LB’s & 3 down DL’s

[1SEIACLONE]

So you trust your eyes more than the data? Yes, I believe we have a Top 10 passing defense, because the numbers show we have a Top 10 passing defense

Teams are not throwing the ball on us because they can run against our defense. Stats look nice on paper, but in a game, when they are running the ball down our throat like UCF did, they do not have to pass. Overall our defense is ranked #31 overall. Good but not great.

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[Letterkenny]

I don't believe our DE's are asked to keep contain in most situations. Versus run they spill pullers to the OLB's and Safeties, versus pass they have a lot of freedom unless there's a pass game called.

Yeah, I don't think you can have DE's both rush the passer, and try to contain. That's basically impossible. It's up to the linebackers to contain any scrambles. That's gotten a lot better now that some guys are heathy again.

 

[ScottyP]

Besides injuries to the LBs core the biggest problem this defense, is lack of pressure on the QB by the front 3. We allow a QB to sit in the pocket, scan the field and pick out guy that is open and then deliver the ball. You could put 5 NFL caliber DB's back there and they would struggle when the QB has all day.
The defense needs to evolve and start either zone blitzing or coming at the QB from all angles to confuse him more. We struggled against KSU with the DEs stepping down inside and not keeping contain, they are not setting the edge and maintaining it, thereby giving the QB a lane to run to the outside. The inexperienced LB's are struggling coming up and filling the gap on the outside or are just out of position, which opens up holes that allows for big runs by the QB.

Like Letterkenny mentioned, I think the big reason for less blitzing is the inexperience at linebacker and focusing more on a base look. With Sadowski and McLaughlin now in there and Ellis being healthy, we seemed to blitz a bit more. We blitzed more against Utah and K-State late in the game.

 

[Letterkenny]

Teams are not throwing the ball on us because they can run against our defense. Stats look nice on paper, but in a game, when they are running the ball down our throat like UCF did, they do not have to pass. Overall our defense is ranked #31 overall. Good but not great.

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Yeah, but that same logic could apply to every other team. So claiming our pass defense is inflated because teams choose to run the ball on us might be true for all the other teams with highly rated pass defenses as well.

Agree, the run defense is bad, but I think it's gotten a lot better the last few weeks.

 

[ScottyP]

Yeah, I don't think you can have DE's both rush the passer, and try to contain. That's basically impossible. It's up to the linebackers to contain any scrambles. That's gotten a lot better now that some guys are heathy again.

Those big runs against the backup Utah QB looked like they were due to Purchase not being assignment sound. He let the QB go right around him. I'm sure part of that is due to lack of film on him.

 

[Bader]

Teams are not throwing the ball on us because they can run against our defense. Stats look nice on paper, but in a game, when they are running the ball down our throat like UCF did, they do not have to pass. Overall our defense is ranked #31 overall. Good but not great.

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Boo Total Defense Boo. I don't care how many yards the D gives up. They're holding opponents to under 20 points a game

 

[Clone9]

We led the conference and are 18th nationally in scoring defense, so I don't think things are as bad as they might seem.

Of course there is room for improvement and we all would have liked to see what could have happened with a healthy linebacking group and more pressure from 3 down linemen, but the defense was really quite good.

 

[stewart092284]

I don't believe our DE's are asked to keep contain in most situations. Versus run they spill pullers to the OLB's and Safeties, versus pass they have a lot of freedom unless there's a pass game called.

Yes, but also depends on the call. There are times where they are asked to contain and others not, it just depends on the call. if we are in base, then typically no, they are "4i's" or the like, and are spillers.

If there's a stunt or some kind of "fan" where they are asked to shoot outside, then in those scenarios or if a LB is asked to fit inside or blitz an interior gap etc...

but without knowing the play call pre-snap, its hard to say on which specific play they lost contain due to bad technique etc, or on which they play we lost contain but that was never the end's job. Sometimes its obvious if a LB blitzes right up the gut, but on other plays, it'll be harder to tell without hearing the pre-snap call

 

[stewart092284]

Boo Total Defense Boo. I don't care how many yards the D gives up. They're holding opponents to under 20 points a game

I'm sorry, but thats an odd take.

Because while yes, points ultimately win/lose games, yards have a huge impact.

Time of possession
Where does the offense start from? Are we constantly being backed up because the opponent regularly is around mid field? Because that impacts drives, play calling, etc.
3rd down %'s go way down for a defense if you are facing 3rd and 3 as opposed to 3rd and 7.
Pass rush situations, which everyone complains about, are harder to generated from 2nd and medium, 3rd and short to medium cause the DL can't just get into rush mode and LB's have to play both so their drops are off or can be a tad slow.
Less possessions for the offense can make a comeback or high scoring game more problematic.

If you aren't getting off the field, aren't getting stops regularly, at some point, the defense will just give up points and wear down. Or the offense is out of rhythm so there's a turnover either from lack of flow or they're pressing. Its harder for the OC to get into the game, etc...



So while yes, points given up obviously matters in terms of W/L... yards allowed, rush against efficiency (of which we are 79th in the nation) is simply massive. That's like saying I got 64% on my final but I passed so I don't care.

 

[Bader]

If you aren't getting off the field, aren't getting stops regularly, at some point, the defense will just give up points and wear down. Or the offense is out of rhythm so there's a turnover either from lack of flow or they're pressing. Its harder for the OC to get into the game, etc...

This would be reflected in points allowed, no?

That's like saying I got 64% on my final but I passed so I don't care.

The outcome of a football game is pass / fail. So, correct, I do not care if the final score was 20-19 or 52-7

 

[BigLame]

Teams are not throwing the ball on us because they can run against our defense. Stats look nice on paper, but in a game, when they are running the ball down our throat like UCF did, they do not have to pass. Overall our defense is ranked #31 overall. Good but not great.

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I tend to agree partially to this, but I also think our ranking on defense, in particular against the pass, is indeed inflated this year due to many of our opponents not having potent passing attacks. Cases in point: Iowa, Houston, Cincy, UCF, Utah

 

[nrg4isu]

I tend to agree partially to this, but I also think our ranking on defense, in particular against the pass, is indeed inflated this year due to many of our opponents not having potent passing attacks. Cases in point: Iowa, Houston, Cincy, UCF, Utah

And wouldn't you put ASU in the same camp as Iowa, Houston, Cincy, UCF, Utah? They're going to be run first, pass distant 2nd with Tyson out.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

This would be reflected in points allowed, no?


The outcome of a football game is pass / fail. So, correct, I do not care if the final score was 20-19 or 52-7

Depends on who you are, if ISU wins 20-19 we lucked out, if Alabama wins by the same score, they have a great defense. Teams like Indiana that are blowing teams out will get the benefit of doubt over teams that are barely getting by. Why is Miami not in, because they had a lot of close games, instead of blowing out teams like Indiana did. Miami still went 10-2, which is better than Alabama, with same number of wins as Georgia, Tenn, and Ohio State, who are all safely in the playoff.

 

[BigLame]

And wouldn't you put ASU in the same camp as Iowa, Houston, Cincy, UCF, Utah? They're going to be run first, pass distant 2nd with Tyson out.

My hope is they are not able to scheme us like KU did - or we healed up & also made adjustments so a game like that doesn't happen again.

Our defense is at its absolute best when it makes a team one dimensional having to throw the ball more than it cares to. This involves not allowing large success running it on 1st downs & getting TFLs on higher than average number of running plays. Last but not least, we will have to tackle extremely well given the talent & type of runner Skattebo is. If their QB runs, we need to punish him every time. Think we did a great job of that our last 2 games, which led to the passing game lacking.