Looking Closely at the Defense. Again we made it too easy.

[Cityboy4life82]

Coach D'O gave and explanation on the struggles of the defense. What he says is some what true. We are very young but he could change the way UM plays on the defensive side of the ball.


"Generally when you give up big runs it's not just the front seven; it's because the back end didn't what we call spoke to the ball - if you're in a three deep coverage, those three guys have to throw a net on the ball and get the ball on the ground," D'Onofrio said. "The corner and safety have to keep it between them. If the ball bounces out and goes for 50 yards, it's not the defensive end's fault any more.

Part of the problem is that Coach D is allowing teams to much freedom. His defense is also complicated and that is a reason we struggle. I will post about the complexity of his defense later on today. This post I wanted to show how what LU mentioned a couple of weeks ago. Teams only need to run about 4 to 5 plays to beat UM. Of course those plays would be from various sets.

Teams have obviously watched the film of our defense and I knew that when Notre Dame went into this formation it was over and there was nothing we could do to stop it. For some odd reason Coach D’O allows for teams to win the “numbers game” by out flanking us. No one lines their RB that wide and I was hoping for a time out or a check from the sidelines. Immediately they have us out flanked and out numbered on the edges. They also have the favorable numbers on the inside for a QB draw.

Huge running lanes were created by the quick pitch and our players really did not have a chance. Trying to tackle any elusive or semi elusive player in that much space would require an extremely talented athlete, which are normally playing on Sundays. Not saying it can’t be done but this will more than likely be a favorable match up for the offensive player the majority of the time.

I am not sure what happened on this play. Don’t know if this was by design or if our players messed up. We called a blitz and all these players will run through the same gap while the D End will leave his containment in what looks like a “Zone Coverage” Just looks odd.

As you can see they are running in the same gap. Not Sure why?

Again I am not sure if this was designed for the D End to drop back but the out come of this play was a cut back. All of our players were caught up inside and the RB cut back and gained around 12 to 13 yards

The running back cutting back


I think it may be time for Coach D’O to simply the defense. If indeed those plays in the last few pictures were caused by our players, I would strongly suggest making things simple.
Coach Bill Young did so while at UM. Some thought that maybe Randy Shannon was tampering with the defense but it was Bill Young who decided to simplify things to make it easier on the players. I would advice Coach D’O to do the same.

Playing man cover 2 with zone blitzing to create pressure would be something I would implement. Tell the young men to stick Blank player and cover this small area and allow them to use their athletic ability.

For such young players Coach D'O's multiple fronts and zones is tough. I will post on how tough those reads are later today.

 

[datcaneguy]

Thanks for the breakdown CBC. Again I ask why doesn't he sees this? Mayock was saying the something all game, "Miami is beat before the snap of the ball"

 

[Peruche]

Not a x & O's guy but so thanks for breakin' it down for people like me on this board......

 

[CaneSB]

"Huge running lanes were created by the quick pitch and our players really did not have a chance. Trying to tackle any elusive or semi elusive player in that much space would require an extremely talented athlete, which are normally playing on Sundays. Not saying it can’t be done but this will more than likely be a favorable match up for the offensive player the majority of the time."

That might be the most classic line yet. Only NFL players can make open field tackles. Could have sworn numerous times that our defense is loaded with NFL talent. What gives? Also, the defense is in a good position to make a play. Both McGee and E Johnson are supposed to take on the WR or TE outside shoulders and spill the play back inside where there are 3 (LB, DE, and S) players chasing. Can you please show follow up clips of the play after the player gets to the line of scrimmage and then 5 and 10 yards down the field? That will provide better context. Also, pre-snap you mutseriously left out the Safety walking into the box.

 

[canadianhurricane]

Thanks for the analysis CBC.. I missed part of the game (was @ a wedding) but from what I saw, we never really adjusted to 'non traditional' formations. We are too reactive.

One thing I've always wondered was whether this type of Defense really takes advantage of the type of players that SFLA produces.. There is serious speed in the State of Miami. Why slow players down by making them play a read-n-react type of D?!

 

[MinnesotaCane]

"Huge running lanes were created by the quick pitch and our players really did not have a chance. Trying to tackle any elusive or semi elusive player in that much space would require an extremely talented athlete, which are normally playing on Sundays. Not saying it can’t be done but this will more than likely be a favorable match up for the offensive player the majority of the time."

That might be the most classic line yet. Only NFL players can make open field tackles. Could have sworn numerous times that our defense is loaded with NFL talent. What gives? Also, the defense is in a good position to make a play. Both McGee and E Johnson are supposed to take on the WR or TE outside shoulders and spill the play back inside where there are 3 (LB, DE, and S) players chasing. Can you please show follow up clips of the play after the player gets to the line of scrimmage and then 5 and 10 yards down the field? That will provide better context. Also, pre-snap you mutseriously left out the Safety walking into the box.

+1. It's the job of the corner and LB to push the play back inside. Also, they need to be able to shed the blocks of skilled-position players. In terms of scheme/coaching, why not have Johnson move up closer to the line on the TE and have the safety move closer to where Johnson originally lined-up. That makes it 3 vs 3 match-up with the safety having the potential to run-up and disrupt the play UNBLOCKED. This is what we used to do so well with Sean Taylor.

Furthermore, it's infuriating as **** that he doesn't have the corners playing bump n' run, especially with that QB. If McGee is playing bump n' run, that means the WR has to try to block him for at least another two seconds more and it also gives the WR much less leverage of being able to run down field to make a block. This is defensive strategy 101 and the fact that we're having to discuss this is ridiculous.

Furthermore,

 

[JimmyJohnsonsHair]

"Huge running lanes were created by the quick pitch and our players really did not have a chance. Trying to tackle any elusive or semi elusive player in that much space would require an extremely talented athlete, which are normally playing on Sundays. Not saying it can’t be done but this will more than likely be a favorable match up for the offensive player the majority of the time."

That might be the most classic line yet. Only NFL players can make open field tackles. Could have sworn numerous times that our defense is loaded with NFL talent. What gives? Also, the defense is in a good position to make a play. Both McGee and E Johnson are supposed to take on the WR or TE outside shoulders and spill the play back inside where there are 3 (LB, DE, and S) players chasing. Can you please show follow up clips of the play after the player gets to the line of scrimmage and then 5 and 10 yards down the field? That will provide better context. Also, pre-snap you mutseriously left out the Safety walking into the box.

+1. It's the job of the corner and LB to push the play back inside. Also, they need to be able to shed the blocks of skilled-position players. In terms of scheme/coaching, why not have Johnson move up closer to the line on the TE and have the safety move closer to where Johnson originally lined-up. That makes it 3 vs 3 match-up with the safety having the potential to run-up and disrupt the play UNBLOCKED. This is what we used to do so well with Sean Taylor.

Furthermore, it's infuriating as **** that he doesn't have the corners playing bump n' run, especially with that QB. If McGee is playing bump n' run, that means the WR has to try to block him for at least another two seconds more and it also gives the WR much less leverage of being able to run down field to make a block. This is defensive strategy 101 and the fact that we're having to discuss this is ridiculous.

Furthermore,

This stood out to me as a huge problem, especially in the 2nd half. Our guys simply could not get off their blocks.

 

[NoVaCane04]

I agree with the bump and run remark. I never understood how we give an average quarterback 15 yds off the bat to make a throw. A throw I could make...

D'Ono is going to have to simplify and let the athletes make up for the lack of comprehension in the scheme.

 

[CaneSB]

I agree with the bump and run remark. I never understood how we give an average quarterback 15 yds off the bat to make a throw. A throw I could make...

D'Ono is going to have to simplify and let the athletes make up for the lack of comprehension in the scheme.

What athletes?

 

[[]_[]Fan2010]

This is a serious question and not a rant by any means, but does anyone actually have an answer as to why we play our CBs 8-12 yds off the WRs?

A curl route by the WR works a majority of the time as we never jump the route and rarely make a play on the ball.

Same defense is constantly beat by the nearside WR running a go route, the TE going anywhere up the middle and the opposite WR running a drag to the near side of the field.

The other play ND ran all night was a slant by the nearside and a TE out route. With the CB playing so far off the ball and then the OLB trying to cover the slant, the TE was always open.

That's three plays that not only made it easy to move the ball but the QB has to make 1-2 reads to the same side of the field. In all honesty, how are we supposed to defend any of these plays with our corners effectively play reactionary?

 

[GhostofVenice01]

This cant be correct, the posters on here assured me it wasnt a schematic problem, it was the players

 

[GhostofVenice01]

This is a serious question and not a rant by any means, but does anyone actually have an answer as to why we play our CBs 8-12 yds off the WRs?

A curl route by the WR works a majority of the time as we never jump the route and rarely make a play on the ball.

Same defense is constantly beat by the nearside WR running a go route, the TE going anywhere up the middle and the opposite WR running a drag to the near side of the field.

The other play ND ran all night was a slant by the nearside and a TE out route. With the CB playing so far off the ball and then the OLB trying to cover the slant, the TE was always open.

That's three plays that not only made it easy to move the ball but the QB has to make 1-2 reads to the same side of the field. In all honesty, how are we supposed to defend any of these plays with our corners effectively play reactionary?

Played plenty of Press Man against NC State...what were your thoughts of the results?

We forced 2 Ints???

 

[DeadPoets]

This is a serious question and not a rant by any means, but does anyone actually have an answer as to why we play our CBs 8-12 yds off the WRs?

A curl route by the WR works a majority of the time as we never jump the route and rarely make a play on the ball.

Same defense is constantly beat by the nearside WR running a go route, the TE going anywhere up the middle and the opposite WR running a drag to the near side of the field.

The other play ND ran all night was a slant by the nearside and a TE out route. With the CB playing so far off the ball and then the OLB trying to cover the slant, the TE was always open.

That's three plays that not only made it easy to move the ball but the QB has to make 1-2 reads to the same side of the field. In all honesty, how are we supposed to defend any of these plays with our corners effectively play reactionary?

Played plenty of Press Man against NC State...what were your thoughts of the results?

We haven't played bump in run once this year. Please.

 

[GhostofVenice01]

This is a serious question and not a rant by any means, but does anyone actually have an answer as to why we play our CBs 8-12 yds off the WRs?

A curl route by the WR works a majority of the time as we never jump the route and rarely make a play on the ball.

Same defense is constantly beat by the nearside WR running a go route, the TE going anywhere up the middle and the opposite WR running a drag to the near side of the field.

The other play ND ran all night was a slant by the nearside and a TE out route. With the CB playing so far off the ball and then the OLB trying to cover the slant, the TE was always open.

That's three plays that not only made it easy to move the ball but the QB has to make 1-2 reads to the same side of the field. In all honesty, how are we supposed to defend any of these plays with our corners effectively play reactionary?

Played plenty of Press Man against NC State...what were your thoughts of the results?

We forced 2 Ints???

Both INT's came in off coverage...thanks for playing

So whats the excuse then for the rest of the games with no INTs if "off coverage" is so good?

 

[GhostofVenice01]

Played plenty of Press Man against NC State...what were your thoughts of the results?

We forced 2 Ints???

Both INT's came in off coverage...thanks for playing

So whats the excuse then for the rest of the games with no INTs if "off coverage" is so good?

We don't have INT's because we have guys who don't understand route patterns and can't jump routes as of yet. Too much youth.

:rollcanes:

 

[[]_[]Fan2010]

I'm not suggesting we play one thing or another. My question is how are those plays defendable? I'd have to rewatch the game, but from my seat it looked like they ran a handful of plays like this. I was wondering if someone who has more insight than me can tell me how those plays can be defended in our given system. IMO, we move the CBs closer to the LOS, but there's no need to jam or bump in run every play. That cushion we give WRs kills us, especially when the corner seals our CB 12 yds downfield leaving a RB with no one w/in 10 yards.

I'm not saying Coach D's defense can't contain this, just curious if anyone knows what the players are actually supposed to be doing?

 

[GhostofVenice01]

Both INT's came in off coverage...thanks for playing

So whats the excuse then for the rest of the games with no INTs if "off coverage" is so good?

We don't have INT's because we have guys who don't understand route patterns and can't jump routes as of yet. Too much youth.

:rollcanes:

You obviously have no idea what it means to pattern read in the zone and understand route combinations. You don't understand the center fielders responsibility if his zone is threatened with a double seam.You don't understand curl/flat zones or how a cornerback can read a WR release and eliminate certain routes. YOU don't understand it and it's obvious that our DB's don't understand it and aren't executing.

Coach Ohnofrio is that you?

 

[DiegoCane]

I'm not suggesting we play one thing or another. My question is how are those plays defendable? I'd have to rewatch the game, but from my seat it looked like they ran a handful of plays like this. I was wondering if someone who has more insight than me can tell me how those plays can be defended in our given system. IMO, we move the CBs closer to the LOS, but there's no need to jam or bump in run every play. That cushion we give WRs kills us, especially when the corner seals our CB 12 yds downfield leaving a RB with no one w/in 10 yards.

I'm not saying Coach D's defense can't contain this, just curious if anyone knows what the players are actually supposed to be doing?

Theoretically, zone coverage is also more effective vs the run then man to man.

 

[[]_[]Fan2010]

So why line up so far past the LOS then? 7 yards seems like quite a bit, but more reasonable than our 10. Is it an issue with not being able to backpedal? Will we see our corners playing further upfield when we have a pair of legitimate safeties?

 

[DiegoCane]

So why line up so far past the LOS then? 7 yards seems like quite a bit, but more reasonable than our 10. Is it an issue with not being able to backpedal? Will we see our corners playing further upfield when we have a pair of legitimate safeties?

Well we play a lot of cover 3 so the CBs are both responsible for a deep 1/3 of the field (Free Safety has the middle 1/3). Pretty standard for the CB's to line up 7 yards off the line.

I have a few problems that I think cause us problems:
1. We don't disguise our defenses all that often, never make the QB/OC uncomfortable
2. The CBs are in too much of a hurry to get to their deep 1/3
3. We don't knock WRs/TEs off their routes
4. The LBs/CBs/S still don't seem on the same page at passing players off in the zone
5. Most important we don't get any pressure on the QB (obvious)

Now I don't know exactly what is being taught and what isn't since I've never been to a practice and don't think anyone has ever posted it. I do know that we don't have the horses yet but I also believe there are few schematic problems as well.