- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 89,462
- Reaction Score
- 338,252
Nice read: http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-football/hc-uconn-football-luke-carrezola-20151219-story.html
>>In UConn's 3-4 hybrid defense, Carrezola is part end, part outside linebacker.
Diaco employed this defense before he came to UConn, so he knows what type of player is needed.
"There's a sliding scale as it relates to the size," Diaco said. "You're looking for guys 6-3 to 6-6, in that range. If you're 6-3, you have to be able to play longer with explosiveness and power. I've had guys play that have played it shorter, but they had exceptional initial quickness and explosiveness and power like [former 6-2 Notre Dame linebacker] Darius Flemming. At some point, you're going to need to be 245 to 275 pounds, in that range, and then you have to have some measure of athleticism that's going to allow you to do some zone drop work."
All of which fits Carrezola. Asked about Carrezola's success in his first full season in the defense, Diaco said he wasn't surprised. "This is a dude ... and he's lean," Diaco said. "And he can put on another 10 to 15 pounds. He just naturally grows. He's a kid still, thick ankles, knees, wrists, elbows. He is big, thick, wide-backed ... you know sometimes we're looking at him in the dining hall and we're like, 'Man, he is wide.'
"We played some great tight ends. He whipped them all. He knocked back every tight end, he never got whipped at the point of attack, and he's got all of this ball left."<<
>>In UConn's 3-4 hybrid defense, Carrezola is part end, part outside linebacker.
Diaco employed this defense before he came to UConn, so he knows what type of player is needed.
"There's a sliding scale as it relates to the size," Diaco said. "You're looking for guys 6-3 to 6-6, in that range. If you're 6-3, you have to be able to play longer with explosiveness and power. I've had guys play that have played it shorter, but they had exceptional initial quickness and explosiveness and power like [former 6-2 Notre Dame linebacker] Darius Flemming. At some point, you're going to need to be 245 to 275 pounds, in that range, and then you have to have some measure of athleticism that's going to allow you to do some zone drop work."
All of which fits Carrezola. Asked about Carrezola's success in his first full season in the defense, Diaco said he wasn't surprised. "This is a dude ... and he's lean," Diaco said. "And he can put on another 10 to 15 pounds. He just naturally grows. He's a kid still, thick ankles, knees, wrists, elbows. He is big, thick, wide-backed ... you know sometimes we're looking at him in the dining hall and we're like, 'Man, he is wide.'
"We played some great tight ends. He whipped them all. He knocked back every tight end, he never got whipped at the point of attack, and he's got all of this ball left."<<
Last edited: