What happened on this play with O’Connor?

Press just isn't our thing. We're a heavy Cover-3 and Cover-4 team. And in Cover-3/Cover-4 our CB's play a bail technique while depending on the flat defender to give them help underneath. Issue is, if the offense can occupy that flat defender for a split second, you can throw hitches at the CB all day. The underneath help doesn't get there in time.

There's a more aggressive approach to Cover-3/Cover-4 which is what Indiana plays. Even when their CB's are playing "off" alignment, they are very aggressive in jumping those short/intermediate routes. (it's basically zone with man technique)

But that's a Saban thing, which is where Cignetti spent some time. That's why Saban made a comment at halftime about us giving up "access throws".

I'm not a fan of playing CB this way, mainly for 2 reasons.

1. They're CB's. They like to cover, not tackle. When you play them so far off and they are giving up short/quick routes, you force them to be tacklers.

2. We're long and fast at Corner. Absolutely no reason to coach like we're scared of the deep ball. Make them throw over the heads of our 6'0"-6'2" Corners. Playing off coverage isn't playing into our gifts (length and speed).
I’ve been waiting on you to speak on this or Heatherman’s defense in general. I am not disappointed. This makes perfect sense. Our CBs definitely want to cover more than tackle.
 
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Sick of our fans picking individual plays and players. We aren’t in the game without his play vs OSU and Ole Miss. he will improve a ton in the coming years and likely makes that a pick 6 in the future.
I agree 100%. This practice is showing who is who of Canes fans
 
If he goes for the pick and misses, it’s 6. Dude jumped a route and had a pass breakup.

I know he gave up the back shoulders but this criticism isn’t it

Yup.

That and to actually get to the ball, he was fully stretched out and off balance a bit. Anyone who has ever played catch has had a play like this where you get a hand on it or maybe even two, full extension, and you drop it. Same thing here, pass broken up, just half a step off for what we would've all loved to see.
 
Some ppl aren’t natural playmakers. Bryce, Jakobe, Scott all pic that and house it.

You don't have to be a playmaker, playing a position like DB you have to have a **** it attitude.....no risk it no biscuit. You can’t be scared of a decision you made and a mistake happens. OWN YOUR **** THEN GO OUT AND MAKE A PLAY NEXT CHANCE YOU GET!!
 
You don't have to be a playmaker, playing a position like DB you have to have a **** it attitude.....no risk it no biscuit. You can’t be scared of a decision you made and a mistake happens. OWN YOUR **** THEN GO OUT AND MAKE A PLAY NEXT CHANCE YOU GET!!
lol that’s the definition of playmaker. He is limited to just knocking the ball away. He’s not making the gaming changing play
 
Everything y’all saying is true, but I’ll just say this. Keep watching him and bump this thread. Most good young DBs start out with PBU’s and then has they mature, gain added confidence with added reps they begin to intercept the ball. I remember Sean Taylor making PBUs on plays where he could have intercepted the ball his sophomore season and then as a junior he started catching them.

The thread bump is the CIS way. He’ll do something in 2027 and someone will run here saying everyone should eat crow, yet none of it will bring back the play that could have won the natty.

Let’s hope he continues to grow and develop. Would have liked to see him playing with the necessary confidence game 16 of the season.
 
Sick of our fans picking individual plays and players. We aren’t in the game without his play vs OSU and Ole Miss. he will improve a ton in the coming years and likely makes that a pick 6 in the future.


**** that bull****. Apparently, the Indiana player who blocked that punt didn't have a great year. But I think Indiana was happy with him making a great play THIS YEAR, and not "in the future".

I honestly believe that was one of the very worst INDIVIDUAL-player/bad-decision plays I've seen in 40 years of watching Miami football. Just inexplicable. Bauman swept that punt-block guy around him (possibly giving him more speed to block the punt) with nobody in front of him to block, and no punt coverage effort to speak of.

And going back to O'Connor, he was just bad. Over and over and over again, falling victim to the same banana-in-the-tailpipe stuff that he had just seen earlier in the game.

I'm sorry if it hurts to call out specific players. Bauman screwed up once. O'Connor screwed up multiple times. I don't care what they did before, or what they will do in the future. Monday was the night for them to perform, and they did not perform well.
 
O’Connor played good for the most part, got beat on some really good back shoulder passes but yeah, this one made me throw my hat.


When did he play good? On all the plays where the ball was not thrown in his direction?
 
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Press just isn't our thing. We're a heavy Cover-3 and Cover-4 team. And in Cover-3/Cover-4 our CB's play a bail technique while depending on the flat defender to give them help underneath. Issue is, if the offense can occupy that flat defender for a split second, you can throw hitches at the CB all day. The underneath help doesn't get there in time.

There's a more aggressive approach to Cover-3/Cover-4 which is what Indiana plays. Even when their CB's are playing "off" alignment, they are very aggressive in jumping those short/intermediate routes. (it's basically zone with man technique)

But that's a Saban thing, which is where Cignetti spent some time. That's why Saban made a comment at halftime about us giving up "access throws".

I'm not a fan of playing CB this way, mainly for 2 reasons.

1. They're CB's. They like to cover, not tackle. When you play them so far off and they are giving up short/quick routes, you force them to be tacklers.

2. We're long and fast at Corner. Absolutely no reason to coach like we're scared of the deep ball. Make them throw over the heads of our 6'0"-6'2" Corners. Playing off coverage isn't playing into our gifts (length and speed).
I feel like you’ve posted some version of this sentiment since onofrio was the dc here. Seems like off or press bail and spot dropping have been a common denominator here for a decade regardless of coordinator.
 
I’m not saying he wasn’t but criticizing the play where he succeeded is wild because he didn’t make an Ed Reed type of play.


Yes, but I don't think it's a criticism of the outcome (it was one of O'Connor's few good plays), but a criticism of him not having the confidence to even attempt to make such an interception. That's the real issue.
 
O’Connor balled all year for us. Not going to start harping on the dude because he gave up a couple back shoulder passes that were difficult catches.

Want to go pick on someone, pick on Bauman.
 
O’Connor balled all year for us. Not going to start harping on the dude because he gave up a couple back shoulder passes that were difficult catches.

Want to go pick on someone, pick on Bauman.


Bauman and Beck made singular bad plays.

O'Connor had multiple bad plays.
 
I’ve been waiting on you to speak on this or Heatherman’s defense in general. I am not disappointed. This makes perfect sense. Our CBs definitely want to cover more than tackle.
I love his defense, I just get frustrated giving up easy access throws. I'm of the belief that an offense should have to EARN everything.

In regards to CB play, you have 2 approaches.

1. Play 'off' or 'bail' technique, essentially giving them easy access throws but protecting the deep shots. You don't get beat by the big play, but with a patient and surgical OC you can die of paper cuts. This is something you might want to do with less talented CB's who can't run but are willing tacklers.

2. Play press or play an off-ball "MOD" technique, which basically means man coverage on any vertically stemmed route. This is the most aggressive way to play off coverage. The CB is basically man-to-man on the outside WR unless he runs inside/under RIGHT NOW. This protects against the deep ball but also allows the CB to drive aggressively on any shorts routes such as hitch, slant, even a dig. (because he's not bailing)

Look at this kid's tape for an example...



What I see from our CB's is a very passive approach to their zone coverage. I don't think that technique plays to their strengths.
But to play devil's advocate, I will say, we haven't given up many back breaking deep shots this season so 🤷🏻‍♂️
Maybe it's a good thing.
 
Game isn’t going as slow as it is on replay, he just misjudged his position there thats all
 
**** that bull****. Apparently, the Indiana player who blocked that punt didn't have a great year. But I think Indiana was happy with him making a great play THIS YEAR, and not "in the future".

I honestly believe that was one of the very worst INDIVIDUAL-player/bad-decision plays I've seen in 40 years of watching Miami football. Just inexplicable. Bauman swept that punt-block guy around him (possibly giving him more speed to block the punt) with nobody in front of him to block, and no punt coverage effort to speak of.

And going back to O'Connor, he was just bad. Over and over and over again, falling victim to the same banana-in-the-tailpipe stuff that he had just seen earlier in the game.

I'm sorry if it hurts to call out specific players. Bauman screwed up once. O'Connor screwed up multiple times. I don't care what they did before, or what they will do in the future. Monday was the night for them to perform, and they did not perform well.

Go ahead and **** on the players all you want. Just remember, O'Connor was a backup who was forced into action due to injuries. He wasn't picked on vs Ole Miss because 16 was on the field as a true freshman.

87 is on the coaches and Lofton's injuries. Clearly, Mario knew that, which is why that coach is gone. Recruit better and play better.
87- THAT was a Lack of Effort and Awareness issue. 94 was also to blame, as it was a half-second longer than it should have been. 6 can also catch some blame, as he could have engaged the DL for a split second longer.

You are picking out individual plays and saying these kids screwed up. O'Connor didn't ***** up on either back shoulder play; he was over the top, stopping the deep threat. He also broke up multiple passes during the game. O'Connor was not for lack of effort! Heck, you can blame Mario for not landing better kids.

We ******* lost, and ****ting on the players doesn't change a ******* thing! Maybe it makes you feel better.
 
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Yes, but I don't think it's a criticism of the outcome (it was one of O'Connor's few good plays), but a criticism of him not having the confidence to even attempt to make such an interception. That's the real issue.

He broke up at least 2 passes. He didn't give up a deep ball/TD, which left them having to throw it back shoulder twice. Remember, OJ gave up a 15yard PI vs Sarratt on a 3rd and 6 which ended up being a TD drive in the first half. Same drive, Bain had an offsides penalty. O'Connor wasn't the issue you are making him out to be. Lastly, we didn't give up a single score in the air. All TDs were on the ground/ST. The called D was bend don't break and our DL/LB gave up two rushing TDs.
 
A massive thank you for explaining that to me! My knowledge only goes as far as Madden 2000 😂 So in my head, I know I’m definitely simplifying the “why aren’t we doing xyz” question.

Because I was thinking along the lines of your 2 points at the end but I guess a system is a system and it got us this far
No problem dude. I love talking ball.
 
Go ahead and **** on the players all you want. Just remember, O'Connor was a backup who was forced into action due to injuries. He wasn't picked on vs Ole Miss because 16 was on the field as a true freshman.

87 is on the coaches and Lofton's injuries. Clearly, Mario knew that, which is why that coach is gone. Recruit better and play better.
87- THAT was a Lack of Effort and Awareness issue. 94 was also to blame, as it was a half-second longer than it should have been. 6 can also catch some blame, as he could have engaged the DL for a split second longer.

You are picking out individual plays and saying these kids screwed up. O'Connor didn't ***** up on either back shoulder play; he was over the top, stopping the deep threat. He also broke up multiple passes during the game. O'Connor was not for lack of effort! Heck, you can blame Mario for not landing better kids.

We ******* lost, and ****ting on the players doesn't change a ******* thing! Maybe it makes you feel better.


Look at you acting like a ***** because a couple of players are rightfully being singled out for poor play. Nobody is "****ting on the players all we want", but it is fair to criticize those who ***** up. As for O'Connor being a backup, I don't give a ****. Football is a violent game, injuries are a part of the game, and you MIGHT have to play if someone gets hurt. There is no excuse for poor play.

And I'm not going to allow "excuses" to justify Bauman's play either. To act like Woodiel taking a job the day after the championship is because Mario "knew that" about, I don't know, god knows what. You make zero sense whatsoever, work on your writing skills. Bauman was not a very good tight end for us, but he was an even worse special-teamer for us, and the primary criticism here is his special teams play. Woodiel came to Miami with Mario, so let's not act like he is some cancer that Mario had to cut out. Dawson has not used tight ends well, no matter what personnel we have given him. And only God knows what Bauman did what he did on the punting unit.

As for trying to blame the punter, he took the same time to make the kick as normal. "A half-second longer" means nothing when O'Connor is not SWIPING THE RUSHER right past himself and into the kicker. Oh, and someone else "should have engaged the DL for a split second longer". Good lord, you are worthless when you try to "analyze" things. If the front line should be "engaging the rushers for a split second longer", then why do we have THREE guys deep? The reality is that Indiana DID NOT MAX RUSH, while we max protected. Only 2 Indiana players made it back to the three-deep, so they were not overwhelmed. So stop blaming OTHER people, like the punter or the RUNNING BACK who couldn't block a defensive lineman from an in-line 3-point stance. It's just stupid to blame the guys who made no mistakes.

As for O'Connor, yes, his play was suspect at all points in the game. Maybe he broke up 2 passes. At most. One of which coulda/woulda/shoulda been a Pick 6 with any other Miami DB in that spot. He just played terrible coverage most of the time. And don't tell me that was "by design" or by the call of the coaches. When Xavier Lucas came into the game, he was allowed to play up close to the line of scrimmage. O'Connor can't BECAUSE HE CAN'T BE TRUSTED. Waaahhh, waaaaah, "back shoulder passes are nearly impossible to defend". That's a load of crap, otherwise every team would run them on every play. The reality is, they knew they could do it against O'Connor because he couldn't defend it and couldn't stop it. He was terrible.

"****ting on players". That's a lie. I saw dozens of players lay everything on the line, all night. Not O'Connor. And not Bauman.
 
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