Only issue I have is that media guides are about as reliable as Pravda when it comes to accurately listing players’ weights. But assuming the data is valid, it’s a very good observation, and troubling if we’re going to play bantamweight Barkevious Mingo at linebacker.

Honestly, this is the best case I’ve seen for thrusting Davenport into early action. We might need a big mountain to play next to Nevis. Livingston could play passing downs. Or put on weight.

Really, I don’t worry about the ends so much, as speed can be just as valuable as size, but having some beef at tackle is a requirement.

Will Pep Levingston and guys like Josh Downs, Mike Brockers and Bennie Logan put on weight? Downs supposedly is up to the 290 range, but I haven’t heard anything about the others.

As Billy said, Downs is supposed to be at 290. If we assume that the starting D-Line is Montgomery (up to 255), Downs, Nevis, Chancey and keep Baker, Sheppard, and Francois at linebacker.

Montgomery – 255
Down – 290
Nevis – 290
Chancey – 275

Baker – 221
Shepard – 240
Francois – 210

Total = 1780

Substitute Pep and Mingo (who is up to 230/235 range) on passing downs. We are easily within reach of a 1790 defensive line.

What about Adams and Livingston?

I have a hard time believing Downs has already added 15 lbs since spring.
Ditto Montgomery. He was 240 in Spring. 15 lbs already with 5 weeks to go? Skeptical.

Most of us have for the defense this year. With some redshirt guys and the juco transfer Adams, it’s a much deeper group (and more athletic I think), but size is definitely a concern. If Levingston and Downs do in fact get north of the 285-290 mark, I think it gets a little better. Ditto Mike Brockers, who was already in the 290s but needs to get north of 300 preferably since he’s so tall. Because I’m not sure Chris Davenport’s ready to contribute this year yet, unfortunately.

A lot of the SB Nation sites try to rip off the EDSBS-Black Heart Gold Pants model. And I love what Orson and Opps Pow do. But it’s nice to see some people who play with numbers and take the nerdy approach.

Undersized! HA!! I’m not worried.

The secondary’s improved and undersized or not, the D-line HAS to be better than last year’s bunch.

Billy told me that there was no way we’d be worse than last year up front.
http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2010/5/3/1455799/hope-can-drive-a-man-insane-a

Is it possible that weight isn’t the actual deciding factor, but is just a signal of another factor that’s actually more relevant. Specifically, is there a correlation between size and experience? All other things being equal, you’d expect a D line of four seniors to be bigger than a D line of four freshmen. Perhaps that explains part of it.

I think the prevailing belief that is encouraged by this research (which includes my own belief) is that an undersized group of upperclassmen is slightly less valuable than an oversized group of underclassmen. In other words, I think I’d rather have a raw, physical line with maybe one leader in the bunch than a savvy, experienced group who just doesn’t have the size to stop leading pass-rushers.