This is a Talent Issue

[Dragon18]

When the middle of the defense played like it did today….it is much more about fundamentals than scheme. If I had a nickel for every missed tackle….

Ok, Your original post said we should scheme differently. The other aspect about speed on defense is getting to the spot early enough so that you can make a sound fundamental tackle. We did not do that today. That back was extremely quick and we aren't fast enough to be set up to tackle him well enough. And when they got to the edge they just ate us up. Bottom line is that we are slow and we have been exposed for that the past two weeks. There is MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. But we will NEVER compete with the lack of speed we have right now. players need to not just be fast but play fast. Just my observations and the game moves so fast at this level that a three percent speed differential can equate to a yard of space. It really does matter.

 

[Lexvol]

First, play your LB's... not your nickel back. Use the OLB's to set the edge and force everything back inside.

Sit McCullers big rear on the bench. Go with your "smurf" package... go with Saulsberry. Slide Walls down inside. Find SOMEONE who well take on blocks and leave AJ "clean" to make tackles.

Go man to man. Disguise it but force them to do something other than run over you.

Spy the QB. It doesn't necessarily even matter who it is as long as they can run a little. JRM is a decent candidate for that too.

There are only about a million things that could have been tried as opposed to running out there and doing the same things that WERE NOT WORKING.

Really? Did you miss the final score? "Equally bad" was worth trying when they're basically moving the ball at will. Here's a
"fun" stat for you. They avg'd 8.5 ypc vs UT. The ONLY team who allowed more was Western Carolina... a 2-8 FCS school.

Worse than FAU? Arkansas? MSU? Ark St?



Well the only thing left once the game starts is to take more risks. There was PLENTY that could have and should have been done in game prep. Reads... horrible. Pursuit... horrible. DL play... horrible. Angles... horrible.

ALL of these things are "coachable"... and it doesn't take YEARS for them to start getting better.

Should have been in the smurf package the entire second half.

 

[Lexvol]

Ok, Your original post said we should scheme differently. The other aspect about speed on defense is getting to the spot early enough so that you can make a sound fundamental tackle. We did not do that today. That back was extremely quick and we aren't fast enough to be set up to tackle him well enough. And when they got to the edge they just ate us up. Bottom line is that we are slow and we have been exposed for that the past two weeks. There is MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. But we will NEVER compete with the lack of speed we have right now. players need to not just be fast but play fast. Just my observations and the game moves so fast at this level that a three percent speed differential can equate to a yard of space. It really does matter.

I think I said all of that in my initial post in the thread. The coaching issues are secondary to the talent issue, but the coaching issues and scheme issues are real.

I also think the players need a week off.

Nobody has been able to answer me….

Randolph has been virtually absent for the last two weeks. Frankly, our defense looks like this every time he isn't a factor. What is up?

 

[Lexvol]

Yeah... because Dooley is responsible for the playcalling, gameplanning, and coaching of THIS defensive staff.

Dooley stank. Dooley is NOT a valid excuse for players not getting better over the last 10 months.

No…but you are smart enough to know what I'm talking about….look at the context of my post….and think about it.

 

[allvol123]

Talent is the overwhelming issue.

When Devrin Young is your punt and kickoff returner, you flat out do not have talented depth on your team.

Hell, for that matter you don't have enough talent on your starting 22.

 

[Spartacavolus]

I think I said all of that in my initial post in the thread. The coaching issues are secondary to the talent issue, but the coaching issues and scheme issues are real.

I also think the players need a week off.

Nobody has been able to answer me….

Randolph has been virtually absent for the last two weeks. Frankly, our defense looks like this every time he isn't a factor. What is up?

He is hurting, but I assumed he had a lot of tackles today, as the front 7 made very few.