Okay now I see why we're going to play a lot of 4-2-5.

[TheChosenOne]

At first I thought Manny was just going to follow the VT blueprint but I decide to look back at the 2016 defense to find out why that defense looked much better then this year's defense. Right off the bat you realized why. We played a lot of 4-2-5 defense and now I see why we're reverting back to it. Makes me wonder if Manny just didn't trust the DBs we had last year or if he was experimenting but either way we suffered playing to much 4-3.

In 2016 We had Colbert, Elder, Jenkins, Carter, Johnson, and Young gained some PT down the stretch. We just looked so much faster sideline to sideline because of the extra speed on the field. You would see that a lot in the NC State game and especially the WVU game. Now I don't know what the stats say but visually we looked so much better. Now our 3rd down defense was not that much better but I think that had more to do with Manny's reckless blitzing on 3rd down. (There were times he would blitz on 3rd and 9+ FFS). Seriously, I sometimes think Manny doesn't have a basic Tampa 2 or 2 Man Under coverage in his playbook because of how little he uses it especially Tampa 2 and on 3rd and long situations and it is infuriating.

Another things in 2016 that hurt us in 2017 was LBs not getting the proper depth in their drops especially on 3rd down. LBs would drop a good 3-4 yards short of the line to gain. Manny has to teach them to drop back a bit further and give up the underneath stuff and rally to the ball when you force the QB to check down because it opening big holes between the LBs and Safeties something Wisconsin abused the **** out of last year.

If we're going to do more of what we did in 2016 (which is run a lot more 42) then I think we need to improve on that I saw in the 2016:
- Use more Tampa 2 and 2 Man Under coverages on 3rd down.
- Continue to make sure LBs are making proper depth drops at the FD when it 3rd down.
- Of course being more physical with WRs/TEs.
- DB getting better at man coverage.

These alignments were better IMO.

 

[Cane_J15]

The 4-2-5 is my favorite defence! Get 2 bad *** safetys in the box an a free safety who can cover deep balls its over!!! An we have are getring those players.

P.s always used a 4-2-5 on Ncaa dynastt teams! Its good for any offence except goaline

 

[brock]

Linebacker play has to improve, this is their defense now and they are the leaders.

For one the defense was good in 2016 and good in 2017, there wasnt that much of a drop off actually. For as much people say the decline they also improved quite a bit in other areas we lacked the previous years imo

Getting off the field on 3rd down is the biggest thing we need to do on defense period. It’s a problem

 

[Astcloud11]

In 2016 the DB group held seniority. We had 3 freshman starting linebackers so we tried to scheme around it by playing the 4-2-5. In 2017, Manny trusted the LB's and knew we had a new set of DBs so we based off 4-3. This year everyone has experience so he's going to put the best back 7 on the field.

 

[Rellyrell]

View attachment 60817Linebacker play has to improve, this is their defense now and they are the leaders.

For one the defense was good in 2016 and good in 2017, there wasnt that much of a drop off actually. For as much people say the decline they also improved quite a bit in other areas we lacked the previous years imo

Getting off the field on 3rd down is the biggest thing we need to do on defense period. It’s a problem

Absolutely; but I have to say the offense didn’t help the def a lot.

Def gave the offense great field position a lot, and they didn’t turn it into 7. Sometimes, it would be a 3 and out after the defense held after a long sequence on the field. Our O gotta start punching it in and not giving the ball back after the D did it’s job.

If we see that, then we have the chance to field a top 5 national defense in all categories.

 

[brock]

Absolutely; but I have to say the offense didn’t help the def a lot.

Def gave the offense great field position a lot, and they didn’t turn it into 7. Sometimes, it would be a 3 and out after the defense held after a long sequence on the field. Our O gotta start punching it in and not giving the ball back after the D did it’s job.

If we see that, then we have the chance to field a top 5 national defense in all categories.

That’s giving the defense an out, plenty of times when the defense wasn’t on they sh*t the offense bailed them out like vs FSU when the defense gave up 2 tds late , the offense responded and won the game. Another example in the Virginia game, defense goes down 14-0, offense scores to tie it up, the defense goes down again by 14 and along with Jaquan’s int and the offense saving the defense *** once again we won that game. Had a 14-3 lead vs Wisconsin too(things were against our favor with the refs and everything but the defense made it too easy too).

Imo blame can defintiely be had on both sides, bottom line we let too many teams run all these plays on us when we’re are on defense. That’s due to sometimes the inefficient offense but even more so to not getting off the field promptly when on 3rd down and allowing teams to extend drives. Always like to say control what you can control, so that’s more so on the defense honestly

 

[Coach Macho]

With all the spread offenses we see, it doesn't behoove us to keep 3 LB's on the field.

 

[CaneSince4Ever]

Only thing I don't like about the 4-2-5 is the ILBs are too close to each other. Me personally I'd rather base out of a dime (4-1-6) and take it from there.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Absolutely; but I have to say the offense didn’t help the def a lot.

Def gave the offense great field position a lot, and they didn’t turn it into 7. Sometimes, it would be a 3 and out after the defense held after a long sequence on the field. Our O gotta start punching it in and not giving the ball back after the D did it’s job.

If we see that, then we have the chance to field a top 5 national defense in all categories.

What happens, do you think, right after the offense "punches it in?"

It's the defense's job to get themselves off the field on 3rd down. Period. And it's the offense's job to score points. It's a solid point that the offense didn't always make the most of opportunities they had, but it's a separate issue from the defense's pitiful 3rd down performance.

 

[MainLineCane]

Without a doubt we have to get better on both sides of the ball.

Initially Diaz confused other teams with his attacking non-stop blitzing. Teams have adjusted to that .....so it doesn't have the same impact.

Diaz has to adjust and find other ways of disrupting offenses and creating turnovers. ....the 4-2-5 is definitely a step in the right direction.

My only concern is stopping the run but reports are that Ford, Willis, Bethel, and Silvera et al are coming along nicely

The main advantage for us is that it allows us to put more speed on the field ...and to our advantage with Smith and others that speed comes with good hitting power.

 

[DTP]

With all the spread offenses we see, it doesn't behoove us to keep 3 LB's on the field.

Solid use of the word "behoove".

In 2016 Jaquan Johnson was the nickle back so anytime they brought out an extra DB, it was essentially an extra safety. A guy who can play the run like a linebacker and has good enough coverage skills to not get burned by slot receivers. I don't think Diaz trusted Bandy's run defense enough last year and it lead to having three linebackers on the field all together too much.

I was incredibly frustrated with the amount of base Diaz played against spread teams. Even garbage Bethune took advantage of the linebackers not being able to cover slot recievers in space.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Solid use of the word "behoove".

In 2016 Jaquan Johnson was the nickle back so anytime they brought out an extra DB, it was essentially an extra safety. A guy who can play the run like a linebacker and has good enough coverage skills to not get burned by slot receivers. I don't think Diaz trusted Bandy's run defense enough last year and it lead to having three linebackers on the field all together too much.

I was incredibly frustrated with the amount of base Diaz played against spread teams. Even garbage Bethune took advantage of the linebackers not being able to cover slot recievers in space.

I think you hit the nail on the head. As bad as Zach McCloud was in coverage, he was no worse than some of the DBs--Robert Knowels for example--and he probably plays the run a good deal better than Bandy as a TF.

But now that we are seeing an infusion of long, strong, hard hitters coming in to the secondary, you'd have to be crazy to not adjust your base to fit your abundance of talent. I mean, we're really starting to get to where we need to be when we're debating whether solid players like Redwine and Carter are going to have their reps taken.

 

[SoFlaSmitty]

http://www.glazierclinics.com/content/content/198/Lee-Davis HS - Playing an attacking 425.pdf

great power point on how the 4-2-5 actually breaks down and works if done right. I started using it when I was the JV coach out at West Broward, also tried to bring it to Acrh McCarthy but none of those old coaches like the new style.

 

[ghost2]

Two things will assist in the development of Manny's defense, IMO -

#1 Recruiting/developing rangy and tenacious safeties
#2 The development of the "striker" position

I think often our safeties (and LBs) were playing WAY too deep - either Manny didn't trust them or they didn't trust themselves - leading to those wide-open underneath plays.

I also think being able to develop that typical South Florida "tweener" (the 195 lb backer that can run like a deer and hit like a truck) will also free up Manny to run some of those zone blitzes he loves without completely surrendering the middle of the field.

 

[ghost2]

http://www.glazierclinics.com/content/content/198/Lee-Davis HS - Playing an attacking 425.pdf

great power point on how the 4-2-5 actually breaks down and works if done right. I started using it when I was the JV coach out at West Broward, also tried to bring it to Acrh McCarthy but none of those old coaches like the new style.

This is great stuff. Shows how the 4-2-5 can really influence the run game as well and how versatile it is against multiple formations. It can quickly turn into an "under" or a 3-3-5 stack depending on the need.

 

[DTP]

So much more versatility and it plays right into the strengths of the types of players we usually recruit from south Florida. The number of freak athletes playing linebacker at 190 here is through the roof.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

Excellent discussion here. I am looking forward to seeing how Manny integrates the 4-2-5 this year. It can be a very versatile defense and is a great scheme fit with the athletes in South Florida. I think Derrick Smith is about to make a name for himself.

 

[Loose Cannon]

Two things will assist in the development of Manny's defense, IMO -

#1 Recruiting/developing rangy and tenacious safeties
#2 The development of the "striker" position

I think often our safeties (and LBs) were playing WAY too deep - either Manny didn't trust them or they didn't trust themselves - leading to those wide-open underneath plays.

I also think being able to develop that typical South Florida "tweener" (the 195 lb backer that can run like a deer and hit like a truck) will also free up Manny to run some of those zone blitzes he loves without completely surrendering the middle of the field.

I said from the jump, as soon as the Diaz hire was announced, that his defense was built for the type of athletes that are available to him at Miami, and that people shouldn’t get too hung up on his tenures a Miss State. He couldn’t get the proper athletes to make it work like he can here.

 

[SoFlaSmitty]

This is great stuff. Shows how the 4-2-5 can really influence the run game as well and how versatile it is against multiple formations. It can quickly turn into an "under" or a 3-3-5 stack depending on the need.

I loved the concept of it and had the players suited to run it better then our 3-4. Some of the old coaches just dont want to conform to new styles.

 

[GTPete00]

With a week’s worth of crap threads (especially in the recruiting forum) this thread reminds me of why I check this **** site nearly every day, even in the off-season. Good convo fellas