So for a few days I've been stewing on a very big decision Ty Gregorak and his assistant coaches need to make this year. While there are lots of important parts to their process, the system, and getting the right players into the depth chart he's staring at what I see as a bit of a condundrum.
Already this spring we've heard over and over that this is the best linebacker corps, top to bottom, in the Big Sky, the 'backers are a group that will be the glue that holds the defense together and feature the most returning experience of any other defensive position. Meanwhile we've got the D-line that is featuring a ton of fresh faces but does feature a solid and experienced pass rusher in Harris and two rising star DTs in Bienemann and Takai.
So you're the DC, you can only pick one grouping of 4 players to be on the field at once, do you choose:
1. A 3-4 defense that allows you to have JP Kanongata'a, Josh Stuberg, Brock Coyle, and Jordan Tripp on the field all at once, or;
2. A 4-3 defense that allows you to have Josh Harris, Alex Bienemann, Tonga Takai, and either Zach Wagenmann, Derek Crittenden, or maybe even Kaleb Kidder out there?
I believe of the possible grouping a 3-4 defense puts the maximum amount of "the best players" on the field, however it changes the team dynamic and a lot of the system the team has run. Of the front 7 I like the looks of having those 4 LBs plus Harris, Takai, and Bienemann rather than having to use Coyle as a sub-in and going with the traditional 4-3 defense we've seen here. A system change can be challenging, I know the team has mixes and has looked at both sets.
Already this spring we've heard over and over that this is the best linebacker corps, top to bottom, in the Big Sky, the 'backers are a group that will be the glue that holds the defense together and feature the most returning experience of any other defensive position. Meanwhile we've got the D-line that is featuring a ton of fresh faces but does feature a solid and experienced pass rusher in Harris and two rising star DTs in Bienemann and Takai.
So you're the DC, you can only pick one grouping of 4 players to be on the field at once, do you choose:
1. A 3-4 defense that allows you to have JP Kanongata'a, Josh Stuberg, Brock Coyle, and Jordan Tripp on the field all at once, or;
2. A 4-3 defense that allows you to have Josh Harris, Alex Bienemann, Tonga Takai, and either Zach Wagenmann, Derek Crittenden, or maybe even Kaleb Kidder out there?
I believe of the possible grouping a 3-4 defense puts the maximum amount of "the best players" on the field, however it changes the team dynamic and a lot of the system the team has run. Of the front 7 I like the looks of having those 4 LBs plus Harris, Takai, and Bienemann rather than having to use Coyle as a sub-in and going with the traditional 4-3 defense we've seen here. A system change can be challenging, I know the team has mixes and has looked at both sets.
