Defense?

[Yosef10]

I'm really not one to overreact and that's not my intention with my next question, just simply a question. What has happened to the D? Were our first 6 opponents before these past 2 games that bad? The defense doesn't have major injuries that would create this kind of drop off. Thoughts?

[bcoach]

If we want to be honest we have played some pretty bad teams this year. We did play pretty well against Clemson but the rest have been just not very good. I think the real fact is that we are better than we showed tonight but maybe not as good as we think.
Not being negative just really believe that. Let's remember we are only 2 years out of FCS and I thing we have gotten just a little ahead of our selves.

[HeffnerIV]

Each theory mentioned probably has merit. I also think we're getting out schemed. Troy found a weakness and teams are going to pound it until we adjust.


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[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

I was telling everyone weeks ago to calm down with the defense hype. We've played three teams with a winning record, and our record against those teams are 1-2, and given up an average of 31 points. We have an extended week to prepare for the trip to Idaho, then two weeks before ULL. This layoff could help us with making adjustments, but our remaining games will all be tough. Troy and Ark State just showed the entire conference how to beat App State.

Need Ark State to lose two of their last three games to win the conference outright. Don't see that happening.

Arkansas State probably just sealed yet another trip to the GoDaddy Bowl. Looking more like the Cure Bowl for us.

[ASU_MBA]

We finally played some good offenses with balance.

[ASU8]

I think we are a good team with our starters in the game. However, we still lack depth. Especially on the lines. Tonight showed big time! We are short a couple of defensive ends that are 6'4 260. We have Blair but after that we are very small and it showed tonight. We are about 2 years away from being an 11-1 team. But 10-2 or 9-3 this year, if we really think about where we were a couple years ago, that is a great season. Especially if we could get a bowl win! Tonight isn't the end of the world more of a reality check that we are moving in the right direction but not there yet.

Go Apps!

[Rick0714]

I think each of the mentioned "reason" are valid, but tonight, to be fair, I think it had a lot more to do with our offense, and lack it's of time of possession in the second half, than our defense. 1st half, our defense looked great, just 40 yrds of offense for ArkState, but our offense had a significant time of possession lead. 2nd half, the defense never had a chance to 1) make adjustments or 2) rest, because the offense was three and out numerous times. I would add, I think the offense's struggles in the 2nd half had a lot to do for the o-line injuries and new lineups on the line.

[JMappfan5]

It was painfully obvious that AState was more physical and more athletic than our defense. We must be patient and give our Coaches time to recruit FBS athletes. This Defense is light years better than last year, but the better offenses in this league are exposing our weaknesses. Knighten was clearly the best player on the field last night...he was unstoppable in the 2nd half. Take away 2 gimme tds and this is a much different game. Hope our young OL grows-up fast. 9-3 or 8-4 (although at this point will be disappointing) will still be a great turnaround, stepping stone season for a relatively young football team! GO APPS!!!

[ASU8]

Our lack of depth clearly showed up more on offense than defense with the loss of Chapman. We are not deep enough to lose 2 top OL and not miss a beat. I hope this week we move Edge Campbell in to Center as he is the future there and clearly it appears Chapmanis lost for the year. Let's move Collins back to his LG so we can keep as much normalcy not hat OL. As I said earlier. We are still about 2 years away but it's obvious our fan base is behind this team and knows we are moving in the right direction

As for the defense,we can't play against teams on a regular basis that are the quality of Ark State with 235-240 lb defensive ends. In a 3-4 you better have some studs up front if u plants stop the run. We got exposed last night with a big athletic OL mashing us upfront. Again we just need time to recruit.

[RockyApp]

Well stated ASU8. And these next 3 games will be a challenge given injuries/depth issues and opposing coaches learning how to attack us. Satt and Co will figure it out! Opportunities for young guys to step up.

D-Line play is the biggest difference between FCS and FBS. We lose Blair next year. We will need more 6'4 260+ DEs to compete at this level.

[AppDawg]

Lost the Swagger. Arm tackles and the "highlight hit" have replaced squaring a guy up and putting him on his back.

We have crossed that fine line between Swagger and Cockiness. I think FTC has gone to their head.

[jaykisz]

I COULD NOT ATTEND THIS GAME BUT IT APPEARED WE WERE TIRED.....LACK OF DEPTH, 3 GAMES IN A SHORT AMT OF TIME . WE ALSO DO NOT SEEM SEEM TO BE READY TO GO ON DEFENSE WE ARE LOOKING AT COACH SIGNALS AND OTHER TEAMS ARE JUST ABOUT HIKING THE BALL. TEAMS ARE RUNNING HURRY UP OFFENCE AND WE ARE NOT READY........

[Yosef10]

Lost the Swagger. Arm tackles and the "highlight hit" have replaced squaring a guy up and putting him on his back.

We have crossed that fine line between Swagger and Cockiness. I think FTC has gone to their head.

Not attacking you, just a general statement as many fans make this statement but I don't think this holds any water. None of us knows these kids mindsets. I think the tempo is one of the more obvious things we're struggling with. Last night seemed they were thinking more than just reacting and playing.

[nomadb]

I think what really killed us last night was being outplayed by a better team.

It all fell apart when we lost Jesse Chapman. Our offense just wasn't the same after that. We had multiple 3 and outs and the defense got gassed.

I can't decide if A State made any offensive adjustments at the half or if our guys just came out tired and flat and couldn't keep up any longer. The defense played great for the first half. 14 of the points A state got in the first half were on our offense.

[JTApps1]

I think we are a good team with our starters in the game. However, we still lack depth. Especially on the lines. Tonight showed big time! We are short a couple of defensive ends that are 6'4 260. We have Blair but after that we are very small and it showed tonight. We are about 2 years away from being an 11-1 team. But 10-2 or 9-3 this year, if we really think about where we were a couple years ago, that is a great season. Especially if we could get a bowl win! Tonight isn't the end of the world more of a reality check that we are moving in the right direction but not there yet.

Go Apps!

You're all over it. Our starters are as good anyone in the league (just look at how we had dominated the first half last night minus the two fumbles), but our backups are mostly guys that are either very young or struggled to win in FCS. One thought I had last night was half of our OL in the 2nd half were the guys that got benched when we were 1-5 last year. We are getting some good recruits in, but it takes time to develop them especially on the lines. Very very few OL or DL can make an impact as a freshman.

The fact that until last night we had won 12 of 13 against an FBS schedule with a roster still transitioning from FCS is pretty amazing. Just ask other Sun Belt schools about how long it took them to be successful after moving up. We are way ahead of schedule compared to most schools which is a credit to our program.

Had Nunn and Champman played the last night we win by several scores. We had 3 turnovers in the first half (two of which gift wrapped TD's for them) yet we still had over 300 yards of offense in the half. Ark. State only had 125 at the half, but our D was getting tired in hurry once the OL couldn't allow the offense to move the ball. Right now we need to just find a way to beat Idaho next week and get to the bye week to rest and heal up.

[EastHallApp]

I think we are a good team with our starters in the game. However, we still lack depth. Especially on the lines. Tonight showed big time! We are short a couple of defensive ends that are 6'4 260. We have Blair but after that we are very small and it showed tonight. We are about 2 years away from being an 11-1 team. But 10-2 or 9-3 this year, if we really think about where we were a couple years ago, that is a great season. Especially if we could get a bowl win! Tonight isn't the end of the world more of a reality check that we are moving in the right direction but not there yet.

Go Apps!

Five-star post right here.

Good news is we are recruiting those types of guys. Bad news (aside from the current issues) is that Blair is gone after four more games, and we'll probably have a gap for another year or two before the new recruits are really ready to shine.

[App90]

Appalachian St

App State Injurie Status


11/05/15 DL Alanmicheal Harkness Undisclosed return unknown
11/05/15 TE Hunter Nunn Lower Body Lower Body out for season
11/05/15 DL Tashion Singleton Unknown injury
10/09/15 DL Antonious Sims Lower Body Unknown
10/01/15 WR Jaquil Capel Lower Body expected to miss 10-12 weeks
09/02/15 DE Thomas Bronson Undisclosed out for season
08/27/15 DB Brandon Pinckney Knee out for season
08/27/15 QB Jake Easter Knee out for season

Now what I saw last night Chapman went out of the game and that's huge, and Harris is injured he was limping all over the place, ASU's Offensive line is decimated. 2 starters injured. Nunn maybe listed as a TE but his blocking was huge.

I will update this as I see it on the wire.

This will be tough to fight through.

If ASU's defense struggles the next 3 games will be rough.

[ASU8]

I think we have our DL waiting in the wings. Got into the game very early last night and had a chance to see 3 redshirted DL. Papenham DE. Favoroso DE and Barrett NT all walk by. Huge!!! Those three look the part and hopefully the DEs will be able to fill in next year to make up for loss of Blair. But at 6'6 225,6'3 240 and 6'3 305. Plus a year in the weight room. The future looks bright for those 3!

Add in Taylor and Johnson on the OL as depth and I see great things on the OL and DL in the not so distant future. I see 2017 WFU in Boone as the timeline for App to peak with our lines and skill guys coming of age!

[bigdaddyg]

I think we have our DL waiting in the wings. Got into the game very early last night and had a chance to see 3 redshirted DL. Papenham DE. Favoroso DE and Barrett NT all walk by. Huge!!! Those three look the part and hopefully the DEs will be able to fill in next year to make up for loss of Blair. But at 6'6 225,6'3 240 and 6'3 305. Plus a year in the weight room. The future looks bright for those 3!

Add in Taylor and Johnson on the OL as depth and I see great things on the OL and DL in the not so distant future. I see 2017 WFU in Boone as the timeline for App to peak with our lines and skill guys coming of age!

Thanks for that very much needed piece of good news. Papenham (get to 6'6" 260), Favoroso (6'3" 260 at least) and Barrett (just get stronger baby!) Wasn't it mentioned at some point last year that we projected to be very good this year but wait until 2016? Seems like I recall someone saying that. It is easy to forget the guys who get reshirted who, if playing could possibly help with depth issues. I have asked about Taylor before. That kid must me massive. If he can be developed, man oh man!

[ASU8]

He walked by last night too. He is very athletic. Not big def needs muscle and size but his frame is huge! 6'9 is no joke!