I think the starting Defensive Line is obvious, but what about the second unit?

[mokpra37]

Day and Okwara on the ends, Jones and Rochell inside. What will the second unit look like? Trumbetti and Blankenship with Hayes and Cage inside?

 

[IrishBlooded]

Posted this a week or so ago. Here is what I show for the starting / 2 deep on the lines.

LINK

Offense
LT: Ronnie Stanley 6-5 315#
2nd: Hunter Bivin 6-5 302#
LG: Quenton Nelson 6-4 324#
2nd: Alex Bars 6-6 316#
C: Nick Martin 6-4 301#
2nd: Sam Mustipher 6-2 305#
RG: Steve Elmer 6-5 315#
2nd: John Montelus 6-4 310#
RT: Mike McGinchey 6-7 310#
2nd: Mark Harrel 6-4 306#

Defense:
DE: Romeo Okwara 6-4 260#
2nd: Andrew Trumbetti 6-4 255#
DT: Sheldon Day 6-2 285#
2nd: Jay Hayes 6-3 285#
NG: Jarron Jones 6-5 315#
2nd: Jerry Tillery6-6 300#
DE: Isaac Roshell 6-3 287#
2nd: Grant Blankenship 6-4 252# (Trumbetti on situations)

 

[mokpra37]

So you think Rochell will be DE and Day inside? Could be, but I thought Rochell played better inside.

 

[Bodizephax]

Wow !!The first and second team dlineman were all highly sought after during the recruiting process.
Now they are seasoned and ready to dominate!

 

[continually35forever]

Defense will be the teams greatest strength this season imo 8-10 starters will play on sundays

before injuries last yr ND was giving up less than 100 yds per game on the ground

 

[TheDecker]

IMO

SDE - Day / Bonner / Blankenship
DT - Rochelle / Hayes / Matsuka
NT - Jones / Tillery / Cage
WDE - Trumbetti / Okwara / Randolph

Guys like Day, Rochelle, Trumbetti, Tillery, Matsuka, etc. will probably play at too many different positions along the DL to have a discrete depth chart like this be that meaningful though

 

[SALittleGiant513]

Why are people thinking Day is going to move outside and Rochell is going to move inside.

 

[TheDecker]

Why are people thinking Day is going to move outside and Rochell is going to move inside.

Rochelle played inside at times last year, including the bowl game against LSU

If you watch him, his skill set and body are really more of a power/interior player than an edge player, and he himself said he preferred playing on the interior last season

Day is really more of a "quick" player, a skill set that could serve him well at a SDE position or a 3-Tech position, depending on what he's asked to do. Last year, it seemed like he was being asked more to take on blocks straight up on the interior to free LB's (often times at least) which really ins't his skill set and minimizes the impact of his "quicks"
If the scheme is similar to last years, his skill set just seems to fit better at a SDE type of positions

But again, both could play a variety of DL spots, which is why a "discrete depth chart" is really tricky

 

[SALittleGiant513]

He played inside because of injuries to the inside guys though. Rochelle worked on the outside this spring I believe.

 

[TheDecker]

He played inside because of injuries to the inside guys though. Rochelle worked on the outside this spring I believe.

I believe he worked some at both positions, but more outside that inside

Though that could change in the fall
Personally, I think we'll see Rochelle and Day used quite a bit at both positions

 

[Pennick4]

Rochelle was praised for his improvement this spring as a pass rusher from the outside. That would be nice. Also Jaylon is going to get chances to rush the passer this year.

 

[continually35forever]

Run defense will be stout -- pressure on QB will still need to come from the LB's in blitz packages ,,,although I read where Blankenship may have a twitch to his game off the edge