Welcome to the Hardcore Husky Forums. Folks who are well-known in Cyberland and not that dumb.
2-2-2-5 and the 2017 call
The bored is a lot more dialed in to the Huskies now than last year. Last year, I called for the heavy use of double TE formation. Given our size and OL inexperience and deficiencies, the double tight formation would crush the pussy edges of PAC-10 defenses taking pressure of our OL. Sure enough that happened.
This year's call is more subtle and probably not as innovative. Given our defensive construct, the oft argued 2-2-2-5 arrangement, there's something new happening this year which is in response to the CFP last year. It's the inverse of the double tight formation - we're going size at OLB.
The abomination of pee-salm holding the edge will never be seen again. Littleton and Feeney, while good players, won't win you a Natty. I think the coaches learned we needed more size on the edge but had to maintain the athleticism required for the 2-2-2 box (which is needed to offset the spread offenses in the PAC and college football more broadly). The move of Benning to SAM alerted me to this. The emergence of Justice Warren (6'2 250+). 230+ Tevis. Not Your but My Amandre.
I think we're seeing the coaches wanting to put more size on the edge akin to the Steelers D in the NFL, James Harrison, Porter, etc. With those "rare humans" on the edge, you keep opposing running games funneled into your DTs, ILBs, and S. Expect to see us continue to try and recruit bigger edge guys.
The Doog is strong in me this year.
15 ·
Comments
The fact that replacing Psalm with bigger, stronger, smarter players=improvement is not earth shattering BUT I really like the insight that this defensive formation with this one personnel change will give us the best of both worlds- containing the Ducks and other spread offenses while also going toe to toe with a Bama or LSU or Michigan.
Not saying I disagree, just that you left "speed" out of the equation. Having big lumbering guys on the edge will also not get us to where we want to be (Natty).
I don't disagree with the speed comment. But I think 6'2 220, 6'3 210 doesn't do the trick anymore. We keep hunting for DeDe or Jaelan Phillips and we keep landing Bryce Sterk and Joe Tryon. Both are 6'5 and can run, but both are more projects. We want big and fast... the rare human guys. Benning 6'3 280. Warren 6'2 250+. Amandre will be 240+...and with quicks.
I still think we'll have a chunk of the season we'll go smaller because everyone runs the spread now.
I know we all doog bonered seeing qualls, vea, Gaines, Johnson line up at the beginning of the playoff game.