Our Secondary

Em_Jae20

Em_Jae20

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Milton's burst down the sideline was absolutely sick. I saw the Clempsom player gaining on his and I started to get flash backs of Q's fumble, but when he turned on the jets I was blown away. I knew he had speed but to see someone just turn it on like he did is amazing.

Also, I hate to make this comparison because I am a huge Falcons fan, but the way we've been play as of late really reminds me of that '09-'10 Saint's team that won it all. Like us, they had a offense that could put up points at will and a defense that, while it's not rated very high, is opportunistic and forces turnovers. Here's to hoping we finish on a three game win streak like they did!
 
Bruce Wayne

Bruce Wayne

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This isn't strictly a complaint about the use of the term "opportunistic" directed @Em_Jae20 but a general thought based on how much it has been used to describe the defense this year.

At some point when a defense (really any unit or anyone) keeps effectively doing the same thing over and over again it doesn't seem right to me to think of it as opportunism but rather as strategic planning and preparation. Several times now in postgame interviews our players have specifically said they studied keys and routes and tendencies in films and then were able to recognize it in the game and go make the proper play. After the Pitt game they even said stripping the ball had been a big focus in practice that week as the coaches were not happy that they had forced only a couple fumbles to that point in the season.

My point is there is thought, game-planning, strategy, and practice going into these results and improvements that can be tracked on the defense. Clearly, this is a good trend and very nice to see. I think that "development" has more abundantly been evidenced this season than in most of the seasons w/ previous defensive coordinators under CPJ. It is actually also happening on all units of the team so there is some real team chemistry, focus, good attitudes and commitment right now.

To be a team that can win the close and competitive games and can handle attention and being ranked you have to slowly build a team that really grasps what it takes to win "this next game" (as in whichever game is next). It is the focus, and attention to details in preparation and assignments and then game-time execution for any game up that creates a consistently winning team and the mentality of winners.
 

MWBATL

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6,536
Batman is right (er, sorry Bruce)

Our D has gotten much better since we abandoned the "been but don't break" philosophy and switched to the riverboat gambler approach. Of course, playing weak offenses will do that for you also, and we have been playing weak offenses. I fear UGa will make us pay a few times on D. Hutson Mason is not a bad QB and the whole key to that game will be whether they can exploit us downfield with their passing game. If they can, it will be long game for GT fans. If their receivers drop balls like they have been in most games, we have a shot.
 
GlennW

GlennW

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1,189
Bruce Wayne said:
This isn't strictly a complaint about the use of the term "opportunistic" directed @Em_Jae20 but a general thought based on how much it has been used to describe the defense this year.

At some point when a defense (really any unit or anyone) keeps effectively doing the same thing over and over again it doesn't seem right to me to think of it as opportunism but rather as strategic planning and preparation. Several times now in postgame interviews our players have specifically said they studied keys and routes and tendencies in films and then were able to recognize it in the game and go make the proper play. After the Pitt game they even said stripping the ball had been a big focus in practice that week as the coaches were not happy that they had forced only a couple fumbles to that point in the season.

My point is there is thought, game-planning, strategy, and practice going into these results and improvements that can be tracked on the defense. Clearly, this is a good trend and very nice to see. I think that "development" has more abundantly been evidenced this season than in most of the seasons w/ previous defensive coordinators under CPJ. It is actually also happening on all units of the team so there is some real team chemistry, focus, good attitudes and commitment right now.

To be a team that can win the close and competitive games and can handle attention and being ranked you have to slowly build a team that really grasps what it takes to win "this next game" (as in whichever game is next). It is the focus, and attention to details in preparation and assignments and then game-time execution for any game up that creates a consistently winning team and the mentality of winners.
Click to expand...

To me, THIS is the difference. The team seems to be playing a more aggressivly/attacking style of offense since North Carolina, but it's not by accident, it's done with obvious forethought because the players really seem to be well coached as to be where to be on many plays based on their reads. It's one thing to play fast and loose but something totally different to do it when you are doing it like you know why. It's almost like watching the Seattle Seahawks Defense beginning to gel a few years back. They weren't/aren't a bunch of "superstars," but play like them. To me, these guys are starting to play "bigger and faster" than they are because they're playing smart, aggressive football.

I think we've all said that if Paul Johnson could ever get a defense that came even close to his offense, we'd have a team that would challenge for a National Championship. Well, my friends, I'm here to tell you that next season might be really fun...
 
Milwaukee

Milwaukee

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image.jpg
Coach Speed gettin some much due love in USAToday
 
GlennW

GlennW

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1,189
-12.8 — Negative pass efficiency rating for Cole Stoudt in Clemson’s 22-point loss to Georgia Tech. Stoudt, playing in place of the injured Deshaun Watson, completed 3-of-11 passes for 19 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. Two of those picks were returned for touchdowns by the Yellow Jackets.
 

jayparr

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1,441
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newnan
GlennW said:
To me, THIS is the difference. The team seems to be playing a more aggressivly/attacking style of offense since North Carolina, but it's not by accident, it's done with obvious forethought because the players really seem to be well coached as to be where to be on many plays based on their reads. It's one thing to play fast and loose but something totally different to do it when you are doing it like you know why. It's almost like watching the Seattle Seahawks Defense beginning to gel a few years back. They weren't/aren't a bunch of "superstars," but play like them. To me, these guys are starting to play "bigger and faster" than they are because they're playing smart, aggressive football.

I think we've all said that if Paul Johnson could ever get a defense that came even close to his offense, we'd have a team that would challenge for a National Championship. Well, my friends, I'm here to tell you that next season might be really fun...
Click to expand...
GO GLENN GO!!!! I AGREE!!!!!
 
GTNavyNuke

GTNavyNuke

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10,066
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Williamsburg Virginia
OK guys, the kool aid tastes great. I love the turnovers. But from one year to the next, the best teams in TOs one year get fewer the next and the worst teams in TOs one year get more the next.

If we have a real advantage through film study and whatever else, we'll be ok next year but probably not as good.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/varsity-numbers/2009/varsity-numbers-talks-turnovers

Like the quote?
"As you would expect, we see a pretty similar trend looking at the bottom teams. All ten at the bottom improved, six by double-digits, and five all the way into positive margins. A poor margin cost Georgia Tech dearly in 2007, as they finished 7-6 and got head coach Chan Gailey fired; in 2008, their margin swung dramatically in the other direction despite a whopping 36 fumbles (20 lost) while getting their wits in Paul Johnson's flexbone system. "
 
iceeater1969

iceeater1969

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Messages
9,668
I call this the JAWS defense!
First a little pressure - but only from one point. Dum.. Dum..
Then it's grows
Pressure from the middle and the edge dum.. Dumm. Dumm.
Then special teams dum. Dum..Dum... Dum.!
Then from every where DL line backers and You see the teeth DB!
Dum.. Dum.. Dum...
Dumm,
gt wins.
Come and play on ga tech JAWS defense.
 
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