CyberCane
Junior
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2011
- Messages
- 1,516
Can we just wait and see what happens this year? This has got be the year of no more excuses. Nobody expects a top 20 defense, but we **** well better be in the top 50. When our ability to execute our defense (3/4) comes down to kids who have not played a down, I get wary. Lets drink the coolaid and say Wyche is the real deal, and Hertelou and Jenkins are legit. Then we start to have a defense that can push you around. Love the idea of Perryman and Kirby inside In the 3/4. Think Pierre and chick are really 3/4 DEs. All comes down to the NT. Do we have one or two now?
Actually many of us are expecting a top 20-25 defense and it's NOT HARD at all for us to get there even with this scheme. It starts with the offense making a commitment to bring a ball control time of possession team so that the defense doesn't start ok and then get worn out over the course of the game cause the offense went 3 and out repeatedly. An emphasis on running the ball and throwing short, high percentage Dropback routes with playaction being the way big plays are generated. There will be a lot of run on first down. Instead of holding the ball 25 mins a game, you get that average up to 32.
That extra six minutes of time the D is not on the field is probably worth 50 yards of defense and maybe 5 points. Then you add some better talent in the front then we are used to and a good secondary, which should shave another 30-40 yards off the totals. So it's not still all hard to shed an extra 80 yards of yards yielded a game from out totals. If we are giving up 360 instead of 430 a game, that's a good defense. FIU and geo posted about this already.
The defense's ability to attack and play fresh is in part dependent on our offenses ability not to hang them out to dry.
Bowl game proved this. D actually was doing its job in the first half. You add Morris going three and out all the time and a bunch more offensive possessions for UL and they got worn down having to defend so much until the dam broke.
Actually a very good point that is seldom brought up.