Depth chart changes

[gofurman]

Toomey hasn’t played OL this spring. That’s been a norm. Hope he is fine for the fall

Seabrook out at DE still. Seth a Johnson no longer listed at NG - I wonder if this is a redshirt thing? IE we were happy as we listed 9 guys at DL. now we list 7.. Agbenou is now not listed at BAN. Bryce McCormick is not listed at LB. also all our DBs have cut to two instead of three. backfield I suspect it’s just the way we are listing 2 instead of 3/4. . The front 7 however CH said Seabrook is out and I hope Agbenou is redshirt or a minor thing. Seabrook really does help w pass rush - esp opposite Hope! I think our rush has hurt missing be able to bring Seabrook off the other side

IMO I still don’t like the 3-8 D. Gives the other QB so long. No DB can hold up more than 5 seconds. We have been burned several times on third and 18 rushing only 3. Please rush 4 - if for nothing else maybe push the QB to one side of field which eliminates receivers

If anyone has information and it’s ok to share private you can PM. Thanks. Gopaladins

[FUBeAR]

Maybe we’re reducing DL roster numbers to position ourselves to Conklin out of a game ahead if the %’s / Rankings project that as a beneficial SoCon Championship/Playoffs strategy.



Just kidding. Coach Hendrix would never Conklin out of a Football game.

[The Jackal]

Toomey hasn’t played OL this spring. That’s been a norm. Hope he is fine for the fall

Seabrook out at DE still. Seth a Johnson no longer listed at NG - I wonder if this is a redshirt thing? IE we were happy as we listed 9 guys at DL. now we list 7.. Agbenou is now not listed at BAN. Bryce McCormick is not listed at LB. also all our DBs have cut to two instead of three. backfield I suspect it’s just the way we are listing 2 instead of 3/4. . The front 7 however CH said Seabrook is out and I hope Agbenou is redshirt or a minor thing. Seabrook really does help w pass rush - esp opposite Hope! I think our rush has hurt missing be able to bring Seabrook off the other side

IMO I still don’t like the 3-8 D. Gives the other QB so long. No DB can hold up more than 5 seconds. We have been burned several times on third and 18 rushing only 3. Please rush 4 - if for nothing else maybe push the QB to one side of field which eliminates receivers

If anyone has information and it’s ok to share private you can PM. Thanks. Gopaladins

In this spring season, I don't think you can assume redshirt stuff. All of that is going to work itself out.

Furman is, smartly, I think, rotating a ton of bodies. Not only does that give experience, but it also reduces the number of snaps for any single player knowing that we are going to have to turn around and play again this fall.

I'm not the least bit worried about the defense. We've already played the two teams most likely to throw the ball downfield (VMI and Samford). Safety is probably our youngest position group, and those guys are learning on the job. They've played well, and a few times have been beat in coverage.

[furmandad]

Does it surprise anyone that through 4 games Adrian Hope has 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack?

[The Jackal]

Does it surprise anyone that through 4 games Adrian Hope has 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 sack?

So, generally, nothing surprises me this spring.

I do not think the numbers tell the whole story, though.

For starters, Furman frequently just rushes three. Numbers-wise, it is difficult to sack a QB when they have 5 or 6 blocking 3.

Second, Furman is rotating heavily along the defensive front. Fewer defensive snaps = fewer opportunities for tackles/sacks.

Third, Furman is using Hope differently than they have in the past. He is not dead red on the QB this season and is being utilized a lot in zone/blitz schemes with pass coverage responsibilities.

A few examples from the Samford game:

5:24 - Hope has pass coverage responsibilities against the RB while the blitz comes from the ILB

5:36 - Hope is not even lined up on the LOS. He's in the backfield in more a traditional linebacker. Again, the pressure comes from the ILB.

5:46 - Hope again off the line in a passing situation. Can't tell for sure, but he looks like a spy for Samford's QB.

5:56 - Hope playing outside leverage. Pressure, again, comes from the ILB.

8:24 - Hope on the LOS this time. Not rushing. Has flats coverage. Rush 3.

9:58 - Hope on LOS. Knifes into the backfield. Disrupts the timing of both the passer and the receiver. No tackle or sack, but he caused the busted play.

11:14 - Straight pass rush. Schucks the OT. Close to a sack but for good footwork by the QB.

I can't say with 100% certainty, but over the last three seasons or so Furman has almost exclusively used Hope as a pure backfield disrupter. This season, though, they seem to use him in more of a traditional outside linebacker role, with pass coverage responsibilities on occasion and Furman running more zone blitz.

You can still see, though, that when his task is rushing the QB - he is still really good at it. I do think you saw in the Samford game that later in the contest Furman's coaches were more apt to turn him loose on Samford's backfield.

Admittedly, in Samford's scheme, it is usually really hard to sack the QB - they just get rid of the ball too quickly. The better course, sometimes is to try to clog up the passing lanes with bodies and pressure up the middle.

To be honest, I had not noticed any of this until I sort of isolated him on the highlight film.

[furmandad]

Thanks for the analysis & insight. I believe you are correct; D-staff using him differently. While there is more to the game than stats, his aren't as plentiful as FR and Soph seasons. He's a terrific player.