Bitter blog - Smaller defense not a big deal to Bud Foster

By: Andy Bitter on April 17, 2014, 9:52 PM | 11 comments

A longer practice report from Thursday ...

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...

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Comments

pajokie's picture pajokie | 12 years 2 months #

Love this approach:

"Getting just our best 11 guys on the field potentially," (Foster)

Smart and puts alot of trust in the players, thus giving them confidence.
I wish this was a common practice everywhere (except other CFB defenses)

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

wisec4g's picture wisec4g | 12 years 2 months #

Explosive speed can more than compensate for bulk.

VT '10--US Citizen; (804) Virginian By Birth; (979) Texan By the Grace of God.

Rick Monday... You Made a Great Play...

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01_hokie's picture 01_hokie | 12 years 2 months #

"I think sometimes, a little bit, size is overrated"

Bud can say anything with a straight face and be taken at face value. That's why he's Bud Foster.

pajokie's picture pajokie | 12 years 2 months # ^

to him there is no double meaning. same goes for Sam Rogers.

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

pajokie's picture pajokie | 12 years 2 months # ^

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

ryane26vt's picture ryane26vt | 12 years 2 months #

""I think sometimes, a little bit, size is overrated," he said. "... Youve got to have enough size, let me say that, not the right size but enough size. But yeah, I dont really get caught up in that right now.""

I am mature.

french60wasp's picture french60wasp
| 12 years 2 months #

The question about Vandyke moving to backer has come up here several times. The backer's do tend to be faster than the mike because they have edge responsibility to the boundary, and if any of the whips could make the transition mid-game, Vandyke has the physical tools. BUT, I would think that the transition from whip to mike would be much easier than whip to backer. The backer has to be adept at taking on blockers at the point of attack, while the whip is plays in space on the edge. The backer takes on blockers in tight space (on the boundary), and the whip aligns to avoid them.

I will say, that since Foster started using the nickel (which started in 2011), I can't recall a single play where one of the two inside linebackers were replaced by the whip, even when they struggled in coverage. It would be a new wrinkle which, much like the nickel itself, is long overdue.

Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

papilgee4evaeva's picture papilgee4evaeva | 12 years 2 months # ^

I do it all the time on NCAA 14. Kendall at nickel, Edwards and Vandyke at LB.

No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

JCtaughtMe's picture JCtaughtMe | 12 years 2 months #

and the option game is flowing, love love love this get our guys out in space to put the burners on!

"I'm high on Juice and ready to stick it in!" Whit Babcock

Mason Naumann's picture Mason Naumann | 12 years 2 months #

Having RVD on the field for the Nickel package is an absolute home run, if he can learn enough of the position to make it work. I've learned to never doubt Bud Foster, but I'll admit I've been skeptical of the viability of having three linebackers on the field at all times nowadays. Any modern defense will just HAVE to bring on a nickel back against some offensive schemes.

With the offenses getting so creative at attacking the slot defender (some offenses build huge portions of their playbook exploiting that one mismatch) and those slot receivers getting better and better, it's going to get harder and harder for Foster to find those special athletes that can be a force on the edge as well as turn and cover a guy. It's so much easier to recruit a third corner than a Whip.

If RVD is as special as Foster claims, he needs to be on the field. Foster is one of the most creative defensive coordinators in the country, if not THE most. If RVD can learn his responsibilities, Foster will find a way to get the most out of that weapon.