Worst D1A Defense I Have Ever Seen

[The PonyGrad]

It is going to be a LONG year defensively. Is the cupboard really that bare?

Though our D is not very good, you better get used to giving up a lot of yards - it's a necessary by-product of the run-and-shoot. It doesn't necessarily mean our D is as bad as the stats indicate.

As mentioned in my thread, yes they are that bad. Worst by far iin the country in 3rd down confersions allowed.

[Warbow]

So far, we have had no pass rush, can't stop the run, can't stop the pass, and cannot tackle for squat. After the first two games, I will admit to being shocked, at how terrible this defense has been thus far.

Get use to this type of defense. Hawaii under JJ had this for most of the nine years he was in Hawaii. Only when we had coach Mac, did the D have good seasons. I rememeber hearing the same complaints from Hawaii fans for 7 out of the 9 years JJ coached at Hawaii. JJ doesn't care about the defense, he will try and outscore everyone.

[Pony81]

We have talent to hang with CUSA competition.

However, our guys seem out of position and can't tackle at all.

Pete Fleps is the only guy I saw make consistent good tackles with good form.

I can't believe D1 scholarship athletes can't tackle better. i saw a dozen plays where 2-3 SMU players missed tackles.

We are going to get drilled by Tech. ABsolutely drilled.

[gostangs]

well this is texas - and we are used to defense at least SOME of the time - and we will not be able to outscore TECH, TCU or any team that is even mediocre if we dont get a stop now and then. He ought to care for personal pride reasons - I would guess that he does.

Hopefully he has two coaches scouting every half way decent JUCO team in the country. We need two safteys, three LB's and at least two DL for next year.

[Hoofbeat83]

So far, we have had no pass rush, can't stop the run, can't stop the pass, and cannot tackle for squat. After the first two games, I will admit to being shocked, at how terrible this defense has been thus far.

Get use to this type of defense. Hawaii under JJ had this for most of the nine years he was in Hawaii. Only when we had coach Mac, did the D have good seasons. I rememeber hearing the same complaints from Hawaii fans for 7 out of the 9 years JJ coached at Hawaii. JJ doesn't care about the defense, he will try and outscore everyone.

i guess i just don't understand why the run 'n shoot and a good defense are necessarily mutually exclusive IN THEORY (i understand that our defense is outmanned and/or poorly coached currently). what does one really have to do with the other? i'm just a spectator, not a former player, so can someone explain it to me?

[tristatecoog]

Maybe the bad defenses are due to a offensively minded coach who spends all of his time on the O. I saw it with Jugular John Jenkins.

Jack Pardee on the other hand had very good defenses.

[PoconoPony]

Run 'n Shoot and defense are not mutually exclusive. Ponies on D are simply too young and inexperienced at this point. Young kids do not yet have the physical strength and are not acclimated to the speed of the game ( vs. high school or scout team). Speed of the game causes bad angles, improper technique (late/improper tackling positions, arm tackles...etc.) and judgment of passing lanes. Coaching can help; however, it really comes down to experience, intelligence and ability. You will not be able to judge most of the kids in the D this season. Improvement will really commence next season with some experience under their belts and filling some holes with better talent. Until then, it is going to be a long season. It is what it is so relax and try to be supportive.

[asphalt cowboy]

Well said Pocono Pony! Idid notice some improvement. The short pass over the middle was actually defended. Last year that one pass play cost us one 75yd TD and almost 200 yds. against TT. It was open all year as the coaching staff never adjusted. The defense will slowly improve because it requires more coordination. We've seen some personnel changes and we will see more as the season progresses. DC Mason doesn't have the horses he needs. I don't like the "Give him a fair trial and lynch him" attitude we sometimes exhibit. Lets recognize the product we have and understand it's going to be improved. I've been a mustang fan since I was 7yrs old in 1949. I first saw them WIN in1975. PATIENCE.

[WE ARE BACK]

It is going to be a LONG year defensively. Is the cupboard really that bare?

Though our D is not very good, you better get used to giving up a lot of yards - it's a necessary by-product of the run-and-shoot. It doesn't necessarily mean our D is as bad as the stats indicate.

They do not know how to make a basic tackle and look like they are shocked when the opposition throws on third and long. Most of these guys probably shouldn't even be playing DII ball. I don't know how our roster is so deficient in defensive players when our last coach was a "defensive guru." I understand PB was at a disadvantage recruiting here but I almost would rather have TX State's D than ours. He just did a terrible job evaluating defensive talent... That scares me if I am a Pitt fan.

[Warbow]

So far, we have had no pass rush, can't stop the run, can't stop the pass, and cannot tackle for squat. After the first two games, I will admit to being shocked, at how terrible this defense has been thus far.

Get use to this type of defense. Hawaii under JJ had this for most of the nine years he was in Hawaii. Only when we had coach Mac, did the D have good seasons. I rememeber hearing the same complaints from Hawaii fans for 7 out of the 9 years JJ coached at Hawaii. JJ doesn't care about the defense, he will try and outscore everyone.

i guess i just don't understand why the run 'n shoot and a good defense are necessarily mutually exclusive IN THEORY (i understand that our defense is outmanned and/or poorly coached currently). what does one really have to do with the other? i'm just a spectator, not a former player, so can someone explain it to me?

There's a lot that play into this. For one, because of the quick strike offensive capabilities, the defense tends to be on the field much more then the offense. You really need to be two or three deep to make up for the amount of time the defense spends on the field.

Two..The primary job of these type of defenses is to get the ball back to the offense as soon as possible. They take a lot of chances in a attempt to get the ball back to the offense which normally results in a lot poor angle tackling, missed tackles and tends to give up the big play often. Many times the defense is given the freedom in try for the turnovers before making a sure tackle. A true test of a defense who's team runs the run & shoot is their red zone defense. The defense tends to not take as many chances for the turnovers in the red zone.

Three..Got to be truthful here, you got a head coach who is very offensive mined. Most of his decisions are based on "his" offense putting up huge numbers in attempt to break every offensive record possible. No douth in my mind, he's already seeing BLM breaking Timmy Changs records for the most career yards. He will do everything possible to make it happen (could be a good thing), even at the expense of his defense. Take a good look at your recruiting classes from now on. In Hawaii, 75% were offensive players. The defense suffered under JJ in Hawaii.

Four...It all boils down to what is done in practice. Because of the nature of the run and shoot, practices tend to be more finess then physical. Receivers are not allowed to be tackled on most plays. And who has the ball 90% of the time in the run and shoot? You guessed it, the receivers. Tackling stationary dummies just doesn't do it when you play a team with speed.

The Bottom line:

When you have a coach who thinks his offense can score every time they have the ball, why even worry about a defense. Hawaii, like Texas, prides it's self in hard hitting defensive football. Something JJ was never able to break in his stay in Hawaii. Sure the offense is fun to watch, but there's nothing like the bone crushing tackles a linebacker makes.

[ozfan]

It is going to be a LONG year defensively. Is the cupboard really that bare?

Though our D is not very good, you better get used to giving up a lot of yards - it's a necessary by-product of the run-and-shoot. It doesn't necessarily mean our D is as bad as the stats indicate.

This does not compute...what does the run and shoot have to do with a team having a good or bad D.

[mrydel]

It is going to be a LONG year defensively. Is the cupboard really that bare?

Though our D is not very good, you better get used to giving up a lot of yards - it's a necessary by-product of the run-and-shoot. It doesn't necessarily mean our D is as bad as the stats indicate.

This does not compute...what does the run and shoot have to do with a team having a good or bad D.

The recruiting leans heavy on the offensive side of the ball.

[ozfan]

It is going to be a LONG year defensively. Is the cupboard really that bare?

Though our D is not very good, you better get used to giving up a lot of yards - it's a necessary by-product of the run-and-shoot. It doesn't necessarily mean our D is as bad as the stats indicate.

This does not compute...what does the run and shoot have to do with a team having a good or bad D.

The recruiting leans heavy on the offensive side of the ball.

We are talking about this years D....Most were not recruited by this staff.

[mrydel]

It is going to be a LONG year defensively. Is the cupboard really that bare?

Though our D is not very good, you better get used to giving up a lot of yards - it's a necessary by-product of the run-and-shoot. It doesn't necessarily mean our D is as bad as the stats indicate.

This does not compute...what does the run and shoot have to do with a team having a good or bad D.

The recruiting leans heavy on the offensive side of the ball.

We are talking about this years D....Most were not recruited by this staff.

This years team is bad because we do not have the athletes recruited by the last staff to compete. Nor do we have the depth.

As far as the effect of the R&S, quick scores mean little rest for the D. R&S is based on outscoring your opponent more than stopping them. But right now, today, our defensive problems are not related to the offense.

[Stallion]

traditionally there most definitely is a relationship between teams running Run and Shoots and teams playing rather weak run defense. A strong physical or option type offense has a decided advantage over a Run and Shoot team's defense because they can't duplicate the running game in practice. All SMU Run and Shoot teams in the past had trouble staying within 3 TDs of Rice when they ran the wishbone or for that matter any strong running team-remember Baylor which didn't bother to throw a pass in 1991. Of course, a Run and Shoot may have some advantages of its own. I agree with the Hawaii fan-and this isn't some new revealation. Plus June Jones for whatever reason plays flag-football during the Spring and Summer. It sure looks like it.