And before the inevitable "Why are you here" replies...I have a job where I essentially do nothing all day in an IT dept. I basically read forums all day. Love the layout of the site and you guys discuss a lot of topics. I've lurked for a long time and thought I would start posting. Also the site is free and tbh you guys get a lot of hawkeye info before the free boards on the other sites. Lots of personalities here and it seems like a cool community.
Why are you here...?
Just kidding!
My thoughts on the defense this year (I have no inside info so I'm just basing this on my opinions):
Starters returning: 3 on the d-line (Frere, Parker, Lyle), 3 linebackers (Smith, Garrin, Raven) and 2 dbacks (Smith and Johnson). I expect Maggit and Laing to challenge for playing time as DEs. Both are redshirt freshmen. Taylor Martin, a JUCO DE has not arrived in Ames yet but hopefully will soon to add more depth to that position. Frere will be on the inside and a number of guys got experience last year to fill the other position and 2 deeps--Ruempolhamer, Black, Alburtis and Bailey Johnson, plus Jake McDonough will hopefully work his way into some playing time.
At LB, Smith, Raven and Garrin will most likely be the starters with Schmidgall as the only other guy back with experience. Taufoou and Lattimer are JUCO transfers that should get into the 2 deeps right away and hopefully younger guys like Hamiln and Matthews can provide depth so they can redshirt the new guys.
At DB, James Smith is supposed to be moving to FS, and David Sims, JUCO who was here in the spring will be starting a SS most likely. L. Johnson will be at one CB spot, with Terran Benton, Allen Bell, Devin McDowell and Kennard Banks all back with a lot of experience. I have no idea who will take the other CB spot but any one of them would be solid. There isn't much solid experience backing up the safety spots, so I would think they would be trying out a lot of these guys for multiple positions.
To me, the biggest reason our defense will improve greatly is the coaching staff in place now. We may not seem to have a lot of talent, but we do have a lot of experience, both players and coaching. I think Wally will do a much better job of putting guys in the right spots to make plays. Sims and Taufoou were key transfers at positions we really needed help. Pass rush will be the biggest question mark, again. Lyle is solid, Parker has been playing for 4 years, and Maggitt is supposedly the real deal, so if they can get more pressure up front, I think the back 7 have the skills to be a really solid defense.
