Defense

[pbscotts]

OK - sorry to lay that on you - someone has mentioned it however - I believe you said you weren't putting the excuse on young players - who or where do you put the blame for the same mistakes week after week? ---

I do blame coaches for not adjusting their game plan. We can't play our usual style with the youth. Like you all said they just aren't there from a mental spot. That's to be expected.

I get where your coming from, but if we don't continue to play our style with the young kids, how will they learn to play our style?

You have to modify some of it. Simplify it. We play 10 yards off and we get beat over the top. Both of those things can't happen.

Maybe their WR were too strong to handle in press coverage. Playing off reduces the risk of getting beat over the top by funneling the routes inside to allow for help. Sometimes you have to pick your poison when it comes to game planning.sometimes it works, other times it doesn't.

If that's the case wide recievers have been too strong all year. Playing 10 yards off is not a one game issue. It's an entire season issue. Some QB's aren't good enough to hurt you.

[appbio91]

I thought we missed Caleb Fuller in the second half. He's the high-motor guy we needed when it seemed like everybody else forgot how to tackle to the ground.

I'm not saying he didn't deserve to be ejected, just that we could have used him.

I will say it. He didn't deserve to be ejected.

Regardless it was a poor decision on his part, after all it was clearly a late hit.

I agree, never showed a good angle but it looked like the face mask hit the QB in the chest. Maybe they thought it was under the chin. When a guy that size is coming full on he can't stop on a dime which is what he would have to do. I get the late hit call.

[YesAppCan]

OK - sorry to lay that on you - someone has mentioned it however - I believe you said you weren't putting the excuse on young players - who or where do you put the blame for the same mistakes week after week? ---

I do blame coaches for not adjusting their game plan. We can't play our usual style with the youth. Like you all said they just aren't there from a mental spot. That's to be expected.

Just how should they adjust their game plan? - they have recruited players to fit their systems - are you talking a play here or there or big adjustments? - I do agree with you that the mental focus hasn't always been there and I am not sure why ---

Maybe it’s as simple as we had the #6 recruiting class and ULM had #1.

[appbio91]

I do blame coaches for not adjusting their game plan. We can't play our usual style with the youth. Like you all said they just aren't there from a mental spot. That's to be expected.

I get where your coming from, but if we don't continue to play our style with the young kids, how will they learn to play our style?

You have to modify some of it. Simplify it. We play 10 yards off and we get beat over the top. Both of those things can't happen.

Maybe their WR were too strong to handle in press coverage. Playing off reduces the risk of getting beat over the top by funneling the routes inside to allow for help. Sometimes you have to pick your poison when it comes to game planning.sometimes it works, other times it doesn't.

If that's the case wide recievers have been too strong all year. Playing 10 yards off is not a one game issue. It's an entire season issue. Some QB's aren't good enough to hurt you.

That strategy cost us the game last week. We bent and broke on last drive. This week we just got beat all over on D. They especially took advantage of the weakness in the middle. Also that QB was good.

I agree with the fact that our coverage has been weak all year. We have a lot of ints against bad QBs. We have not been playing lock down coverage by any means.

Bright spot- how about our punt and KO returns this year! We have to be on pace for stellar numbers there.

[ASU3333]

I also question the corners playing so far off of the receivers. We supposedly have two of the best in the conference. The whole idea of other receivers being stronger is complete bs outside of Georgia. I have yet to see a corner jam a receiver at the line. They just turn and run with them. Playing 10 yards off the receiver seems to allow the receiver to make his move and go. Even if he doesn’t, two 5 yard routes under our coverage equals a first down and the chains keep moving down the field.

[AppSt94]

I thought we missed Caleb Fuller in the second half. He's the high-motor guy we needed when it seemed like everybody else forgot how to tackle to the ground.

I'm not saying he didn't deserve to be ejected, just that we could have used him.

I will say it. He didn't deserve to be ejected.

Regardless it was a poor decision on his part, after all it was clearly a late hit.

I agree, never showed a good angle but it looked like the face mask hit the QB in the chest. Maybe they thought it was under the chin. When a guy that size is coming full on he can't stop on a dime which is what he would have to do. I get the late hit call.

Exactly as I saw it as well. You put your face mask in the chest then the crown of the helmet is naturally going to make contact with the chin area. Not forcible contact, but contact nonetheless. I won't argue the late hit.

[Yosef84]

OK...I'm just a disappointed as everyone else and there is absolutely no doubt that this year's team should be performing better. At least in my opinion, even with the injuries, they should be playing better than we've seen the past couple of weeks and at times before (first half of Idaho, etc.). It happens. When injuries keep happening and we keep losing the on field leadership and fielding new lineups week after week (progressively younger and younger), the team doesn't seem to gel. I don't think lack of talent is our issue. I honestly don't know what the issue is but I serious doubt there is just one. Obviously injuries are a big factor.

We knew going into the game yesterday that ULM had a very dangerous offense. They have put up tons of points all season. That being said, they aren't better than Wake or certainly not better than Georgia. They are a pretty balanced team, and in that situation the D usually has to make a choice...defend the run / bring pressure and make them beat you throwing being the most common. Maybe the absence of Stringer (and the Fuller) kept that from happening. I really hope we can see something resembling the early season version of App D because yesterday was really frustrating.

I'm not giving up either. I'll be there Thursday in m Black & Gold. Three games left and GS is up next. I really don't feel like over analyzing last night because the coaching are far more equipped to do that than I am.

[bcoach]

I just knew someone would try and defend Fuller.

[AppSt94]

I just knew someone would try and defend Fuller.

So defending our own players is a bad thing now?

[appbio91]

So you thought it was clear cut, intentional hit to the head of a defenseless QB and deserved ejection?

[ncman071]

Are there any former athletes other than myself who laugh at the posters who say that injuries cant cause a season like ours to take a turn for the worse? We are banged up more than I have ever seen. We have key players on both sides of the ball who have missed a lot of time and guys that are playing hurt...every team goes through injuries but we are dealing with is beyond your normal amt of injuries any given team has to deal with....where i am concerned tthe most with is our O-Line going into next season...we need to get a couple of good jucos or transfers who have the size and are ready to play. Our center needs to put on about 20 more lbs of mass

[NewApp]

OK...I'm just a disappointed as everyone else and there is absolutely no doubt that this year's team should be performing better. At least in my opinion, even with the injuries, they should be playing better than we've seen the past couple of weeks and at times before (first half of Idaho, etc.). It happens. When injuries keep happening and we keep losing the on field leadership and fielding new lineups week after week (progressively younger and younger), the team doesn't seem to gel. I don't think lack of talent is our issue. I honestly don't know what the issue is but I serious doubt there is just one. Obviously injuries are a big factor.

We knew going into the game yesterday that ULM had a very dangerous offense. They have put up tons of points all season. That being said, they aren't better than Wake or certainly not better than Georgia. They are a pretty balanced team, and in that situation the D usually has to make a choice...defend the run / bring pressure and make them beat you throwing being the most common. Maybe the absence of Stringer (and the Fuller) kept that from happening. I really hope we can see something resembling the early season version of App D because yesterday was really frustrating.

I'm not giving up either. I'll be there Thursday in m Black & Gold. Three games left and GS is up next. I really don't feel like over analyzing last night because the coaching are far more equipped to do that than I am.

Totally agree with your last paragraph.

[NewApp]

Are there any former athletes other than myself who laugh at the posters who say that injuries cant cause a season like ours to take a turn for the worse? We are banged up more than I have ever seen. We have key players on both sides of the ball who have missed a lot of time and guys that are playing hurt...every team goes through injuries but we are dealing with is beyond your normal amt of injuries any given team has to deal with....where i am concerned tthe most with is our O-Line going into next season...we need to get a couple of good jucos or transfers who have the size and are ready to play. Our center needs to put on about 20 more lbs of mass

Good post, nc.. However jucos are hard to find. There just aren't many junior colleges left.

[Goapps15]

We have given up 30 plus 4 straight games. That has not happened since the 90s. That is not just injuries.

[bcoach]

So you thought it was clear cut, intentional hit to the head of a defenseless QB and deserved ejection?

That would be a yes. Defending this crap is why it continues.

[bcoach]

I just knew someone would try and defend Fuller.

So defending our own players is a bad thing now?

No but defending their actions in this case most certainly is.

[AppSt94]

I just knew someone would try and defend Fuller.

So defending our own players is a bad thing now?

No but defending their actions in this case most certainly is.

As I have stated before. The late hit is what it is. The targeting call is total BS. You has a coach, I am assuming from the screen name that you were/are, should know that you are taught to play to the whistle. Looking at the play, Fuller was already in the act of tackling and had lost the ability to slow himself up. Just my opinion. It’s easy to say that he could have held up, but as I saw it his body angle didn’t have his feet under him and wasn’t able to stop the progress.

[WVAPPeer]

So you thought it was clear cut, intentional hit to the head of a defenseless QB and deserved ejection?

I would have to say Yes - not an intentional hit to the head but it doesn't have to be intentional - he had time to raise his arms or hands and not make contact like he did and yes, under the rule he deserved to be ejected ---

[AppSt94]

The rule over reaches. There was no "forcible" contact to the head or neck area. Fuller did what you are supposed to do which is put you face mask in the chest of the opposing player. The unfortunate side effect of a proper form tackle is that the crown of the helmet will come into contact with the opposing player. He didn't lead with his helmet. Once again, not arguing the timing of the hit. I am arguing the rule as it is written. In my opinion, they need to flag the play as under review, which will take place after the game by a panel of reviewers. If targeting is upheld, then the player misses the next game.

[AtlAppMan]

What are the odds you will lose a game when you give up 52 points?

What are the odds that you will lose games when you average giving up 30+ points per game?

Both very high.

I know we have injuries but where are the 2’s and 3’s that are Soph’s and Juniors across the D? Did we only recruit good players last year and all our future are freshman this year? Why the gap in recruiting talent?