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I liked this film review a lot. Do I suddenly think we have become talented on defense? No, sorry. But at least I feel we are on to a scheme that will maximize our talents and mitigate our weaknesses as best we can. We sent a lot of pressure, rarely less than 5 guys, on pretty much every play. It is risky and it cost us dearly several times throughout the contest, but you know what, it was a heck of a lot easier to watch than seeing us slowly bleed out like we had been. For much of the day we lined up in a 3-3-5 or 3-4 and just ran up to the line timing the snap with LBs in various places. It was genuinely hard to tell who was coming and who wasn't. We created a little confusion, but at the same time, a sense of urgency by their QB to get the ball out. He rarely had a lot of time, nor took a lot of time to get throws off. This helped tremendously with the DBs who were pressing more in coverage. We dared them to beat us over the top and they never really did. What they did do is gash us repeatedly with quick throws to the flats and QB run outs. Obviously, there were no LBs in those areas because they were jumping into the backfield so much.
I also liked this film review because they typically showed a wider field view than a lot of other broadcasts. This enabled me to watch our DBs in coverage a lot more than I usually can. So, I will start with that position group. I like our DBs and I think they are a strong group. With DJ playing boundary and them wanting to make quick throws, he saw a lot of balls coming his way. I think the world of this guy, I really do. In fact, he is our most gifted corner in a while. I would take him over Sweeting or Jemea (as CB not S). He has what I call elite closing speed. Technically, he has improved with his cover skills and footwork etc and he looks really comfortable out there and confident. I think he is an NFL player all the way. He is just coming into his own in terms of experience and will blossom as a widely recognized ACC figure. Milton is really fast too and he can cover. You may have noticed that there aren't many plays coming his way. He might be less instinctive and maybe a little less fluid in the hips, but he can play. I would like to see those two race. Durham looks like an athlete, but he looks like a frosh too. He needs to keep working. I like Austin #20. That kid is a baller even if he isn't big enough. He will HIT you and he plays ALL OUT ALL THE TIME. Overall, I am less impressed with our safeties, but comparatively speaking, they are way more representative of Power 5 starting material than our DL. They are not a weakness, but they are, all three, probably a stretch to make it to the league. There isn't quite good enough speed to make up for the lack of size or physicality on any of their parts. Perhaps it is more dramatic because of our dire need for physical run support caused by our weakness up front. You have to either be really fast or really physical (preferably both) to have a chance, our guys are neither, despite being good college players. I like Golden's ball skills more than his tackling.
Blitzing as much as we have been plays right to the strength of our LBs. None of them can cover worth a darn anyway (well maybe Nealy a little), or disengage from OL blocks at the second level, so why not send them? They are pretty good at flying around the backfield and turning themselves into missiles, so I say go for it. Those blitzes are good against the run too. Marcordes is best when he doesn't have to read much and just go. He had an active game and when he had a chance to make a play or two he came up big.
As always, the DL is really a patchwork job. We are trying to do whatever we can to give them help. Kallon played probably half the game so I got to see him a lot to form a better opinion. I guess now I wish I hadn't. You would think he would get tired of people pushing his 290 pounds around by now and get his f&#*ing pads down. Sadly, at present, he still plays way too high and he can't use his hands. When he chases a play he looks really athletic. He just has no feel for the leverage required in the trenches. I wish he could give Freeman about 30 of his pounds. We remain a difficult team to watch up front. Getting off blocks is a major challenge. Some of those run outs could be stopped if we could just separate. I like Gamble at DE, but only if we have Green at DT, otherwise, we still need to minimize Francis' snaps IMHO. Sorry. Stargel played a lot. Nothing. Got pushed around badly. Green gets most of the doubles, sometimes Adam. We are still in trouble here and, in truth, it is all smoke and mirrors right now. Rook-Chungong isn't giving us a lot either.
We are going to give up points in the coming weeks my friends. However, flying around like this will at least give us a chance to make some game changing plays or, just get a couple stops. We are an offensive football team. We just need this unit to give us a chance. If allowed generous breathers on the sidelines and a lot of points to work with, this defense can give us just enough. They won't be boring. That is for sure.
I also liked this film review because they typically showed a wider field view than a lot of other broadcasts. This enabled me to watch our DBs in coverage a lot more than I usually can. So, I will start with that position group. I like our DBs and I think they are a strong group. With DJ playing boundary and them wanting to make quick throws, he saw a lot of balls coming his way. I think the world of this guy, I really do. In fact, he is our most gifted corner in a while. I would take him over Sweeting or Jemea (as CB not S). He has what I call elite closing speed. Technically, he has improved with his cover skills and footwork etc and he looks really comfortable out there and confident. I think he is an NFL player all the way. He is just coming into his own in terms of experience and will blossom as a widely recognized ACC figure. Milton is really fast too and he can cover. You may have noticed that there aren't many plays coming his way. He might be less instinctive and maybe a little less fluid in the hips, but he can play. I would like to see those two race. Durham looks like an athlete, but he looks like a frosh too. He needs to keep working. I like Austin #20. That kid is a baller even if he isn't big enough. He will HIT you and he plays ALL OUT ALL THE TIME. Overall, I am less impressed with our safeties, but comparatively speaking, they are way more representative of Power 5 starting material than our DL. They are not a weakness, but they are, all three, probably a stretch to make it to the league. There isn't quite good enough speed to make up for the lack of size or physicality on any of their parts. Perhaps it is more dramatic because of our dire need for physical run support caused by our weakness up front. You have to either be really fast or really physical (preferably both) to have a chance, our guys are neither, despite being good college players. I like Golden's ball skills more than his tackling.
Blitzing as much as we have been plays right to the strength of our LBs. None of them can cover worth a darn anyway (well maybe Nealy a little), or disengage from OL blocks at the second level, so why not send them? They are pretty good at flying around the backfield and turning themselves into missiles, so I say go for it. Those blitzes are good against the run too. Marcordes is best when he doesn't have to read much and just go. He had an active game and when he had a chance to make a play or two he came up big.
As always, the DL is really a patchwork job. We are trying to do whatever we can to give them help. Kallon played probably half the game so I got to see him a lot to form a better opinion. I guess now I wish I hadn't. You would think he would get tired of people pushing his 290 pounds around by now and get his f&#*ing pads down. Sadly, at present, he still plays way too high and he can't use his hands. When he chases a play he looks really athletic. He just has no feel for the leverage required in the trenches. I wish he could give Freeman about 30 of his pounds. We remain a difficult team to watch up front. Getting off blocks is a major challenge. Some of those run outs could be stopped if we could just separate. I like Gamble at DE, but only if we have Green at DT, otherwise, we still need to minimize Francis' snaps IMHO. Sorry. Stargel played a lot. Nothing. Got pushed around badly. Green gets most of the doubles, sometimes Adam. We are still in trouble here and, in truth, it is all smoke and mirrors right now. Rook-Chungong isn't giving us a lot either.
We are going to give up points in the coming weeks my friends. However, flying around like this will at least give us a chance to make some game changing plays or, just get a couple stops. We are an offensive football team. We just need this unit to give us a chance. If allowed generous breathers on the sidelines and a lot of points to work with, this defense can give us just enough. They won't be boring. That is for sure.
We were very fortunate the last 3 wks for less than stellar QBs but we also affected things as opposed just getting rolled.
