TNIAAM calls for Reed's head and Whigham benching.

[Crusty]

I was wondering when someone would sa this.
http://www.nunesmagician.com/2015/9...econdary-defensive-backs-fred-reed-orange-lsu

 

[TheCusian]

I was wondering when someone would sa this. http://www.nunesmagician.com/2015/9...econdary-defensive-backs-fred-reed-orange-lsu

Overreaction, IMO.

He might be on the chopping block - but there are some grave errors in his take. For one - he said Wake and CMU are the weaker teams we face - while that's kind of true (CMU could beat Wake, UVa, Pitt, BC, etc) - they are pretty good passing teams (Wake is the best in conference so far) with good accurate QB's.

Also - youth.

Whigham? I had high hopes for him - but he keeps getting beat. I don't know that we have someone behind him that's better.

 

[Deano]

I like the idea of replacing Reed with Gregory.

 

[ImperialOrange]

The argument is not with out some merit but really difficult to look at the DB group in a vacuum. Completed passes can result from a total team break down.

If the DL doesn't get pressure, as they failed to do for large portions of the CMU and WF games, then QBs have time to watch their guys work downfield. Flip side of this is when they do get pressure and we see picks and rushed passes off target. The biggest reason for our improved passing game, IMHO, has been our oline finally giving sufficient time for our WR's to work down field.

Our LB's play the run very well and also cover sideline to sideline very well on short passing plays. When we drop into zone on a 3 man rush though, they go to their spot with little feel of where routes are being run around/behind them. This will get better with experience but I've seen quite a few times in zone coverage where our LBs seem glued to their spot where a step left or right could result in a tipped ball or pick. The most exciting thing about our LB group is that they are very good, very early BUT still can get much better as they learn the nuances of of our pass defenses and I expect they will. Big plus having the smart guys that we have in this room.

Our safeties are young and still have some high school tendencies. They tend to cheat up in the run game, sometimes by design and other times caught looking. In HS they were likely some of the top athletes on their teams and could get away with cheating up to cover some gaps. This is where hearing about "the game slowing down" comes into play. The quicker they can make their reads off the snap and the more trust they learn to have in their front 7 the more likely they will be to stay over the top when needed. When our corners have more faith in having help over the top it will allow them to be more aggressive in pressing routes off the line.

Defense has a lot of moving parts but truly more of a team effort vs offense. On offense 1 guy can make a broken play look good. On defense, 1 missed assignment can make the whole unit look bad.

 

[RF2044]

Overreaction, IMO.

He might be on the chopping block - but there are some grave errors in his take. For one - he said Wake and CMU are the weaker teams we face - while that's kind of true (CMU could beat Wake, UVa, Pitt, BC, etc) - they are pretty good passing teams (Wake is the best in conference so far) with good accurate QB's.

Also - youth.

Whigham? I had high hopes for him - but he keeps getting beat. I don't know that we have someone behind him that's better.

Clearly, the play of the CBs has been the weakest unit we field this year. Their inability to cover stands out. Whigham and Morgan haven't seemed to develop, and the unit would be even weaker if Winfield hadn't emerged as the strongest player in the unit.

The question IMO is whether this is attributable to coaching versus the talent we have at corner? If the latter, then the article is an overreaction, as you say. I tend to think the talent is the issue moreso than coaching, given Reed's background. Also, are there shut down corners any more in modern college football? I'm hoping that Dowels, Eliason, and the incoming frosh from Georgia bring more to the table than their predecesors.

My kingdom for a Dwayne Joseph, who could play at a high level as a true frosh...

 

[TheCusian]

Clearly, the play of the CBs has been the weakest unit we field this year. Their inability to cover stands out. Whigham and Morgan haven't seemed to develop, and the unit would be even weaker if Winfield hadn't emerged as the strongest player in the unit. The question IMO is whether this is attributable to coaching versus the talent we have at corner? If the latter, then the article is an overreaction, as you say. I tend to think the talent is the issue moreso than coaching, given Reed's background. Also, are there shut down corners any more in modern college football? I'm hoping that Dowels, Eliason, and the incoming frosh from Georgia bring more to the table than their predecesors. My kingdom for a Dwayne Joseph, who could play at a high level as a true frosh...

Yeah - I agree that they haven't been good. I'd bet it's equal parts scheme (island), talent, and coaching. I'm still if the mind that most are way underrating the Wake and CMU's QB play.

 

[Trueblue25]

On the bright side, Antwon Cordy's been super impressive in my opinion.

 

[RF2044]

On the bright side, Antwon Cordy's been super impressive in my opinion.

Agreed. I was unbelievably worried about our group of safeties heading into camp. Cordy looks like a difference maker, and Williams has been very solid for an inexperienced player, too. They've risen to the occasion for the most part.

 

[orange_in_VA]

I like the idea of replacing Reed with Gregory.

Have Gregory coach safeties and Reed coach CBs? Would be nice to keep Reed around for his recruiting. He's a good recruiter.

 

[Trueblue25]

Agreed. I was unbelievably worried about our group of safeties heading into camp. Cordy looks like a difference maker, and Williams has been very solid for an inexperienced player, too. They've risen to the occasion for the most part.

It's almost terrifying to think of where this secondary would actually be without Cordy and Williams stepping up.

 

[Trueblue25]

Also,

Convince Darius to come back and coach!

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Have Gregory coach safeties and Reed coach CBs? Would be nice to keep Reed around for his recruiting. He's a good recruiter.

Only allowed 9 full-time assistant coaches.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

I don't often take Division 1 football advice on players and coaches, but when I do its from a journalist.

 

[phil77]

IMO they need to stop selling out to stop the run so much and provide deep help to our corners. If you have a weakness you need to provide support to cover that weakness. Stop having the corners play soft. Have them play press at the line and provide 2 deep support over the top. There are ways the coaching staff can cover the weakness. But our defensive philosophy is not to do that. Our philosophy is to play soft coverage provide no support over the top and blitz. That is great when you get home but when you don't get home you get beat and beat deep. The coaching staff needs to let up some and provide some support to our corners.

 

[orange_in_VA]

Only allowed 9 full-time assistant coaches.

 

[tep624]

Our philosophy is to play soft coverage provide no support over the top and blitz.

That really is the crux of this problem. Our defense is and has been as long as Shafer has been here predicated on blitzing schemes. Our strength has been in the front seven from a recruiting and talent development perspective and the staff has played to their strength with the hopes that their weakness won't get exploited (get to the QB or pressure him, he can't beat you over the top). The problem with this is when we don't get there, we are sorely exposed because we just have not had corners that are really solid in 1 on 1 coverage, except for maybe Reddish his JR/SR year.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

That really is the crux of this problem. Our defense is and has been as long as Shafer has been here predicated on blitzing schemes. Our strength has been in the front seven from a recruiting and talent development perspective and the staff has played to their strength with the hopes that their weakness won't get exploited (get to the QB or pressure him, he can't beat you over the top). The problem with this is when we don't get there, we are sorely exposed because we just have not had corners that are really solid in 1 on 1 coverage, except for maybe Reddish his JR/SR year.

Doesn't help when your top DB recruit doesn't make it in though.

 

[GoSU96]

This stuff is so overdone. The design of this defense puts the corners in a lot of high risk situations. From a coverage perspective much of what they do is unsound. Either Mac or P used to say that when you blitz one of the bands is going to be playing.

If there was someone better than Whigham he would play. Corners are going to lose some one on one matchups, it happens, people need to get over it.

The secondary is young and when you add in the fact that Franklin and Bennett are true Sophs it helps explain some of the issues they have when they zone behind a three man rush on 3rd and long.

 

[Millhouse]

Corners are going to lose some one on one matchups, it happens, people need to get over it.

some?

 

[jgeorge322]

This stuff is so overdone. The design of this defense puts the corners in a lot of high risk situations. From a coverage perspective much of what they do is unsound. Either Mac or P used to say that when you blitz one of the bands is going to be playing.

If there was someone better than Whigham he would play. Corners are going to lose some one on one matchups, it happens, people need to get over it.

The secondary is young and when you add in the fact that Franklin and Bennett are true Sophs it helps explain some of the issues they have when they zone behind a three man rush on 3rd and long.

I tend to agree. its schematic. however, the third and long play that he got beat over the top in the fourth quarter is inexcusable.

 

[upperdeck]

the corners have 2 issues.. they get turned on corner routes or dont find the ball on deep stuff. which is tech? and which is talent? the killer deep ball against LSU in the 4th Whigham had good coverage and was stride for stride but when he turned he lost the guy. Same thing happened vs CMU with Morgan, but is that something a player has a feel for or can get trained in? Seems like its more on the DB coach to get a better tech on turning the hips to cover the corner routes than training a guy on how to pick up the ball without losing coverage.

no different than MLB outfielders.. some have to track the ball and slow down, others can run to the spot and find the ball. feels like a confidence thing when they know the ball is coming the look back and lose a step

 

[tep624]

Doesn't help when your top DB recruit doesn't make it in though.

Well 3 of our 4 starting DB's are currently at a Kansas Juco, UMASS and Texas.

 

[phil77]

I tend to agree. its schematic. however, the third and long play that he got beat over the top in the fourth quarter is inexcusable.

Where was the safety help over the top on 3rd and long?

 

[Crusty]

Have Gregory coach safeties and Reed coach CBs? Would be nice to keep Reed around for his recruiting. He's a good recruiter.

Too many coaches in that scenario - over the NCAA limit.

 

[upperdeck]

I dont think we have no safety help as much as looks.. more often i think out safeties are cheating up, but the coaches would have to be the one answering that.