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My snowflake thread on the DEFENSE

CanesAreAble

CanesAreAble

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I don't know what else people expected from the defense last night.

In the first half, we got pressure on Winston a few times (but missed sacks on 3rd down), and had a gimme interception but 30 took a terrible angle and overran the play. Missed opportunities like that are the difference between giving up 21 points in the first half, and giving up 7 points.

We did a pretty good job of controlling the running game with both safeties back, and got two picks. The chances of us holding them to 24 points or something like that were slim, especially when we're missing sacks and interceptions.

FSU averages 53 a game for a reason. They have a good, experiences o-line, a good stable of backs, good WRs, a good TE, and a phenom at QB. What the **** kind of scheme is supposed to shut all of that down? It's the players, folks. Guys like 30, 31, and 59 lack range. They're not plus athletes. Our best pass rushers are a true sophomore and a true freshman (who missed two sacks), but aren't ready to hold up against the run.

I think if we had tried to play some super-aggressive cover 1 scheme, we would've gotten beat worse.

We still have work to do in terms of recruiting. Let's break down the roster:

2009/10 class
Porter
Robinson
Green
Gaines
Cornileus
Highsmith
Rodgers
Gilbert
Renfrow

These are supposed to be the BEST players on the team. There's just not a lot there, and two guys are waiver-wire players that Golden had to bring in for depth (Renfrow has pretty much outplayed Porter all year long).


2011 class
Chickillo
Pierre
King
Perryman
Armbrister

This was a makeshift recruiting class. There was ONE guy committed when Golden took over, and he had a month to put that group together. I'm honestly surprised we've gotten anything out of Armbrister.


2012 class
McCord
Moore
Hamilton
Hoilett
Kirby
Blue
Howard
Crawford
Dortch
Hope
Bush
Jenkins
Gunter (JUCO)

Golden's first full class. Our best pass rusher is in this group, and this is basically our entire secondary.


2013 class
Muhammad
Kamalu (JUCO)
Figueroa
Grace
Burns
Elder
Carter
Lewis

AQM, Figs, and Burns are already rotation players.

The overwhelming bulk of our premiere talent is in the 2012 and 2013 classes. We're another year or two away from being where we want to be on defense. Looking ahead to the 2014 class, we've got some studs committed. It's unlikely ALL of these guys sign, but we're in good shape and there are still a couple more beasts we're waiting on:

2014 class
Stuckey (JUCO)
Wyche (JUCO)
Valentine
Jenkins
Thomas
Harris
Jackson
McCray
Smith
Young
Owens
Mayes
Turner
Bethel

We finished 116th in defense last year. Before the season I said we'd finish top 30, and we're currently 31st. That's a MASSIVE improvement. It's just going to take a little bit more time.
 
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Last 4 weeks in conf we have given up 400 yards a game = would put us 70th in the nation - we will be better next year however not sure we are the 31st ranked d in the land
 
ncncanes said:
Last 4 weeks in conf we have given up 400 yards a game = would put us 70th in the nation - we will be better next year however not sure we are the 31st ranked d in the land
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That would still be a 40 spot jump.
 
ncncanes said:
Last 4 weeks in conf we have given up 400 yards a game = would put us 70th in the nation - we will be better next year however not sure we are the 31st ranked d in the land
Click to expand...


Everybody feeds off the sisters of the poor in their non-conference schedule, not just us.
 
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I expected at least something from the pass rush. Got absolutely nothing. Also expected the lbs to suck. I said all week we'd be in for a long night the minute fsu got or lbs to run sideline to sideline trying to chase someone down or in coverage.
 
They did fine last night before they got mentally and physically fatigued. It's ridiculous to think they were going to hold fsu to 24 pts or something. The only area where they needed to be a lot better was in the red zone. We're playing a style of defense set up to stop teams in the red zone. If we dont do that we are screwed.

I dont anticipate much changing if we're being realistic. If I could initiate one change it would be to start playing the pass rush line before third down. If a team runs on 1st and 10 and gets 0, they are throwing. If your best pass d features that undersized line, get them out there. Stop being so robotic about it. These are the little things we can actually change in a week.
 
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You get a couple difference makers on the D Line and your D can make huge strides in 1 -2 seasons. Goldman and Edwards are dominating type guys who are in year 2 and they gave us fits last night. Same class as Moore and Hamilton, who are not yet ready to sniff the field. We get Wyche, Johnson, and one other JUCO DL and we will be good to go next year. We must a find a stud safety who can play right away as well. We need depth badly at safety, especially kids who can lay the wood.
 
The offense is killing the defense.
The defense gets worn out almost every game because the offense can't stay on the field and convert. Thrown is the other issues mentioned and they're virtually behind the eight ball all game every game.
 
Good post but last night was about third down. They converted the entire night and we struggled in too many situations. Our season has always been in Morris' hands and now is even more so. Last night was terrible but I'll take 7-1. Who honestly thought that's where we would be?
 
[]_[]Fan2010;1657977 said:
Good post but last night was about third down. They converted the entire night and we struggled in too many situations. Our season has always been in Morris' hands and now is even more so. Last night was terrible but I'll take 7-1. Who honestly thought that's where we would be?
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Agree, and that's a terrifying proposition.
 
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Pecos The Diver said:
And I'm sure no one expected the kind of 3rd down numbers fsu put up on us last night. No excuse for that...
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This is the problem with our fan base right now. They are so uninformed. FSU has the highest 3rd down conversion rate in the country. They were right on their average. We know that there are serious personnel liabilities on our defense. We were never going to dominate the game and shut them out.

You want to be mad at the 3rd % from Wake fine. But to say "no one expected that". We were a 21 point dog. EVERYONE EXPECTED THAT.
 
This is why I can't criticize D'onofrio for Saturday. Given the lack of talent we have on defense, and the fact that we held a top 5 offense to their fewest points on the year....I don't know what else people could ask for.

Not many DCs out there who could turn a defense playing guys like Highsmith, Cornelius, Rodgers, Renfrow, Shayon Green, etc into a top 30 defense and Coach D has.

We get some real talent and we will have an elite defense again. We're just not there yet.
 
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Comes down to the fact that as much as Chickillo hustles and gives everything he has he's just not a pass rusher, a 3-4 DE yes, a guy that can get consistent pressure no.
 
I'm not certain that the defense takes another step forward next year if Perryman leaves.
 
Perryman hasn't really done anything this year to make me think we would miss him. Other than an occasional highlight hit, what has he done? (other than be lost in coverage)
 
Perryman owned the Florida game and is by far our best tackler. We're already screwed next year at linebacker because of Paul, EJ, Terry being goons. Who the **** would replace Perryman? Jermaine Grace? Sorry, that's not comforting.
 
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