We don't recruit players that fit a bend and break defense... Good coaches recruit players that "fit their scheme". Eags recruit very aggressive players and ask them to drop, read and react. It's not their strength. This is something I've mentioned for far too many years.
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Seriously??? Do you realize recruiting is talking to high school kids. How do you predict their train of thought 5 years later??
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Golly, as usual you miss the point.
No one has to predict a person's train of thought. It's not always readily apparent how a young athlete will mature but there is a barometer what their current skills and attributes are in HS. That's how come recruit ratings can be assigned. Perfect science, no. It's not lost on anyone who is a fan, that these things can be hit and miss. Some coaches are evaluators. What does that mean? They use the known aspects of a recruit to see where they may be a fit in the system they run. It's a pretty established discipline. Does Eastern have the "pick of the litter"? Probably a matter of degree most likely and not all choices are likely to be optimal, although I believe Eastern's players are a cut above in many aspects.
Not sure who's happy with the Eag's approach to defense and I don't believe you can teach, train or expect all players to be adaptable. Some are better at coverage, some tackle, some get off blocks, some have better anticipation, see the field, have more burst, make big plays and etc, etc. My take is this may just be as simple as having an identity and doing the best they can to recruit players to fit that identity. Does Eastern has a defensive identity? I do not think so.
