama's 3-4 defense. While our talent base is steadily improving we are not quite there yet to run a 3-3-5.
And I agree with the above comment now is not the time to experiment with our defense when we need our offense to settle into one QB so our WR's can actually do their job catch the ball instead of just blocking most of the time.
I agree that SEC running backs would have a field day with a 3 man front. I believe Ron Archer, the previous D coordinator, used the the 3 man front and it did not turn out so well. I agree with Jaws that you need to have great linebackers to run a 3 man front. But on the other hand, with a 3 man front your defense becmomes alot quicker and you have less guys down in a stance so your defense can react quicker to the offensive play. But I think with Kentuckys younger guys at linebacker they need to stay with the 4 man front.
ReplyDeleteUK has had success with Linebackers recently and a big reason is becuase the D-line allowed them to make plays. I know the Cats want to get faster, but the games are still won and lost at the line of scrimmage.
ReplyDeleteGO CATS!
If U of L beats us in a 3 3 5 defense in the `1st game and the season is already shot.
ReplyDeleteI guess we get a new defensive coordinator next year.
Nebraska did it some. But they had one of the best defensie linemen of the decade. UK does not have such a linemen.
3 man front will not be the base package. Just something to give a different look occasionally.
ReplyDeleteUK cannot play a 3-3-5 as its base defense for all the reasons suggested above. UK does not have a dominant nose tackle, and UK's current linebackers are not dominant enough for a 3-3-5. However, UK has the safeties to play a 3-3-5 scheme if Mychal Bailey makes it to campus. If we see this defense tried situationally, it would happen against spread offenses. UK opens on the road against UL, a program with a new coaching staff that will apparently try to install the spread. I'm guessing that if Joker and Steve Brown tinker with a 3-3-5, they are thinking about UL and Auburn. I would be completely shocked if they try to play a 3-3-5 against a standard SEC offense. Against most SEC offenses, you have to play a four-man front unless you have Terrence Cody at NT plus Rolando McClain and a bunch of other huge freak athletes playing LB. Otherwise they run the ball down your throat.
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