Ward

[McNabb2Brominski]

The problem with our D is it totally rides the momentum of the offense. As soon as offense stalls it puts pressure on the D to get a stop and they collapse. When the offense stalled in the 3rd qtr last night it put too much pressure on the D and they folded like a cheap suit. As long as the offense is scoring the D is fine, but we can’t really rely on the D to set the tone of the game.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

When i said that it wasn't the back end my point was about Ward. It should be obvious by now. He doesn't have it. Wards style of play is the same as Gerg. He doesnt pressure the QB. Doesn't adjust in game and is just not a very strong DC. Also i dont see him credited with many recruits. I thought that he was going to be replaced after last season. Hope im wrong but i sont ever see a strong D under him.

We don't even need a strong D. We just need the D to be Top 75. I don't think Ward can give us that. What were we last year in YPP? 112th? I get that because of the O the D will end up with more total yards conceded. But can we limit the big plays? Especially since they are not a result of gambling for sacks or TOs.

 

[Bayside44]

A lot of youngbloods back there, they'll get better. This was a good way to start - see other teams and real speed on the road. JO's post referencing the J curve seems spot on in this case.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

A lot of youngbloods back there, they'll get better. This was a good way to start - see other teams and real speed on the road. JO's post referencing the J curve seems spot on in this case.

I agree with that.

I will say though... when our D falls apart, it really collapses. Can't look like we're playing 8 on 11.

I'm a believer that you can't expect a defense to be rock solid for 4 quarters, but when our defense struggles it can't do anything right.

Ward needs to fix that. We can have a bad series here and there and give up a TD. We absolutely can't have guys running the length of the field on us on consecutive drives.

 

[Bayside44]

I agree with that.

I will say though... when our D falls apart, it really collapses. Can't look like we're playing 8 on 11.

I'm a believer that you can't expect a defense to be rock solid for 4 quarters, but when our defense struggles it can't do anything right.

Ward needs to fix that. We can have a bad series here and there and give up a TD. We absolutely can't have guys running the length of the field on us on consecutive drives.

Agreed - we also cannot go 3 and out consecutively in 30 second spurts. That's a killer.

 

[shu 49]

how can you say we dont adjust, we changed the back end about 3 times, we went single.double high,we played quarters, we played zone, we played man.. there isnt much else to try other than flat out blitz the house and we already showed we were too slow to play man.

I agree totally. Ward can’t make Bradshaw, Cordy, or Cisco cover guys. He is doing the best he can.

 

[shu 49]

Trill might be replacing Scoop pretty quick. I’ll give Cisco a mulligan as a true freshman.

But Foster has to play better. And Cordy is good in the nickel - but his lack of size hurts him

I saw flashbacks of Cordy chasing guys down after he got burned and not being able to catch them. Hope it was a bad game.

 

[upperdeck]

Cordy is our fastest player, he ran down the RB on the one long run.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

I want to know why we went to that screwy 3 down linemen with Coleman spying there at the end. It's almost like he (Ward) doesn't want to hit the other teams quarterback. I don't get it.

I think Coleman got the game's lone sack from that set up. I took it as a stunt / delayed blitz that allows Coleman to read the line, find an opening, and take it.

 

[anomander]

I agree totally. Ward can’t make Bradshaw, Cordy, or Cisco cover guys. He is doing the best he can.

I saw flashbacks of Cordy chasing guys down after he got burned and not being able to catch them. Hope it was a bad game.

I will say even if those guys are getting burnt Ward has to make an adjustment to prevent that...even if it is trying someone new.

Cordy did not have a good game at all. He's a playmaker, but he also allows big plays. We need more consistency from him. It definitely looked like he was knocking off some serious rust.

 

[blizz]

I think Coleman got the game's lone sack from that set up. I took it as a stunt / delayed blitz that allows Coleman to read the line, find an opening, and take it.

Are you talking about the shoestring tackle on the qb where he chased him down in the flat? Or am I thinking of a different play?

 

[orange44]

Trill might be replacing Scoop pretty quick. I’ll give Cisco a mulligan as a true freshman.

But Foster has to play better. And Cordy is good in the nickel - but his lack of size hurts him

I agree about Cordy. Yes he is tough but.....

 

[orange44]

When i said that it wasn't the back end my point was about Ward. It should be obvious by now. He doesn't have it. Wards style of play is the same as Gerg. He doesnt pressure the QB. Doesn't adjust in game and is just not a very strong DC. Also i dont see him credited with many recruits. I thought that he was going to be replaced after last season. Hope im wrong but i sont ever see a strong D under him.

Totally agree with your summary!

 

[AAM62]

still it was one bad quarter. the other 3 were fine.

One catastrophic quarter that equaled a bad total game on defense.

 

[AAM62]

Iffy is hurt already, trill looked Ok but needs some time. strange they ran the same routes the first half and were not nearly as open,

They didn’t. Lester said he opened it up in the 2nd half.

 

[C Bomb]

I get that this isn’t Shafers D anymore, but can we at least fake blitzes? Shafer would at least have a couple players feign and then pull back before the ball snapped, trying to make the line guess who was coming, if at all. With Ward if a player shows blitz, it’s from where they set up near the line of scrimmage.