What Does a Tim DeRuyter Defense Look Like?
In January, Cal tapped former Fresno State head coach Tim DeRuyter to be their defensive coordinator, a somewhat surprising move considering that the Bears were tied to more prolific candidates in Alabama's Tosh Lupoi initially after Wilcox's hiring, and Washington's Jimmy Lake after that. DeRuyter was the front runner for the position before Sonny Dykes was fired, and ended up in Berkeley anyway, looking to turn around a defense that finished near the bottom or at the bottom in nearly every statistical category related to stopping the run. With spring practice starting today, the transition over will start.
DeRuyter will look to do this with a defense that has more experience than you'd think at first glance. Eight of last year's opening day starters return (DeVante Wilson, Khari Vanderbilt, and Cameron Walker graduated), and a number of others, such as Josh Drayden, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Jordan Kunaszyk got game experience as a result of injury, so that isn't the biggest worry. Health isn't even as big of an issue this spring, despite injuries that may keep a few members of the secondary out. There are two big issues that need solving, or at least mitigating. The first is linebacker depth, as the Bears only have six scholarship linebackers listed at the moment, but that can be mitigated by the second issue, which is making a switch in scheme.
Scheme Change
Based on the comments of Justin Wilcox in his introductory press conference and in the hiring of DeRuyter, Cal is shifting over to a 3-4 defense. In the past at Texas A&M, DeRuyter positioned his defense like so.
It's a normal, base 3-4 alignment, with the defensive ends in a '5 technique' in front of the tackles and the nose playing on top of the center. Both outside linebackers are stand-up pass rushers in this play, and the top priority for players moving to that position is their ability to rush the passer. Though it hasn't been confirmed on the official spring roster, there will be defensive ends moved to that spot, and as has been mentioned here before, Cam Saffle, Evan Weaver, and Alex Funches seem like good candidates to make the move. This gives the Bears a bit more linebacker depth in the spring, as the only addition they'll get at the spot in the fall is LB Kyle Harmon.
That being said, there isn't a concrete form for this defense. Like the offense, they're going to move around, "be multiple", use a lot of different blitzes and line stunts to confuse protection schemes. When they go to a nickel, it'll be a 4-2-5, with those rush outside linebackers coming down to the defensive end spots, looking like this.
Note that the two defensive ends are in a stand up position on the edge, with the nickel corner feigning a blitz. Usually the stand-up rusher position will help the ends run stunts on the line or get to the edge on an offensive tackle a little faster.
Blitzing
A big part of a DeRuyter defense is aggressiveness, blitzing, feigning blitzes, causing confusion to the point of forcing turnovers, sacks, and tackles for loss. His defense led the nation in sacks in 2011, racking up 51, along with 8 tackles for loss per game (which ranked 3rd).
As far as actual scheme goes, DeRuyter is willing to send both rush ends on a blitz, while trusting his linebackers to provide contain on a blitz, like on the play below.
Here, the five men on the line slant with the motion on the line, but the middle linebackers delay for a beat, then rush the outside to keep the quarterback from breaking contain, which ends up producing a sack. It's a risk, rushing seven and leaving the defensive backs in man coverage, but the contain linebacker forces a sack.
Other times, they'll lay off and rush four, sending one of the rush linebackers into coverage. It's likely that Cal will use converted DEs on one side of the linebacking core, but the other side should be a more traditional outside linebacker that can drop and cover, like on this play.
The defense provides solid pressure with a four man rush, something Cal hasn't done well since the days of Zack Follett. They also cover well, despite this being a first down. One thing they have to avoid in the middle linebackers creeping up to stop the run on the playfake. Quick passes to a tight end over the middle feast on that open field.
Other times, a DeRuyter defense will show blitz, back off, bring pressure from elsewhere, and run a line stunt. The play below incorporates all of them, with one backer showing blitz and backing off, blitzers from the other edge and up the gut, and a twist on the line, with the right defensive end going under the nose, with a slant from the left defensive end for good measure. it causes enough cacophony to create a sack.
That's really the point of what DeRuyter has brought to the table in past stints as a DC. An aggressive defense that can cause havoc and force mistakes. It's going to be a change from a vanilla 4-3 that the Bears ran in 2016.
As far as coverage goes, with the amount of blitzing expected, there should be more man defense played by the Bears. With defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander having spent time in the NFL, which is more of a man press league, DBs should be taught different technique from last season, where corners sometimes wouldn't look for the ball in the air, leading to a number a pass interference calls. Expect more man coverage from the corners at least.
Defensive Recruiting Player Archetypes
There's specific archetypes that are becoming more apparent in who they're recruiting to play various positions on defense.
Nose - Looking for height to a certain extent, but looking for a player who can control both A-gaps, but is mobile enough to get around on line stunts, looking for a good motor as well
Guys they're looking at: Tuli Letuligasenoa, Tyler Manoa, Tommy Togiai, Josh Walker, Aaron Maldonado
Defensive end - Guys with bigger frames, looking for 6'4" and up, Jerry Azzinaro's NFL guys from Oregon were around that or taller (Dion Jordan, Arik Armstead, Taylor Hart), guys who play with good leverage and use their hands well.
Guys they're looking at: Draco Bynum, Taylor Upshaw, Mayan Ahanotu, Paul Maile (who could also be on offense)
Rush LB/DE: Again, looking for lankier guys who can use their hands well, get off the edge and rush the passer. Rushing the passer is the top priority from this spot
Guys they're looking at: Demetri Washington, JH Tevis, Cameron Latu, Elijah Wade, Tennessee Pututau
ILB: Rangier linebackers who can play from sideline to sideline, finish plays and make solid tackles up the middle
Guys they're looking at: Jack Lamb, Ben Wilson, MJ Tafisi
OLB: Guys who can rush the passer, bluff, and back off into coverage. Quicker linebackers who can still make solid tackles
Guys they're looking at: Omari Harris (committed), Kanai Mauga, Salua Masina
CB: Bigger corners with more length to match up with bigger receivers, guys who can press effectively or have the potential to
Guys they're looking at: Isaac Taylor-Stuart, Kyler Gordon
S: Not really an archetype other than guys who can fill the alley and have range to make plays on the ball
Guys they're looking at: Steve Stephens, Jevon Holland, Julius Irvin
General Thoughts:
It's going to take time to adjust to a new scheme, as there's going to be mistakes when doing something different, but that's where the coaching comes in. DeRuyter has the opportunity to replicate some of his past success, and Wilcox has had success as a DC as well. There's not much further the Cal defense can go down, and the increased aggressiveness of the defense will be welcome change for a number of people. If the new coaching staff can instill discipline as well as the defensive scheme effectively, then Cal has a chance to be an order of magnitude better, though they'll still have a long way to go to being excellent.