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Defensive Improvements we need to see.

Lance Roffers said:
I'd need to see the first play run through, but are you sure Pinckney isn't spying the QB there and they just called the perfect play against the defense we ran?

That's not me saying that for sure, it's asking the question because in that still it looks like Pinckney is either spying, or he's stepping up to blitz because he doesn't believe anyone in his coverage area. If it's the latter, then yes, he stepped up too quickly and lost eye discipline and should've read his keys. If he's the spy there, then it's more understandable.

My problem with Mann Diaz' defense's thus far have been the fact he's too aggressive on 3rd down. If it were me, I'd be even more aggressive on 1st & 2nd down and play a lot more soft zone on 3rd and long.

Either way, appreciate the efforts. When it comes to LB play it's often difficult to understand what the responsibility was from a gap standpoint without understanding the entire defensive call (which is often tough to do from this side of things). I agree that Pinckney was often undisciplined and went for the big play rather than staying in his gap. He often cost the defense first downs last year.
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I disagree if he's spying there's no reason for him to attack the QB on 3rd and 18 until he's engaging to run. This is the whole point understanding down and distance along with your assignment.
 
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TXBO said:
I completely agree with everything you said! Minus the last part ("teammates execution") just sounds harsh.
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Haha I didn't mean it in a harsh way! I think a player is more confident in focusing on his own role if he knows his teammates are handling their responsibilities.

Young players are so use to making plays all over the field in high school, it takes time to reprogram their playing styles (Bandy talked about this last year) and just trust that the defence works best when you do your job.

With so many Juniors and Seniors on the roster they should have that trust in each other and trust in the scheme.
 
zanecane said:
Not to be rude. But you won't win championships with the attitude "I'm sure every team has mental errors also"

That Bama D expects everyone to play their role perfectly and so should we.
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I feel you. Your point is well taken..but Realistically ANY D can be nickpicked A play here and a play there. And Also like someone pointed out in the thread the observations are based on the assumption that the op knows exactly every assignment. Not even challenging his fb knowledge at all. Bottom line, the O has a job to trick the D or flat out out execute & that could be the problem on these plays that where pointed out. Unless your in the meeting rooms for film and exactly what’s going on it’s hard make educated conclusion from snap shots. Post like these are appreciated tho
 
I believe we became too predictable as well. I recall in the game threads, many of us were posting what Diaz was going to run in certain situations and sure enough, it came to fruition.

Too much zone and zone blitz, for my liking. Also, would like for our DBs to play more press, which we saw in 2016 and it tailed off in 2017.

But we gotta get 3rd Downs under control. Too many blown plays, making weak QBs look great.
 
Good observation and obvious football knowledge...but how do we know what their assignments were on those plays... what if Mike's was an a delayed blitz
 
After the Golden era I prayed that we got more aggressive. Golden would always be on and on about how we didn't have talent. I always said well if you don't have talent we need to play more more aggressive instead of just letting dudes throw and run all day long on our defense.
 
The amount of times Pinckney overruns plays and is out of position is mind blowing. He is probably our most overrated player on defense.

Derrick Smith also looks like he has a lot of potential but he took a lot of bad angles last year. We need improvement from our LBs if we want our D to take the next step.
 
"Too much chocolate makes you sick"

The definition of a Manny Diaz defense.
 
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Lance Roffers said:
I'd need to see the first play run through, but are you sure Pinckney isn't spying the QB there and they just called the perfect play against the defense we ran?

That's not me saying that for sure, it's asking the question because in that still it looks like Pinckney is either spying, or he's stepping up to blitz because he doesn't believe anyone in his coverage area. If it's the latter, then yes, he stepped up too quickly and lost eye discipline and should've read his keys. If he's the spy there, then it's more understandable.

My problem with Mann Diaz' defense's thus far have been the fact he's too aggressive on 3rd down. If it were me, I'd be even more aggressive on 1st & 2nd down and play a lot more soft zone on 3rd and long.

Either way, appreciate the efforts. When it comes to LB play it's often difficult to understand what the responsibility was from a gap standpoint without understanding the entire defensive call (which is often tough to do from this side of things). I agree that Pinckney was often undisciplined and went for the big play rather than staying in his gap. He often cost the defense first downs last year.
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You thought we were aggressive on 3rd down? Maybe sending more guys, but the coverage was way too soft, IMO. I never saw CBs jam WRs at the LOS, and our safetys were always over the top to prevent big plays. We got shredded underneath.

You clearly know your ****, and I’m not calling you out. Just curious to hear you expound on your thoughts a little.
 
I'm looking forward to this years defense.

We've had a **** ton of young talent making up most of the defense for 2 years. Guys that in normal times. We would've seen sitting back watching and getting mentored by upperclassmen.

These young guys have made mistakes, but they have also played beyond what anyone would've expected.

I think these guys entering year 3. Will make the improvement needed for the defense to go to the next level.
 
scrantoncane said:
You thought we were aggressive on 3rd down? Maybe sending more guys, but the coverage was way too soft, IMO. I never saw CBs jam WRs at the LOS, and our safetys were always over the top to prevent big plays. We got shredded underneath.

You clearly know your ****, and I’m not calling you out. Just curious to hear you expound on your thoughts a little.
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I thought we blitzed far too often on 3rd down given our speed and tackling ability. For me, you don't want to be up putting your hands on a guy when it's 3rd and 18 because it opens up a lot more bad than good in my opinion. I tend to let my professional training/education into my sports analysis, but it's the same with anything. When I'm starting a project I always started with what was my overall end goal? On 3rd and 18 what is your overall end goal? It's to stop them from gaining 18 yards (I'd argue 16 or less so they don't then just go for it depending on field position).

So, if I'm starting with the stated goal of holding them to 16 yards or less, I don't get my corners up on their receivers. Why?

1. Playing bump-and-run opens you up to fade routes on the edges if you have a matchup disadvantage in size.
2. Playing bump-and-run opens you up a holding penalty/pass interference penalty and a free first down.
3. Playing BNR opens you up to a big play much more often. If my CB lunges, jams with the wrong hand, or slips, it's probably a big play.

Now, if my CB is playing off-coverage, it limits the routes the opponent can freely run. A go-route (or 9-route) is a very low percentage play against off-coverage. It encourages the opponent to run an option route and break it off to the slant. Then you rally and make the tackle with an umbrella, or shell, defense. Off-coverage covers up mismatches on the edges and reduces chances of holding or PI being called. Off-coverage makes it easy to complete the pass, but really limits your ability to get the full 18 yards.

Finally, keep in mind there is a difference between "press" coverage and "jamming" the receiver. I don't mind the corner getting up on the LOS as long as he's bailing at the snap and not trying to jam. There just isn't the need to take more risk if your goal is to hold the opponent to 16 yards or less on a given play.

-Now, change the goal, and you change the way I'd call the play. Aggression goes up the more I need to reduce the yardage to go. Within reason, of course.
 
Lance Roffers said:
I thought we blitzed far too often on 3rd down given our speed and tackling ability. For me, you don't want to be up putting your hands on a guy when it's 3rd and 18 because it opens up a lot more bad than good in my opinion. I tend to let my professional training/education into my sports analysis, but it's the same with anything. When I'm starting a project I always started with what was my overall end goal? On 3rd and 18 what is your overall end goal? It's to stop them from gaining 18 yards (I'd argue 16 or less so they don't then just go for it depending on field position).

So, if I'm starting with the stated goal of holding them to 16 yards or less, I don't get my corners up on their receivers. Why?

1. Playing bump-and-run opens you up to fade routes on the edges if you have a matchup disadvantage in size.
2. Playing bump-and-run opens you up a holding penalty/pass interference penalty and a free first down.
3. Playing BNR opens you up to a big play much more often. If my CB lunges, jams with the wrong hand, or slips, it's probably a big play.

Now, if my CB is playing off-coverage, it limits the routes the opponent can freely run. A go-route (or 9-route) is a very low percentage play against off-coverage. It encourages the opponent to run an option route and break it off to the slant. Then you rally and make the tackle with an umbrella, or shell, defense. Off-coverage covers up mismatches on the edges and reduces chances of holding or PI being called. Off-coverage makes it easy to complete the pass, but really limits your ability to get the full 18 yards.

Finally, keep in mind there is a difference between "press" coverage and "jamming" the receiver. I don't mind the corner getting up on the LOS as long as he's bailing at the snap and not trying to jam. There just isn't the need to take more risk if your goal is to hold the opponent to 16 yards or less on a given play.

-Now, change the goal, and you change the way I'd call the play. Aggression goes up the more I need to reduce the yardage to go. Within reason, of course.
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Ok. I didn’t realize you were talking about this specific 3rd and 18. I was talking on 3rd down in general. Makes sense now.
 
My main gripe has been the same since Diaz got here...

ALLOWING WR's TO RUN UNCONTESTED DOWN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DEFENSE.

Our LB's stare at the QB.
They don't apex routes and/or collision/re-route WR's.
They don't get adequate depth.

Time and time again we've seen WR's run uncontested in the vacant zone behind our LB's and it often leads to 3rd down conversions.
One of the most important things a defense needs to do is TAKE AWAY THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. It's where all of the easy throws are. Make the ball go outside.

My other issue is how often we leave the #2 receiver (slot) uncovered. The LB to that side is in the box and the only player covering the slot is our Safety at 10 yards. Well WTF?! QB's are just going to snap the ball and throw a quick-hitch to the slot. (which we saw plenty times)

We get dinked and dunked to death at times and it's aggravating.
 
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Coach Macho said:
My main gripe has been the same since Diaz got here...

ALLOWING WR's TO RUN UNCONTESTED DOWN THE MIDDLE OF OUR DEFENSE.

Our LB's stare at the QB.
They don't apex routes and/or collision/re-route WR's.
They don't get adequate depth.

Time and time again we've seen WR's run uncontested in the vacant zone behind our LB's and it often leads to 3rd down conversions.
One of the most important things a defense needs to do is TAKE AWAY THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. It's where all of the easy throws are. Make the ball go outside.

My other issue is how often we leave the #2 receiver (slot) uncovered. The LB to that side is in the box and the only player covering the slot is our Safety at 10 yards. Well WTF?! QB's are just going to snap the ball and throw a quick-hitch to the slot. (which we saw plenty times)

We get dinked and dunked to death at times and it's aggravating.
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I know LSU is going to a 4-5 WR set offense this year according to Orgeron and if they are reviewing the Toledo and UVA film to attack our D then you are spot on. Hoping Diaz fixed this and made the adjustments going into the season.
 
Jassid82 said:
I know LSU is going to a 4-5 WR set offense this year according to Orgeron and if they are reviewing the Toledo and UVA film to attack our D then you are spot on. Hoping Diaz fixed this and made the adjustments going into the season.
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Jassid82 said:
I know LSU is going to a 4-5 WR set offense this year according to Orgeron and if they are reviewing the Toledo and UVA film to attack our D then you are spot on. Hoping Diaz fixed this and made the adjustments going into the season.
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When I coached... we taught to WALL the inside receiver... re-direct there routes... that worked... until we met teams that ran RPO... When running RPO most of the time the QB que is the MLB (if we could hear the play on the field we would here the center... pointing at the Mike screaming some of the sort MIKE Zero) If the MLB/WLB vacates the box to pick up a receiver... then the number in the box becomes an offensive advantage then the R becomes the option in RPO. If we were to jump the WR to reroute and teams ran the ball up our gut... then our opinion would be... why in the **** our we giving up the middle of the field... I can here it now. My point is … its not as simple as some think... you just can't try and jump routes and get gashed up the gut... or even defend the gut and get gashed up the seams...
 
UknowWhat said:
When I coached... we taught to WALL the inside receiver... re-direct there routes... that worked... until we met teams that ran RPO... When running RPO most of the time the QB que is the MLB (if we could hear the play on the field we would here the center... pointing at the Mike screaming some of the sort MIKE Zero) If the MLB/WLB vacates the box to pick up a receiver... then the number in the box becomes an offensive advantage then the R becomes the option in RPO. If we were to jump the WR to reroute and teams ran the ball up our gut... then our opinion would be... why in the **** our we giving up the middle of the field... I can here it now. My point is … its not as simple as some think... you just can't try and jump routes and get gashed up the gut... or even defend the gut and get gashed up the seams...
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For every defensive gameplan, there's an offensive adjustment and vice versa. Always a concession or consequence for any decision made. (I'm agreeing with what you say)

It's why the team with more talent tends to win the game.
 
The gripe that I'm referring to has nothing to do with what happens during RPO's though, it's what we do versus standard pass plays.

How many times are our Linebackers going to stand at 7 yards and stare at the quarterback while receivers run behind them uncontested?

I'm assuming our Linebackers are not taught to get their eyes on receivers. They're taught to eye the quarterback and break on the ball. (which seldom works anymore)

I hate spot-dropping. I think it's prehistoric and too easy to defeat. Some Defensive Coordinators still prefer it however, and I guess they have their reasons. Nobody will ever be able to convince me that it's a better approach. And considering the fact that the best defenses in the NCAA and NFL implement pattern-matching instead of spot-dropping, I stand pretty solid in my opinion.
 
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