I didn't know how bad that really is. Ten yard plays happen a lot
Fine.
Seems like controlling the clock on O is a purposeful strategy at this point. We can’t lose ToP with our D, we’ll get eaten alive if we don’t force turnovers. So gotta limit their snaps while maximizing ours.
Yup. "Complementary" football - the staff understands that the D is not good. The O has proven that they can sustain long drives, move the ball via the passing game, control the TOP, and score enough to beat most teams that are not above average on O.
This is all true. If McCord was their quarterback, they have 2 or 3 50+ yard touchdowns in the first half. You could see all the way back to the touchdowns against holy Cross that our safeties (who play extremely deep to begin with) are still getting blown by.
Team speed on D overall is part of the issue. But it's not just limited to the DBs.
I’m not sure many people who post and dream of lockdown defenses watch a lot of college football. The LSU/ Ole Miss game and the Oregon/ OSU games last night are prime examples Some of the best teams in college football and there’s just not a ton of great defense anymore, they’ve made it difficult in many ways anyway to be a great defense. they gave up 17 points, should be good enough To win most games
They watch Syracuse, the NFC East, and rotisserie infomercials
bingo. we also lost our true freshman corner who I contend is our best coverage guy. We need more recruits like that. Combine that with no depth on defensive line and losing our best LB, we've been treading water.
Of the things I see wrong with this defense, two can be corrected, two can’t.
Tackling can be corrected. It's fundamentally a pursuit & technique issue. Sure, it's easier with 'talent', but our tackling can one hundred percent get better.
Yes, theoretically tackling can be corrected, but our problems are mostly with seniors, not freshmen. If it has not been fixed by now, it probably won’t be, (and that will not be from the coaches lack of trying). Unlearning 10 years of bad form likely wont get fixed here in 6 weeks.
McDonald did create a forced fumble by NCSt.
Agree. It's not the underneath pass plays - you give those up once you commit to the zone to contain a mobile QB. It's the chunk plays - including some deep throws that didn't connect. We can chalk up the Rogers run to a great look by Bailey (Rogers was barely touched on the shoulder pad not "forced out"). But it was truly disturbing watching Smothers get loose from Cinco and juke half our secondary on the way to a 75 yard run that would also have been a TD had Lewis not caught him on a good angle. This was foreshadowed earlier in the game when Grimes (4-star 4.42 laser) simply waltzed by Duce and a corner for what would have been another 50+ yard TD without a fortunate overthrow. So as you point out, Barnes and Wax can't get back soon enough - at least as a tourniquet. I'd also leave Barron right where he is at OLB (he's killing it). Interesting to see what happens with McDonald when Wax comes back. On the + side I thought our OL, despite a lot of blitzing, gave KM enough time for short routes and our receivers cashed in. But more to the point of your post, is was a relief to see the DL backups get penetration and stand up a very experienced NCSt OL.
I’d say the latter. This is a personnel issue more than anything else. I’m going to start giving ERob the benefit of the doubt, because the talent will get better. If these issues persist in a year or two, then I’ll point the finger at the DC.
McDonald graded out as second best player on D besides Barron. But agreed he was awful…but you know…analytics.
everyone can have their own definition. 6ish is mine, but used 5 here. 15-20 yards is a bust
Cinco may be best, but I agree that they seem to cover their lack of speed or coverage skills by starting too deep, then either not making an effort, as I saw a few times with Grant in particular a couple times, or coming too late and too fast to break someone down and make an open field tackle.
