(11-28-2022 12:05 PM)TrentenH Wrote:  OT Marques Cox has entered the portal

Seems about right. I expect most guys who were “hanging it up” to test the waters. Great way to continue their education worst case.

(11-28-2022 11:15 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 10:15 AM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 09:52 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 08:11 AM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 10:18 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  He was horribly miscast as a corner. I thought he was the perfect Huskie backer. That’s a dumb shittynposition, but he was good at it.

To be clear: Thomas wasn't horribly miscast. Nor was he miscast by the current staff. His ability to have both corner and Safety skills is what made him a good HUSKIE.

Secondly It's not a dumb position. It's a prevalent one across college football. Call it HUSKIE, STAR, NICKEL, LION, whatever. Kirby Smart says its the "anchor" of his defense. Saban routinely plays his best DBs there. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Surtain II and currently futuer 1st2nd round pick Brian Branch have all played the position. Fix the HUSKIE on this team and the defense will be better.

I would disagree 100% with this statement:

First, Thomas was an awful corner. He would get beat constantly, deep and short. He wasn't "quick." I thought he was faster than a lot of people gave him credit for, but he could not stick with WRs who were quicker and knew where they were going.

You can't say you have flexibility if you can't play one of the positions.

He was better at Safety, he deserved time there too.

On to the Huskie, look at how OUR defense utilizes the position. Rather than use it like the mentioned teams, we roll him out like a nickel corner. Compare the way they are used - our Huskie is a joke. We float it around like a corner, treat it like a corner, just play it closer to the line with a slower, failed safety.

The scheme needs to be fixed, the Huskie SHOULD be the star of the defense. An athletic freak whom you need to pay attention to, who messes with the front calls of the O line, who messes with the QB when trying to figure what type of coverage he is going to get. Does not happen in our scheme. This season the Huskie has barely disguised, and been set it and forget it.

The huskie is a ****** position this season. I thought towards the end of the year last year the Huskie was really starting to be useful. I wonder if a coaching change was the reason that position regressed.

I think Dillion Thomas is sneaky fast, and he's bigger than most of us probably remember. I think the kid has a shot. He's not getting drafted, but he has skills.

The position is quite literally a "nickel corner." Protection starts with identifying the MIKE. Pre-snap the HUSKIE is not who dictates coverage. QB is looking to see if he's got single high or two high safeties. Motion usually tells man or zone. Now the back two can roll post snap but they're playing mainly cover 1, 3, 2, and 6. With some 0 and quarters mixed in.

It ain't the scheme it's the player. Alabama quite literally uses corners for the position. Which why given skill set Rodgers should probably be moved inside because he doesn't quite have the long speed to be great outside but is physical enough to play inside. Prophete could also be an option there as he's a safety/corner tweener.

This seems like a lot of wasted energy. Put the greatest LB/DB hybrid in the history of the game on this defense and our secondary is still going to give up 350 yards in the air. It wasn't our Husky (correct term as the position originated out of U of Washington) giving up multiple 50+ yard passes every game. If you can't find a safety who can cover how are you going to find a safety/LB who can cover? We don't even have a corner who can cover.

NIU's inability to recruit size has basically meant they've had Husky backer for decades. At least physically. They never had to bench their 235LB backer so they could switch to a faster 205LB backer. NIU has been converting safeties to LB forever. Heck, we might be innovators! Frankly I'd rather have a LB who can rush the passer more than one who's best attribute is coverage.

Juwuan Johnson would have made a good Husky.

Husky (Washington), HUSKIE (NIU), Star (Multiple Places-because it replaces the SAM so Belichick and Saban called it Star since it starts with an S), Lion (UTSA), Nickel. Call it whatever you want. The problem is that they shouldn't be playing Safeties that can't cover there. They should be playing corners there. That position often is the most targeted position in the pass game due to a lot of teams putting their playmakers in the slot, the screen game attacking it, and the RPO game going after that spot. It matters a lot. Without going back and re-watching a ton of games I'd bet a good amount of underneath throws go completed where everyone is yelling at the corner for being too soft, that the HUSKIE should've been in that window to either undercut the throw or force a higher throw to help the corner. Same could probably be said for seam throws against the safeties. Not to say the Corners/Safeties played well, because they didn't, but it's all connected.

In terms of pass rushers, what you want is a "Joker" or "Elephant" player. Kinda of like what they largely did with Michael Kennedy on passing downs. In base defense, they'd probably need to get bigger up front at one of the ends, which means Rae Thomas may have to put back on some of the weight he lost for this season. Which makes sense, because I believe they play pretty much a "one gap and hold" defense up front. That's why they were really good against the run without many TFLs.

(11-28-2022 01:31 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 11:15 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 10:15 AM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 09:52 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 08:11 AM)The Grinch Wrote:  To be clear: Thomas wasn't horribly miscast. Nor was he miscast by the current staff. His ability to have both corner and Safety skills is what made him a good HUSKIE.

Secondly It's not a dumb position. It's a prevalent one across college football. Call it HUSKIE, STAR, NICKEL, LION, whatever. Kirby Smart says its the "anchor" of his defense. Saban routinely plays his best DBs there. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Surtain II and currently futuer 1st2nd round pick Brian Branch have all played the position. Fix the HUSKIE on this team and the defense will be better.

I would disagree 100% with this statement:

First, Thomas was an awful corner. He would get beat constantly, deep and short. He wasn't "quick." I thought he was faster than a lot of people gave him credit for, but he could not stick with WRs who were quicker and knew where they were going.

You can't say you have flexibility if you can't play one of the positions.

He was better at Safety, he deserved time there too.

On to the Huskie, look at how OUR defense utilizes the position. Rather than use it like the mentioned teams, we roll him out like a nickel corner. Compare the way they are used - our Huskie is a joke. We float it around like a corner, treat it like a corner, just play it closer to the line with a slower, failed safety.

The scheme needs to be fixed, the Huskie SHOULD be the star of the defense. An athletic freak whom you need to pay attention to, who messes with the front calls of the O line, who messes with the QB when trying to figure what type of coverage he is going to get. Does not happen in our scheme. This season the Huskie has barely disguised, and been set it and forget it.

The huskie is a ****** position this season. I thought towards the end of the year last year the Huskie was really starting to be useful. I wonder if a coaching change was the reason that position regressed.

I think Dillion Thomas is sneaky fast, and he's bigger than most of us probably remember. I think the kid has a shot. He's not getting drafted, but he has skills.

The position is quite literally a "nickel corner." Protection starts with identifying the MIKE. Pre-snap the HUSKIE is not who dictates coverage. QB is looking to see if he's got single high or two high safeties. Motion usually tells man or zone. Now the back two can roll post snap but they're playing mainly cover 1, 3, 2, and 6. With some 0 and quarters mixed in.

It ain't the scheme it's the player. Alabama quite literally uses corners for the position. Which why given skill set Rodgers should probably be moved inside because he doesn't quite have the long speed to be great outside but is physical enough to play inside. Prophete could also be an option there as he's a safety/corner tweener.

This seems like a lot of wasted energy. Put the greatest LB/DB hybrid in the history of the game on this defense and our secondary is still going to give up 350 yards in the air. It wasn't our Husky (correct term as the position originated out of U of Washington) giving up multiple 50+ yard passes every game. If you can't find a safety who can cover how are you going to find a safety/LB who can cover? We don't even have a corner who can cover.

NIU's inability to recruit size has basically meant they've had Husky backer for decades. At least physically. They never had to bench their 235LB backer so they could switch to a faster 205LB backer. NIU has been converting safeties to LB forever. Heck, we might be innovators! Frankly I'd rather have a LB who can rush the passer more than one who's best attribute is coverage.

Juwuan Johnson would have made a good Husky.

Husky (Washington), HUSKIE (NIU), Star (Multiple Places-because it replaces the SAM so Belichick and Saban called it Star since it starts with an S), Lion (UTSA), Nickel. Call it whatever you want. The problem is that they shouldn't be playing Safeties that can't cover there. They should be playing corners there. That position often is the most targeted position in the pass game due to a lot of teams putting their playmakers in the slot, the screen game attacking it, and the RPO game going after that spot. It matters a lot. Without going back and re-watching a ton of games I'd bet a good amount of underneath throws go completed where everyone is yelling at the corner for being too soft, that the HUSKIE should've been in that window to either undercut the throw or force a higher throw to help the corner. Same could probably be said for seam throws against the safeties. Not to say the Corners/Safeties played well, because they didn't, but it's all connected.

In terms of pass rushers, what you want is a "Joker" or "Elephant" player. Kinda of like what they largely did with Michael Kennedy on passing downs. In base defense, they'd probably need to get bigger up front at one of the ends, which means Rae Thomas may have to put back on some of the weight he lost for this season. Which makes sense, because I believe they play pretty much a "one gap and hold" defense up front. That's why they were really good against the run without many TFLs.

This hybrid stuff is a little out of control and has the feel of innovation just for the sake of innovating. If you have the athletes, as the P5's do, then go for it. I'd prefer we play to the athletes we have and not force the latest strategy. The RPO and slot receiver have been defended for a long time before hybridizing. But again, that position is down on the list of problems on D.

Not important but I've never read one NIU coach call it "Huskie" backer. Only people on this board. Even their BIO's read "playing at the hybrid safety/linebacker position". I get why obviously but still haven't seen it. I have seen it called Husky at numerous other schools and that seems to be the ubiquitous term for it.

This hybrid stuff is a little out of control and has the feel of innovation just for the sake of innovating. If you have the athletes, as the P5's do, then go for it. I'd prefer we play to the athletes we have and not force the latest strategy. The RPO and slot receiver have been defended for a long time before hybridizing. But again, that position is down on the list of problems on D.

Not important but I've never read one NIU coach call it "Huskie" backer. Only people on this board. Even their BIO's read "playing at the hybrid safety/linebacker position". I get why obviously but still haven't seen it. I have seen it called Husky at numerous other schools and that seems to be the ubiquitous term for it.
[/quote]

It's not really that new or innovative though. It's for all intents and purposes the job is the same as a traditional linebacker. They're just using a DB and giving the position a "cool" name. More offenses are playing 11 personnel (1RB, 1TE, 3WRs) as their base offense so traditional SAMs get exposed in the passing game. That's why you saw in the early 2000s teams switching to 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 defenses in order to get more speed on the field especially because of the hash marks being so wide. Teams attack a lot more horizontally now. If the Hybrid player is better then entire defense is better.

(11-28-2022 02:27 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 02:09 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

This hybrid stuff is a little out of control and has the feel of innovation just for the sake of innovating. If you have the athletes, as the P5's do, then go for it. I'd prefer we play to the athletes we have and not force the latest strategy. The RPO and slot receiver have been defended for a long time before hybridizing. But again, that position is down on the list of problems on D.

Not important but I've never read one NIU coach call it "Huskie" backer. Only people on this board. Even their BIO's read "playing at the hybrid safety/linebacker position". I get why obviously but still haven't seen it. I have seen it called Husky at numerous other schools and that seems to be the ubiquitous term for it.

It's not really that new or innovative though. It's for all intents and purposes the job is the same as a traditional linebacker. They're just using a DB and giving the position a "cool" name. More offenses are playing 11 personnel (1RB, 1TE, 3WRs) as their base offense so traditional SAMs get exposed in the passing game. That's why you saw in the early 2000s teams switching to 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 defenses in order to get more speed on the field especially because of the hash marks being so wide. Teams attack a lot more horizontally now. If the Hybrid player is better then entire defense is better.
[/quote]

Just put a corner there and be done with it. If you're facing a run heavy team like NIU put the Husky out there. Our problem might be our corners aren't any better at coverage than our hybrid players.

Time for us to go after WMUs young players, specifically their WRs. Love to add a couple of those guys or their recruits.

(11-28-2022 02:34 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 02:27 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(11-28-2022 02:09 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

This hybrid stuff is a little out of control and has the feel of innovation just for the sake of innovating. If you have the athletes, as the P5's do, then go for it. I'd prefer we play to the athletes we have and not force the latest strategy. The RPO and slot receiver have been defended for a long time before hybridizing. But again, that position is down on the list of problems on D.

Not important but I've never read one NIU coach call it "Huskie" backer. Only people on this board. Even their BIO's read "playing at the hybrid safety/linebacker position". I get why obviously but still haven't seen it. I have seen it called Husky at numerous other schools and that seems to be the ubiquitous term for it.

It's not really that new or innovative though. It's for all intents and purposes the job is the same as a traditional linebacker. They're just using a DB and giving the position a "cool" name. More offenses are playing 11 personnel (1RB, 1TE, 3WRs) as their base offense so traditional SAMs get exposed in the passing game. That's why you saw in the early 2000s teams switching to 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 defenses in order to get more speed on the field especially because of the hash marks being so wide. Teams attack a lot more horizontally now. If the Hybrid player is better then entire defense is better.

Just put a corner there and be done with it. If you're facing a run heavy team like NIU put the Husky out there. Our problem might be our corners aren't any better at coverage than our hybrid players.
[/quote]

Oh I agree. It should absolutely be a corner or player with corner skills. You can play a regular LB a bunch against us because we run so much 12/13 personnel. precisely why TE or a "Superback" like Ratcovich needs to be a massive target in the portal.

We should look to hire WMU's DC Esposito. I felt he's done a good job and more importantly he may be able to add some players and style to our D. Our D staff needs changes and since we are not going to get a NFL or P5 level coordinator. Esposito get add value to coaching and recruiting.

WR Mason Pierre-Antoine is in the portal

This is like reverse lotto number watching. Im just waiting for "Rudolph in the Portal"

HE IS NOT>>>DONT MISREAD

(11-28-2022 04:03 PM)TrentenH Wrote:  WR Mason Pierre-Antoine is in the portal

Noooooooooooooo

I kid. No clue who he is. Good luck to him and thanks for his time at NIU.

Jeremiah Howard and Sam Robertson have entered the portal. Still no real losses.

(11-28-2022 04:30 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  Jeremiah Howard and Sam Robertson have entered the portal. Still no real losses.

I thought Howard would have contributed by now, he had excellent HS track times.

(11-28-2022 04:30 PM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  Jeremiah Howard and Sam Robertson have entered the portal. Still no real losses.

Yeah literally every corner could transfer and whomever comes in to replace them couldn’t be worse.

The name I was most concerned about seeing was Rudolph. Other than Rocky, I think this year showed how important he is.

I have it on pretty good authority Rudolph will be back next year. Doesn’t sound as sure on Waylee, but haven’t heard he’s gone yet either.

DE Jeffery Griffin Jr. has entered the portal

Are any of Wisconsin's staff being kept? Maybe we could get an upgrade to any of our assistants because of it. Even if it's short term.

(11-28-2022 06:05 PM)7 Wrote:  The name I was most concerned about seeing was Rudolph. Other than Rocky, I think this year showed how important he is.

I have it on pretty good authority Rudolph will be back next year. Doesn’t sound as sure on Waylee, but haven’t heard he’s gone yet either.

What was Rudolph’s injury in the preseason? I saw an article of it being non-contact so I figured ACL. Could also be an Achilles tear, but nothing ever formally put out into media. Wonder how his rehab is going

(11-28-2022 06:13 PM)TrentenH Wrote:  DE Jeffery Griffin Jr. has entered the portal

Can't blame Griffin, he was only getting about two series a game. Good luck to him.

(11-28-2022 07:15 PM)numbersdontlie Wrote:  Are any of Wisconsin's staff being kept? Maybe we could get an upgrade to any of our assistants because of it. Even if it's short term.

They are most likely looking at other P5 schools. Their Oline coach was a TW coach here under Carey and his (nephew or son) was a fullback who just graduated, Bob Bostad. I always liked Brett Bostad FB, he did not get as much playing time this year, but was a solid player. Felt we should have used our FB more like the 49ers, IMO they were better blockers than our TEs and could have been effective trap type blockers.

We should go after the WMU DC Espositio. Our eyes should be on him.