[EKUAlum05]

I was thinking about this last night, we just need some beef on the D-line period. At least swap some players out to try and keep the fatigue down as best as we can. I'm not doubting Coach Larkey or Coach Canady by any means, it's just my opinion..

Having a separate unit is critical...but the Belfry team that gave HC's running game fits and has been great against the run the past decade has made their killing by using small/quick linemen on 1st Down thru 3rd Down, with specific "gap plugging" bigger boys to use only on obvious run situations or the goalline.

Belfry moved away from the big linemen around 2003 in response to the emergence of the spread offense and then continued to stick with it after Russell's Wing T gave them fits for a few years when the bigger linemen could not get down the line fast enough. Belfry has went from a traditional 5-2 with 5 down linemen every play, to sort of a hybrid of the 5-2 and 3-4 where against spread teams and obvious passing downs Belfry stands up their DE's who are more OLB's.

The best Belfry defenses in this time have a stocky and agrressive noseguard, two small but lightning quick DT's, two tall and strong DE's, one quick LB who is well suited for pass defense, one stronger LB who is better suited for run support.. then bringing a monstrous DT off the bench for run defense and bringing a 3rd quick linemen at DE for additional coverage in the flat.