redmule
Ramblin' Wreck
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because every time I start thinking about what type team and year we will have, the Defense comes to the front of my mind. I love the Offense and think it will be very good, but I haven't been this excited about our Defense since 1985. In '83 and '84 you could see something was developing. Well, we had been so bad for so long, you hoped something was developing. In '83 we had a lot of games where we gave up 30+ points. In '84 it was 20+ points (along with a 40 point blowout at Auburn), but we stuffed Alabama to start the season and uga to end it. You could just see them getting better, and almost all were coming back for the '85 season.
The first game against NC State, Swilling had about a half dozen sacks. I was at the game, and it wasn't that he played that well, NC State just let him run loose all day. The next game was UVA in Atlanta. No way were we going to lose, right? Their running back (Barry Word?) had about 200 yds rushing in the FIRST quarter, and we lost. I'll bet Roof hasn't forgotten him yet. But then the Defense settled in, and only two teams scored 17 points the rest of the season: Auburn with Bo Jackson, and Western Carolina the week before who probably should have beaten us. Nobody else scored as many as 17.
Swilling and Roof were good players, but the rest of that Defense just played hard and made plays. I believe Swilling and Pike (who surprised the hell out of me) were the only two that played in the NFL. Ricardo Ingram, just a sophomore then, probably could have, but he chose baseball. Oops, forgot about Reginald Rutland. So there were two seniors, and a junior that made NFL teams, and a sophomore that could have.
But back to this year. I cannot remember the last time we had both CB's as good as we have in White and Milton. We've had some individuals that were better, but not both at the same time. Can anyone remember a better pair? My Tech memory goes back to the late 60's. I know that's saying a lot, but I think it's true.
Golden reminds me a lot of Jeremy Muyres that played a dozen years or so ago and was All-ACC three years IIRC. Not super physical, but made a lot of plays. I seem to recall a three game stretch where Muyres had an interception to seal the win late in the fourth qtr. Having a fifth year senior like Golden at FS will be a big positive. I think replacing Isiah Johnson will be the biggest challenge by far for the Defense. Late last year he became what I thought he would be when I saw him play as a freshman.
Start with the assumption that Days can play and is as good as advertised. If so, this DL will push the ones from '07 and '08 as the best since 1990. We might actually have a legitimate two deep DL. I cannot say for certain whether or not that will be a positive since I have never seen Tech have depth on the DL. I would only be guessing. You think I'm kidding? Bobby Cremins couldn't have handled a two deep team. I think 7 players was the most he could keep straight in his head. Another thing I have never seen at Tech is a good DL along with two good CB's. I have always assumed the two were mutually exclusive. Last year's interception total might be in jeopardy.
Two (DL and DB) of the three parts of the Defense seem to me to be approaching as good as we've had since 1990. The third, LB's, are a question mark to me. Marcordes, Davis, and Harrell seem to be a solid workman like group. For sure, Smith & Fox, Rogers & Brooking, Wheeler & Hall, Williams & Tiggle were better than the current group. But you have to admit those are tough tough competition. Put any two of those on this team and we have a top 10 defense. From 1990 on, we have been blessed with some truly outstanding linebackers. Can Roof take the talent our current three LB's have and make them something special with his schemes? Did our weaknesses on the DL last year limit the LB's. Here's where we go from a good to a great defense, IMO.
In '12, I cringed when the Defense was on the field. In '13, I was hopeful. Last year, well at least late last year, I enjoyed watching them play. This year I'm excited more so than even about the offense.
The first game against NC State, Swilling had about a half dozen sacks. I was at the game, and it wasn't that he played that well, NC State just let him run loose all day. The next game was UVA in Atlanta. No way were we going to lose, right? Their running back (Barry Word?) had about 200 yds rushing in the FIRST quarter, and we lost. I'll bet Roof hasn't forgotten him yet. But then the Defense settled in, and only two teams scored 17 points the rest of the season: Auburn with Bo Jackson, and Western Carolina the week before who probably should have beaten us. Nobody else scored as many as 17.
Swilling and Roof were good players, but the rest of that Defense just played hard and made plays. I believe Swilling and Pike (who surprised the hell out of me) were the only two that played in the NFL. Ricardo Ingram, just a sophomore then, probably could have, but he chose baseball. Oops, forgot about Reginald Rutland. So there were two seniors, and a junior that made NFL teams, and a sophomore that could have.
But back to this year. I cannot remember the last time we had both CB's as good as we have in White and Milton. We've had some individuals that were better, but not both at the same time. Can anyone remember a better pair? My Tech memory goes back to the late 60's. I know that's saying a lot, but I think it's true.
Golden reminds me a lot of Jeremy Muyres that played a dozen years or so ago and was All-ACC three years IIRC. Not super physical, but made a lot of plays. I seem to recall a three game stretch where Muyres had an interception to seal the win late in the fourth qtr. Having a fifth year senior like Golden at FS will be a big positive. I think replacing Isiah Johnson will be the biggest challenge by far for the Defense. Late last year he became what I thought he would be when I saw him play as a freshman.
Start with the assumption that Days can play and is as good as advertised. If so, this DL will push the ones from '07 and '08 as the best since 1990. We might actually have a legitimate two deep DL. I cannot say for certain whether or not that will be a positive since I have never seen Tech have depth on the DL. I would only be guessing. You think I'm kidding? Bobby Cremins couldn't have handled a two deep team. I think 7 players was the most he could keep straight in his head. Another thing I have never seen at Tech is a good DL along with two good CB's. I have always assumed the two were mutually exclusive. Last year's interception total might be in jeopardy.
Two (DL and DB) of the three parts of the Defense seem to me to be approaching as good as we've had since 1990. The third, LB's, are a question mark to me. Marcordes, Davis, and Harrell seem to be a solid workman like group. For sure, Smith & Fox, Rogers & Brooking, Wheeler & Hall, Williams & Tiggle were better than the current group. But you have to admit those are tough tough competition. Put any two of those on this team and we have a top 10 defense. From 1990 on, we have been blessed with some truly outstanding linebackers. Can Roof take the talent our current three LB's have and make them something special with his schemes? Did our weaknesses on the DL last year limit the LB's. Here's where we go from a good to a great defense, IMO.
In '12, I cringed when the Defense was on the field. In '13, I was hopeful. Last year, well at least late last year, I enjoyed watching them play. This year I'm excited more so than even about the offense.
