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One last look at last years defense...

It wasn’t V Tech when the wheels fell off. It was USF. They just didnt have the people to keep up. It reminded me of TVD in 2023 when he threw that bad pick against Temple and another almost pick if I remember correctly. I sat there in the mist thinking…..that’s not good. And lo and behold GT just came out with slightly better athletes than temple had and exposed it bigly. Same thing with USF and V Tech. USF exposed it and V Tech showed how it was done.
 
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DTP said:
If you just randomly looked at the statistics for the entire season you’d think we were alright on defense. A lot of the overall numbers were padded but the early season cupcakes we played (including the gator). As the season went on the defense just got worse. The Cal and VT games we gave up points without really giving up a ton of yards so it was still a bit fluke-y but Louisville roasted us. When Georgia Tech beat us despite having a quarterback WHO COULDN’T THROW THE BALL, that was the breaking point. The defense was just totally in shambles. What should have been an OK unit couldn’t do the simplest things and by the time the bowl game rolled around, they were completely inept in all aspects. ISU just kept motioning the same man on every play and our guys had no idea how to align themselves pre snap. I wish I could somehow explain what happened but o have never seen an FBS defense look as completely lost.
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the signs were there in the first half of USF that this wasn't a good unit. This was the worst coordinated unit I have ever seen at Miami
 
k9cane said:
the signs were there in the first half of USF that this wasn't a good unit. This was the worst coordinated unit I have ever seen at Miami
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I knew the secondary was going to suck but the defensive line was able to dominate our early opponents enough to where it wouldn’t get out of hand. Once the competition stepped up and we couldn’t just get pressure on every single play, we had no answers

USF had a couple big plays but we held them to 15 points (they averaged 32 and scored 16 against Alabama) so that wasn’t some kind of game where the defense got exposed. I think our fanbase expected us to just shut them completely down but realistically, the defense held its own in that game. Virginia Tech set the blueprint with their motion and ability to get the ball on the perimeter against our front that refused to set the edge.
 
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k9cane said:
They say there are lies, **** lies and statistics. I bring this up because I saw some metrics that suggested the '24 #Canes defense wasn't THAT bad. Well, I beg to differ. It cost Miami(who had the #1 offense and the top pick in the NFL Draft) a playoff bid.

It reminds me of that quote when this politician was asked if he could define pornography. He responded by stating, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

And last year WAS a bad defense. Just for kicks, with the help of Pick Six Previews I looked at how many points the Miami defense gave up in their P4-level games and how it compared to the average of how many points those opponents scored on average throughout the season. David Letterman U (Ball St) and the University of the Marching 100 (FAMU) and USF were thrown out. Here are the results:

- Florida 17 --- avg, 28.3 (after this game we were crowning Lance Guidry)
- VaTech 35 -- avg 28.2 (at this point we had an issue, but we thought it could be fixed0
- Cal 38 -- avg 25.1 (they scored one defensive TD, but this defense got gashed in Berkley)
- L'Ville 45 -- avg, 36.5 (it was obvious at this point, this defense was a sieve)
- FSU - 14 - avg 15.4 (the Noles had the most consistently bad offense in the land)
- Duke 31 -- avg 26.3 (best ball Malik Murphy played all year for 2 quarters)
- Ga Tech 28 -- avg 28.5 (wasn't so much the points but the time of possession)
- Wake Forest 14 -- avg. 25.7 (long live the 'Slow Mesh'!!)
- Cuse - 42 -- avg 34.1 (up 21-0 and then,...)
- Iowa St. 42 -- avg. 31.1 (well, we got to see Cam Ward for a half at least)

I know this isn't the most in-depth way of looking at it, but it does indicate what our eyes said we saw with this unit. There's a reason why UM has a new coordinator in Cory Heatherman. Now, it's time to turn the page. Hope springs eternal during fall camp.

I'll say it now, the floor for this defense is the 2000 Ravens, the ceiling is the 85 Bears.

Hey, like I said, hope springs eternal!!
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it was unwatchable. I'd pause the game when the D came on the field. Wait 10-15 minutes, fast forward and start watching when we got the ball.
 
Applecane said:
it was unwatchable. I'd pause the game when the D came on the field. Wait 10-15 minutes, fast forward and start watching when we got the ball.
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It got so bad that when we were up 21-0, and the Cuse got the ball, I said to myself,'Miami gets a stop here, and they win the game." But as soon as they drove to make it 21-7, I got that sinking feeling

and when the offense punted, I almost knew that this leads was going to be squandered. That's how bad this unit was by the end of the season
 
DTP said:
If you just randomly looked at the statistics for the entire season you’d think we were alright on defense. A lot of the overall numbers were padded but the early season cupcakes we played (including the gator). As the season went on the defense just got worse. The Cal and VT games we gave up points without really giving up a ton of yards so it was still a bit fluke-y but Louisville roasted us. When Georgia Tech beat us despite having a quarterback WHO COULDN’T THROW THE BALL, that was the breaking point. The defense was just totally in shambles. What should have been an OK unit couldn’t do the simplest things and by the time the bowl game rolled around, they were completely inept in all aspects. ISU just kept motioning the same man on every play and our guys had no idea how to align themselves pre snap. I wish I could somehow explain what happened but o have never seen an FBS defense look as completely lost.
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Cal we gave up 28 points and 300 yards in like 5 minutes of game play.
 
k9cane said:
It got so bad that when we were up 21-0, and the Cuse got the ball, I said to myself,'Miami gets a stop here, and they win the game." But as soon as they drove to make it 21-7, I got that sinking feeling

and when the offense punted, I almost knew that this leads was going to be squandered. That's how bad this unit was by the end of the season
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Whoever’s decision it was to sit Martinez from the end of the 3rd drive until midway through the 3rd quarter likely cost us that game and the ACCCG/playoffs. He ran easily up to that point. We could have traded scores the rest of the game and walked out of there with a 14/21 point win. He had gone 4 for 36 up to that point and ended only carrying the ball 10x for 81 yards. If they give him the ball 10x in the first half we win that game running away.
 
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Shogungts said:
Not to change the subject to much, but this reminded of a thought I had the other day... there is not doubt that our offense was great last year, but if we had even an average defense, what would the offense look like statistically? I imagine we would have scored a decent amount less per game as we wouldn't have been in a shootout in so many games. That's not to take away from what they did - especially with so much of it having to be done to win - or Cam's talent, but we likely end up in a lot more ball control games in the 3rd/4th quarter and potentially more backups getting burn.
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We would have scored more.. Our offense was a machine and more opportunities would have gave more chances to score. Back ups were explosive young guys looking to make name for themselves also
 
k9cane said:
1755220080386.gif



I ain’t reading that!
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PennsylvaniaCane said:
Whoever’s decision it was to sit Martinez from the end of the 3rd drive until midway through the 3rd quarter likely cost us that game and the ACCCG/playoffs. He ran easily up to that point. We could have traded scores the rest of the game and walked out of there with a 14/21 point win. He had gone 4 for 36 up to that point and ended only carrying the ball 10x for 81 yards. If they give him the ball 10x in the first half we win that game running away.
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I said it with D-Money, not riding Martinez in that game and not giving him the ball on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter on 4th and 1 vs GaTech I think may have cost UM a 12-0 season

We had used him judiciously the whole season, but those were the moments you ride him and let him earn that NIL deal. I was in Atlanta for that GaTech loss, as soon as Miami didn't get that 4th down, you could just feel the crowd REALLY getting into it. And our Oline was starting to really push them around upfront that drive
 
k9cane said:
I said it with D-Money, not riding Martinez in that game and not giving him the ball on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter on 4th and 1 vs GaTech I think may have cost UM a 12-0 season

We had used him judiciously the whole season, but those were the moments you ride him and let him earn that NIL deal. I was in Atlanta for that GaTech loss, as soon as Miami didn't get that 4th down, you could just feel the crowd REALLY getting into it. And our Oline was starting to really push them around upfront that drive
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Same up in Syracuse. I was front row right behind our bench. He was standing on the sideline helmet off talking from that 3rd drive until when he went back in about 8 left in the 3rd. Rattled off a 30 yd carry his first or second carry back. Really bad use. Once we were up 21-7 he should have gotten 20-25 carries if it was still working. Made no sense.
 
k9cane said:
They say there are lies, **** lies and statistics. I bring this up because I saw some metrics that suggested the '24 #Canes defense wasn't THAT bad. Well, I beg to differ. It cost Miami(who had the #1 offense and the top pick in the NFL Draft) a playoff bid.

It reminds me of that quote when this politician was asked if he could define pornography. He responded by stating, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

And last year WAS a bad defense. Just for kicks, with the help of Pick Six Previews I looked at how many points the Miami defense gave up in their P4-level games and how it compared to the average of how many points those opponents scored on average throughout the season. David Letterman U (Ball St) and the University of the Marching 100 (FAMU) and USF were thrown out. Here are the results:

- Florida 17 --- avg, 28.3 (after this game we were crowning Lance Guidry)
- VaTech 35 -- avg 28.2 (at this point we had an issue, but we thought it could be fixed0
- Cal 38 -- avg 25.1 (they scored one defensive TD, but this defense got gashed in Berkley)
- L'Ville 45 -- avg, 36.5 (it was obvious at this point, this defense was a sieve)
- FSU - 14 - avg 15.4 (the Noles had the most consistently bad offense in the land)
- Duke 31 -- avg 26.3 (best ball Malik Murphy played all year for 2 quarters)
- Ga Tech 28 -- avg 28.5 (wasn't so much the points but the time of possession)
- Wake Forest 14 -- avg. 25.7 (long live the 'Slow Mesh'!!)
- Cuse - 42 -- avg 34.1 (up 21-0 and then,...)
- Iowa St. 42 -- avg. 31.1 (well, we got to see Cam Ward for a half at least)

I know this isn't the most in-depth way of looking at it, but it does indicate what our eyes said we saw with this unit. There's a reason why UM has a new coordinator in Cory Heatherman. Now, it's time to turn the page. Hope springs eternal during fall camp.

I'll say it now, the floor for this defense is the 2000 Ravens, the ceiling is the 85 Bears.

Hey, like I said, hope springs eternal!!
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Another example of numbers dont lie but sometimes they dont tell the whole truth. College football statistics are more guilty of this than any other sport.
 
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PennsylvaniaCane said:
It wasn’t V Tech when the wheels fell off. It was USF. They just didnt have the people to keep up. It reminded me of TVD in 2023 when he threw that bad pick against Temple and another almost pick if I remember correctly. I sat there in the mist thinking…..that’s not good. And lo and behold GT just came out with slightly better athletes than temple had and exposed it bigly. Same thing with USF and V Tech. USF exposed it and V Tech showed how it was done.
Click to expand...
The wheels started to wobble against USF, they came off against VT...

No one realized it yet, but all the data was there.
 
Glow said:
I was full delusional asking if we can hire someone and change the defense before the playoffs because it was clear we were about to waste a championship offense.




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Glow, I really do wonder if Mario was weary of the perception of being a meddler with his coordinators that kept him from making changes, or at least taking more control of that room.

It's one thing to be on auto-pilot with Dawson and that offense. But when one side of your ball is THAT bad, well, IMO, that's when a head coach has to make executive decisions

And that doesn't necessarily firing a guy in the middle of the season (I get it, that may not be ideal, although we have seen it) but it could be enforcing a coach to simplify things, or cut certain things out of the game plan. This has been done before
 
Manfred_Cane said:
He had his success at Minnesota without the same level of athlete/player we have on our defense as well. I'm very bullish on him and expect a noticeable turnaround. Top 10 defense? Not exactly. But the eye test will back the stats.
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If we gonna say this..Can we also agree the acc has better offenses than the big ten? Especially the schedule Minnesota played last year?
 
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