Let me first say I'll take the win, but I have some concerns and questions. Most are rhetorical in nature. The defense played lights out the first half, but the second half was bad and I know it was the first game, which probably had to do alot with fatigue and player personnel issues and the offense for argument sake. But my questions are -Why did we have our best cover guy blitzing on third down. -Why didnt Chavez play a zone after been killed on the quick slant. If you sit a corner in the flat or a linebacker between corner and defensive end that takes away most quick passes and forces the QB to go over the top where the safeties should have been. -Why didnt Chavez keep at least 1 safety over the top at all times on a team that was down 3 touchdowns, you know they are going to air it out, play the damn safety in the right position. -Why did so many freshman play, Maitheu was the only freshman I was impressed with on defense. Barrow as well until he went all Lawrence Taylor with the late hit. -Why couldnt we adjust to their tight end. -Why didnt we stunt on that damn counter play they ran like 4 times in a row for good yardage Nobody has to really answer these questions, but Im very concerned about this.
I think it was just poor execution due to youth. I don't understand Peterson on the blitz, unless it's disguised a hell of alot better, like the blitz Mathieu went in on and got the sack and forced fumble. The thing i am concerned about is, when are we getting Ryan Baker back, and is Craig Loston really not as good as Brandon Taylor or Jai Eugene? Taylor has to be one of the worst tacklers i have ever seen, and Jai couldn't cover a tv dinner in the microwave.
4.3 speed. Inexperience in the defensive backfield led to many players being out of the position they were coached to be at . . . including the safety on the bomb. Because we have 51 freshmen on an 85-man team.
Because we have 51 freshmen on an 85-man team.[/QUOTE] Wow. Didn't realize 60% of the team are freshman.
This I have no answer to. He did. Look back and you can see a bit of cover 3 zone. There was someone back, he bit on the play-fake. They actually did, but the defense is never going to win EVERY play. If you remember UNC's FG drive, they came across with their TE, he was wide open, and then they tried to do the exact same play and he was absolutely smothered in coverage. Also, he had 8 receptions, and 5 of them came at the end of the game when Chavis was giving them 6-7 yards a play. Again, I will say this is NOT a bad strategy with a 2 score lead at the very end of the game. This forced a 5 minute drive, where they needed an onside kick. After LSU lost that, the defense clamped down and potentially WON THE GAME in 5 more plays. It was not Chavis' fault that Ridley fumbled on a run that won the game. After that fumble, you have a defense that has to come BACK on the field after what they thought won them the game, and the offense screwed them up. Well, if we knew which play they were running BEFORE the snap, that would make it a bit easier, wouldn't it?
I hate DB cushions with a straight up field rush. It just makes it easy to march downfield with underneath routes. One good adjustment would've been to use those tall D-Ends to occupy their man, spy the QB, and get their hands up when he went for the underneath route due to the cushion. Bat some of those passes down and it opens up the CB blitz. I really miss the days of getting in the receivers grill and bumping him off his route before he ever got on. PP has the size and strength to do it but Mo and Mathieu need to get a little stronger to be effective with it.
