Hope this doesn't make the TLDR file for most...
It is obvious to me we do not have the personnel to run the Tampa-2
Below is a VG primer for those a little unsure of why HCDB chooses this defense and how it runs. My feeling is he needs some difference makers on the DL before it becomes anywhere near a complementary asset to the Baylor Offense. The big rub is Cuse can occasionally get 1 or 2 difference makers on the DL but usually we find guys that are developmental players or guys that are ready but are 2-3 inches shorter than a prototypical High D-1 DL. Without any semblance of pressure on most average/better teams...the QB sits back there and exploits the gaps.
BL in my mind: Cuse fans better be ready for several years of ping pong games of scoring. We can get over the hump more quickly on the offensive side but the defense is going to take 3-5 years to get there (if it ever does). If not we will still have exciting games (make lower level bowl games) and IMHO much easier on the eyes for average fans to watch.
How can we help the process? We need to fill the Dome to help DB recruit and SU needs to get this Dome Reno going ASAP.
Finding a Good Fit for the Tampa 2 Defense
The Tampa 2 is a variant of the general "Cover 2" style of defense which relies on having two safeties cover the deep part of the field. It actually doesn't get its roots in Tampa Bay, rather it originates from the 1970s style of football during the days of the Pittsburgh "Steel Curtain" defense. It's an older style of defense, but can still be effective in today's NFL with the right personnel. It's typically a difficult defense to score points on (really?) because of the "bend don't break" philosophy that tightens up when the field shrinks in the red zone.
In the Tampa 2 scheme each position requires very specific skill sets in order to effectively execute the scheme. You can't just throw any ol' football players in there and expect it to be run effectively. For example, the defensive line must be able to generate pressure from the four down lineman without having to commit other linebackers and corners to blitz. Those middle 5 players are needed to cover zones in the middle of the field, due to the fact that there are 2 safeties playing deep coverage. The scheme requires defensive ends that are quick and agile that can get to the quarterback, as well as a nose tackle that can take on extra blockers and help stuff the run.
The middle linebacker is one of the most important positions on the field since he has to read the opposing offense correctly and decide if it's a run play or a pass play. His responsibility is dramatic, as he has to either shoot the gap in run defense, or drop back in coverage and man the middle of the field behind the outside linebackers. It requires a middle linebacker with elite speed and a heady player that can quickly diagnose plays. Therefore, if the MLB is caught out of position it generally leaves the middle of the field wide open. The outside linebackers are generally responsible for covering their zones around the hash marks (inside the cornerbacks) to about 10 yards deep, but also need to be able to cover their gaps in run defense. They have a similar responsibility as the MLB, but aren't required to cover nearly as much of the field, nor do they make the primary calls and reads of the opposing offense.
The cornerbacks cover the sidelines, and because the outside linebackers are responsible for zone coverage, this scheme requires the cornerbacks to be effective tacklers in run support. It is why a player like
Antoine Winfield thrived in this scheme: he was an elite tackler. A cornerback in this scheme doesn't have to be an elite man-to-man coverage corner, as the deep zone safeties provide a "safety blanket" (pun intended) in coverage breakdowns, but they do have to be elite tacklers because there is not much help against runs to the outside.
And finally, the two deep safeties are probably the 2nd most important position in the scheme. It requires two safeties that have elite speed, with above-average coverage abilities. They are required to cover exactly half of the field at least 20 yards deep. But even more important is having two players with different skill sets: one that excels in either a "strong" capacity (ie, to deliver big hits across the middle of the field and tackle well) or "free" capacity (ie, to slide over and cover the responsibility of a blitzing cornerback, or blitz the quarterback himself).
