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Insightful X post from RomanCane

I'm going to write a longer post about this once certain numbers have been updated, but all in all, our defense needs to go back into one very small principle:

Decrease the percentage of the opposing offense having a successful play.

And that starts with coverage depth and the overall philosophy. No more bend but don't break. Be aggressive coverage wise and force them to throw the football downfield.
 
The blitz packages are stale, and teams are ahead of them. Two adjustments I'd love to see:

I would like us to eliminate the thrid level blitzes and be more sound in coverage, that's our weakness clearly. If that means we give up a little more on the running game, so be it.

The passing off of responsibility behind the blitzes is crap, they can't do it. Better off sending a LB downhill and having a DB fill the middle of the field. Our LB are lost on drops.

On the edge pressures, we need to do more disguising and looping, even if teams guess right and we get gashed a few times, it will make teams process and account for more upfront. Right now, they know where the space is and they're hitting it with ease.
 
Bender said:
I'm going to write a longer post about this once certain numbers have been updated, but all in all, our defense needs to go back into one very small principle:

Decrease the percentage of the opposing offense having a successful play.

And that starts with coverage depth and the overall philosophy. No more bend but don't break. Be aggressive coverage wise and force them to throw the football downfield.
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Bend but don’t break is fine until you don’t get consistent pressure or miss insane amount of tackles. On top of that refs are told to not call holds unless it’s obvious so that element is gone. Lastly we aren’t a smart defense and lack discipline in zones so we can’t even firm up in red zone holding teams to field goals. So knowing we don’t check many boxes for running a bend but don’t break defense tells me we should be more aggressive. I’m not saying blitzing recklessly but allowing more bump in run and maybe more games upfront.
 
simplycanes said:
The blitz packages are stale, and teams are ahead of them. Two adjustments I'd love to see:

I would like us to eliminate the thrid level blitzes and be more sound in coverage, that's our weakness clearly. If that means we give up a little more on the running game, so be it.

The passing off of responsibility behind the blitzes is crap, they can't do it. Better off sending a LB downhill and having a DB fill the middle of the field. Our LB are lost on drops.

On the edge pressures, we need to do more disguising and looping, even if teams guess right and we get gashed a few times, it will make teams process and account for more upfront. Right now, they know where the space is and they're hitting it with ease.
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Changing the picture from pre to post snap. Maybe the guys aren’t smart enough for that but it’s not difficult. Also I’d much rather the blitzes come up the middle since our lb’s are big and rangy yet weak in coverage. Mug blitz with them with less pressure off the edge . At least sale it in pre snap as double mug then bring the nickel from the edge or vice versa. Everything currently is predictable as ****.
 
CityboyCanes4life82 said:
You guys just have to accept that UM are playing with major injuries.

We lost Jakobe Thomas and Keionte Scott to the NFL. Then OJ Frederique goes down in the first game and hasn’t returned. Xavier Lucas misses several weeks, Damari Brown has been dealing with injuries, and Ja’Boree Antoine has been out all season.

That’s six defensive backs who either left for the NFL or have dealt with injuries.

And here’s something else people seem to be overlooking. Bryce Fitzgerald was a Freshman All-American at safety last year, and we had to move him to cornerback just to help fill the holes. That meant putting a true freshman, JJ Dunnigan, at safety.

Think about that for a second. We’re moving an All-American away from his natural position and asking freshmen and backups to take on responsibilities they probably weren’t expected to have this early.

Now, I’m not saying Hetherman shouldn’t make adjustments. Of course he should. But I think there’s a difference between opposing coordinators figuring out your defensive scheme and your defense not having the personnel available to execute it the same way.
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We still have more talent than Syracuse
 
Cribby said:
Bend but don’t break is fine until you don’t get consistent pressure or miss insane amount of tackles. On top of that refs are told to not call holds unless it’s obvious so that element is gone. Lastly we aren’t a smart defense and lack discipline in zones so we can’t even firm up in red zone holding teams to field goals. So knowing we don’t check many boxes for running a bend but don’t break defense tells me we should be more aggressive. I’m not saying blitzing recklessly but allowing more bump in run and maybe more games upfront.
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We need to match routes underneath and get more physical in there. I'm sick of people running underneath and stopping on routes uncontested. It's easy for a QB to complete these passes consistently and get down the field. And we can't tackle, because we're running past our feet all the time.

I'd rather get bombed all the time compared to that. The few times where the UNC QB had to wait past the first read, the pass rush got through and we eventually forced a fumble. But seeing that UNC QB look like Tom Brady hitting receivers underneath for the entire game and having success made me sick.
 
Bender said:
We need to match routes underneath and get more physical in there. I'm sick of people running underneath and stopping on routes uncontested. It's easy for a QB to complete these passes consistently and get down the field. And we can't tackle, because we're running past our feet all the time.

I'd rather get bombed all the time compared to that. The few times where the UNC QB had to wait past the first read, the pass rush got through and we eventually forced a fumble. But seeing that UNC QB look like Tom Brady hitting receivers underneath for the entire game and having success made me sick.
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Totally agree. Allowing teams to paper cut us to death while running clock is counter productive for our offense.

No wr wants to be bumped or rode into his route , free releases is playing tight into their hands. Especially when they know we’re bailing most plays
 
Cribby said:
Totally agree. Allowing teams to paper cut us to death while running clock is counter productive for our offense.

No wr wants to be bumped or rode into his route , free releases is playing tight into their hands. Especially when they know we’re bailing most plays
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And it slows everyone down up front. I can't expect 300 pound players to rush all game consistently well. Doesn't happen.
 
From those many fans who also, follow the Eagles, we are living in the same universe. Watching the Eagles now is like watching a replay of Miami games, except Fangio has about 40 years experience and not nearly the injury issues.
 
Wasn’t there supposed to be some new thorough self scouting process in the offseason? Was it spearheaded by the special teams coach?
 
mirvin88 said:
We still have more talent than Syracuse
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Talent and experience are two completely different things. I said this when we first got hit with the injury bug. Everybody on this roster is talented enough to play on Saturdays, but when you’re forced to play inexperienced guys, you’re going to have some highs and lows. I even said back then to expect some head-scratching Saturdays where the secondary looks completely lost.

To me, there are three different things in football: talent, knowing the playbook, and understanding how to actually play the game.

These young guys have talent, and they know the playbook. But understanding the game is something that comes with experience and repetition.

It’s one thing to know where you’re supposed to be. It’s another to recognize route combinations before the snap, understand pursuit angles, anticipate what the offense is trying to set up, know when to pass off a receiver in coverage, or even bait a quarterback into throwing a ball he thinks is open. Those are things you develop from seeing situations over and over again.

For example, an experienced defensive back sees the offense line up in a bunch formation on 3rd and 8. Then they send someone in motion or shift the running back. He’s already processing what that means. Based on the formation, down and distance, and tendencies he’s seen before, he has a pretty good idea of what route combinations might be coming. He knows whether they’re in a Cover 2 or Cover 3 shell, where the potential weaknesses are, and where the quarterback is likely trying to attack.

Maybe he’s anticipating a corner route behind the flat defender in Cover 2, or a flood concept attacking one side of a Cover 3. He might recognize that the offense is trying to create a natural pick out of that bunch formation. He’s not just waiting for the play to develop. He’s already thinking two steps ahead and positioning himself to take away what the offense wants.

That’s the difference experience makes. Eventually, you’re not just reacting to what you see. You’re anticipating what’s coming because you’ve seen it so many times before.

And unfortunately, some of that learning comes from making mistakes.
 
88 said:
Wasn’t there supposed to be some new thorough self scouting process in the offseason? Was it spearheaded by the special teams coach?
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We don't have a special teams coach. Hope that answers your question.
 
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