Currently, that is half of our ACC schedule that are big, physical, running teams. Or at least traditionally more so than spread, finese teams. Is it time for a Bud re-boot again, much like he did in 2004 to counter what passing teams were doing to us? My point is- is it time to start recruiting bigger guys on the defensive front 7? To counter what- at least- half of our conference games dictate right now? I would like to see taller DTs that can add some good weight. We started landing some bigger DE's for a while, but that has seemed to change. Should be adapt and change some recruiting philosophy now?
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I mean, we've had bigger DTs (Settle, Hopkins bros) but they don't grow on trees. Same with larger DEs (Tapp, Ellis, Engelberger).
The problem is if we add size but not athleticism we get gashed by UNC/WVU types that spread you out.
My hope is that this year is just a perfect storm in terms of attrition and the poor recruting at the end of the Beamer era. Looking forward to this recruiting cycle to see if the staff has indeed raised our talent ceiling compared to the 2012-2015 years.
Larger DL players may not grow on trees, but we also have had trouble landing them in the past even when we had a good shot to do so. We've had this sort of chicken-egg situation with your typical NFL sized defensive linemen. A lot of them may have pause about signing here because they see a lot of our most productive players flop in the league (even though it's usually because they're tweeners).
Our starting line this year could have been Mihota, Settle, Walker, Hill. Based on the scheme that Foster run, I think he would have had the perfect mix. Then having Ashby and Tremaine at the second level with Mook flying around. I think we can all agree that we have missed on recruiting some DT's as of late, but I don't think it's player size that is the issue. Seems like more of a depth thing to me. Then again, it's hard to plan for some of the losses we had following last year and beginning this one.
Good Point, I guess my comparison would be WR... Fuente and Wiggins have made no secret that we must recruit more, bigger, physical wide receivers-its a huge emphasis in recruiting because they need "8 that can play". Well is that a priority on the D front 7? are we making it as much of an emphasis to get bigger there? more physical? Everyone knows Bud and Charlie prefer speed over size when having to choose between the 2- since the 320 lb fast guys are all in the SEC.
We did recruit Cam Goode......
We did, and he is 6ft in heels. How about we recurit 2-3 kids that are over 6'02 for DT? Maybe try that?
I was joking because that dude was HUGE
Let's "SETTLE" on beefier lineman going forward
I will say that the past 2-3 years have been different than the past for DL depth. We used to be able to rotate in a freshman James Gayle or JR Collins, or even Corey Marshall and Luther Maddy when they were extremely young, and they would be able to play.
This year with attrition, injuries, and draft departures, the lack of recruiting depth is really showing. I agree that we really need to start landing more guys like Settle. We've missed on a hell of a lot of VA DL talent like Sweatt, Nnadi, Hand, Jonathan Allen, the list goes on.
I don't think the "2004 reboot" is all that necessary, but yes, if we truly want to win a National Championship, we need to recruit bigger on the DL. Having 6'3" 230lb twitchy DE's and 6'0" 275lb DT's is great for leading the country in TFL's and sacks, but they don't make up a championship caliber DL.
I'm fine with smaller DEs if they play like House and T. Hill. Where we really need size is at DT. Look what Settle and Walker gave us. We were 15th in the nation in run defense. That's also the third time in the last ten years we've been top 15 in rushing defense. The other two times were when we had DTs like the Hopkins brothers and Luther "Four Point Stance" Maddy. I don't think we need a scheme tweak to win against the run. We just need good DTs.
T Hill this year looked substantially bigger than previous seasons. He looked like a more traditional sized DE. I like guys like House (or Dadi) but I think they are best paired with a big DE on the opposite side to anchor the run. GT was having a field day doubling Gaines and overloading that space with blockers in front of Oliver.
Correct Gaines/Belmar as your starters is not ACC Champ game type talent. It's just not. Pair Gaines with a bigger guy and use him as a pass rusher and you have something. But when those two are your anchors with little behind them, the talent level needs to be addressed.
Personally, I think Gaines/Mihota would have been good to see. It's a shame we had to move him back inside.
Not Belmar but Gaines is extremely solid. He's still producing even after Trevon's dismissal. He will be even better next year.
I don't think our need is more size at DT as much as it is more DTs. Our best defensive lines, at least in recent memory, didn't really have huge DTs, but did have 5 or 6 guys that could rotate in and be productive. At one point (2015), we had Luther Maddy, Nigel Williams, Corey Marshall, Woody Baron, Ricky Walker, and Tim Settle on the roster. That's a 3-deep of really good DTs. We just don't have that depth any more.