Tell us what you really think

[money3189]

Clemson didn't bitch-slap Alabama, though, did they? That game was an excellent example of great receiving corps going against great backfields. With two QBs that are/will be in the NFL.

Us? Goose-egged.

yup Clemson took advantage of some match ups on the perimeter, Bama got gassed and Scarborough getting hurt was a factor. Clemson was getting tired of tackling him lol

 

[money3189]

I'm sure they did. Matter of fact, I know they did. With "colorful" language. As badly as they were sometimes dressed down, one would think they'd have stopped shooting themselves in the foot with those @#$#@ false starts, etc.

I will be looking forward to hearing your analysis. You have nothing to hold back now that Steven's in another program.

 

[Chip]

Clemson didn't bitch-slap Alabama, though, did they? That game was an excellent example of great receiving corps going against great backfields. With two QBs that are/will be in the NFL.

Us? Goose-egged.

I don't know what we're talking about anymore. Our offense? Our defense?

Or are we just throwing everything against the wall when our team was steamrolled against the national champs in Death Valley and our QB left early with a game ending injury.

If you have some magic potion that will allow us to beat Clemson, please share it.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

"Obviously their defense struggled, but it’s so easy to point at that. In reality, their offense put them in a bind quite a bit. They’ll turn the ball over or go quick three-and-out or put their defense in bad situations.”

90% chance that quote is from The Dazzler.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Nothing Alabama did was cutting it against Clemson either.

Tampa 2, as I understand it, is designed to keep plays in front of you. What killed our defense last year was big plays. Probably attributed to Cordy's injury and 2 true freshmen DEs more than anything else. A bunch of missed assignments and players who aren't physically ready to play leads to the other team getting big play after big play.

Pitt scored on consecutive 75 yard jet sweeps to the same side of the field. Has that ever happened to anyone?

Our secondary often took terrible angles chasing opponents once they broke into our defensive backfield. You can't blame that on the line or the ends.

 

[Chip]

Our secondary often took terrible angles chasing opponents once they broke into our defensive backfield. You can't blame that on the line or the ends.

Did you miss the part about Cordy?

But our DEs often lost contain too. It's ok, they were true freshmen who shouldn't have had to play. But things being what they were...

All fixable.

 

[PhatOrange]

I thought there was a lot of accurate statements in there. Could be pretty telling. We need some development up front because on the whole, that was a pretty spot on.

The reason they may have looked a little better in pass pro is because 70% of the time we get the ball out in about 2 seconds.

i was referring to the other 30%

 

[PhatOrange]

Our secondary often took terrible angles chasing opponents once they broke into our defensive backfield. You can't blame that on the line or the ends.

that's what worries me, the IQ of our players. You can't really teach 'angles' it's something thats instinctual

 

[bcubs9497]

I will be looking forward to hearing your analysis. You have nothing to hold back now that Steven's in another program.

I can give you the front 4 right now.

Slayton is THE interior DT. Samuels is big, but can't take the doubles very well, and tires too quickly. Williams is quick, but lacks the strength to fend off doubles. Black is a good DE and, I think, carves out his niche. Didn't see much of Ruff to form an opinion, and the others, especially the incoming frosh, I can't even begin to divine.

If I were the DL coach, I'd have Slayton take the NT spot and Williams go to DT. Spell them as needed with whomever shows out during camp. Coleman and Black currently as the starting DEs.

 

[bcubs9497]

I don't know what we're talking about anymore. Our offense? Our defense?

Or are we just throwing everything against the wall when our team was steamrolled against the national champs in Death Valley and our QB left early with a game ending injury.

If you have some magic potion that will allow us to beat Clemson, please share it.

We don't. Not for a long time.

 

[money3189]

I can give you the front 4 right now.

Slayton is THE interior DT. Samuels is big, but can't take the doubles very well, and tires too quickly. Williams is quick, but lacks the strength to fend off doubles. Black is a good DE and, I think, carves out his niche. Didn't see much of Ruff to form an opinion, and the others, especially the incoming frosh, I can't even begin to divine.

If I were the DL coach, I'd have Slayton take the NT spot and Williams go to DT. Spell them as needed with whomever shows out during camp. Coleman and Black currently as the starting DEs.

Thanks for the insight. Not sure what to expect from the other guys but Im hoping Slayton takes the next step in his game.

 

[bcubs9497]

Thanks for the insight. Not sure what to expect from the other guys but Im hoping Slayton takes the next step in his game.

I expect Slayton to have a great year. He probably won't have the number of tackles that he did last year, but, as an NT (assuming that's where he plays), it's not all about tackles, as you well know. The others? If Williams does his job, things in the interior should be okay. Either one of those two get hurt, and I'd bet every game after that will be "not fun". That being said, I know absolutely nothing about the new guys (frosh and JUCOs). Maybe one of them would/will step up.

 

[money3189]

I expect Slayton to have a great year. He probably won't have the number of tackles that he did last year, but, as an NT (assuming that's where he plays), it's not all about tackles, as you well know. The others? If Williams does his job, things in the interior should be okay. Either one of those two get hurt, and I'd bet every game after that will be "not fun". That being said, I know absolutely nothing about the new guys (frosh and JUCOs). Maybe one of them would/will step up.

lets hope

 

[tipphill]

have been preaching ad nauseum about getting the beef up front. wondering why we are not making that a recruiting priority. we offer a zillion wr yet ol guys? maybe i am not paying attention

 

[007]

If we are gonna talk about scheme being a factor, the first thing should be brought up is the players in it. Watching our defense last year was like watching someone putting square pegs into a round whole. Im's not a Tampa 2 guy, buts its not as unorthodox as people making it. Lets judge Ward's Tampa 2 when he actually has the players he wants to put in it. Most of the players in the defense were recruited for a small, face attack, style defense. On top of that, we had freshman DE's, 5'7 and 5'9 safeties. Interior tackles and backers were the only solid groups but those groups get worse when you don't have good play from positions around them.

Spot on, money. Way too many here think the Tampa 2 was the reason. I'm not even sure we spent the majority of snaps in a straight T2. But, the bigger factor was the lack of size, speed, and coverage skills in the back 7. I'm including the LBs in that as they were all engulfed when reached by the OL. Sure, Franklin and Bennett were warriors and made a ton of tackles, but somebody had to.

I think Bennett adding weight and strength, combined with Valdez's size and strength, will make a difference. RG had great numbers in juco, but I'm not sure he is big/strong enough to be really effective in the ACC. Hope I'm wrong there.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't know what we're talking about anymore. Our offense? Our defense?

Or are we just throwing everything against the wall when our team was steamrolled against the national champs in Death Valley and our QB left early with a game ending injury.

If you have some magic potion that will allow us to beat Clemson, please share it.

 

[SoBristol]

Spot on, money. Way too many here think the Tampa 2 was the reason. I'm not even sure we spent the majority of snaps in a straight T2. But, the bigger factor was the lack of size, speed, and coverage skills in the back 7. I'm including the LBs in that as they were all engulfed when reached by the OL. Sure, Franklin and Bennett were warriors and made a ton of tackles, but somebody had to.

I think Bennett adding weight and strength, combined with Valdez's size and strength, will make a difference. RG had great numbers in juco, but I'm not sure he is big/strong enough to be really effective in the ACC. Hope I'm wrong there.

Tampa 2 was a factor in two ways -- a change in schemes, under a new set of coaches;, created uncertainty & missed assignments and the defense was played passively with fewer blitzes to disrupt attacks.

But, you are right that size, speed and coverage skills would have been an issue in any defensive schemes; and I wouldn't stop with the back 7. The DEs were true frosh (except for the transfer Wilson). They lost containment on too many occasions; they did not create much pressure.

The personnel issues were obvious. The coaches responded with 3 grad transfers (all on defense, and all likely to contribute) and juco help at LB, DE and DT (likely to be in rotation but not starters). Haven't had that infusion on one side of the ball since -- never.

 

[money3189]

Tampa 2 was a factor in two ways -- a change in schemes, under a new set of coaches;, created uncertainty & missed assignments and the defense was played passively with fewer blitzes to disrupt attacks.

But, you are right that size, speed and coverage skills would have been an issue in any defensive schemes; and I wouldn't stop with the back 7. The DEs were true frosh (except for the transfer Wilson). They lost containment on too many occasions; they did not create much pressure.

The personnel issues were obvious. The coaches responded with 3 grad transfers (all on defense, and all likely to contribute) and juco help at LB, DE and DT (likely to be in rotation but not starters). Haven't had that infusion on one side of the ball since -- never.

just watched the NC state game again. We didnt defend the edge run plays well enough. The bigger issue was them converting 3rd and long after 3rd and long. Parts of our defense played well but our weaknesses were exploited. Our offense barely had the ball that game. Smh

 

[DeGrozz]

Pac-12 Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2017