Defensive Decline

horninchicago said:
Yep. We have seen it for years but thought they had corrected it last year of being too aggressive and not breaking down and making a play. Hope they correct it.
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The Horns better get some pressure on Grier Sat. and not give him time to throw, otherwise it could be a long day for the good guys.
 
ViperHorn said:
Every team should be fortunate enough to have a Hager in the locker room. Unfortunately for Hager, he is too small to play the position he has been tasked with and not fast enough to play LB. As a result, he has to guess and is usually guessing wrong.
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This is an interesting take. I don't know if your opinions about Hager are correct as an explanation of the apparent decline in finishing off QB's or running backs for a big defensive play.

i do know that he was very successful last year (and he's not smaller) in pressuring the QB, and making tackles for losses. He was picked to make pre season all defensive teams. Some pundits picked him to be the Defensive player of the year. But his ability to finish, make the play, put pressure on the QB has not measured up this year to what it was last year.

He is making every effort, working hard, and getting very close to finishing plays. I would not be surprised if he comes up with a couple of big sacks this weekend. And would not be surprised if he has a much better last third of the season than we've seen so far.
 
My issue with Hager has always been his inability to wrap up. In middle school football, there were basically two defensive rules about tackling: look at what you're tackling (so you don't break your neck) and get both arms around something to hold on to. I don't think Hager follows either of these. He pummels his body into the target and hopes that the target falls down. Even on that last QB pressure he had against OK State, Nelson had to clean it up while Hager hammed it up for the cameras.

I don't doubt his effort, but I think there's something lost in translation regarding the fundamentals.

My other issue is with every LB not named Gary Johnson. We might as well switch to a 4-1-6 for every play.
 
As one who has been labeled a Westlake homer for being an Ehlinger appreciator since day one, I posted in the middle of the Maryland game that it seemed like Hager sucked. Now to be real, he is a very good starting player at a good D1 school so he doesn’t suck; that’s ridiculous. Still, what I meant was that he immediately looked like a shell of himself and a shell of what they had led us to expect. I agree with the theory that his weight and strength gain have eliminated his main tool, which was quick aggressiveness.
 
VYFan said:
I agree with the theory that his weight and strength gain have eliminated his main tool, which was quick aggressiveness.
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I have a theory about building up players and that is that, often, it’s counterproductive. There are so many examples, but players like Chris Warren, Malik Jefferson, Roach and Hager immediately come to mind. I am starting to believe that in many cases, bigger, stronger and bulkier is “not” better.

With that in mind, I have to wonder about players like Ingram and Sterns next year. We’ll see. I’d like to be wrong but the eyes don’t usually lie.
 
Ya know I remember same issues w Derrick J. The not wrapping up and just smashing the guy. But somehow he did a pretty good job, at least he turned out pretty good.
Can’t say what the answer is but as much as I like Hager and hoped for great things this year he pretty much looks as one could have predicted from last year, all heart and energy but just not the finisher. Lots of playing time left, hope he’s not hurt and we see nothing but spectacular from here on, hookem.
 
Third downs have killed us. For some reason the blitzing isn't working and leaving us exposed.
Overall the D doesn't have a killer mental or physical attitude for 60 mins. The talent seems fine.
Hagars play--super effort, nice quick first step, sometimes he takes him out of plays as he overpursues or gets flushed. Not big enough to set the edge or control his gap sometimes. Solid pass rusher.
Bad hair.
 
If Dr Jeckyl stays on the field the second half and Mr Hyde doesn't make an appearance WV will have over 700 yds offense and over 50 points. No way our offense keeps up with that.

As it is if WV didnt have 12 penalties for 95 yds in the first half we would be down by probably 10-13 points instead of a lead.
 
From the stadium: the weather is incredible, at least in the shade!

We may need a tipped ball interception pick 6 to pull this out. Come on freshmen!
 
Vol Horn 4 Life said:
If Dr Jeckyl stays on the field the second half and Mr Hyde doesn't make an appearance WV will have over 700 yds offense and over 50 points. No way our offense keeps up with that.

As it is if WV didnt have 12 penalties for 95 yds in the first half we would be down by probably 10-13 points instead of a lead.
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Why wouldn't our offense keep pace? The WVU defense has been as futile as ours.
 
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