Is our pass defense as bad as people say?

[GraingerMater23]

If you look at season long stats, we are last in the conference in passing YPG allowed.

But if you look at just conference games, we are dead middle of the pack at 9th in the conference with 246 passing yards per game allowed.

Is that really so bad when you consider that teams have to throw on us because we are in high scoring games? I say no.

To be clear, I think our pass D, especially at Star, Safety, and one LB, is poor and not good enough. But it’s not as awful as people are acting like, like it’s the 2012 defense or something.

 

[benholt06]

Sitting back in soft zone is getting us killed on 3rd down. Drop the safeties but play up on the WRs, maybe even press off the line. Interrupt the route and give your pass rush an extra beat. Because the current strategy is getting us carved up.

 

[Vol_in_NC_1999]

I wouldn't go as far as "awful", but it's bad and because our LB and safety play is bad compared with DL and our offense, it gets the most attention.

 

[Go47]

While we are a top team in generating sacks / pressure, it seems we need the outcome to be a sack for a fumble or an interception. The tackles for loss have been rendered meaningless, because we regularly play an extremely poor zone on 3rd and long or even 2nd and long . . . And give up chunk plays /
1st downs. Our pass defense on 3rd and long is indeed awful. We have one good corner (Hood) and one who will be good (Redmond). Our safeties are likely the worst in the conference. Letting Thomas go to another team has really come back to bite us. Our safeties cannot cover or tackle.

Who would have thought . . . Will Brooks was this much better as a walk on than any safety we have?

Bottom line - we either sack Simpson and create a fumble we recover / cause him to throw an interception . . . Or he carves us up like a Halloween pumpkin.

 

[Peradox1K]

If you look at season long stats, we are last in the conference in passing YPG allowed.

But if you look at just conference games, we are dead middle of the pack at 9th in the conference with 246 passing yards per game allowed.

Is that really so bad when you consider that teams have to throw on us because we are in high scoring games? I say no.

To be clear, I think our pass D, especially at Star, Safety, and one LB, is poor and not good enough. But it’s not as awful as people are acting like, like it’s the 2012 defense or something.

Welcome to VN. I agree. We need to be healthier.

 

[orangemadam]

Sitting back in soft zone is getting us killed on 3rd down. Drop the safeties but play up on the WRs, maybe even press off the line. Interrupt the route and give your pass rush an extra beat. Because the current strategy is getting us carved up.

If it is so obvious what we need to do, then why don't the coaches, who are paid millions, know what
we need to do?

I'm afraid Ty is going to make Swiss cheese out of our "worst passing defense in the SEC"

 

[Oldvoldad]

If you look at season long stats, we are last in the conference in passing YPG allowed.

But if you look at just conference games, we are dead middle of the pack at 9th in the conference with 246 passing yards per game allowed.

Is that really so bad when you consider that teams have to throw on us because we are in high scoring games? I say no.

To be clear, I think our pass D, especially at Star, Safety, and one LB, is poor and not good enough. But it’s not as awful as people are acting like, like it’s the 2012 defense or something.

I think the main issue, is that we are so soft against the run, we are always on our heels. If we have them constantly in 2nd and 9, suddenly the defense dictates the flow of the game.

We have the ability to at least try to improve that, but the coaches who get paid insane money to make bad decisions won't change a thing.

Just figure out which freshman LB is the best athlete and play him. Stop playing the guys that "get lined up correctly"

 

[benholt06]

If it is so obvious what we need to do, then why don't the coaches, who are paid millions, know what
we need to do?

I'm afraid Ty is going to make Swiss cheese out of our "worst passing defense in the SEC"

I think the idea behind that strategy was and still is to limit the big play. Heup likes our defense‘s chances on extended drives to either create turnovers or just negative plays.

They’re getting offense into 3rd and medium to long. But they have to get off the field at a significantly higher rate than they have been. Playing 5 yards of cushion on 3rd and 7 befuddles me. Obviously don’t know more about defense than a SEC DC,
just seems like it’s not working.

 

[Stacmot]

I think the main issue, is that we are so soft against the run, we are always on our heels. If we have them constantly in 2nd and 9, suddenly the defense dictates the flow of the game.

We have the ability to at least try to improve that, but the coaches who get paid insane money to make bad decisions won't change a thing.

Just figure out which freshman LB is the best athlete and play him. Stop playing the guys that "get lined up correctly"

I couldn’t agree more with this! And I know exactly who you are talking about “getting lined up correctly”

 

[DonDiego]

We had a pretty darn good defense last year. Obviously, our defensive coaching staff forgot everything that was working.

 

[bpalmer28]

Sitting back in soft zone is getting us killed on 3rd down. Drop the safeties but play up on the WRs, maybe even press off the line. Interrupt the route and give your pass rush an extra beat. Because the current strategy is getting us carved up.

this may result in giving up some home runs. so be it.

 

[bpalmer28]

We had a pretty darn good defense last year. Obviously, our defensive coaching staff forgot everything that was working.

we had mccoy and gibson. they are what was working

 

[Volbrando]

we rarely defend a pass, we defend them after they catch it

 

[Cartervol]

Thier zone defense is that bad. Linebackers and safeties are just non existent in zone coverage. Arkansas looked like they were running routes against air.

 

[dduncan4163]

this may result in giving up some home runs. so be it.

Exactly, We have the offense to go tit for tat with anyone.

 

[GVF]

Thier zone defense is that bad. Linebackers and safeties are just non existent in zone coverage. Arkansas looked like they were running routes against air.

Is that not why it's called routes on air in practice??

 

[HalfullVol]

If you look at season long stats, we are last in the conference in passing YPG allowed.

But if you look at just conference games, we are dead middle of the pack at 9th in the conference with 246 passing yards per game allowed.

Is that really so bad when you consider that teams have to throw on us because we are in high scoring games? I say no.

To be clear, I think our pass D, especially at Star, Safety, and one LB, is poor and not good enough. But it’s not as awful as people are acting like, like it’s the 2012 defense or something.

Evidently our pass defense isn’t very good

Hopefully Banks and the boys figure something out before Saturday evening.

 

[benholt06]

this may result in giving up some home runs. so be it.

Exactly. Rather give up long ball on 2/4 drives than dink and dunk for points on 4/4 drives.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

There is definitely room for improvement, especially on third down passing plays.

 

[parasite]

I just hope the players don’t read these articles! It sounds like we should just call in sick and take a loss! I personally believe in these guys and we will beat Bama!!

 

[HeuperDrive]

this may result in giving up some home runs. so be it.

I think it’d be more in line with our “bend but don’t break” defensive mentality. Stop and hold them where it matters.

As it stands, we’re just bending and breaking.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

The secondary is young without much experience. McCoy and Gibson injuries have pretty much caused the problem of a young, mostly inexperienced secondary. I don't have an answer for what needs to be done, other than gain experience. Same with the defensive line. Last years line had a lot of experience, this year, not so much, not to mention injuries along the line too.

The offense has to make plays and score every possession, which is unlikely. Lets pray the team comes out with a bad attitude.

 

[Oldvoldad]

If it is so obvious what we need to do, then why don't the coaches, who are paid millions, know what
we need to do?

I'm afraid Ty is going to make Swiss cheese out of our "worst passing defense in the SEC"

I've been asking myself that for years. Hindsight 20/20. I should've gotten into coaching when I was young. What other job can you get paid millions to make bad decisions?

And then get paid millions for years after you get fired!?

 

[Mid Tenn Vol]

We are good at creating pressure and forcing sacks. We play two soft on the back end, and I know some of that has to do with injuries, but seems like this is a problem every year us getting burned in the secondary…. I feel like we just tried to prevent the bomb play and we give up the 15 and 20 yards all over the place and that just kills us. The defense gives me flashbacks of a third and Chavis.

 

[SubVet676]

Somewhere, John Chavis is laughing right now.