Not so bold predictions for 2015 defense....

[thebadby2]

Both Pitts and Galambos will look like different players than they did last season. I've been saying that about Pitts, I've said it before about Galambos. House had the LBs and DBs playing on their heels. Galambos made a lot of tackles but not nearly enough of them at or near the LOS. In Duzz's scheme, Galambos will play downhill and stick his nose into the run gaps a lot more. I think he's a better player than he;s shown to date. Watch video of MSU's MLB's since Duzzi got there--especially Max Bullough and Greg Jones. And when MSU suspended Bullough for the Rose Bowl, they plugged in a 5th year walk-on who had been a MSU wrestler, and they didn't miss a beat. The guy played lights out despite being undersized and slower than Bullough.

And for those posters who still think Pitts or Galambos won't start every game this season, think again.

I expect Pitts to have the most obvious improvement of anyone. As a RS freshman starter he was on his way to all-conference, maybe even all-American status. He was a player. Then came House and his soft zone D. Pitts also let himself get out of shape and played overweight, something the coaches should never have let happen. Word is he has dropped 15 pounds, which is a ton for a speed player. In Narduzzi's scheme, he will get to play fast and physical. He will get to use his instincts, the ones that made him a starter as a freshman.

I think defensively everyone will start to look better sooner rather than later. Narduzzi likes to play his base D most of the time and let the players rip. Compared to House's scheme, the assignments are simpler, the overall philosophy is faster, more aggressive, always downhill. I really believe that, while our personnel and depth on D are not the greatest, we will find out that they are better than they looked under House's tutelage.

It may take some time to click, but once it does, it will certainly be a lot more fun to watch, and a lot more effective.

Of course, I reserve the right to amend these predictions if we lose to YSU.

 

[vegasgreed]

Galambos could find his way to the bench.

 

[thebadby2]

Galambos could find his way to the bench.

Only when we're on offense.

Watch and see.

Galambos is no Jack Lambert but Duzzi runs a VERY MLB friendly defense--and he's the only returning starter we have in the LB corps. He has a lot of football under his belt having played as ton as a true freshman and starting all last year. You don;t get out there as a true frosh unless you're showing the coaches a whole lot in practice.

The odds are better that he leads the ACC in tackles than that he gets demoted.

 

[Scruffy the Panther]

I think you make some solid points. It's easy to forgot that Pitts actually had a decent freshman season after how bad he's been over the past 2 years. I never really had a strong opinion one way or another on Galambos, but he could have a nice season as well. I tended to think the talent was the main problem (and I still don't think we have a ton of talent on defense), but Narduzzi's scheme is simpler and more aggressive which hopefully produces better results.

I hope our defense learns quickly like you suggest, because we might have a nice season. I'm still a bit skeptical and will be until we prove to play well on that end.

 

[MajorMajors]

Both Pitts and Galambos will look like different players than they did last season. I've been saying that about Pitts, I've said it before about Galambos. House had the LBs and DBs playing on their heels. Galambos made a lot of tackles but not nearly enough of them at or near the LOS. In Duzz's scheme, Galambos will play downhill and stick his nose into the run gaps a lot more. I think he's a better player than he;s shown to date. Watch video of MSU's MLB's since Duzzi got there--especially Max Bullough and Greg Jones. And when MSU suspended Bullough for the Rose Bowl, they plugged in a 5th year walk-on who had been a MSU wrestler, and they didn't miss a beat. The guy played lights out despite being undersized and slower than Bullough.

And for those posters who still think Pitts or Galambos won't start every game this season, think again.

I expect Pitts to have the most obvious improvement of anyone. As a RS freshman starter he was on his way to all-conference, maybe even all-American status. He was a player. Then came House and his soft zone D. Pitts also let himself get out of shape and played overweight, something the coaches should never have let happen. Word is he has dropped 15 pounds, which is a ton for a speed player. In Narduzzi's scheme, he will get to play fast and physical. He will get to use his instincts, the ones that made him a starter as a freshman.

I think defensively everyone will start to look better sooner rather than later. Narduzzi likes to play his base D most of the time and let the players rip. Compared to House's scheme, the assignments are simpler, the overall philosophy is faster, more aggressive, always downhill. I really believe that, while our personnel and depth on D are not the greatest, we will find out that they are better than they looked under House's tutelage.

It may take some time to click, but once it does, it will certainly be a lot more fun to watch, and a lot more effective.

Of course, I reserve the right to amend these predictions if we lose to YSU.

Good post. Should be a good battle between Galambos and Wirginis at MLB - maybe both get to play a good bit. I'm also anxious to see what Bam Bradley and Nick Grigsby can do at the outsider backer spots. Given our weakness at DE, I expect these guys to be flying into the backfield quite a bit - and getting chances to make big plays.

Go Pitt.

 

[redbyrds]

Don't be surprised to see Freshmen or Redshirt freshmen in starting LB positions by October.

The best will play and the best may not be returning players.

 

[vegasgreed]

He's to slow. Once we get some talent, he will not be a starter.

Only when we're on offense.

Watch and see.

Galambos is no Jack Lambert but Duzzi runs a VERY MLB friendly defense--and he's the only returning starter we have in the LB corps. He has a lot of football under his belt having played as ton as a true freshman and starting all last year. You don;t get out there as a true frosh unless you're showing the coaches a whole lot in practice.

The odds are better that he leads the ACC in tackles than that he gets demoted.

 

[daminals76]

Galambos could find his way to the bench.

Agree... Glambos is slow....

Duzz can't teach speed!

 

[thebadby2]

He's to slow. Once we get some talent, he will not be a starter.

Galambos will start every game this year and next barring injury or some kind of disciplinary problem. Put that in the bank. He is the defensive team leader. He has a lot of snaps under his belt, is has good size and will be a year better. That stuff matters.

I have been critical of his play, and that of the whole D, in the past--but I really believe it was the scheme that was the biggest problem. Under House the LBs had more complex responsibilities than they will have in Narduzzi's D-- thinking too much and not playing as fast and aggressive as they need to. It was not an aggressive scheme. Galambos and the other backers will play downhill this season. The safeties and corners will be more heavily involved in run stopping which frees up the MLB to be more active in the run gaps at and behind the LOS.The scheme is more instinctive and more fun for the players. How quickly they all take to it is the real question.