Kevin Steele

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2011 - 18th in total defense and SOS 54.

2022 - 51st in total defense and SOS 67.

Just going to leave this here to marinate

Hint: one guy fans would've run out of town with flaming pitchforks
Lol Dorito isn’t even the same universe as Steele…

Steele has put up elite defenses for years and even looked in the mirror post the Clemson WVU debacle and again fielded elite defenses at auburn.

If you want to direct any gripe on the defensive coaches I look at the defensive end coach and secondary coach. They legit have not had much success in the recruiting trail or seeing vast improvements in their room
 
The tackling at times, or lack of, definitely stands out for sure. I definitely should have mentioned that but again I can see better players improving that overall. The main culprits for the consistent bad/weak tackling, at least based on what I have seen and can remember are the same bunch…James, Blades, K. Smith, Flagg from time to time, and Steed before the unfortunate injury and he is going to lose the battle vs RBs and TEs 90% of the time anyway due to physical limitations anyway. James is just a soft player, all it really boils down to IMO. Yes, every defender who plays significant minutes has probably missed a tackle at some point but that happens everywhere. I’m talking about the guys we scream at in the game thread evert Saturday. James just appears to be a soft guy in general. I don’t want to throw the uncoachable label on him but I can count on one hand how many times I have seen his tall *** break down and wrap up. Why can’t he do that more often? Who knows. I can’t explain him really any other way. I am nitpicking, but we have guys that are tackling just fine as well on the 2nd and 3rd level too so whose to blame? (Rhetorical)

I don’t remember the blown coverage vs FSU but you could be right. If it happened, it wasn’t as blatant as the ones early in the season and those were the types that I was referring to. Yes, still bad nonetheless but I can’t see all that not being improved for the reasons I mentioned above and you know me, I’m not sugar coating and koolaid drinking shiet.

Don’t recall any blown coverages vs Clemson. If you saw Ivey getting dusted then that was likely just that lol, mans can’t run worth a fvck and it may look like a blown coverage lol.

Again, agree with you on all of that. All of those things you mentioned showed up and showed up too much for our liking but I saw enough on the flip side to where IMO, it can and will be much better with more reps/familiarity and better guys at those spots.

Now will those other guys get those reps when it matters next year? That’s a conversation for another day that I’m sure this board will discuss 7484848 times before September lol.
With JW0, I wonder how much of that is being soft and how much of that is just constantly reverting back to horrible habits that he’s gotten away with his whole life because he was so much more talented and bigger that everyone else. Hopefully he gets it figured out for next year.
 
Gotcha. I actually didn't mean to quote you. I meant to quote canadian initially but I clicked on your response to his post. When I erased that and went back to actually reply to his post, it kept your quote in my reply box.
all good. happy thanksgiving!
 
What were the offensive rankings each year?

About the same, within two points average of each other. 2011 being slightly better but not enough to drastically affect this topic when you consider SOS as well.

How does UVA have a better defense in our same conference with the 126th offense?

Offense can skew some stats, I can give you that.


Updated rankings. Our defense now stands at 58th, dropping 7 spots.
 
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I think the mental fortitude/resolve of the team is extremely weak and fragile and when the offense is as bad as it is, it's easy to feel defeated and hopeless when you're on the other side of the ball.

That and we've seen countless busted plays over and over again this year. Just straight up mental collapses.

I'm not sure either the mental strength or the repeated mental errors can fall on the defensive coaches from day 1, but it definitely needs to improve.

It's hard though to say it's coaching or scheme specifically when there are so many other variables and there have been a lot of good signs and improvements from the defense as well.
This is why I’m not that mad at Steele. I saw so many mental collapses which led to big plays and I think I’m biased against the players instead of the defensive coaches. If my non football eye could see busted coverages I think the coaches have no issue calling that out and I’m thinking it’s the players
 
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Who was on that 2011 tram in comparison with this 2022 team on defense???

🤔🤔🤔

No more half arguments. Need full context. Talent levels are definitely different.
 
I don't think I'm giving Steele a pass as much as still not convinced he's a problem.. the defense has shown some improvements over last year at least, right? even with the offense working against them...

But the offense has declined in every category... significantly... Gattis and this offense Mario chose is a failure. that's crystal clear. it has failed the kids. it has failed the team. it has failed the program...

Steele isn't as clear to me yet.... just my opinion...
It’s a fair point.

I’m with you most of the way but I can’t shake the part that I think paying the salaries we are paying, we should have a clearer picture after one year

Not that everything would be turned around or fixed necessarily, but with elite money to throw around I think we should be able to be confident in a guy by now

If that makes any sense
 
It’s a fair point.

I’m with you most of the way but I can’t shake the part that I think paying the salaries we are paying, we should have a clearer picture after one year

Not that everything would be turned around or fixed necessarily, but with elite money to throw around I think we should be able to be confident in a guy by now

If that makes any sense
I’m with you. The old adage “you get what you pay for” didn’t quite workout in this scenario. Did the defense regress, or did the O demoralize and constantly put them in a hole It’s hard to tell but i for one was expecting to have, at the very least, some improvements in some areas w this staff full of stars. Ultimately tho, is this D staff just too old? Are they hungry enough to fight the good fight? Maybe some up and comers are the way to move forward. Idk
 
Both guys.. should be shown the door.

Both are not a fit.

Neither is Mario.. but that’s a waste of time.. we no where near close being allowed to call for his head.
 
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Fire him tomorrow with Gattis and Ponce

He’s horrendous and allowed the fkn counter again to let him get down 2 TDs and didn’t adjust.

He’s given up 45 now what? 4-5x?
 
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