The position is part linebacker and part safety, part strength and part speed, part run-stuffing and part man coverage.
Memphis' defensive coaching staff calls it "Star."
And in the Tigers' new scheme, it could be a key in 2016.
"It makes you really multiple," said outside linebackers coach Joe Lorig, who works primarily with the "Star" group. "It really, truly creates a hybrid position that's difficult for the offense to identify. Is he a 'backer? Is he a safety? What is he?"
Hybrid positions are nothing new in college football, particularly on defense. Last season, under former defensive coordinator Galen Scott, Jackson Dillon played a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker position called "Dawg." The Tigers' new scheme has a similar position, now termed "Kat." But the "Star" hybrid spot will be something new.
"(It's) the best position on the field," freshman Josh Perry said. "You can ask any defensive player, and they would love to play 'Star.' "
Perry is one of five players currently taking repetitions in practice at the position, alongside freshman Nehemiah Augustus, redshirt freshman Austin Hall, redshirt senior Tye Northern and redshirt junior Anthony Young.
Lorig said the position requires unique skills and a build that can be difficult to find.
"It's a combination of a guy that has to be as smart as a safety, be able to cover like a corner and blitz like a linebacker," he said. "They wouldn't be great corners. They wouldn't be the best safety. They might not be big enough to be the best linebacker. But they have the skill sets of those three positions. That's how I'd describe it."
Hall, a walk-on from Collierville, has taken the majority of first-team repetitions at the position dating to the spring. He said the most challenging aspect of playing "Star" is it requires a deep understanding of a variety of responsibilities.
In other words: It takes a lot of time in the film room.
"We really have to slow it down," Hall said. "Because a lot of people watch film … so fast that you don't really focus on the details and small things. (Lorig) really overemphasizes that, and I think that's a big key to being a really good player, especially at 'Star,' because you've got different techniques and all that stuff."
Lorig said he does not maintain a depth chart for the position, and there's no telling who will start at "Star" in the season opener Sept. 3. against Southeast Missouri State. Whoever fills the role will assume a lot of responsibility, very quickly.
Players said it's a challenging position — but a fun one, too.
"When we blitz, no one can block us because we've got the advantage of our speed on the offensive tackles and tight ends," Perry said. "But we can fake the blitz, at the same time, and drop into coverage.
"That's what makes us so good."
Memphis' defensive coaching staff calls it "Star."
And in the Tigers' new scheme, it could be a key in 2016.
"It makes you really multiple," said outside linebackers coach Joe Lorig, who works primarily with the "Star" group. "It really, truly creates a hybrid position that's difficult for the offense to identify. Is he a 'backer? Is he a safety? What is he?"
Hybrid positions are nothing new in college football, particularly on defense. Last season, under former defensive coordinator Galen Scott, Jackson Dillon played a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker position called "Dawg." The Tigers' new scheme has a similar position, now termed "Kat." But the "Star" hybrid spot will be something new.
"(It's) the best position on the field," freshman Josh Perry said. "You can ask any defensive player, and they would love to play 'Star.' "
Perry is one of five players currently taking repetitions in practice at the position, alongside freshman Nehemiah Augustus, redshirt freshman Austin Hall, redshirt senior Tye Northern and redshirt junior Anthony Young.
Lorig said the position requires unique skills and a build that can be difficult to find.
"It's a combination of a guy that has to be as smart as a safety, be able to cover like a corner and blitz like a linebacker," he said. "They wouldn't be great corners. They wouldn't be the best safety. They might not be big enough to be the best linebacker. But they have the skill sets of those three positions. That's how I'd describe it."
Hall, a walk-on from Collierville, has taken the majority of first-team repetitions at the position dating to the spring. He said the most challenging aspect of playing "Star" is it requires a deep understanding of a variety of responsibilities.
In other words: It takes a lot of time in the film room.
"We really have to slow it down," Hall said. "Because a lot of people watch film … so fast that you don't really focus on the details and small things. (Lorig) really overemphasizes that, and I think that's a big key to being a really good player, especially at 'Star,' because you've got different techniques and all that stuff."
Lorig said he does not maintain a depth chart for the position, and there's no telling who will start at "Star" in the season opener Sept. 3. against Southeast Missouri State. Whoever fills the role will assume a lot of responsibility, very quickly.
Players said it's a challenging position — but a fun one, too.
"When we blitz, no one can block us because we've got the advantage of our speed on the offensive tackles and tight ends," Perry said. "But we can fake the blitz, at the same time, and drop into coverage.
"That's what makes us so good."
http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/tigers/football/tiger-defensive-staff-hopes-to-develop-a-few-new-stars-39bef85a-8961-4517-e053-0100007f48ec-389807571.html
Source: By Tom Schad of The Commercial Appeal