Coastal Carolina

[appstatealum]

Fehr and Gaither need to be able to read and react. We can't have them so close to the line. DeMarco, Cobb and Cook are more suited for holding the edges and shedding blocks. Gaither gives you that speed blitz, so it's ok to flash him every now and then, but as we saw in the UNC game, put him out in space and let him do his thing.

The safeties, who have had their struggles individually with angles, have looked worse because they are having trouble in support due to the LBs getting washed up in the line. They have to read and diagnose what's happening to the LBs to figure out where to offer help, and they have struggled with it. If the corners aren't getting over the top support, they are less likely to turn their heads or aggressively play the ball. All of these different elements play in to our struggles.

From what I've seen, our best option is to play the straight 3-4 with cover 2 zone schemes and mix in weak/strong zone coverages with zone blitzes And yes, we can run some of these blitz packages that Roof has incorporated. But we need to disguise and confuse, show blitz and then back off into cover 2-3-4 and force the QB to throw around cocerages. Should lead to some easy turnovers.

So you see this and you are very astute. Do you not believe the coaches see this as well? Surely they are searching for solutions. I find it hard to believe that they are ignoring these options.

That’s where I’m confused. I know they see it, they have to. The only options to why we aren’t doing anything about it are:
1. Staff are not comfortable with getting pressure from only 3 DL
2. Staff are comfortable with a specific base scheme and need that to account for the playbook (probably the closest to the truth).
3. Staff has no grasp of what our personnel do well (probably the furthest from the truth, but a possibility nevertheless)

The reality is, the defense we are running is getting gashed. I suppose there is a possibility that they are placating the offensive mind of Drink and are just playing this way so they limit quick change of possessions? Do not allow quick scores, just keep bending slowly until the other team scores. Offense comes out rested and scores again, and again and again? Not sure about that strategy, but I’ve seen it done in eras past with other college and pro teams.

I really can’t discount any of those theories so if I may float another one out there. Could it be possible that they are choosing to not adjust from this “base” defense because they haven’t felt the need to make adjustments so that things aren’t on tape? I mean, it’s out there to suggest it but I know these guys are incompetent.

Yeah, that’s kind of what I meant by option 2, the reason I wonder is because we did a lot of the things we should’ve in the UNC game....

[App91]

watching the replay it looked more like execution than scheme

Tackling, lots of missed tackles and ol'e defense.

[ericsaid]

Fehr and Gaither need to be able to read and react. We can't have them so close to the line. DeMarco, Cobb and Cook are more suited for holding the edges and shedding blocks. Gaither gives you that speed blitz, so it's ok to flash him every now and then, but as we saw in the UNC game, put him out in space and let him do his thing.

The safeties, who have had their struggles individually with angles, have looked worse because they are having trouble in support due to the LBs getting washed up in the line. They have to read and diagnose what's happening to the LBs to figure out where to offer help, and they have struggled with it. If the corners aren't getting over the top support, they are less likely to turn their heads or aggressively play the ball. All of these different elements play in to our struggles.

From what I've seen, our best option is to play the straight 3-4 with cover 2 zone schemes and mix in weak/strong zone coverages with zone blitzes And yes, we can run some of these blitz packages that Roof has incorporated. But we need to disguise and confuse, show blitz and then back off into cover 2-3-4 and force the QB to throw around cocerages. Should lead to some easy turnovers.

So you see this and you are very astute. Do you not believe the coaches see this as well? Surely they are searching for solutions. I find it hard to believe that they are ignoring these options.

That’s where I’m confused. I know they see it, they have to. The only options to why we aren’t doing anything about it are:
1. Staff are not comfortable with getting pressure from only 3 DL
2. Staff are comfortable with a specific base scheme and need that to account for the playbook (probably the closest to the truth).
3. Staff has no grasp of what our personnel do well (probably the furthest from the truth, but a possibility nevertheless)

The reality is, the defense we are running is getting gashed. I suppose there is a possibility that they are placating the offensive mind of Drink and are just playing this way so they limit quick change of possessions? Do not allow quick scores, just keep bending slowly until the other team scores. Offense comes out rested and scores again, and again and again? Not sure about that strategy, but I’ve seen it done in eras past with other college and pro teams.

I think the issue may be the loss of Stout. I haven't watched the defensive line and don't have an cuts to the games but it seems like they overachieve on passing downs but get pushed around in the run game. Stout was an anchor and could hold up a center and guard to either side at any given time, keeping the ILB clean to make a play on the ball carrier. Right now it seems like the linebackers are being used to absorb blockers and the safeties are expected to fill the running lanes as they open. Those safeties and a free ILB are generally over pursing, getting caught in the wash, and are unable to make a play on the ball carrier before they break free in the secondary.

However, while opposing teams have had some success with +10 yard rushing plays, App only gave up on big run against Coastal and held a rushing team to 3.3 YPC. Louisiana will talk up how athletic their offensive line is but I doubt they are any better, straight up than UNC. May have a better scheme, but App has played in a physical game their last two weeks which should serve well for the Louisiana game.

Also something of note, it would appear that having the extra week for UNC preparation helped out the defense because their performance and play calling was quite a bit better. Hopefully we see that trend continue with this pseudo bye week.

[NewApp]

t4pizza said I just don't really believe that anybody posting on here (myself included) knows squat about defense in comparison to our coaching staff.

BINGO!

You would be surprised by what some people on here know about the intricacies of football.

Perhaps, but not in comparison to college level coaches. Too, the members of this forum are not at every practice and don't know the individual players' strengths and weaknesses like the coaches do, however.

[appstatealum]

t4pizza said I just don't really believe that anybody posting on here (myself included) knows squat about defense in comparison to our coaching staff.

BINGO!

You would be surprised by what some people on here know about the intricacies of football.

Perhaps, but not in comparison to college level coaches. Too, the members of this forum are not at every practice and don't know the individual players' strengths and weaknesses like the coaches do, however.

Again, you would be surprised to know that some posters do have access to practices and know the strengths and weaknesses of the team. I do trust that a seasoned coach will ultimately show that they have some competence, as we saw at UNC, but regression is never a good sign, especially when it is only 7 days later.

[t4pizza]

t4pizza said I just don't really believe that anybody posting on here (myself included) knows squat about defense in comparison to our coaching staff.

BINGO!

You would be surprised by what some people on here know about the intricacies of football.

Perhaps, but not in comparison to college level coaches. Too, the members of this forum are not at every practice and don't know the individual players' strengths and weaknesses like the coaches do, however.

Again, you would be surprised to know that some posters do have access to practices and know the strengths and weaknesses of the team. I do trust that a seasoned coach will ultimately show that they have some competence, as we saw at UNC, but regression is never a good sign, especially when it is only 7 days later.

Once again, while some posters may know intricacies of college football and may even be privy to practices, I highly doubt that their knowledge is anywhere close to a guy that has MADE HIS LIVING FOR 33 YEARS coaching top level college football defenses with over 80 players to play in the NFL and a National Title Ring. Sorry,but, if there are any posters on here with that resume I would really be surprised. To continually imply that you and/or your sources have a greater depth of knowledge than Ted Roof, or any of our coaches, if asinine. I appreciate information about App as much as the next fan but I grow tired of the constant implications and accusations that posters on this board know more than our coaches, because that just isn't true.

[appstatealum]

t4pizza said I just don't really believe that anybody posting on here (myself included) knows squat about defense in comparison to our coaching staff.

BINGO!

You would be surprised by what some people on here know about the intricacies of football.

Perhaps, but not in comparison to college level coaches. Too, the members of this forum are not at every practice and don't know the individual players' strengths and weaknesses like the coaches do, however.

Again, you would be surprised to know that some posters do have access to practices and know the strengths and weaknesses of the team. I do trust that a seasoned coach will ultimately show that they have some competence, as we saw at UNC, but regression is never a good sign, especially when it is only 7 days later.

Once again, while some posters may know intricacies of college football and may even be privy to practices, I highly doubt that their knowledge is anywhere close to a guy that has MADE HIS LIVING FOR 33 YEARS coaching top level college football defenses with over 80 players to play in the NFL and a National Title Ring. Sorry,but, if there are any posters on here with that resume I would really be surprised. To continually imply that you and/or your sources have a greater depth of knowledge than Ted Roof, or any of our coaches, if asinine. I appreciate information about App as much as the next fan but I grow tired of the constant implications and accusations that posters on this board know more than our coaches, because that just isn't true.

Do not read too much into it. I was simply saying that assuming everyone on here is just some weekend fan is just as asinine. I’ve made it clear that as much as I question the clear scheme issues, I trust that an experienced coach will do what’s right to fix it. I just do not like to see the vitriol from the “Roof defenders” saying “what do any of us know”. I guess the Rams should’ve hired Norv Turner instead of Sean McVay since Norv has forgotten more football than McVay has seen in the NFL.

Football is a dynamic sport that changes with the seasons. There is reasons why once “great” coaches disappear and can’t get jobs and (even more so recently) coaches younger than 35 are getting HC positions.

[t4pizza]

I still contend that our defense is just figuring things out between all the talent we lost, our new starters and our new coaches. I really do think it will all come together as the season progresses and until then I trust our offense and special teams to outscore the opponent. I saw this little quote in the article on appstatesports and find it very telling,

"In the first half, I jumped the shallow route, and we held them to a field goal that drive," Jolly said. "After we got off, coach (Ted) Roof made the adjustments and got into me a little bit. He told me about understanding what coverage we were in and not having to jump the short eye candy. Just coming back, it was a similar play with somebody in the flat and somebody on the deeper route, and I was just ready and patient. As soon as he threw it, I was ready to make the play."

Sounds like a young new starter being coached up and making adjustments in the game. We all just need to be patient, new coaches and new players take time to get on the same page.

[GoBoone]

I still contend that our defense is just figuring things out between all the talent we lost, our new starters and our new coaches. I really do think it will all come together as the season progresses and until then I trust our offense and special teams to outscore the opponent. I saw this little quote in the article on appstatesports and find it very telling,

"In the first half, I jumped the shallow route, and we held them to a field goal that drive," Jolly said. "After we got off, coach (Ted) Roof made the adjustments and got into me a little bit. He told me about understanding what coverage we were in and not having to jump the short eye candy. Just coming back, it was a similar play with somebody in the flat and somebody on the deeper route, and I was just ready and patient. As soon as he threw it, I was ready to make the play."

Sounds like a young new starter being coached up and making adjustments in the game. We all just need to be patient, new coaches and new players take time to get on the same page.

Right on!

[VNova]

Come the 2nd half of the season, when the team has had more reps in live games against some tough opponents, we'll start seeing them gel like we used to see last year.