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Many are calling for VM's head, and there's no doubt that there are deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball. I admit that I was unable to watch many of the games this year, but here are some interesting facts that suggest that, for the most part, the defense played better in the second halves of most games, presumably after adjustments or coaching up. The following are points allowed in the second half of each game of the total scored:

SFA - 7 of 14
UNT - 22 of 32
ASU - 7 of 21
TCU - 28 of 56
UConn - 18 of 28
UH - 14 of 35
Cinn - 8 of 28
Tulsa - 6 of 34
UCF - 10 of 31
Navy - 9 of 43
Mem - 35 of 66
Tulane - 17 of 38

Excluding UNT, where backups played in the 4th qtr, IIRC, only UConn and Memphis scored more points in the second half than the first. While the numbers overall aren't good, at least I see that the defense made adjustments, particularly in the five-game stretch against UH, Cinn, Tulsa and UCF and Navy. I can't attribute it to our opponents going conservative, because all of the games were close (until they weren't, to borrow someone's wisecrack).

Once again, I did not watch each game and some of the points allowed may have been defensive touchdowns by our opponent, which could skew the results, but I do see a few things to be positive about. ON THE OTHER HAND, does the rather dismal first-half showing reflect poorly on weekly planning and scouting?

Considering we are 123 out of 130 in Total Defense, and the 4th worst in the AAC, there is nothing else that deserves consideration. If we listen to the self professed college football guru Stallion, this is expected because we haven't had time to recruit/develop for 3 to 4 years. So if we stink next year and the year after, make major changes and strip Stallion of his designation.

As for the second half improvement, I think the other teams just got winded running up and down the field.

Lol

I'm one that would not be so quick to fire VM. Its one thing if he had talent and the defense sucked. Its another to have glaring defensive challenges and have to coach around it. HCCM and VM need to concentrate on getting defensive talent now. Once we have better talent, then a more accurate assessment of VM's performance is in order.

I think the fact we could win 7 games with the over all defensive challanges is a modern day miricle.

We keep saying Van doesn't have the talent but isn't he in charge of getting the talent? It is my assumption that CM and Craddock handle the offensive side and Van, McDaniel, Wyatt, and Loepp handle the defensive side. Maybe he could coach talented players (we don't know this either) but he seems to have a lot of trouble getting them.

Year 1: barely any defensive recruits. Which means pretty much all he has to work with are true sophomores, RS freshman and true freshman. We need 1-2 more years before we can judge the defense. Seems their entire plan was to have a top 10 offense first, and put their best players on offense. If they stayed the d would slowly get better. Remember we set historical records for getting blown out in 2014.

SMU21TCU10 wrote:Year 1: barely any defensive recruits. Which means pretty much all he has to work with are true sophomores, RS freshman and true freshman. We need 1-2 more years before we can judge the defense. Seems their entire plan was to have a top 10 offense first, and put their best players on offense. If they stayed the d would slowly get better. Remember we set historical records for getting blown out in 2014.

I'm glad Sutton was moved over, as well as Wyatt being left where he landed.

I don't know what he's like internally, if he's good at coaching / motivating his players whatever. But the performance results are the performance results. And I know the recruiting priority was not there - we need more DLs in each class. However, I'm very concerned with seeing very little from guys like Spears and McLaurin. Not a good sign when you see guys like Robinson, etc getting reps early but not these guys where we need the help. With Lawler, Williams, and Gentry graduating, we really needed McLaurin and Jones and Spears to get worked in and show flashes. But, nothing at all from them is concerning. How is our defense going to suddenly get better next year without a new DC? Other than maybe some on the backend, where is all the new talent coming from to make our defense, say just 10% better? (which would have gotten us a Navy win and possibly even Houston and UCF this year). Richard Moore will be a huge stud but we need like 2-3 DL Jucos and possibly CB or safety real quick. Who are the real deal. Hard to know/do.

Replacing Sutton (not really replaceable but need a big down field and goal line threat who can block ... Bell? Honey? Benson? Thomas? Woods? EE if he commits which is doubtful? Becker?) and getting this defense just 10-15% better should be the main goals in the offseason. Do that and I can see another net win or 2 next year.

Easy-E committed to Texas Tech Saturday. Easy-E because its not so easy to remember how to spell his last name

ponyte wrote:I'm one that would not be so quick to fire VM. Its one thing if he had talent and the defense sucked. Its another to have glaring defensive challenges and have to coach around it. HCCM and VM need to concentrate on getting defensive talent now. Once we have better talent, then a more accurate assessment of VM's performance is in order.

I think the fact we could win 7 games with the over all defensive challanges is a modern day miricle.

I agree with you. The talent disparity between offense and defense is glaring. The linebacking is non-existent and
most of the secondary talent is very young and inexperienced. Not fair to judge coach Malone based on the talent
he has had.

Van will be here next year so all the haters need to get over it. The staff new going into the season the defense would blow and I don't understand why the self appointed defensive experts on this board didn't know it too.

Once again, Chad correctly decided to build the offense first.

So the offense declines while he recruits to build the defense

lollaperuna wrote:The staff new going into the season the defense would blow and I don't understand why the self appointed defensive experts on this board didn't know it too.

The self appointed defensive experts on this board are always a few steps behind reality.

lollaperuna wrote:Van will be here next year so all the haters need to get over it.

Once again, Chad correctly decided to build the offense first.

And half the fans won't be. Who wants to watch Michigan hang 80+ on us and tcwho hang 60+ on us?
that is the kind of D we will have next year considering the talent we are losing. Also, our O won't have the fire power it had this year due to some players graduating. We will be lucky to beat our push-over games like sisters of charity and rio grande school for the blind if we keep the same D staff.
VM recruited D players the last couple of years. How is it that as soon as they get here they forget how to tackle, how to take the right angles? Analyzing talent and recruiting good players is also part of coaching. If this is the best he can recruit then he needs to move on. If hccm accepts this kind of performance on D then perhaps it is better he moves on as well.