Having been at this a long time, I try to keep things fresh. For this year's Season Previews I am going to make a few outlandish predictions based on my hunches.
If I had just said we would outdo the last two years (6 and 11 sacks respectively) it would not be that crazy. But if you include Spaz's 2010 season our three season sack total is 37 sacks. For a group that only produced 6 all of last year, that is a big jump. And it is not like the incoming talent is making me so optimistic. My expectations are high for one reason: Don Brown.
I started my previews focusing on Rettig, since I believe that he is the primary key for the year. A close second is our new defensive coordinator. If we are going to surprise people this year, we need Don Brown to make lemonade out of the lemons guys left behind by Spaz. I think he can do it. His defenses at UConn carried their team and he was respectable in his stint in Maryland. My lasting memory though is his 2007 UMass team frustrating Matt Ryan with varied blitzes and pressure.
Now just because Brown likes to pressure QBs, doesn't mean sacks are just going to happen. Someone has to make the actual tackle. That is where my prediction gets a little fuzzy. At UConn the LBs were able to break through and get pressure. So you have assume that someone with a little speed like KPL will be effective. I also think Duggan will get some on delays or just straight pressure up the middle. As for the DLine. If Ramsey stays healthy, he can create big holes. Edebali is a great effort guy (who just never seems to get there in time). Maybe in the new world he will be more productive. Our corners will be playing closer to the line of scrimmage, so ALJ and Jones should get a sack or two.
UConn had 33 sacks last year, so getting to 38 is not unthinkable. BC plans on being aggressive on both sides of the ball, so I expect teams to try to throw on us (a lot). If Brown does a lot with a little, I will be very excited about the future when he gets his own players on the field.
The aggressiveness will lead to some big mistakes this year but the days of bend but don't break are finally over.
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4 comments:
I really didn't think your Rettig prediction was all that crazy because I too believe Rettig is a very good QB and can be towards the top of the ACC. This one on the other hand is very bold - I like it.
Bend but not break was certainly frustrating and I'm glad it's over...but I wonder what happens the first game Brown gets (and stays) agressive and we get burnt by big play after big play.
It's GOING to happen, as it's the nature of the beast being aggressive on D...but we just have to keep that in mind when we give up subsequent big ones.
In order to succeed, a team must not be afraid of missteps - they will happen, but we dare to succeed.
This is what college football is supposed to be. Be aggressive and stay aggressive.
Go Coach Brown - Go BC.
I have stated exactly what you said BC Mike. I am expecting a lot of big plays on our defense but I am fine with that so long as we are aggressive. While I loved Spaz's defense in the Raji era when no one could run on us, I hated his corners being 10 yards off the line and I really despised the inability to put pressure on opposing QB's.
My prediction is 26 sacks this season.
Just 6 weeks until kickoff!
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