Crisis on Defensive Side

caryhorn

caryhorn

5,000+ Posts
It's obvious that our Defense is the reason we've lost the last two games. They made TCU's Duggan look like a Heisman candidate; not to mention the TTU score fest that ttu's offense has not been able to replicate since.

Then there is OU. Our D coordinator clearly was outcoached by the ou D coordinator. We should have won that game primarily because we had a huge advantage at QB. Sam was hands down the best player on the field. Even though his passing accuracy was off. He made up for that with running, guts, and leadership. We don't get to OT without Sam.

OU"s D-line is not better than ours. OU's D backfield is not better than ours. Ou's LB corp is better. So why was Sam sacked 6 times, and ou's freshman QB in his 4th start only sacked once? Ou's D scheme was designed to put pressure on Sam, change coverages, blitz him with 5 guys and rarely mix in the all out blitz. Sam beat the all out blitz on the goal line td to Ingram. But they pressured Sam a lot, Sam had a hard time checking to the 2nd and 3rd receiver and was on the run frequently. Too much considering our O line should not be whipped so easily by ou's D line.

Big problem is that our D coordinator chose not to pressure Rattler with disguised blitzes. He called NO all out blitzes; called very few stunts. This surprised me since Rattler was easily shook and confused by KSU and ISU. Rattler is an OK runner, not as good as Sam. If you're worried about Rattler's runs then put a spy on him.

Here is the scary pattern: Every B12 QB we've seen this season has had their best game against Texas. They all look like world beaters. They are good, sure. But NOT that good. Check their performances against other D schemes.

If our D coordinator doesn't figure this out in practice this week the team's record will not be above .500 this season.
 
The team is less than .500 now in conference. Hard to see that changing.

6 games left. Three and three looks like a safe bet. 5-5 for the year, actually 4-5 as one win was against a hired team. Players watching the b12 game from moms house, as usual.
 
Apparently, when interviewing to be the DC at Texas, the question of how, specifically, your defense would stop Big XII offenses never is asked. Or, "Have you ever watched a Big XII football game?". Maybe that is asked and the answer of "Yes" I guess is just accepted with no question of specifically the person sees in those offenses and what needs to be done to defend against them.
 
horninchicago said:
Apparently, when interviewing to be the DC at Texas, the question of how, specifically, your defense would stop Big XII offenses never is asked. Or, "Have you ever watched a Big XII football game?". Maybe that is asked and the answer of "Yes" I guess is just accepted with no question of specifically the person sees in those offenses and what needs to be done to defend against them.
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Agree. For some reason the focus is on DB's when the focus should be on agile and fast LB's and strong and tall DLinemen.
 
For you Meyer fans take note. While he was venting his unprofessional, disdainful vendetta against Tom on national tv, he praised the Texas DC because he was one of his boys of whom he takes pride.
Ummm.... So with Meyer the “D” keeps on trucking. Or, is Meyer simply protecting his man while he trashes Tom. Would he keep him? Hopefully he never get’s the chance.
 
Trust me it never fails Thompson, Purdy, even Brewer will have outstanding maybe years best games against our D. Would add OSU’s qb to the list but can’t remember his name right now but doesn’t matter they have a running back that may be all they need. After all OU’s top back did not even play. Lord knows I hate to be so negative but I hate losing to OU sux more.
 
nashhorn said:
Trust me it never fails Thompson, Purdy, even Brewer will have outstanding maybe years best games against our D. Would add OSU’s qb to the list but can’t remember his name right now but doesn’t matter they have a running back that may be all they need. After all OU’s top back did not even play. Lord knows I hate to be so negative but I hate losing to OU sux more.
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We can blame this on "Everyone gives us their very best" or we can own the fact that our D is underachieving.
 
Chinstrap said:
For you Meyer fans take note. While he was venting his unprofessional, disdainful vendetta against Tom on national tv, he praised the Texas DC because he was one of his boys of whom he takes pride.
Ummm.... So with Meyer the “D” keeps on trucking. Or, is Meyer simply protecting his man while he trashes Tom. Would he keep him? Hopefully he never get’s the chance.
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Meyer played defense in college and his first two college coaching positions were on the defense. If hired he would work with the DB's and Ash and let Yurcich run the offense. In other words, the gang minus the perceived cancer (err Herman) back together.
 
Interview question - have you ever been fired from the worst team in your conference?
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I don't care much about someone's head coaching record when evaluating them as a D/C. Tons of good or even great coordinators were crappy head coaches.

After all OU’s top back did not even play. Lord knows I hate to be so negative but I hate losing to OU sux more.
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It's worse than that. Their best RB opted out for 2020. Their second best RB was suspended. Their third best RB was injured. That was their 4th and 5th best RBs who combined for around 160 yards on the ground against us. Our running backs combined for about 25.
 
Duck Dodgers said:
The team is less than .500 now in conference. Hard to see that changing.
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They'll definitely be home for Christmas at this rate. Continuing to play subpar ball, especially on defense, from here on out, I doubt they have a winning season, might break even at best. One of the most telling post game statements was from Sam. When asked by a reporter, "What do you say to the Longhorn Nation?" Sam was silent for what seemed like forever, but eventually replied, "I don't have one right now." His response really says it all.
 
Big 12 = pass heavy.

Primary goal = get to the QB.

Possible improvements to get to the QB:
1. More, and more clever, stunts.
2. Sometimes run sets with 4 smaller, quicker DL/DEs (Ojomo might be the biggest of the 4 on the field for a given set, with Ossai as the bigger of the 2 DE, spin down someone like Jaquess or another biggish LB for the other DE in the small/quick set). Obvious passing downs might even see 4 DEs on the field or 1 DT and 3 DEs.
3. Disguise blitzes.
4. Send blitzes from unexpected positions.
5. Run blitzes/stunts where you outnumber either side of the OL. Basically 'flood the zone' of one side of the OL with too many rushers.
6. Weakside DE (or both DEs) from a 2 point stance.
7. One giant (Coburn/Sweatt) + 3 smallish DL/DEs.
8. Try some TEs at DE.
9. Identify the worst pass blocker on the other team's OL by watching lots of film. Put our top pass rusher over him, stunt on him, and otherwise pick on him all game long. If it's a physically weak guy, put a monster like Coburn, Sweat, or Collins over him. If it's a slow-footed OL, put a quick DT or DE over him, or send blitzes through the gaps on either side of him. (by the way, a number of our opponents have done this to us over the past 10 years or so).
 
zuckercanyon said:
Doesn't our crappy offensive line contribute to how long our defense is on the field? Ever?
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In the third quarter ou seemed to move the ball at will and went ahead two TD’s. I thought our D was gassed. Then our offense began to move the ball and suddenly our D holds ou scoreless until OT.

I thought we had all the momentum and would win. Especially after we scored 1st in the first OT and all the pressure was on Rattler.

Our D failed every test in OT. Especially making life difficult for Rattler. I think our DC choked and was simply beaten badly by the ou OC.
 
I’m thinking our O has just as much responsibility as the D. When your QB is far and away the leading rusher then you’ve got serious issues in the ground game. If you’ve got no running attack then the passing game suffers as well and you cannot sustain drives to keep the other team’s high powered O off the field (and the Big 12 has a bunch of scorching offenses). Time of possession was 36-24 in OU’s favor. Don’t get me wrong, I think our D has a long way to go but the O is right there with them.
 
It's kind of telling that after dealing with Mayfield, Murray and Hurts that a freshman who was pulled in the 2nd quarter could lead them to victory.
 
Chinstrap said:
For you Meyer fans take note. While he was venting his unprofessional, disdainful vendetta against Tom on national tv, he praised the Texas DC because he was one of his boys of whom he takes pride.
Ummm.... So with Meyer the “D” keeps on trucking. Or, is Meyer simply protecting his man while he trashes Tom. Would he keep him? Hopefully he never get’s the chance.
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I’m not currently a Meyer fan, but if Meyer is the anti-Herman, give me Meyer all day, every day.
 
HalRex said:
I’m thinking our O has just as much responsibility as the D. When your QB is far and away the leading rusher then you’ve got serious issues in the ground game.
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I agree that our running game is anemic. Predictable. Underperforming.

But our offense leads the nation in scoring. We're averaging over 51 per game.

If the D were just playing above average we'd feel much better today.
 
Granted playing 5 periods of overtime and 4 periods of UTEP has a lot to do with that.

Our offense scored in regulation 49 on Texas Tech, 29 on TCU, and 31 on Oklahoma. The latter two results, in 2020, while not bad aren't great either.
 
Looking at the remaining schedule, seems like OSU, ISU and KSU will probably roll right through us like Sherman on his way to Atlanta

Perhaps it would make our players feel better if we erected a Sherman Statue on campus?
 
Chop said:
Big 12 = pass heavy.

Primary goal = get to the QB.

Possible improvements to get to the QB:
1. More, and more clever, stunts.
2. Sometimes run sets with 4 smaller, quicker DL/DEs (Ojomo might be the biggest of the 4 on the field for a given set, with Ossai as the bigger of the 2 DE, spin down someone like Jaquess or another biggish LB for the other DE in the small/quick set). Obvious passing downs might even see 4 DEs on the field or 1 DT and 3 DEs.
3. Disguise blitzes.
4. Send blitzes from unexpected positions.
5. Run blitzes/stunts where you outnumber either side of the OL. Basically 'flood the zone' of one side of the OL with too many rushers.
6. Weakside DE (or both DEs) from a 2 point stance.
7. One giant (Coburn/Sweatt) + 3 smallish DL/DEs.
8. Try some TEs at DE.
9. Identify the worst pass blocker on the other team's OL by watching lots of film. Put our top pass rusher over him, stunt on him, and otherwise pick on him all game long. If it's a physically weak guy, put a monster like Coburn, Sweat, or Collins over him. If it's a slow-footed OL, put a quick DT or DE over him, or send blitzes through the gaps on either side of him. (by the way, a number of our opponents have done this to us over the past 10 years or so).
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And this is all something a first year defensive assistant coach (who doubles as a history teacher) at Sinton High School could readily figure out after the first game or so.
 
Joe Fan said:
Looking at the remaining schedule, seems like OSU, ISU and KSU will probably roll right through us like Sherman on his way to Atlanta

Perhaps it would make our players feel better if we erected a Sherman Statue on campus?
Click to expand...
Good one.

But better hope they don't look too deeply into Sherman's history...
(hint, it doesn't mesh with the far-leftist cancel culture in a number of ways, especially when it comes to the native tribes/nations out West)
 
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