Comments

Is it stubborn to use Whitlock at nose tackle, or is it good improvisation and innovation?

Does a nose tackle in a 3-4 have to be a 350-pound anchor all of the time?  I’d say no.  I think that most can agree that Whitlock contributed in ways last year that a stereotypical nose tackle would never been able to contibute. 

But that does not mean that he should line up at nose tackle every single down.  Why not move him around a bit more?  If he lines up at middle linebacker, defensive end, and nose tackle, then opposing offenses won’t be able to predict what they will be facing each play, and it will provide our linebackers with the opportunity to play behind a more traditional large defensive line (and consequently be a bit fresher at the end of games).  The other possibility is to line up bigger-than-normal guys at the defensive tackle position.  If you have two anchors on the edge and a pinball at nose tackle, that could be an interesting twist on the 3-4. 

But this all depends on guys like Booi and Souza stepping up this year and proving that they are capable of playing nose tackle at a consistently high level.  Let’s not forget that the only reason he got the opportunity to play nose tackle last season was that no one else was able to get the job done. 

I think that Coach Grobe and his staff have clearly demonstrated that they can be flexible (and not stubborn) by switching to the 3-4 in the first place.  So I really expect them to continue to fine-tune the scheme in the offseason.  But the players need to be able to execute the scheme too.

DC on 03/21/2011 (2:27 pm)

This is a continuance of Grobe’s stubbornness. He has his mind set that Whitlock is his nose tackle and won’t change.

Why doesn’t Grobe realize that by playing Whitlock at LB he can—-in addition to helping the team—-help the young man hopefully prepared for a pro career, which he probably could do as a LB but certainly not at NG?

This attitude is selfishness on Grobe’s part in my opinion.

Jerry on 03/21/2011 (9:52 am)

Dan,

I kept an eye on Whitlock all last season, and I’m glad that I did.  He was one of the team’s few bright spots, due in large part to the well-documented motor and seemingly natural elusiveness.  He is indeed a unique talent, and I look forward to watching him for another three seasons. 

My criticisms related to Whitlock really have had very little directly to do with the young man and more to do with the coaching staff’s ability to implement a long-term plan for the program and scheme around the talent they have at their disposal. 

It’s worth noting that Whitlock wasn’t recruited as a nose tackle.  For obvious reasons, the coaching staff intended to use him as a linebacker.  It seems that the only reason why Whitlock even got a shot at nose tackle was because the staff failed to recruit adequate defensive linemen.  Ten years into Coach Grobe’s tenure, it struck me as ridiculous that the team had to resort to using a 250 pound nose tackle. 

But fortunately for everyone, Whitlock proved to be up to the task.  As amazing as it may be, the guy can play nose tackle in the ACC.  But just as his strengths (low center of gravity, strength, speed, elusiveness) bring a unique dimension to his position, his lack of size leaves the defense vulnerable in short yardage situations and at the end of games when the other players have fatigued.  This vulnerability was exploited several times at the end of games last year. 

Does this mean that Whitlock should never be the nose tackle?  No, of course not - every player has strengths and weaknesses that must be respectively augmented and mitigated.  We have a unique asset and we should use it.  However, that doesn’t mean he’s an every-down option at the position.  Presuming the team will stick with the plan to play a 3-4 defense (any word on the new defensive coordinator, by the way?), I expect that a full offseason of practice will result in an improvement in the way all of the players are utilized, including Nikita Whitlock.

DC on 03/20/2011 (12:40 pm)

good article

hey wake fans, check out

http://www.ogboards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1

JP on 03/20/2011 (10:56 am)

What a great player Nikita is! Not as much poundage but a lot more talent and motor than anybody else around.  We are so fortunate to have him on our team and I hope some of his qualities can diffuse into the rest of our kids this season.

DannyB on 03/20/2011 (8:08 am)

Give me 21 starting Nikita Whitlocks. One guy that can throw the ball and one guy that can kick. Guarantee an ACC trophy. If the All-Americans in the country had half the heart Nikita does I could only imagine how competitive the NFL combine would be.

Doug on 03/19/2011 (6:54 pm)