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Coach Macho - aggressive man coverage?

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Coach Macho said:
So...
From what other college DC's have told me...
The "match" version of Cover-3 is more "expensive". In other words, takes longer/harder to teach.
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Thank you coach. Why do you think he waited a half before he got more aggressive in his coverage vs Indiana?
 
Coach Macho said:
So...
From what other college DC's have told me...
The "match" version of Cover-3 is more "expensive". In other words, takes longer/harder to teach.
Click to expand...
Im guessing they just needed to simplify the defense and get it operating fast and sound after the prior years fiasco. Not to mention all the new guys and coaches being blended in. I love a good cover 3 match but it can also lead to huge busts if everyone isn't on the same page and running it well.

Now it looks like we get the entire defensive coaching staff coming back, most of the two deep going into year two of this system and a ton of starts in the secondary returning. Its time to take it to the next level
 
skyman said:
Its kinda hard to complain with the end result but situationally playing country cover 3 irked the **** out of me all season, lol.. But we were a top defense so its like dam cant really say much. But with more eyes on us even the best in business like Saban and Belichek were like with our talent why we have 10 yard cushion bailing at snap free access throws against this offense.. Kinda frustrating but again hard to complain when you see end result.

Our Dline was a freakshow upfront which can obviously cover up a bunch of sins and it was year 1 of install. Having watched the IU defense in lead up you hope our backend returning that we can tighten up our coverage and awareness and squeeze zones better and with more awareness (I just cant stand a guy covering grass while a receiver is right next to him open in 2026) because we would play same coverages but the windows would be different. Also hope for less busted coverages on back end also.. Its crazy to imagine and some will push back but there is actually alot of meat on bone and room for improvement.
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I mentioned the country c3 during the season and got called all kinds of names lolll, but I definitely feel you. No reason to cover grass with the talent in the secondary.
 
Coach Macho said:
So...
From what other college DC's have told me...
The "match" version of Cover-3 is more "expensive". In other words, takes longer/harder to teach.
Click to expand...
Interesting

One of the things I had an eye on was a brand new DC with an entirely new secondary. Pretty impressive how they came together in a short period of time, but to your other point wonder if things change the more time Heatherman is here
 
JHallCanes said:
Interesting

One of the things I had an eye on was a brand new DC with an entirely new secondary. Pretty impressive how they came together in a short period of time, but to your other point wonder if things change the more time Heatherman is here
Click to expand...
That's a good point about having a new DC with a brand new secondary. Like @Warrior808 just mentioned, we likely had to get the defense simplified and sound in a short period of time. Now that we have a ton of people coming back I'm hoping the country Cover 3 will morph into Cover-3 Match.
 
FrancisSawyer said:
That's a good point about having a new DC with a brand new secondary. Like @Warrior808 just mentioned, we likely had to get the defense simplified and sound in a short period of time. Now that we have a ton of people coming back I'm hoping the country Cover 3 will morph into Cover-3 Match.
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Finding Scott, Thomas, and Toure in the spring portal was wild. Maybe it was a complete fluke and luck but I’m gonna go ahead and say these defensive coaches just know what they’re looking for in a player. One reason I’m higher on Thornton than some others.

But we will see. Our DL is as loaded as anyone in the country
 
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FrancisSawyer said:
Thank you coach. Why do you think he waited a half before he got more aggressive in his coverage vs Indiana?
Click to expand...
I think he didn't have a choice. They were eating us up. Maybe he heard Saban say something on the broadcast about us giving up easy access throws. Lol

I'm sure they looked at the first half tape and collectively asked themselves "what hurt us?"
 
Warrior808 said:
Im guessing they just needed to simplify the defense and get it operating fast and sound after the prior years fiasco. Not to mention all the new guys and coaches being blended in. I love a good cover 3 match but it can also lead to huge busts if everyone isn't on the same page and running it well.

Now it looks like we get the entire defensive coaching staff coming back, most of the two deep going into year two of this system and a ton of starts in the secondary returning. Its time to take it to the next level
Click to expand...
Very true.
 
88 said:
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Minnesota last year. It was his first year there too so idk what system he inherited compared to uS and if that influenced him. So maybe we get more man and a lil more quarters? Cov3 obviously his base, we’ll see if it evolves to more match
 
skyman said:
Its kinda hard to complain with the end result but situationally playing country cover 3 irked the **** out of me all season, lol.. But we were a top defense so its like dam cant really say much. But with more eyes on us even the best in business like Saban and Belichek were like with our talent why we have 10 yard cushion bailing at snap free access throws against this offense.. Kinda frustrating but again hard to complain when you see end result.

Our Dline was a freakshow upfront which can obviously cover up a bunch of sins and it was year 1 of install. Having watched the IU defense in lead up you hope our backend returning that we can tighten up our coverage and awareness and squeeze zones better and with more awareness (I just cant stand a guy covering grass while a receiver is right next to him open in 2026) because we would play same coverages but the windows would be different. Also hope for less busted coverages on back end also.. Its crazy to imagine and some will push back but there is actually alot of meat on bone and room for improvement.
Click to expand...
I don’t remember a whole lot of coverage busts tbh but I agree
 
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JHallCanes said:
Finding Scott, Thomas, and Toure in the spring portal was wild. Maybe it was a complete fluke and luck but I’m gonna go ahead and say these defensive coaches just know what they’re looking for in a player. One reason I’m higher on Thornton than some others.

But we will see. Our DL is as loaded as anyone in the country
Click to expand...
Yes these defensive coaches know what they are looking for in players but I also think a big part of it is their ability as coaches to teach and to get the most out of their players. Scott and Thomas were both considered solid college players with good ability but neither had previously put anything on tape that would have suggested the type of monster seasons they were about to have and the type of impact they would have on the defense. You simply cannot overstate how important it is to have great position coaches on staff. Mario killed it when he took a flamethrower to the defensive staff after the 2024 season.

I didn't mention Mo Toure because his case is a bit different. With him, it wasn't until late in the season and into the playoffs that he began show what he is capable of. Having him back next year along with Chase Smith will be huge for this defense!
 
E1k said:
Minnesota last year. It was his first year there too so idk what system he inherited compared to uS and if that influenced him. So maybe we get more man and a lil more quarters? Cov3 obviously his base, we’ll see if it evolves to more match
Click to expand...


"It is not that Hetherman can’t get diverse. In fact, Miami has a higher scheme diversity score than Indiana’s. The roster in Coral Gables has allowed him to simplify his defense. At Minnesota, he was constantly jumping in and out of different Odd Front looks, even using a Penny (5-1) package that he rarely uses in Miami. He even had a 3-High defensive structure."

"In Minnesota, the Gophers ranked 14th in the Power 4 in Blitz Rate. In 2025, the Hurricanes are 14th overall. The blitz structures are there, too. Hetherman favors five-man pressures and blitzes from the secondary. But a constant is the Bench Front."


"At Minnesota, Hetherman had access to hybrid players and his defense was more multiple. Now in Miami, those players are highly rated athletes with “star” power. It is another week of the CFB Playoffs, and another test of Cignetti’s current “culture” over “acquisition” philosophy."
 
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FrancisSawyer said:
Yes these defensive coaches know what they are looking for in players but I also think a big part of it is their ability as coaches to teach and to get the most out of their players. Scott and Thomas were both considered solid college players with good ability but neither had previously put anything on tape that would have suggested the type of monster seasons they were about to have and the type of impact they would have on the defense. You simply cannot overstate how important it is to have great position coaches on staff. Mario killed it when he took a flamethrower to the defensive staff after the 2024 season.

I didn't mention Mo Toure because his case is a bit different. With him, it wasn't until late in the season and into the playoffs that he began show what he is capable of. Having him back next year along with Chase Smith will be huge for this defense!
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Minnesota took a big step back on defense this year as well. I don’t know all the ins and outs but they were not a great team when Heatherman was there, but they consistently held teams under their averages for points and yards, even the really good teams. Not the case for them this year.

The guy is clearly a DC with a huge future in front of him
 
JHallCanes said:
Minnesota took a big step back on defense this year as well. I don’t know all the ins and outs but they were not a great team when Heatherman was there, but they consistently held teams under their averages for points and yards, even the really good teams. Not the case for them this year.

The guy is clearly a DC with a huge future in front of him
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No question. This Defensive staff is the best staff we have had at Miami in over 20 years! DC/LB Corey Hetherman
Safeties Zach Etheridge
CBs Will Harris
DE Jason Taylor
DT Damione Lewis

My point is that what you said about DC Corey Hetherman is 100% right on the money but when you add the caliber of coaches we hired above, it becomes a force multiplier. Man I cannot wait to see what these coaches can do in year 2 as it's a minor miracle that they are all back. Add that to the offense that we are going to unleash and I'm already feeling withdrawals from a lack of "From the Bench Press"!
 
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