The defense will be drastically improved this season

[TomAce]

It can't be worse.

 

[Hstokes1447]

My thought is if the scheme calls for a guy to cover the flats but he is not fast enough to get there before the RB, how do you blame that on the scheme?

It called asking players to do things they are not capable of doing. Violation of rule#1 of coaching.

In some cases that would be true but not in regards to this team. There where only selected players who couldn't make the plays, you do not change your scheme for only a few players. When McCord dropped into the flats against USF he got an interception. When Bush was playing the deep third against FSU he got an interception.

I believe this team was still experiencing growing pains.

Now don't get me wrong I would love to see an attacking in your face defense like the old days. I am just simply stating that with better talent, some of the scheme issues will be solved.

 

[sstcane]

There were many cases last year where guys were in position to make plays and missed tackles/sacks/turnovers.

The VT game we caused fumbles, but they recovered. Had them in 3rd and long and 5 players blow the tackle.

The scheme is not my favourite, but it can work. I think with a better rush and more experienced DB's you'll see
more press coverage and different calls than we have seen the past couple years.

I think the culture seems to be going back to the old days where the players are grinding and working harder than they have
in the past decade. Our 2-deep is much better on paper than it has been since Golden got here. No more excuses for the D,
I'm not sure how there won't be changes if it's not much better this year.

I'm reserving hope until I see what we come out with against Louisville.

 

[caneforever]

Good posts and write ups stokes! The D should be much better. Let's see how much better.

 

[Hstokes1447]

Here is why I believe the D will be better (Even with a horrible scheme)

1. No true freshman in the 2 deep (with the exception of Chad Thomas)

1. 
   
   I wouldn't necessarily be against true freshmans coming in and working their way into the the 2 deep.
   The difference being that before we were forced to play true freshmans whether they were ready or not.
   But now it's different since we have good depth without them. If a Hester or Young or Moten can come in and beat out the veterans ahead of them that would bode well for the defense and make them better.

1. 
   
   I totally agree, I spoke about this in another thread. When you have freshman in the 2 deep simply because there is no one else on the roster you have a serious problem. Antonio Crawford did not make the 2 deep as a freshman because of his talent. He made the 2 deep because only 2 scholarship CB's were on the roster.
   
   Alex Figueroa made the 2 deep at LB, because there were only scholarship 5 LB's on the roster when he arrived.
   
   This team has been playing a large amount of FR's and SO's in a complex scheme, well finally we have some talented guys with experience.

 

[Dingaan1828]

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

 

[Angry Ibis]

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Another thing our fans may not like is I believe that the administration may have a different calendar than some fans do. Fans continue to scream 4th year, 4th year. While the staff and administration account for the NCAA investigation in their calculation.

 

[DaU83]

My thought is if the scheme calls for a guy to cover the flats but he is not fast enough to get there before the RB, how do you blame that on the scheme?

It called asking players to do things they are not capable of doing. Violation of rule#1 of coaching.

that sounds good in theory, but what would we possibly ask Rodgers, highsmith etc.. to do that they would do well?

I've said it 8 million times, our staff knew that defensively we didn't have the bodies to be successful, so they decided to implement their system and take their lumps while we brought better talent in.

 

[McGahee2TheHouse]

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Hit the nail on the head. I don't think many people believe that the defense isn't going to improve by virtue of better talent. The issue is with the degree of improvement and it is almost laughable to believe that we are jumping from 89th to Top 30 (which still isn't an elite defense), given what we have seen these three years and given the question marks still on defense (like the most important position on that side of the ball, DT)

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Another thing our fans may not like is I believe that the administration may have a different calendar than some fans do. Fans continue to scream 4th year, 4th year. While the staff and administration account for the NCAA investigation in their calculation.

They can have whatever timeline they want. If history is an indicator, people will simply stop showing up more than they already have.

 

[Angry Ibis]

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Hit the nail on the head. I don't think many people believe that the defense isn't going to improve by virtue of better talent. The issue is with the degree of improvement and it is almost laughable to believe that we are jumping from 89th to Top 30 (which still isn't an elite defense), given what we have seen these three years and given the question marks still on defense (like the most important position on that side of the ball, DT)

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Another thing our fans may not like is I believe that the administration may have a different calendar than some fans do. Fans continue to scream 4th year, 4th year. While the staff and administration account for the NCAA investigation in their calculation.

They can have whatever timeline they want. If history is an indicator, people will simply stop showing up more than they already have.

Last 3 games at home are UNC, FSU and Pitt over Thanksgiving weekend. Not too many times to show disgust toward the end of the season.

 

[ssj4cane]

I expect to improve from WOAT to average this year. Unfortunately with a freshman qb we need to be able to lean on the defense this coming season. We will be nowhere good enough defensively to do that.

 

[TreOFive]

**** shame that we as UM fans are asking for and being OK with a top 40 defense...smh. Top 10 or GTFOH....BTW by no means am I suggesting that we will be top 10.

 

[DaU83]

**** shame that we as UM fans are asking for and being OK with a top 40 defense...smh. Top 10 or GTFOH....BTW by no means am I suggesting that we will be top 10.

I think the long term goal is a top 10 D.. but there's nothing wrong with being realistic.

 

[Bigtip]

I expect a slight improvement, but I probably should know better than to get my hopes up like that.

On paper we improve, but schematically we remain the same.

I surely hope "more talent" equates to better on-field performance.

What are the exact schematically issues you see?

lets start with 275 lb DEs patrolling as OLBs covering slot WRs

 

[cane since birth]

im predicting this thread going to sh*t soon

 

[Biscuits]

Oh cool. I didn't know we were bumping threads from the 2013 offseason.

I'll go get some more.

 

[Miami82]

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Hit the nail on the head. I don't think many people believe that the defense isn't going to improve by virtue of better talent. The issue is with the degree of improvement and it is almost laughable to believe that we are jumping from 89th to Top 30 (which still isn't an elite defense), given what we have seen these three years and given the question marks still on defense (like the most important position on that side of the ball, DT)

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Another thing our fans may not like is I believe that the administration may have a different calendar than some fans do. Fans continue to scream 4th year, 4th year. While the staff and administration account for the NCAA investigation in their calculation.

They can have whatever timeline they want. If history is an indicator, people will simply stop showing up more than they already have.

This...

 

[OBLIVION]

im predicting this thread going to sh*t soon

 

[Angry Ibis]

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Hit the nail on the head. I don't think many people believe that the defense isn't going to improve by virtue of better talent. The issue is with the degree of improvement and it is almost laughable to believe that we are jumping from 89th to Top 30 (which still isn't an elite defense), given what we have seen these three years and given the question marks still on defense (like the most important position on that side of the ball, DT)

If the defense doesn't drastically improve in year 4, then it's never going to happen. I expect the defense to be better this year, but I'm not even a little bit confident that it will improve enough to make most of our fans happy. Improving from 89th to 60th is improvement, but not nearly enough.

Honestly the second half of last season was painful to watch.

Another thing our fans may not like is I believe that the administration may have a different calendar than some fans do. Fans continue to scream 4th year, 4th year. While the staff and administration account for the NCAA investigation in their calculation.

They can have whatever timeline they want. If history is an indicator, people will simply stop showing up more than they already have.

This...

Agreed -- BUT --- people will be at the FSU game I would imagine, and the Pitt game over Thanksgiving may not have the necessary impact. That being said, the record and play will dictate actions all around, so I'm not going to worry about it right now.

 

[Consigliere]

Here is/are the bottom line(s):

1.) The defense lost NO ONE of significance last season. This could be because the players who left SUCKED and/or because the development SUCKED, and

2.) The talent is getting older, more mature, more experienced and more developed (physically and mentally). Regardless of whether the scheme changes, none of the coaches teaching have changed (continuity I suppose).

In 2013 during ACC play, our defense allowed 262 actual points or 32.75 PPG. These numbers are utterly disgusting. This number MUST go south of 25.00 PPG. All is forgiven if they can keep points off the board especially when it matters during ACC play. I don't care how they do it, just keep points off the scoreboard. This is year 4 and Golden didn't want to make ANY changes to his staff. Even though I believe we have a big enough sample size to know what to expect in 2014, none of that matters for now.