What exactly is the problem with the lack of pressure? Is it speed, pure technique, leg strength, lack of stamina? These players come out of high school fairly highly or very highly recruited. What are they missing specific to defensive line play, and what is the solution? (other than, find some other players). Is the problem fixable with the current DL players? Thanks in advance to those in the know.:geauxtige
Not all highly rated prospects pan out. Coaches also have to develop what talent they have. Injuries can also play a part. What ever reason it is LSU just doesn't have the players on the DL to get the job done. It's definitely not a lack of highly rated players though. Hopefully Chavis and Hailey will solve the problem what ever it is. The job Chavis has done thus far gives me confidence that he will. However this season what we have is what we have and I'm not sure how much improvement you can expect to see from the front 4 this late in the season. For an entirely new first year defensive staff with the first year installing the system and the horrible defense we had last year you really can't complain. Pointing out the lack of a pass rush is a valid critique, but the D has been pretty stout regardless. Give Chavis a couple years to recruit, develop and install his defense, then we will have a better picture of what he brings to the table. I think everyone will be very happy based on what I see so far.
I've never REALLY watched closely but just my overall impression is that we tend to not tackle the ball. What I mean is that any penetration we do get, we're often not seeing the football and often the play goes right by. They need to find the ball, disengage, and pursue. Would also like to see a little more pursuit tenacity- we seem to be okay with the fact we're getting beat and it's not our problem if the ball goes to the other side. I'm not even sure if Chavis' defense is a rip or more of a gap control scheme. Playing on a defensive line does allow for a lot of individuality. For example, Dlinemen use the pass rush techniques best suited for his body structure and physical ability. A defensive lineman who lacks upper-body strength may become frustrated if he is asked to "bull" rush time and time again. By the same token, a defensive lineman who is short in stature will waste valuable practice time trying to master an "arm over" technique. I'm no expert though and take that for what it's worth. Maybe someone can shed more light.
There definitely seems to be merit to this. That would lead me to believe it's a coaching issue...It seems that last year and the great two coordinator fiasco put us two years behind in development.
a big difference between the defense the last couple years and the defense 3+ years ago is the size of the DEs. The top 4 DEs for LSU this year are all in the 260 range. Previous defenses have had at least one defensive end that was more in the DT size range (Jackson, Spears)... and typically the undersized end got picked on in the run game (Pittman, otherPittman, Alem). Now with the undersized ends being blocked one-on-one, even by TEs, you are getting more double teams on the DTs.
For the first time in years, LSU doesn't have a Lavalais/Wroten/Dorsey type of gorilla on the interior line . . . the kind of guy it takes 2 or 3 men to block. DT Lavalais freed DE Spears on the outside. Wroten freed Oliver and Dorsey freed Jackson. Al Wood was recruited to be that guy but he never quite lived up to his billing. Not having an All-American tackle has hurt our pass rush.
Another BIG factor is that Alem sucks... He is a speed rusher and that is all. He has no IDEA how to play the run.
FIRST......................nothing personal to the people who have posted on this thread. But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'm fricking SICK of all of your guys that think you can coach. Why didn't you pursue a coaching career? I'm not gonna go into why I think your comments are full of sh*t, I don't have the patience to do it. If you think the LSU's DC and staff aren't asking themselves the same questions and trying to find solutions for the problems,,,,,,,,well I'm not going there. One of the biggest highlights for me has been the D's play for LSU this year. I've been frickin amazed at times at how they've played. They haven't been playing together as a group all that long and I think that in time (next year), this group has the potential to open some eyes. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.........................and I'm not a frickin football coach. The offense is my concern and I'm not a frickin coach, so I don't know what it's gonna take to make it all gell. However, I'm very hopeful that the high paid professionals on the O side of the ball can figure it out. I've come to love alot of you guys that are members of this forum, but sometimes you make me want to puke. Kinda reminds me of my ex. May she rest in peace.
FIRST......................nothing personal to the people who have posted on this thread. But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'm fricking SICK of all of you guys that think you can coach. Why didn't you pursue a coaching career? I'm not gonna go into why I think your comments are full of sh*t, I don't have the patience to do it. If you think the LSU's DC and staff aren't asking themselves the same questions and trying to find solutions for the problems,,,,,,,,well I'm not going there. One of the biggest highlights for me has been the D's play for LSU this year. I've been frickin amazed at times at how they've played. They haven't been playing together as a group all that long and I think that in time (next year), this group has the potential to open some eyes. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.........................and I'm not a frickin football coach. The offense is my concern and I'm not a frickin coach, so I don't know what it's gonna take to make it all gell. However, I'm very hopeful that the high paid professionals on the O side of the ball can figure it out. I've come to love alot of you guys that are members of this forum, but sometimes you make me want to puke. Kinda reminds me of my ex. May she rest in peace.
