Defensive Coordinator Van Malone

[redpony]

IMO I think people saw the first few games and dramatically changed their expectations as we looked much better than anticipated. Then reality set in and we are looking more like what the fans originally expected and the frustration level has risen considerably.
As much as I want to see a 'fire-breathing, butt kicking D' we just don't have the horses to accomplish that. If next year isn't a major improvement (yes, even with true Frosh. playing) then I will be disappointed and start questioning the capabilities of the staff. Until then we need to give this staff the full benefit of the doubt.

[sbsmith]

I can still remember JasonB preseason defensive depth chart in both 2013-2014 talking about all the great young defensive players-therefore it must be COACHING. It couldn't be that we were stair-stepping down in talent-I'm mean look at all the NFL prospects and All-Conference players on Defense.

Yep

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[Charleston Pony]

just remember, JJ said our defensive secondary "looked" like an NFL secondary

[redpony]

I think he was referring to 'Not For Long' when he said NFL.

[Charleston Pony]

I think he was referring to 'Not For Long' when he said NFL.

I figured he was referring to "picture day"...certainly not to their play on the field

[CalallenStang]

This has been beaten to death here, but we really have mostly FCS talent playing FBS schools. Many of our players are not as big, not as strong, not as fast and not as quick as the players they play against. We play over our heads in the first half, but just get worn down as the game goes on. We have some talented Freshmen, but they are freshmen playing mostly against upperclassmen and they make freshmen mistakes. I don't see how anyone can judge the coaching under these circumstances.

FCS talent? That's generous. Maybe FCS when they were coming out of high school, but after not developing at all in Mel DeLaura's strength and conditioning program, we have a defense filled with guys that (with a few exceptions) would have a hard time starting in D-2

[RGV Pony]

I've seen a handful of d2 teams that would run all over our d personnel

[mrydel]

I've seen a handful of d2 teams that would run all over our d personnel

And it they could not, they would pass over them.

[WildBillPony]

I did a little research on Coach Malone from before his OSU days. Turns out, he comes from a log line of royalty.
His full name is actually Master Vannoy Cavan Bennett Malone

[PonyUp_62]

Just gonna bring this back up... time for changes to happen..

[SMU_Alum11]

Just gonna bring this back up... time for changes to happen..

Hahaha yeah we can’t afford a top tier defensive coach. Maybe Fatterson will lend us a hand?

[PonyUp_62]

Just gonna bring this back up... time for changes to happen..

Hahaha yeah we can’t afford a top tier defensive coach. Maybe Fatterson will lend us a hand?

A 14 year old with Madden could do better than Van Malone.

[Puckhead48E]

All about calling out the coaching but we have a significant number of LB's and DB's who can't even get the fundamentals right. Tackling is terrible. If you watch the DB's, a bunch of them pivot then take long strides the first few steps...terrible form that kills acceleration. You can't run a bunch of slow soft midgets on the field and expect them to match up well in any formation and scheme.

[mtrout]

This has been beaten to death here, but we really have mostly FCS talent playing FBS schools. Many of our players are not as big, not as strong, not as fast and not as quick as the players they play against. We play over our heads in the first half, but just get worn down as the game goes on. We have some talented Freshmen, but they are freshmen playing mostly against upperclassmen and they make freshmen mistakes. I don't see how anyone can judge the coaching under these circumstances.

FCS talent? That's generous. Maybe FCS when they were coming out of high school, but after not developing at all in Mel DeLaura's strength and conditioning program, we have a defense filled with guys that (with a few exceptions) would have a hard time starting in D-2

Wait what? Mel hasn't been here in 3 years and we're blaming him? What is happening? Last I checked they have like 5 defensive players in the NFL plus a bunch of others who were great in college (T. Reed, JaGared, etc). wtf

Edit: Oh wait, just saw this post was from 2015. Makes sense.

[SMUer]

Coaching fundamentals is fundamental to coaching. Don’t recruit or keep guys you can’t coach. Especially don’t put them on the field. Fundamentals is totally on coaching. Not being fast enough or strong enough is genetics.