Originally Posted by maddawg
And not just the scheming! Our O-line isn't knocking anybody off of the line. I'm not sure is this is lack of technique or strength but they are really not impressive & haven't been as a group for a while.
|
|
|
|
|
And not just the scheming! Our O-line isn't knocking anybody off of the line. I'm not sure is this is lack of technique or strength but they are really not impressive & haven't been as a group for a while.
Man I couldn't agree more. This has been a problem for quite sometime. I know I sound like a broken record player but it is time to recruit the Boise St. type of OL.
I know this isn't as fun as second guessing playcalling and who is getting PT but I am telling you our OL does not get the push they should. This started long before Sonny arrived.
An observation from an old HS center- take it for what it's worth:icon_wink::
The wide splits that we use makes it very difficult to execute double team blocking or generate any type of power-running yardage. The theory is that the wide splits creates more running lanes tackle-to-tackle, but you also run the risk of LB's blowing the play up.
Also, not a big fan of our pass blocking technique. We appear to be back-pedalling more than standing our ground and creating a nice pocket for Nick to throw from. Right now he's constantly being flushed from the pocket. The wide splits also put our o-line on an island and if there are any breakdowns it tough for a lineman to slide over to help and there's usually no one in the backfield to help either. Which means you need some really talented O-linemen to run this offense. Just my .02.
I agree and I know wide splits are often used this offense. At least they were with Leach when he ran the air-raid version of it. But like I said this started before SD got here.
Anybody who thinks our defense did good vs Hawaii might as well be smokin crack and applying for WAC referee gigs.
We only stopped their pass offense because they missed the receiver with the ball. Nothing else stopped them.
I don't know what the answer is, I'm just glad we're putting some points on the board.
I am starting to agree that we are lacking WR talent. Patton is the only guy who looks like he can do anything after a catch.
Why do we change our defense so much from week to week? A caller on BTB Radio asked this last night and it made me wonder. Why don't we just get a defense and run the damn thing instead of doing something different every week? The caller said Boise just runs the same defense every week and be damned to the opponent. Why don't we do that? It might explain why no one knows where they need to be from week to week.
I think part of it is because we lack the same level of talent across every position on the defense and because we're trying to adjust too much to offenses based on their style. I'm thinking it's more likely that we're trying to disguise our schemes from week to week to make it harder for other teams to game plan against us as demonstrated by the very vanilla base packages we were running against UCA. Frankly, it worked out well in with Houston (well, except for that god awful 4th quarter). I just don't think we have the talent/depth to consistently run the same type of defensive scheme each week, hence the adjustments and changes.
Yeah, that was my question. I brought up the fact that we obviously aren't as talented as the Alabamas, LSUs, and Boises of the world, but I respect the fact that those teams have a base defense that they run every week. Obviously they tweak that base defense based on the opponent, but they play within themselves and their systems each and every week. Their players don't have to overthink things, they just play fast and react even faster.
My point is simply that we seem to have an identity crisis on defense. I certainly understand why we would want to alter things from week to week based on our opponents' strengths; can't gameplan for Houston like you would for Miss State. However, our adjustments seem like wholesale changes. One week we're in a 4-3, the next in a 4-2-5, the next in a 3-2-6. I simply question if our guys are having to think too much because one week they're running one defense, and 7 days later they're running an entirely different scheme. Maybe they're having to think instead of play/react.
I in no way think that these changes are the reason our CBs don't look for the ball or the reason they get burned when they're locked in man-to-man coverage -- those guys should pretty well have the same assignments regardless of the front we're using. However, I personally believe this could explain why our Safeties and Nickel/Dime backs are routinely out of position over the middle. Switching from 3 to 2 LBs changes the pass defense in the middle of the field, and using those 2 LBs as rushers or blitzing them every other play also affects how/where the safeties and the 5th or 6th DB have coverage responsibility -- i.e. if the LBs rush the passer, who now has the short middle and/or flats, the RB coming out of the backfield, the slot receiver running the seam route, etc? Is it too far-fetched to think that our guys could just plain be confused because they're running a different defense every week? Maybe so, but I'm starting to think that we're too busy trying to outsmart/outscheme the opposition instead of outplaying them.
As an OC, Sonny preached simplicity and execution... looks like we're taking the opposite tact with our defense.
I agree Mildawg. If we can get pressure to the QB for every other school we play, why not on Hawaii? That seems to be our identity and we were rushing 3-4 almost all night. Even I know that pressuring a QB and making him throw the ball makes it easier on your DB's also. They don't have to cover nearly as long or cover as much field.
Wow. Good post. Couldn't agree more.
And again. To me if you are ranked 47th in the country in total offense and 100th in total defense I think it is fairly obvious where the biggest problem lies.
This doesn't mean I agree with every playcall. It doesn't mean I agree with every coaching decision but guys, our defense sucks. We need to keep our eye on the ball here.
Did anybody else see Dave Clark successfully jamming at the line?
I saw 1 play where he ruined a timing-route TD by Hawaii because he got a great jam on the WR. It was the north endzone and they were lined up on the west side.
I believe the next play was a timing-route TD to the back shoulder of the receiver on the other side of the field - no jam. The DB was covering well but the ball was thrown like a Pro ball where the DB had no chance.
So you are all about stats now? Allow me to put down my crack pipe for a second and point out...
100 LaTech 1-4
102 TxTech 4-0
102 Wash. 4-1
104 OSU 4-0
105 Wyo. 3-1
106 Aub 4-1
Nah, it can't be our offense.
Didn't say our offense is perfect we have work to do on both sides of the ball. Coaching needs to improve as well. Not saying you are wrong about our problems. We disagree on what the biggest problem is and the biggest reason for our losses.
But then again if you can watch that Miss St. game and not grasp that Special Teams was main reason we lost then we probably need to just agree to disagree on the issue.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
