The CheckerBoard

IMO this group of coaches will get the team competitive incl the DL sooner than 3-4 years. The competition in the SEC is fierce however, these guys have faired pretty well coaching up 2 and 3 star prospects. It will be interesting how thing go with the new staff. One thing in their favor is they are seem to like one another and respect the HC. I am not sure Dooley ever had that situation with all his coaches.

I have to respectfully disagree with you here. I think Coach Stripling is a very experienced coach that not only can coach defensive lineman, but can even manage the game if the need arises. I thought he did a very good job in the Belk Bowl. I truly believe we will be competitive on defense next year. Not the best, but competitive. One thing about these coaches that stands out to me is that they are all on the same page. That is huge. And, most of our players were in a 4-3 to begin with. They only recruited for the 3-4 one year and several of those guys are gone now. So, it's. It like we are starting over here. I can't wait until next fall.

If he can stabilize the D-line the LBs look better and pressure on the passer makes the DBs look better. I have voiced it many times, we were not as bad personnel wise as we looked this past season. I don't care how good you are in your own right, it takes a team to win a game. We started out from behind, out of position and not having someone upstairs recognizing what the offense was throwing at us and adjusting. You can't spend 40% of practice teaching the 34 and play the 43 70% of the time( or the 4-2-5 in many cases). Back to basics and stop having to think. Train your body to be where it's supposed to be and react in time and space. These coaches, I believe, will make that happen with, primarily, the same guys we bad mouthed this past season as being too slow. Rocket man couldn't overcome our bad positioning. These coaches have paid their dues and are ready for the Big Time.