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Stoops to use "hybrid" players on defense?

  • Jacob Pugh (the LB recruit out of Florida) recently said in an interview that he was being recruited by UK for a "DE/LB hybrid" position. This would explain why we are recruiting so many 6'1 to 6'3" DE's (ie smaller, faster) currently......Ware, Hatcher, Brown, etc.

    BlueRaider22

  • Thanks for posting that. I was wondering why we were recruiting so many that size. I think the "hybrid" position is a trend across college fball and fball in general. It's not just a Minter thing. If people remember we used Johny Williams as a hybrid his last year where he would put his hand on the ground in third down passing situations.

    scalf

  • BlueRaider22 said...

    Jacob Pugh (the LB recruit out of Florida) recently said in an interview that he was being recruited by UK for a "DE/LB hybrid" position. This would explain why we are recruiting so many 6'1 to 6'3" DE's (ie smaller, faster) currently......Ware, Hatcher, Brown, etc.

    That would make some sense.

    In spite of what we saw under Minter, I'm still a big fan of the hybrid DE idea. I think the key though is to make it a part of an unbalanced line, with a jumbo DE on the other end, or limit its usage strictly to obvious passing situations. That way you don't get gashed against the run so much. It's certainly an idea that CAN work, but it takes the right scheme to make it effective.

    It'll be interesting to keep an eye on going forward and see if there is anything to the idea.

    Delirium ●

  • Players are being told they will either play lb or de. There is no stand-up hybrid d-end in this defense. A kid who is 6-1 and 230 now could easily grow into a Dwight freeney or Robert Mathis type d-end.

    hoptownukfan

  • hoptownukfan said...

    Players are being told they will either play lb or de. There is no stand-up hybrid d-end in this defense. A kid who is 6-1 and 230 now could easily grow into a Dwight freeney or Robert Mathis type d-end.

    Uhhh, I think you may want to retract your words. Below is a excerpt from a recent article talking to Jacob Pugh......a LB being recruited out of Florida.

    "Kentucky's coaches told Pugh they see him as a hybrid defensive end and linebacker that can stand up on the edge or put his hand in the dirt and give bigger, slower offensive tackles problems. Much of that will be determined by how much he grows over the next year."

    BlueRaider22

  • Thats fine but we won't use it as our main defense like Minter tried to do. We'll mainly be a 4-3 team. Eliot has talked quite a bit about being multiple.

    tWhit

  • He may be recruiting guys who can give us that look, but these 2014 guys are juniors in high school. They'll likely gain quite a bit of weight by the time they get to campus.

    TacosMcGee

  • tWhit said...

    Thats fine but we won't use it as our main defense like Minter tried to do. We'll mainly be a 4-3 team. Eliot has talked quite a bit about being multiple.

    Exactly.

    I'm sure we'll see some interesting looks, personnel-wise, in passing situations, but it won't be an actual position on the depth chart. I read an interview with Ware this morning where he said that the coaches had talked about playing him at LB on early downs and then putting his hand in the dirt at DE in passing situations, a la Johnny Williams (as scalf mentioned).

    My guess is Dupree will be used in this type of role. He's an ideal fit for it, IMO.

    This post was edited by Delirium on 2/16/2013 at 3:01 PM

    Delirium ●

  • Not a new concept at UK. Think Johnny Williams a few years ago. Worked out pretty well IIRC.

    KSt

  • My point, a correct one, is that our base defense will not have a stand up "hybrid olb" type player. We will be a base 4-3 that will adjust on passing downs where we might stand a d-end up to help with the pass rush. Massive difference between a hybrid and bringing somebody in on 3rd and long and standing them up to rush the passer.

    hoptownukfan

  • hoptownukfan said...

    My point, a correct one, is that our base defense will not have a stand up "hybrid olb" type player. We will be a base 4-3 that will adjust on passing downs where we might stand a d-end up to help with the pass rush. Massive difference between a hybrid and bringing somebody in on 3rd and long and standing them up to rush the passer.

    I agree on both points.

    KSt

  • hoptownukfan said...

    My point, a correct one, is that our base defense will not have a stand up "hybrid olb" type player. We will be a base 4-3 that will adjust on passing downs where we might stand a d-end up to help with the pass rush. Massive difference between a hybrid and bringing somebody in on 3rd and long and standing them up to rush the passer.

    I think it'll be more than just standing up an end, from the sound of things, but yea, we won't have a dedicated Hybrid position on the depth chart.

    My guess is we'll see our SLB in base looks be somewhat of a DE/LB 'tweener, physically, who can move well enough to cover TEs but still have enough bulk to stop the run. In passing situations, he'd drop down to end and the Strongside DE would kick inside to replace one of the DTs.

    Delirium ●

  • hoptownukfan said...

    My point, a correct one, is that our base defense will not have a stand up "hybrid olb" type player. We will be a base 4-3 that will adjust on passing downs where we might stand a d-end up to help with the pass rush. Massive difference between a hybrid and bringing somebody in on 3rd and long and standing them up to rush the passer.

    Oh boy. Some of y'all were really jaded by "Minter's Hybrid Defense." It's not a bad thing that we are running a hybrid. Eliot, Ware, Keyon Brown.....all 3 have said that they will be utilizing a "hybrid LB/DE" player. A hybrid defense doesn't have to mean that a hybrid player will be out there for all downs. All it means is that it is a flexible 4-3 that has tendencies of other formations/defenses. This is so very common among college and even more common in the NFL.....and getting even more common. If it helps, then we won't call it a "hybrid defense." We'll call it a "base 4-3 that is flexible in certain situations and utilizes players that have the ability to play multiple roles." Just don't get bent out of shape when the coaches and players say the dreaded word "hybrid."

    BlueRaider22

  • ProblemwithMinters schemes was flat out not enough talent across the board to compete in this conference. Just adding Hatcher and Zsmith as pass rushers and nate willis at a corner spot will make this d look a ton better.

    Quagmire14

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