Less Robotic

ball915

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The biggest difference we saw on Thursday night defensively besides the aggression is that the players played more freely instead of so wound up. The players didn't look as scripted as usual and their freedom allowed them to make plays. That freedom allowed us to use our strength which is our speed and athleticism to make plays. Most tackles were gang tackles with numerous players swarming unlike being isolated. There was a prime play where Perryman shot into the backfield on an angle during a run play, actually overran the play with his speed and forced their RB into 4 of our defenders. While we still lined up in the Golden Doritio scheme, we didn't see it as much but the post snap reactions were significantly different than the past. Hoping these bozos can see that and not revert back to the old for the UNC game.

"Williams is a shifty QB that can hurt us with feet and arm on the big play so we have to play assigment football" is what we can expect to hear from those two this week. Praying our guys continue to play with freedom instead of overanalyzed computered stiff emotionless robots.....
 
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Defensively, they still lack the ability to call shifts, and call and call off blitzes.


When we run a corner/safety blitz and it gets sniffed out or mistimed, they are still stuck in the same blitz package with no ability to call it off. Watch for Artie Burns blitzing (VT's first offensive play of the second half) from the short side. He tips it way early, but remains stuck. VT sees it, and audibles to a run to the opposite side.

UM-VT 1.webp

In the second half, when VT started moving the ball, they started running right at McCord as he was lined up as a 3-4 LB, they basically ran right at him almost every running play they did, every time he was enveloped by the VT tackle. Several times they would shift a TE over to basically double team him at the first level, but we never adjusted or gave our players the freedom to shift. VT had more success running because of things like this, and possibly would've made it interesting had our defensive play-makers not made a couple of great strips and fumble-causing hits. And I will barely mention that, in the second half, when VT switched to the no huddle to pick up tempo, we didn't adapt until they were almost to the goal line...


No, you're not seeing the forest for the rotted stump of a tree that was VT's putrid offense.


We still have the same ill-schemed, inflexible, overly-complicated, and poorly-implemented defense that cost us games on the field, and top recruits off it. That hasn't changed, and won't until Golden feels threatened enough to replace his defensive coordinator, or is replaced himself.
 
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Here's another one for you. I know many people have talked about us blitzing more. Well, here's the interesting thing, it's not that we, over the last three and a half years, haven't blitzed, it's just that we've been pretty **** bad at it because of our rigidity (among other things). Dorito blitzed quite a bit, more than normal against VT, but, because they suck and horribly lack offensive talent, it took them awhile to adjust.


This is us getting ready to blitz our interior linebacker. Chick is lined up strong (TE) side, VT has their FB on the weak side. The outside LBs job in this defense is to do everything from cover WRs in space, to take on opposing tackles to set an edge. Here, since Harris, up top (admittedly, a freshmen) has corner help up, his initial job is to penetrate and disrupt as part of the blitz.

...But Virginia Tech shifts.


VT-Mia2.webp


The corner rolls up to cover the WR outside, and Fentress rolls over to cover him inside, Fentress, all 5'5" of him, is now to set the edge. Meanwhile, look at our linebackers, pretty obvious what we're up to.


VTMia3.webp





Because of their shifting, what was once their weak side is now their strong side. We, of course, stay in the same formation, with the same call on. VT even pulls a lineman. The TE, in conjunction with the FB, obliterate the crashing Harris. The pulling lineman gets a free shot on Perryman, the wide receiver blocks Fentress...who I guess had edge responsibility to the short side (whoops), and VT rumbles for a 41 yard gain.

VTMia4.webp


The thing is, yes, this is an isolated play, one that resulted in a big gain. Often, it's many, many, many 5-10 yard plays, often set up by little mismatches. ****, what little success VT had in that game came running straight at McCord...seriously, go back and watch the 3rd quarter, they either run straight at him, or double team our NT and rely on choosing the gap that Pierre vacates. And the thing is...we never adapt. VT just didn't have the weapons to hurt us.


You might want to think that something's changed...but it's the same defense and scheme, rigid in principle and personnel, that has haunted us with its epic failures over the last 4 years.
 
the biggest difference you seen was them playing against a ****** offense
This. Let's see the defense against FSU then we will know. It's easy to beat up on teams that don't have an offense or can't come close to matching up against us in talent. Let's see what happens when we face a team that is more talented and well coached. If golden is the sudden genius everyone is making him out to be then I expect a solid showing against FSU.
 
We also run the same stunt on nearly every passing down situation. It's almost comical

We still play it safe most passing downs, trying to generate pressure with 3 or 4. We did blitz quite a bit on 1st down vs VT, which I don't remember seeing as much of earlier in the year.
 
Defensively, they still lack the ability to call shifts, and call and call off blitzes.


When we run a corner/safety blitz and it gets sniffed out or mistimed, they are still stuck in the same blitz package with no ability to call it off. Watch for Artie Burns blitzing (VT's first offensive play of the second half) from the short side. He tips it way early, but remains stuck. VT sees it, and audibles to a run to the opposite side.

View attachment 26811

In the second half, when VT started moving the ball, they started running right at McCord as he was lined up as a 3-4 LB, they basically ran right at him almost every running play they did, every time he was enveloped by the VT tackle. Several times they would shift a TE over to basically double team him at the first level, but we never adjusted or gave our players the freedom to shift. VT had more success running because of things like this, and possibly would've made it interesting had our defensive play-makers not made a couple of great strips and fumble-causing hits. And I will barely mention that, in the second half, when VT switched to the no huddle to pick up tempo, we didn't adapt until they were almost to the goal line...


No, you're not seeing the forest for the rotted stump of a tree that was VT's putrid offense.


We still have the same ill-schemed, inflexible, overly-complicated, and poorly-implemented defense that cost us games on the field, and top recruits off it. That hasn't changed, and won't until Golden feels threatened enough to replace his defensive coordinator, or is replaced himself.

that pic shows either a massive error, or just how little they respected Brewer, that flankers completely unaccounted for
 
Defensively, they still lack the ability to call shifts, and call and call off blitzes.


When we run a corner/safety blitz and it gets sniffed out or mistimed, they are still stuck in the same blitz package with no ability to call it off. Watch for Artie Burns blitzing (VT's first offensive play of the second half) from the short side. He tips it way early, but remains stuck. VT sees it, and audibles to a run to the opposite side.

View attachment 26811

In the second half, when VT started moving the ball, they started running right at McCord as he was lined up as a 3-4 LB, they basically ran right at him almost every running play they did, every time he was enveloped by the VT tackle. Several times they would shift a TE over to basically double team him at the first level, but we never adjusted or gave our players the freedom to shift. VT had more success running because of things like this, and possibly would've made it interesting had our defensive play-makers not made a couple of great strips and fumble-causing hits. And I will barely mention that, in the second half, when VT switched to the no huddle to pick up tempo, we didn't adapt until they were almost to the goal line...


No, you're not seeing the forest for the rotted stump of a tree that was VT's putrid offense.


We still have the same ill-schemed, inflexible, overly-complicated, and poorly-implemented defense that cost us games on the field, and top recruits off it. That hasn't changed, and won't until Golden feels threatened enough to replace his defensive coordinator, or is replaced himself.

that pic shows either a massive error, or just how little they respected Brewer, that flankers completely unaccounted for

What's funny is you see the WR pointing at the blitzing Artie Burns, if they audible to a quick pass out to the WR, even with the safety running up to cover, they get some yards.

Instead, maybe not believing that we'd still send the corner (slow on the uptake maybe?) they audible to running away from the blitz.
 
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We still have the same ill-schemed, inflexible, overly-complicated, and poorly-implemented defense that cost us games on the field, and top recruits off it. That hasn't changed, and won't until Golden feels threatened enough to replace his defensive coordinator, or is replaced himself.

black-guy-clapping.gif
 
Dorito ******* sucks. No two ways about it.

Stop trying to rationalize yourself into accepting schit sandwiches as gourmet.
 
Here's another one for you. I know many people have talked about us blitzing more. Well, here's the interesting thing, it's not that we, over the last three and a half years, haven't blitzed, it's just that we've been pretty **** bad at it because of our rigidity (among other things). Dorito blitzed quite a bit, more than normal against VT, but, because they suck and horribly lack offensive talent, it took them awhile to adjust.


This is us getting ready to blitz our interior linebacker. Chick is lined up strong (TE) side, VT has their FB on the weak side. The outside LBs job in this defense is to do everything from cover WRs in space, to take on opposing tackles to set an edge. Here, since Harris, up top (admittedly, a freshmen) has corner help up, his initial job is to penetrate and disrupt as part of the blitz.

...But Virginia Tech shifts.


View attachment 26812


The corner rolls up to cover the WR outside, and Fentress rolls over to cover him inside, Fentress, all 5'5" of him, is now to set the edge. Meanwhile, look at our linebackers, pretty obvious what we're up to.


View attachment 26814





Because of their shifting, what was once their weak side is now their strong side. We, of course, stay in the same formation, with the same call on. VT even pulls a lineman. The TE, in conjunction with the FB, obliterate the crashing Harris. The pulling lineman gets a free shot on Perryman, the wide receiver blocks Fentress...who I guess had edge responsibility to the short side (whoops), and VT rumbles for a 41 yard gain.

View attachment 26813


The thing is, yes, this is an isolated play, one that resulted in a big gain. Often, it's many, many, many 5-10 yard plays, often set up by little mismatches. ****, what little success VT had in that game came running straight at McCord...seriously, go back and watch the 3rd quarter, they either run straight at him, or double team our NT and rely on choosing the gap that Pierre vacates. And the thing is...we never adapt. VT just didn't have the weapons to hurt us.


You might want to think that something's changed...but it's the same defense and scheme, rigid in principle and personnel, that has haunted us with its epic failures over the last 4 years.

I wouldn't have seen that stuff if you didn't break it down for us. Good work. You should do a weekly post for the site after each game.
 
Up tempo is still an issue with the D. Anytime an opponent starts to speed up the pace we are often unset or not prepared at the snap.
 
Here's another one for you. I know many people have talked about us blitzing more. Well, here's the interesting thing, it's not that we, over the last three and a half years, haven't blitzed, it's just that we've been pretty **** bad at it because of our rigidity (among other things). Dorito blitzed quite a bit, more than normal against VT, but, because they suck and horribly lack offensive talent, it took them awhile to adjust.


This is us getting ready to blitz our interior linebacker. Chick is lined up strong (TE) side, VT has their FB on the weak side. The outside LBs job in this defense is to do everything from cover WRs in space, to take on opposing tackles to set an edge. Here, since Harris, up top (admittedly, a freshmen) has corner help up, his initial job is to penetrate and disrupt as part of the blitz.

...But Virginia Tech shifts.


View attachment 26812


The corner rolls up to cover the WR outside, and Fentress rolls over to cover him inside, Fentress, all 5'5" of him, is now to set the edge. Meanwhile, look at our linebackers, pretty obvious what we're up to.


View attachment 26814





Because of their shifting, what was once their weak side is now their strong side. We, of course, stay in the same formation, with the same call on. VT even pulls a lineman. The TE, in conjunction with the FB, obliterate the crashing Harris. The pulling lineman gets a free shot on Perryman, the wide receiver blocks Fentress...who I guess had edge responsibility to the short side (whoops), and VT rumbles for a 41 yard gain.

View attachment 26813


The thing is, yes, this is an isolated play, one that resulted in a big gain. Often, it's many, many, many 5-10 yard plays, often set up by little mismatches. ****, what little success VT had in that game came running straight at McCord...seriously, go back and watch the 3rd quarter, they either run straight at him, or double team our NT and rely on choosing the gap that Pierre vacates. And the thing is...we never adapt. VT just didn't have the weapons to hurt us.


You might want to think that something's changed...but it's the same defense and scheme, rigid in principle and personnel, that has haunted us with its epic failures over the last 4 years.

I wouldn't have seen that stuff if you didn't break it down for us. Good work. You should do a weekly post for the site after each game.


Nope. The current version of Miami football drives me to drink way too much. The majority of fall weekends, I'm left with nothing but a vague, fuzzy sensation of opportunities missed, of mistakes made.


Well, that and a hangover.
 
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I'm pretty concern Harris was not supposed to crash on that play.

YEah, it looked like a bust in the scheme. Normally when the DL crashes, there's always 1-2 who fill the vacated area to take on the carrier. It was wide open.
 
By no means am I crowning Golden/D'Onfrio or defending what they have done here in 3.5 years. The post was more of an observation to success that we saw on Thursday and felt like it needed to be acknowledged as it was a very different feeling than the last 3.5 years. Expecting the old Golden/D'Onfrio against UNC and their QB to be receiving Heisman votes after the game
 
I'm pretty concern Harris was not supposed to crash on that play.

I agree with you. And on the safety blitz the WR is not "unaccounted for." The safety is coming down for him. Nothing too interesting there--tons of teams do it.

As for the OP, I think the guys are playing a bit faster and it's a product of two things. One is that they do seem more comfortable with what they're doing. It's hard to dispute that at least at this point in time unless somebody just wants to ignore everything and act like the defense hasn't improved AT ALL. The second is that they haven't recently faced a team that makes them hesitant. It's easy to stay in a comfort zone until somebody runs past you or you get fooled. That generally forces you to pause. Teams like Duke and VT haven't been able to do that to us. UNC may be able to. FSU obviously holds that capacity.

Whether this defense is better is not a question for me. They are better. They have some better athletes and they're more comfortable with what they are doing. But the defense was once historically bad. So the question is whether "better" lands us as a middling, 40th ranked defense or a top 15 type of defense. That remains to be seen. Most including myself think we'll regress to a real extent. But I will say this--it is nice for me at least to be interested in what the defense *might* do next game as opposed to feeling like you have to change the channel once we punt to avoid punching something.
 
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