This is where coaches can over think things and make it more complicated then it really is. With the Illinois personnel group as it stands and playing in the BIG, I'd go with the following:
Base 4-3
DEFENSIVE LINE
DE- Ward, Smoot, James, Nelson, McGrew
DT- Powell, Bain, Clemments, Odenigbo, Fotu
LINEBACKERS
ILB- Neal, Monheim, Svetina, Watson, Jones, (whoever else)
OLB- Phillipps, Walls, Finney, Crawford, Adansea (the JC recruit), Williams
SAFETY
Day, Fejelem, Barton, Kelly, Nelson, Davis
CB
Bentley, Spence, Dunlap, Little, Sumpter, Watkins
Move Hylton to RB to add depth and big play ability to that critical position
Looks like they need to recruit defensive line really hard this class and they do lose 2 starting CB's too
VARIABLES
Could move Ward inside to DT in passing situations
could bring pressure from the edge with Phillips or Walls
Could bring run blitz with ILB position
The above brings your biggest and fastest players to the field playing together at the same time in a big, fast and physical Big10 conference.
Base 4-3
DEFENSIVE LINE
DE- Ward, Smoot, James, Nelson, McGrew
DT- Powell, Bain, Clemments, Odenigbo, Fotu
LINEBACKERS
ILB- Neal, Monheim, Svetina, Watson, Jones, (whoever else)
OLB- Phillipps, Walls, Finney, Crawford, Adansea (the JC recruit), Williams
SAFETY
Day, Fejelem, Barton, Kelly, Nelson, Davis
CB
Bentley, Spence, Dunlap, Little, Sumpter, Watkins
Move Hylton to RB to add depth and big play ability to that critical position
Looks like they need to recruit defensive line really hard this class and they do lose 2 starting CB's too
VARIABLES
Could move Ward inside to DT in passing situations
could bring pressure from the edge with Phillips or Walls
Could bring run blitz with ILB position
The above brings your biggest and fastest players to the field playing together at the same time in a big, fast and physical Big10 conference.
