Don Brown: New Defensive Analyst

[Doc5120]

What’s sad is we have a good receiving corps and they are basically helpless. Collins can’t get the ball to them to make plays. The play calling on offense is unimaginative, predictable and confusing. No jet sweeps, no middle screens, no reverses or counters. Just plain awful.

Where is Johntay Cook's Uncle when you need him?

 

[Chip]

They were good at to begin with and when teams can load the box and all they do are inside zone, not a great combination.

I don't think it was the ol' 8 in the box though. But Pitt has really good LBs who were able to cheat to the run whenever they wanted.

Seemed like Pitt always had enough DBs back on pass plays.

They just play good sound defense, and it looks even better against bad unsound offenses.

 

[Millhouse]

What’s sad is we have a good receiving corps and they are basically helpless. Collins can’t get the ball to them to make plays. The play calling on offense is unimaginative, predictable and confusing. No jet sweeps, no middle screens, no reverses or counters. Just plain awful.

They're good enough where you can tell him one read, throw if they're open, and take off if they're not

You might still get some completions that way

Basically the opposite of last year

Spread everyone as wide as you can to give him a chance to run when nothing is immediately open

 

[GHLF]

I think you’re giving Fran too much credit regarding the defensive scheme. What we did in the second half at SMU and vs Pitt may be the type of defensive scheme and personality he has wanted for this team, but why did it take guys like Kevin Coyle and Don Brown to actually get it done? Fran wants an aggressive defense but he wasn’t able to implement it nor was ERob so he brought in Kevin Coyle who I hear was the architect behind the defensive game plan against Clemson, and later brought in Don Brown after Coyle left for UCLA. Coyle’s arrival at UCLA coincidentally coincides with UCLA improved play. I understand Don Brown simplified what we were trying to do and made a few personnel changes; Chestnut moved to Star and we actually used Grant and Buxton at LB in true dollar situations. I haven’t rewatched the game to confirm but someone here will and let us know if that’s accurate. I think we may have also locked Samuel’s on a receiver in certain coverages regardless of where said receiver was lined up moved to.

Fran is loyal to a fault. He repeatedly runs cover for ERob. The first time I noticed this was last season against Stanford on 4th and 9. It’s never ERob’s fault. While I respect the loyalty and taking the hit publicly for an assistant when are we going to see accountability?

Did I miss it? In all the discussion about the poor clock management at the end of the first half, has anyone addressed the poor tackling by the punt team that actually allowed the TD and the huge momentum shift?

The next time Fran runs cover or takes a bullet for one of his assistants I wish some reporter would ask him, ok coach you’re taking responsibility here for this just like you you’ve done in previous losses, so when are YOU going to stop making these mistakes?

I do not disagree with what you stated concerning defensive scheme, in any way. I simply stated that coach Fran Brown literally verbalized we deviated from what we wanted to do in the first half, against SMU, That was honestly I feel a blunder on his part concerning leaking that publicly. We all know exactly what that meant. I do not why that occurred. Concerning Kevin Coyle, Don Brown, great I never thought otherwise, however the head coach is definitively the one who is going to approve the scheme certainly with his own input. If the defensive coordinator is simply a figurehead, I have no idea, all I simply stated was we deviated from the approved plan and our own head coach stated as such. And I fully believe he had significant input in relation to that game plan. Verbalizing Grant at linebacker, essentially identical as a positional switch concerning Justin Barron last year. I like the scheme, significant improvement in relation to run support as well. Much more aggressive. That is why coach Fran Brown emphatically is recruiting a ton of defensive backs because he wants them skilled enough to make sure they are going to be able to cover out on an island, Right. I think he is very well aware and has massive input in relation to the defensive scheme and very importantly when we deviate from that game plan, I have no idea still why, that would be an issue to me... Lastly I have absolutely no idea why he is using clickbait comments in relation to we are going to get after the quarterback, Like we really need that. He is definitely learning on the job. Georgia Tech is going to attempt to run the ball down our throats. Definitely mismanagement concerning the clock, however overall I honestly feel that is 10 times better than it used to be. We scored touchdowns last year with that amount of time, we do not have a quarterback who can run that type of offense with precision and skill right now just like he said he put faith in his players, we still need to put them in positions to succeed and he did not. I still believe our overall clock management is 10 times better. After all he is the one calling the timeouts right? Enough said and I truly appreciate your feedback and support of the program.

 

[GHLF]

I give Fran credit for being open to having a guy like Don Brown come in and help. And, it certainly seemed like it did help. That shows that he is able to ask for help when he needs it. Many people in all walks of life are unable to admit they need help and ask for it.

For sure, def a good skill to have. He certainly needs it, all of us

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[orangemass]

Paging dr blitz

 

[Millhouse]

this is excellent. like having someone old who's seen it all on the board of directors - you wish he could work full time but you take what you can get

 

[OrangeinBoston]

this is excellent. like having someone old who's seen it all on the board of directors - you wish he could work full time but you take what you can get

Now where is the equivalent on the offensive side?

 

[GoSU96]

Now where is the equivalent on the offensive side?

Yeah ok. Another great contribution

 

[Dinkyspond]

Teams are daring us to pass the ball. It’s hard to run it into a brick wall with our Oline and RB’s. We just don’t have a QB that can sustain drives by passing the ball.

In other words we are screwed the remainder of this season.

I agree, I don’t think BC and NC are automatic wins. I have sleepless nights thinking about 3-9.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I agree, I don’t think BC and NC are automatic wins. I have sleepless nights thinking about 3-9.

Nothing is an easy game when you can’t score. Twenty points won’t win either game and we haven’t shown the ability to score twenty points since Angelli went down.

 

[Hawknate2]

Nothing is an easy game when you can’t score. Twenty points won’t win either game and we haven’t shown the ability to score twenty points since Angelli went down.

And we know that 20 points won't win is those games why?

UNC has not topped 20 against anyone at the FBS level all season and BC has topped that number once in the past month, against UConn

 

[GoSU96]

I agree, I don’t think BC and NC are automatic wins. I have sleepless nights thinking about 3-9.

You should see a dr for that.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

this is excellent. like having someone old who's seen it all on the board of directors - you wish he could work full time but you take what you can get

He’s the engineer in the room full of sales guys

 

[Forza Azzurri]

He’s the engineer in the room full of sales guys

BTW, not for nothing, but this is a sign of maturing as a coach.

Realizes he has a problem with the defense. Instead of blind loyalty to his guy, brings someone in to, hopefully, help fix the problem and help his DC. Hopefully, this ultimately makes both the D and the DC better.

 

[shu 49]

BTW, not for nothing, but this is a sign of maturing as a coach.

Realizes he has a problem with the defense. Instead of blind loyalty to his guy, brings someone in to, hopefully, help fix the problem and help his DC. Hopefully, this ultimately makes both the D and the DC better.

In my eyes it can only help. Erob has a guy who knows how to get guys thru the line. A virtual wealth of defensive knowledge. I would literally lean on him for anything I may question. I am excited for our defense. Really excited.

 

[djorange1989]

If we had Don Brown last year we probably would have been 11-1

 

[2B20Again]

after the Don Brown guy showed up. A coach with a ton of defensive experience, and all of a sudden we get what, 8 sacks, and rattle a freshman QB.

I like Nixon. But, he needs the same experienced consulting that Brown appears to have provided on the defensive side. Nixon at this stage is not experienced and creative enough to scheme around our weaknesses.

Then, Fran should stay out of the way on play calls.

 

[jr4750]

If we had Don Brown last year we probably would have been 11-1

11-2 for sure. We would have brought the heat on that final Stanford play.

 

[MSOrange]

11-2 for sure. We would have brought the heat on that final Stanford play.

Agree. That's the game that immediately stuck out to me where I think he'd have made a difference.

 

[AngryOtto]

What exactly are our offensive strengths?
We don't have a serviceable quarterback and our oline can't block.
What exactly do you expect Nixon to call?

Feel the Oline is not bad a pass blocking but Ricky does not help them. Run blocking could be much better. I remember when Williams was at Purdue their pass blocking was good but the run blocking was poor. Also doesn’t help every team can stack the box.

 

[AngryOtto]

I could list several dozen plays I think he should run. We have some skill players that can make plays, you have to get them the ball in space. Find a way. These aren't the best defenses in college ball we're up against. I can tell you what doesn't work are inside zone runs and home run passes.

The OL pass pro has been fine, and the QB might be serviceable if we run some play action and shorten the routes. Higher percentage patterns. Nixons passing playbook is all or nothing. Collins would be better with quick hitters, shorter over the middle, slants, te curls.

From my nosebleed seats I would like us to just try something else. Move the pocket, roll him out, more rpo, jet sweeps, occasional option.

I'd like to see the run game get outside. Might not work, but Willis needs to get a head of steam to be effective, so try a toss sweep or some stretch runs. Willis' better runs if I recall are when he's on the edge. That big Clemson run was a 'stretch' play over the tackle with Valleri pulling. Tennessee same thing; his TD run was an option. His better runs are wide.

I keep wondering why they do not try two running back sets. At this point I would go two running back set, mix in rpo, options, reverses etc. Fran has made changes on D but not O. If he wants Ricky to have any chance to succeed he has to make changes. Running the regular O each week hoping it’s going to click for Ricky is not going to work.

 

[wfschrec]

Agree. That's the game that immediately stuck out to me where I think he'd have made a difference.

We beat BC going away as well if we had a lick of defense.

 

[shu 49]

Feel the Oline is not bad a pass blocking but Ricky does not help them. Run blocking could be much better. I remember when Williams was at Purdue their pass blocking was good but the run blocking was poor. Also doesn’t help every team can stack the box.

I do agree if u notice we aren’t pulling and trapping as much like middle to end of year when our run game improved. Guys were blocking downfield more so