PonyFans.com

Good thing their stud back was out, the true freshman that replaced him only had 149 yards.

Seems we have periods of good tacking and periods of bad tackling.

Stallion wrote:Defense wasn't just beat-they were manhandled especially at the point of attack.

Controlling the line of scrimmage is a major factor in any game imo.

ALEX LIFESON wrote:In the second half we cut the lead to 21-14 and had a little momentum, defense let's them drive the length of the field for the td. 1st OT, offense get's td, all we need is 1 play, can't do it. 2nd OT, offense scores td, all we need is 1 stop and it's 3rd and 24, can't do it, td Rutgers. 3rd OT,offense get's fg, all we need is just one stop, can't do it, two running plays was all it took to cover the 35 yards. Forget the top 20 in every defensive category talk, this defense sux.

They didn't 'drive' the field. We blew a coverage that allowed a 50+ pass reception that set up the TD. And that was a key play in the game. We force an incompletion on that play (say a defender in the area) and we get the ball back.

Before one completely hammers the D, let us remember that the worse starting field position for Rutgers until late in the first quarter was our (yes OUR) 44. That kin of field position disadvantage and the statistic disadvantage to a defense is very high.

This was the second game in a row where we got killed by field position both on offense and defense. We really need to change that to have a chance early in a game. Field position killed us early yesterday. WE don't get the ball inside our 10 so often and we have a chance to open up the offense. Instead, one bad snap is all it takes to change the score and game.

Their 50+ yard TD completion in 3Q was annoying. Two plays earlier their QB did the same "wavy hand/fair catch" audible at the line but over-threw the receiver. He does it again two plays later and throws it to the same side, same guy who this time is virtually uncovered. I knew what was coming, how did they not know. If you are the safety and you see that, don't you cheat a step or two to that side? If you are the DB and you see that, unless you are blitzing, don't you take a step back and resolve not to let your receiver around you?

ponyte wrote:

ALEX LIFESON wrote:In the second half we cut the lead to 21-14 and had a little momentum, defense let's them drive the length of the field for the td. 1st OT, offense get's td, all we need is 1 play, can't do it. 2nd OT, offense scores td, all we need is 1 stop and it's 3rd and 24, can't do it, td Rutgers. 3rd OT,offense get's fg, all we need is just one stop, can't do it, two running plays was all it took to cover the 35 yards. Forget the top 20 in every defensive category talk, this defense sux.

They didn't 'drive' the field. We blew a coverage that allowed a 50+ pass reception that set up the TD. And that was a key play in the game. We force an incompletion on that play (say a defender in the area) and we get the ball back.

SMU drive start at 12:07.
1-10 SMU 45 GILBERT,G pass complete to HOLMAN,K for 55 yards to the RUTGERS0, 1ST DOWN SMU, P10
TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:57.
1-G Rutgers 03 HOVER,Chase kick attempt good.
Rutgers 21, SMU 14
1 play, 55 yards, 0:17
LOFTUS,Mike kickoff 62 yards to the RUTGERS3, GRANT,Janarion return 31 yards to the
RUTGERS34 (RICHARDSON,H).
RUTGERS drive start at 11:50.
1-10 Rutgers 34 GOODWIN,Justin rush for 8 yards to the RUTGERS42 (GREENBAUER,H;JOYNER,Randall).
2-2 Rutgers 42 GOODWIN,Justin rush for 9 yards to the SMU49, 1ST DOWN RUTGERS (ACKER,Kenneth). R11
1-10 SMU 49 GOODWIN,Justin rush for 3 yards to the SMU46 (JOYNER,Randall;MCCLENEGHEN,A).
2-7 SMU 46 GOODWIN,Justin rush for 30 yards to the SMU16, 1ST DOWN RUTGERS, out-of-bounds R12
(PARKS,Chris).
1-10 SMU 16 GOODWIN,Justin rush for 5 yards to the SMU11 (BARNES,Beau).
2-5 SMU 11 GOODWIN,Justin rush for 1 yard to the SMU10 (WOOD,Zach;WRIGHT,Darrian).
3-4 SMU 10 NOVA,Gary pass complete to KROFT,Tyler for 10 yards to the SMU0, 1ST DOWN RUTGERS, P13
TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:24.
1-G SMU 03 FEDERICO,Kyle kick attempt good.
Rutgers 28, SMU 14
7 plays, 66 yards, 3:26

It's true that our defense has a ways to go to match last year's defense, but if you didn't notice, Rutgers did not have one score in the fourth quarter. That is so unlike our previous losses when the other team made most of their points in the fourth quarter. Hopefully a sign of a better future for the defense.

Being a defensive player I can say I am not enamored with our D this year, but in regulation our offense scored 35 and Rutgers offense scored 28. Coupled with the field position I would say we came out ahead comparing defenses.

That said, we are way too weak on our run defense and it will continue to kill us if we do not get it corrected.