The Cowboys are 17 days away from the start of spring football. With the way the basketball season has gone, at least for the men, spring football can’t get here fast enough for most fans.
The big news the switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3. Coach Dave Christensen is a 4-3 guy and the team showed looks of it at times last season.
“My familiarity of it was a big part of it,” Christensen told me Wednesday.
He and his defensive coaching staff recently spent some time at the University of Iowa studying how it runs the 4-3.
“You take a lot of guess work out and there are less adjustments that have to happen in a 4-3 as compared to a 3-4,” Christensen added. ”I think its a little simpler. If we can get our guys to line up and play technique-conscious I think we can play more with two safeties back and keep things more contained.”
The goal for the switch is to cut down on big plays
The biggest move position-wise for UW in the 4-3 is moving junior inside linebacker Gabe Knapton to defensive end. Junior Josh Biezuns also will be a defensive end. He played the “buck” position in the 3-4 where he was a combination outside linebacker/defensive end.
In terms of other position changes, sophomore James Caraway has been moved to cornerback from running back. Sophomore Nick Carlson played a lot at guard last season as a true freshman, but will get the first chance to replace Russ Arnold at center.
More on spring football as it approaches and progresses.
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Any word on the last scholarship?
No word yet, at least in terms of signing anyone. Coaches still looking around to see if anyone fell through the cracks around signing day they want to go after.
RG