GTBandit22
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Thacker out at DC, now Safeties coach
- Thread starter Buzz_404
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Randy Carson
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Was Miami looking ahead? Or did our change at DC really make a difference?
Could someone break down the scheming changes that were put in place this week?
Could someone break down the scheming changes that were put in place this week?
leatherneckjacket
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Based on what i saw with my drunk eyes, DBs seemed closer to the line of scrimmage, less backing up and on our heels, slightly different personnel and more aggressive swarming to the ball and sure tackling.
CEB
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Schematic? Someone else may be able to tell you that. I saw us rush 4 and contain Van Dyke all night. We got ZERO pressure on him except for one very well timed blitz from Moala. We played coverage and Miami kept the ball in Van Dykes hands. I think they could’ve run it more and maybe caused us to make some adjustments but they didn’t.
The biggest thing I think we changed is that last week was a “quicksand” game. That game where everything is just “off” and there is no good reason why. You’re a step slow, a moment too late, an inch short… things happen that never happened before and won’t likely happen again. Probably deep in your mental make up, it is a lack of concentration, mindset, prep, etc but I promise the players don’t feel like they did anything but their best to prep. It’s just playing in quicksand…. I don’t expect to see the team we fielded against BGSU again.
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We still played a 4-2-5. We still did mostly the same kinds of stunts and slants and shifts by our DL. We didn’t seem to “simplify” anything.****
What I saw was
- Wrapping up.
- Literally, wrapping your arms around the guy with the ball and not letting go
- Gang tackling (get three or more other guys to the ball)
- Closer coverage (“break but not bend” defense is unfair)
- Everybody playing a lot harder
- Fighting off blocks (though I still saw our CBs taken out of the play by Miami WRs a few times)
- DEs mostly setting the edge (they came inside sometimes, but I didn’t see as much of four DL completely blocked by the other OL)
That was, by FAR the best effort by the defensive players this year. It might be a better team defensive game than any last season (would have to check).
**** If someone wants to take clips and show me where there were differences in defensive scheme, I’ll change my mind. Just watching, I didn’t notice major differences in the defensive playbook.
Jacket05
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The biggest difference I noticed was that it seemed they were told that rather than trying to go for the ball on every tackle attempt, the first person should just secure the table then once the tackle is secured the next players to the player can go for the strip.
g0lftime
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We disguised coverages which led to one INT. I had not seen that before or maybe didn't notice it but it was text book how they baited the QB.
Efford getting reps at LB. Was in on the fumble at the end. I think that kid will be big time for us. RS freshman.
Efford getting reps at LB. Was in on the fumble at the end. I think that kid will be big time for us. RS freshman.
ThatGuy
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I also can’t speak to schematic changes (thanks for that), but agree wholeheartedly that a key difference-maker here seemed to be level of effort. Bear with me while I process some of my swirling thoughts below:
Every win (or loss) is a chain of events. You break one link in the chain, and often the whole result falls apart. In this game, the sum of events on the chain was net positive, and when you put it together, it put us in a place to win. The same (opposite) thing could be said of Miami’s loss. Only reason I bring it up: in multiple games this year, we’ve put together a chain of events that hurt us rather than helped us.
This time, nearly every time something went wrong defensively (and it did), we ultimately found a way to create at least one event that righted the ship and got us back into contention. The interceptions. The forced fumbles. The (called-back) blocked extra point. The shoelace tackle that saved a touchdown. Even if some of those things were ultimately overturned, they paint the picture of a team that’s going out, meeting its setbacks, and clawing their way back into the game.
I think when Miami looks back at us (when they’re done pouting about 1-2 ref calls), that’s what they’ll remember. They may have had more talent as a team. But we just wouldn’t go away. And that was a damn fine thing to see from our defense, after a half season of looking for answers. Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. And our defense in this game (and our offense, sure, but we’re talking about defense here) was playing hungry, and to make the most of those opportunities. They just wouldn’t go away.
That’s what Key keeps preaching he wants to build. When other teams play us, I hope they continue to pencil us in as a question mark. As a “man, this is going to be tough.” Particularly defensively, based on this performance and every one from here on out.