Lu, why do you say it's not all the CBs fault? They have not played well, relatively same defense as last year, but with much better play among the front 7. Last year this group was very solid all things considered.
I said it's not all their fault. You're seeing a defense predicated on allowing certain things with the overarching goal of ultimately having offenses stop themselves. It is the opposite of a disruptive front that allows CBs/DBs anticipate and base their aggression on what they expect from a QB/offense. For example, we rarely force QBs to their off shoulder with overload blitzes. We rarely force QBs into 3-step drops or quick decisions. On the contrary, whether we're dropping into a softer zone or showing press, the entire field is often available and DBs will be on their heels.
What are these CBs strengths?
The common refrain is we should be playing one gap press man because this is the defense they grew up playing in south Florida. No one ever mentions when they say that our entire starting defensive front isn't from south Florida. 2 CBs(Gunter and Crawford) who get plenty of run aren't as well. A third in Elder isn't either.
So what are the actual strengths of the guys that play?
I don't think you've ever seen me write that. When I talk about the strengths of the geographic region we recruit from, I'm talking about all defensive positions - not just DL. The strength of our guys is to play fast. They're not naturally big guys. I don't think we have more than 2 total DBs who are "process information" guys. Whether they're from South Florida or Mars, even those "assignment" guys will look slow when they're on their heels. I'd challenge anyone to produce evidence of a Defensive Backfield that performs well when the offense is dictating the alignment and pace. Then I'd challenge them to produce any data that shows we have ever dictated to an opponent. I can definitely show you where our formations - coverage and DL alignment - are completely predicated on the offense, however.
What is the actual make up of our guys? I see a defense with a pretty diverse background in terms of location throughout the two deep. I think currently the notion of "our guys" can be debated. They've gone abroad so to speak to grab nose tackles. You've talked about the feasibility of continuing that. Darrion Owens(Jacksonville) is gonna grow without much help into a 240 lb SAM. They've told Quarterman(Jacksonville) who was already 235 or so as a junior to slim down which he did according to his dad. We'll see if guys like Grace continue to be recruited. I think ones in south Florida will. We'll see how he does. Clearly they're making it more difficult on themselves recruiting this way because if they stay as rigid with recruiting and the defense as they've been the last the three years then plenty of playmaking Florida backers will go play somewhere else and we'll be ****ed the next couple of years.
As far as the defensive backfield is concerned I think a bit much is being made of those hope and prayers that were completed. I attribute it more to boredom and surprise that they needed to make a play more than anything else. Simply could've been a bad night for Tracy too.
I don't think Jamal Carter is playing slow. Armbrister isn't. Denzel is a liability in coverage but playing slow isn't a knock on him right now. Grace is another guy I believe who isn't too busy processing to make plays.
I think with the flexibility and talent of the safeties you'll see that secondary do more. A. Crawford went from a slot corner to a deep safety after the slot receiver motioned across the formation. Bush came down to cover him. I don't remember seeing that much if ever with this defense. Happened a couple other times too.
