Our defense has two LB's who are free to make tackles and chase the ball. Guy #3 has to stay home and play assignment football.
Guyton has been guy #3 any time you've seen him on the field until this year. This year he is one of the ball hawks and it will 'appear' that he is all of a sudden having a break out season, when in reality, he has been pretty strong all along, but has been willing to play his part in the scheme.
This is a guy that is 6'3" 240 and can run as fast as Kamichael Hall (4.5). He didn't make the same plays last year because he was the discipline guy, while # 35 and # 41 were free to roam. Also we run a nickel pretty often and he was the first guy off the field in that package.
I expect Guyton to wreak absolute havoc this year. Because of his change in responsibilities, he will seem like a whole new man, but he's been pretty strong for a while now.
Hall is a number 4 or 5 guy at DE. Oliver and Robertson are the starters. MJ is a clear #3, and Derrick Morgan and Hall are the alternates. All 5 will play a lot. They will be fresh and go hard because of it.
MJ is a first teamer in obvious passing downs. Oliver will move to DT and MJ will be opposite Robo.
DT's are Walker and Professor D Rich with Elris and Big Ben Anderson subbing. We will look good there also.
WR's? I couldn't tell you. I know Bond is talking about spreading things out, but he is a coach that plays his producers. Tashard is the focus, followed by Bebe Thomas or James Johnson. I would expect 4 wide at times, but rarely because we will focus on the running game and short passes. Expect Rashaun in the slot a lot, and Cox and Peek to catch a few balls.
To get those guys the ball, you have to change the formation altogether to go 4 and 5 wide. There are 5 eligible recievers every play and Chan will not want TC coming out very often. We like blocking TE's, so that kills another WR, even if it's Cox at FB instead of a TE. That still leaves only 3 WR's available.
I doubt 4 or 5 wide will be a main stay, but it might happen some.
Just in case I misunderstood your question - if it was, 'might 4 or 5 WR's catch balls against ND?' as opposed to a 4 or 5 WR set? I'd say that would be very likely, if you count Grant in the slot as a WR. I could easily see Smith, Johnson, Grant, Peek, and Thomas all catching balls, and possibly Donley or Earls also.
