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I feel the defense of 2014 was much more effective and aggressive than in the 2013 spring game. I think there is no way the offense in the 2013 game would have been as effective against the 2014 defense.
The LB play was much more aggressive with several dives that got to the QB at the snap. This is great experience for the QB and OL in learning to deal with the pressure. There is no doubt that this will help prepare the O for VT. Pressure melted Vad to some degree and 2014 was a pressure cooker.
PJ and Tyler did a great job of being a "rush ends" like Sneezy as a OLB rush end. They both ran down A-Back rocket tosses from the back side or came in and pressured/sacked the QB.
Nealy and PJ both had jumps on the QB at the snap. I did see some improved OL play in dealing with the "jumps". Byerly improved throughout the game in his pre-snap assessment and resulting footwork/read to the LB "jumps". Did I say I really enjoy watching PJ play?
I am a little worried about the safeties. Perhaps they will be good at the passing defense, but I feel they may not have the "meanness" to stop the run constantly. We will miss JT here! I bet L Griffin would be good at the aggressive hitting type of safety.
I will say it seemed like the defense revolved around the 3 LBs or the 2 LB and the extra DB.
Freeman has a motor. Gotsis is Gotsis. The issues will be the DE more than anything, but our LB should be some of the best in the ACC as a "cover" for inexperience at DE.
After all the footage I have been over, I don't recall a lot from the corners. Perhaps that is because the WR are good blockers? This may also be because Byerly and Laskey did a lot of work on the inside.
In 2013, the 2nd team O moved the ball much better than 2014. Was this due to Justin in 2013 or was the 2nd team defense better in 2014? I think it is most likely a little of both. I know everyone liked Griffin's athletic ability, but he did not run the O as well as JT in 2013.
Passing was not heavy, but no pass was broken up or intercepted (am I right there was no interceptions). Either the pass was a reception, hit the hands of the receiver (3 of these ,1 Bostic, 1 Zenon, 1 McNearney) or in 2 cases thrown away/a busted route.
I do wonder if we could go back to the 3 LB and have one LB as a rush end to help pressure the QB. Harrell could add to the LB group and allow PJ and Tyler to play rush "OLB" ends.
The LB play was much more aggressive with several dives that got to the QB at the snap. This is great experience for the QB and OL in learning to deal with the pressure. There is no doubt that this will help prepare the O for VT. Pressure melted Vad to some degree and 2014 was a pressure cooker.
PJ and Tyler did a great job of being a "rush ends" like Sneezy as a OLB rush end. They both ran down A-Back rocket tosses from the back side or came in and pressured/sacked the QB.
Nealy and PJ both had jumps on the QB at the snap. I did see some improved OL play in dealing with the "jumps". Byerly improved throughout the game in his pre-snap assessment and resulting footwork/read to the LB "jumps". Did I say I really enjoy watching PJ play?
I am a little worried about the safeties. Perhaps they will be good at the passing defense, but I feel they may not have the "meanness" to stop the run constantly. We will miss JT here! I bet L Griffin would be good at the aggressive hitting type of safety.
I will say it seemed like the defense revolved around the 3 LBs or the 2 LB and the extra DB.
Freeman has a motor. Gotsis is Gotsis. The issues will be the DE more than anything, but our LB should be some of the best in the ACC as a "cover" for inexperience at DE.
After all the footage I have been over, I don't recall a lot from the corners. Perhaps that is because the WR are good blockers? This may also be because Byerly and Laskey did a lot of work on the inside.
In 2013, the 2nd team O moved the ball much better than 2014. Was this due to Justin in 2013 or was the 2nd team defense better in 2014? I think it is most likely a little of both. I know everyone liked Griffin's athletic ability, but he did not run the O as well as JT in 2013.
Passing was not heavy, but no pass was broken up or intercepted (am I right there was no interceptions). Either the pass was a reception, hit the hands of the receiver (3 of these ,1 Bostic, 1 Zenon, 1 McNearney) or in 2 cases thrown away/a busted route.
I do wonder if we could go back to the 3 LB and have one LB as a rush end to help pressure the QB. Harrell could add to the LB group and allow PJ and Tyler to play rush "OLB" ends.
