Tim Banks philosophy bend but don’t break.

[Volador]

"I’m saying all of this because Maybe we are all a little to hard on Tim Banks, and Willie Martinez."

Let's face the facts. Going into this fall campaign, the bar was set high for the offense. No bout adoubt it, we had a high powered offense and offensively minded coaching staff coming back strong

Who though, honestly felt that our Defense would be so improved?? Not many, if any. The talent on the field is good, not great, but with some up coaching and excellent defensive strategies being called, the D is playing their hearts out and getting many to change their tunes about the coaching staff. Since the first game, I have sat back and been absolutely DELIGHTED each week to see our defensive line running stunts and blitzing on what seems to be 50% or more of the plays. This IS causing confusion in the backfield of our opponents and allowing our thin group of LBs and secondary to at least have a chance.

I appreciate your candor SonOfGodVolforlife and honestly hope that more folks come around to your way of thinking. We have waaaaay more talent on O than D, and I would not be surprised if the coaches aren't already giving serious thoughts to flipping some O players to the D. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to win in the SEC, and so far, I am very pleased with our entire defensive staff and players. In fact, after the LSU game, I was smiling more about 13 points than I was about 40 points.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

FL was 5/6 on 4th down. Stop just two more of those and that game would have been very ugly.

Brian Kelly tried it and the gamble backfired big time.

Exactly. It was UFs only chance to stay close and have a chance. And if not for us going ultra conservative at the end the game was still a 2-3 score margin.

 

[sjt18]

Tim banks...yes Martinez...not hard enough.

How do you know that WM's guys aren't doing exactly what the play call demands they do?

 

[sjt18]

Respect your opinion but disagree in several ways.

You know the more I watch this defense play, the more I understand and appreciate what Tim banks is doing with this unit.
It’s easy to forget last season was the start of a major rebuild project, especially on the defense side of the ball. We are one of the thinnest teams at db, definitely in the top 15.

Can you show that? I don't think you can from the roster and the coaches specifically said before the season that they liked their depth in the secondary. The "depth concerns" according to the media were LB and DL... which haven't been thin either. According to Kelly, UT played something like 13 DL's vs UF. I won't dispute that there is still "building" going on. I wouldn't even argue if you said the talent wasn't ideal. But they have a lot of guys playing in the secondary now. Even without Burrell and McCullough there will be a lot of guys rotating.

Tim banks has adapted the bend but don’t break approach because of this. He will give up yard between the 20s, playing soft zone because he doesn’t wanna go man and get burnt on 75 yard tds. It doesn’t always work I know, but his goal is when an opposing team gets in the red zone the defense tightens up, and makes the opposing team work for the points with more blitzing and more man defense bc of the blitzing.

I have more of an issue with what he did prior to LSU than what he did after adjusting. I'm going to guess that there was an uncomfortable conversation between Heupel and Banks in between. CJH on multiple occasions expressed that he wanted to be aggressive on D. He doesn't often throw guys under the bus but came about as close as he's likely to when he complained openly that UT's coverage in zone had to be tighter. That was a DIRECT shot at "bend, don't break" as a D philosophy.

What you describe was pretty close to UF and before. It contributed to UT almost losing the UF game. They were more aggressive vs LSU. They brought pressure and blitzes in all areas of the field. The DB's closed down throwing windows. To the credit of Daniels and his WR's, they completed passes into very tight windows. Much tighter than the ones AR and UF exploited.

There is a chance that UT will give up more big plays by being more aggressive. I think CJH is fully aware of that knowing his O can compensate.

UT specifically cannot afford to play "bend, don't break" giving up multiple long drives. That keeps the O off the field and wears out the D like we witnessed vs UK last year.

I’m saying all of this because Maybe we are all a little to hard on Tim Banks, and Willie Martinez. It will take a couple years of getting athletes before we see these guys real potential and at times this defense has stepped up and made huge plays.

I hope we give them a couple years to see what we can do with some real dbs and years to develop in the system. Rant over, don’t be to hard on me!

UT does not have the worst D personnel in the SEC. In fact, UT isn't close to having the worst D personnel in the SEC. Yet up until this past week, UT had the worst total D and passing D in the SEC. You know what AR did to UT throwing the ball after having a miserable start to the season but even Akron and Ball State threw very effectively vs UT.

That is NOT a reflection of talent or the position coach. That is a direct result of playing too soft... too "bend, don't break". Apparently it was also a contradiction of the philosophy CJH wants to play on D. Missouri is one of the teams with less talent on D than UT. It isn't close. It particularly isn't close in the secondary. They just held AR to 8/14 for 66 yds 1 TD and 1 INT. They took risks. They anticipated plays and disrupted what UF wanted to do. They denied short throws and screens. Banks needs to do THAT... not passive "bend, don't break".

 

[bpalmer28]

FL was 5/6 on 4th down. Stop just two more of those and that game would have been very ugly.

Brian Kelly tried it and the gamble backfired big time.

Bingo. If 4th down attempts are the only way a team can stay in the game against us, that's a good thing.

 

[Volfan76]

How do you know that WM's guys aren't doing exactly what the play call demands they do?

Because I've never heard of a play call that calls for the secondary to leave a wr open and have poor tackling technique when they catch the ball.

 

[LIvol]

I don't get why people say that is a certain person's defensive philosophy, Bend don't break. Isn't that every coaches philosophy on defense? I have watched alot of football and have seen very few shut outs. You try and hold opponents to 3 and outs, then Field Goals, then fewer touchdowns then your offense can score. The end of the game if you win, it can be 31-30 or 6-3 but either way you did not break.

 

[scottchatt]

Yet up until this past week, UT had the worst total D and passing D in the SEC.

Worst in what way?
In points given up we’re 5th.
In passing TDs allowed we’re 7th
In rushing TDs allowed we’re 4th.
In yards per passing attempt we’re 6th

I could go on, but we’re terrible in one thing, total yards given up, especially passing. I think the point of this post is that very little of the story is told with that stat, and our defensive scheme will perform horribly for that stat while still doing pretty good on the scoreboard.

 

[sjt18]

Because I've never heard of a play call that calls for the secondary to leave a wr open and have poor tackling technique when they catch the ball.

Play calls that give cushion? Play calls that play off the LOS as opposed to pressing it? The tackling hasn't been awful.

 

[VOLtaism]

What he did with the personnel last season was phenomenal. He has more line depth this season and he is using it wisely. Its a defense that will never win TOP due to the offense playing so fast. They will be on the field 2/3's of the time in most games. The run stoppage, 4 sacks and a lot of chaos were impressive last weekend. We gotta get lucky on some of those wild 3rd and long passes they are throwing.

 

[VFFL@THE BEACH]

I think offense is easier to scheme around lack of athleticism. Defense requires athletes. So it'll take a few recruiting classes for the defense to catch up to the offense.

We get the better athletes and getting the stop on 3rd and 4th down just got lots easier. I think he plays the same or similar scheme but with better athletes it will work better.