A Retraction of Sorts

[jtstang]

I have not been shy about expressing my concern about the defense over the last few seasons. However, this defense is allaying my concerns more each and every week. I still worry about the tendency to give up big plays, but even great defenses give up the occasional big play. The bend but don't break mentality and ability this group has shown is impressive. Now I know we have not played any all world offenses thus far, but our performances should go a long way to builiding confidence in the players which will come in handy against the Tulsas and Houstons of the world.

In short, to my pleasant surprise, I am not nearly as worried about our defense as I was before the season started.

I guess I can shift my worries to the June Jones offense, which has not shown me much this season...

[ponyte]

The defense has been the biggest surprise and it the biggest reason we have three wins. I too was very worried about our defense going into the season. I thought we would be better but I never dreamed we would make so many big plays. Also, we haven't blown a coverage for a TD yet this year. That was an assured TD for the opponents at least once a game for the last 6 or so years.

The Defense swarms to the ball and that is the most pleasant surprise. By golly we actually look like a big time defense. Also, no more arm tackles. We have players putting their face in the numbers and hitting people.

I hope we can stay health on Defense the whole year as our D is the key to our season now. As you noted, our offense has yet to find its explosive consistency this year and interceptions have been our opponents most effective scoring weapon.

It is unusual but I really think we are better if we can keep our defense on the field and our offense off the field.

[jtstang]

A great argument could be made we won yesterday precisely BECAUSE we found a couple of ways to score and keep our offense off the field at the same time.

[George S. Patton]

Offense wins games. Defense wins championships. My mo is give me a punter and a defense and I'll take my chances.

[George S. Patton]

Offense wins games. Defense wins championships. My mo is give me a punter and a defense and I'll take my chances.

[ponyte]

I didn't hear or see the first half. However, the second half the offense did produce. The defense still did well. It was disappointing that we scored and got a fumble on the kickoff and then did absolutely nothing on offense. That was the time in the game when we could have put ECU away.

The offense didn't give the game away and did allowed our D to produce. Our defense can't score as often for us as our offense scores for our opponent. It is just too much pressure to put on the Defense. Therefor, it is important for our offense to protect the ball and get good punt coverages after the usual 3 and out and let the D win the game.

[PK]

jt, I was going to post that you didn't have to worry so much about the D any more, but intelligent person that you are you figured it out for yourself. The offense is now the focus of my worries. The JJ run and shoot should not be held to only two touchdowns. The defense providing us with those two other touchdowns is what won this game for us...along with the defense's goal line stands against ECU. I'm fine with the defense giving us two touchdowns a game, but the Offense should have given us at least four instead of their lowly two.

What was up with the Referee trying to give the game to ECU. Some of those calls at the worst time for us were totally bogus.

[mrydel]

I love this defense but they still have a long way to go. A pass on target would have tied the game on one of the late throws. The kid in the end zone was 2 steps behind the defender and the pass was about 2 feet too long. I do think Mason is the coach of the year so far in what he has been able to do in instilling confidence in these kids. I will be very interested to see if they can put a package together to stop the option. I only see upside for the defense. We now need to get the offense clicking.

[RGV Pony]

I love this defense but they still have a long way to go. A pass on target would have tied the game on one of the late throws. The kid in the end zone was 2 steps behind the defender and the pass was about 2 feet too long. I do think Mason is the coach of the year so far in what he has been able to do in instilling confidence in these kids. I will be very interested to see if they can put a package together to stop the option. I only see upside for the defense. We now need to get the offense clicking.

Jimmy's teams at the U stopped Barry's option by blitzing it. We may have the LBs to pull that off now. I'm concerned about injuries this game, though. We're fast, but not huge. Durability may become an issue.

[mrydel]

Back in the hotel last night I watched the end of the FSU/Georgia Tech game. Tech just ran all over them, and if you saw the replays of the announcers talking to Bowden after the game, all he could say was "We just could not stop them. We worked on it all week and we just could not stop them. I do not think they punted all night. Did they punt?"

I am worried about the option with young defenders. Of course maybe they are young enough not to realize it is tough to defend.

[couch 'em]

If we could get some consistent QB play we'd have a very solid team. The transformation of the D is incredible considering where they started.

Imagine if we could score more often when they give the O the ball.

Imagine if the D wasn't on the field the whole game like they are now.

[PK]

No recent defensive coordinator other than Eric Schumann has been able to come up with a successful defense of the triple option. His scheme was that each of the offensive backs had a defensive player assigned to cover him regardless of where he went on the field or what he did. It was a pretty effective scheme.

I'm a little concerned about the Navy game in that we allowed 176 yards of rushing by ECU. ECU had a pretty balanced game with passing yardage close to the same as their rushing yardage. As we all know, Navy is going to be a rushing dominated offense. As noted above, a blitzing type attack may help as it will put more of our defensive players in the back field...but Schumann's scheme may be better. Hope Mason comes up with the right scheme for our current players.

[SMU 86]

Navy game we are going to have to score more.

[mrydel]

No recent defensive coordinator other than Eric Schumann has been able to come up with a successful defense of the triple option. His scheme was that each of the offensive backs had a defensive player assigned to cover him regardless of where he went on the field or what he did. It was a pretty effective scheme.

I'm a little concerned about the Navy game in that we allowed 176 yards of rushing by ECU. ECU had a pretty balanced game with passing yardage close to the same as their rushing yardage. As we all know, Navy is going to be a rushing dominated offense. As noted above, a blitzing type attack may help as it will put more of our defensive players in the back field...but Schumann's scheme may be better. Hope Mason comes up with the right scheme for our current players.

That was the defense for the wishbone when it originated. It was called the mirror defense. Trouble is when their image in the mirror is better than our image in the mirror it can be a long night. A lot will depend on how we match up as to how they design the defense.

[PK]

No recent defensive coordinator other than Eric Schumann has been able to come up with a successful defense of the triple option. His scheme was that each of the offensive backs had a defensive player assigned to cover him regardless of where he went on the field or what he did. It was a pretty effective scheme.

I'm a little concerned about the Navy game in that we allowed 176 yards of rushing by ECU. ECU had a pretty balanced game with passing yardage close to the same as their rushing yardage. As we all know, Navy is going to be a rushing dominated offense. As noted above, a blitzing type attack may help as it will put more of our defensive players in the back field...but Schumann's scheme may be better. Hope Mason comes up with the right scheme for our current players.

That was the defense for the wishbone when it originated. It was called the mirror defense. Trouble is when their image in the mirror is better than our image in the mirror it can be a long night. A lot will depend on how we match up as to how they design the defense.

It will definitely be a test for our LBs and safeties. I think our DLs will hold up their part of the scheme in the initial hand to hand combat part.