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[QUOTE="CIL, post: 187325, member: 22"]
I have it on good authority that we actually blitzed on a higher percentage of plays last year than the prior years under Shafer.  The single biggest reason for the lack of effectiveness with our blitzes this year was primarily due to the lack of experience at the linebacker and defensive line position.  I can't tell you how many times they showed blitz too early or blitzed way to late.  The younger kids up front did a poor job of stunting allowing blitzing gaps to open up, etc.  We showed our hand waaaaay to often with the blitzing game. 
 
Smith and Hogue were also great in zone coverages and had a very strong understanding of the offensive passing game -- knowing tuypes of combo routes, etc.  We saw very few YAC's on dump offs and quick hitters last year.  This year we were killed by screens, jailbreaks, hitches, under routes, and swing passes.  
 
I will also respectfully disagree about Henderson's hire.  The reason Brumbaugh and Conley are gone most likely had to do with the lack of development the young guys showed up front.  Shafer had a lot of input about who needed to go and who needed to stay.  All the guys brought in are Shafer's guys.  Every one of them.  Henderson is know for playing man press with an aggressive blitz scheme.   It actually is a very good fit on paper.
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