3-3-5 against a running QB is pretty solid with all the stunts and blitz combos you have; as long as the outside guys contain and make tackles. With most SEC ball you need to stay in a 4-2-5 b/c everyone likes to run.
I believe during the Ole Miss game last year, one of the commentator's said that the opposing DC said he watched film of LSU's defense, and it revealed a glitch in the scheme that made them vulnerable against the spread (or maybe it was just against a mobile QB). They didn't shed any light on what that glitch might have been, but it was clearly there all season long. I, for one, am very surprised that Bo was not able to identify this glitch and fix it. Being as more and more teams are tending towards this type of offense, it is crucial that we adjust our schemes to stop it. We definitely have the speed, but that doesn't mean much if your players are out of position. The spread can use your defensive speed against you if you aren't careful.
GREAT corners are becoming more and more important against the spread because safeties are going to find themselves hovering until the ball is in the air...if they break for a receiver too soon, it will leave a big chunk of field open for a tight-end or a runner. That's the problem with the spread, and that's my concern. AT LEAST we will have the fiercest D-Line in the country rupturing running lanes and collapsing pockets in QB's faces. That could wind up being our saving grace. 90% QB hurries or better.
It was an "illusion" that we were vulnerable to a mobile QB. We were overloaded with key injuries that allowed mobile QBs to take advantage. Doesn't everyone remember the start of our season last year? Then Alexander goes out! Then the nagging minor injuries pile up, then the death blow as Dorsey was gimped by that Auburn punk and coackroach sidekick. They were our run stuffers, and teams took advantage after they went out full steam. You're gonna see the greatest mobile QB ever come into Tiger Stadium on August 30, "The Great Armanti". Watch what a completely healthy LSU defense does to him. Fully intoxicated, I shall revel and howl while watching our Tigers chase down the legendary Armanti, slayer of the Wolverine, master of the fearless Appalachian Legion, and emperor of the North. It will somewhat be a preview of the Florida game, another mobile QB, not as good as the great Armanti, but a Heisman winner nonetheless. We will watch in Gainesville, as our great defense sets their sights on Tebow, stuffing the run first and looking for that Heisman halfback Tebow Let's talk about the real threats to our TIGER DEFENSE in 2008: 1. This new 40-second play clock rule to speed up games, giving offenses the edge. 2. The new "worthless" tackling rule that the crown cannot contact the tackled player first was designed to punish agressive defense. I'll expect dozens of extra penalties on LSU in 2008, and these jerks are ruining the game. Miles better have a strategy to challenge these calls, such as special training for the players and hand signals to the sideline to "challenge" a BS call.
I agree that our defense declined due to injuries over the course of the season, but if you think back to VT's only TD in the second game of the season last year, it was orchestrated only after the running QB came into the game. He alone got something like 40 yards on that scoring drive and finished with almost all of their rushing yards. Even at our best, we couldn't stop a runner behind center. The problem is when these QB's are flushed out of the pocket and are scrambling, they can easily outrun the D-Linemen and then cut upfield at the sideline if nobody is open. If a corner or LB bites on the run, the same QB can dump the ball off to a now-open TE, WR, or RB for positive yardage. We'll need to put Beckwith on spy alert and hope for really STELLAR play from our ends to ensure containment. That plus solid coverage may be the key.
They had the second team in there when all of this was going on, if you'll remember. And, Miles was getting on them for celebrating early. The game had already been decided. What did the Heisman trophy winner do against us last year? Armanti's coming, and so's "an end" to the great myth that LSU's Achilles heel lies in their inability to deal with a mobile QB. And, for a bonus, we get another shot at Mr. Tebow, along with Auburn's Kodi Burns. I can't wait for that date in the Swamp. Our defense is gonna eat Burns alive. Bottom Line: A healthy LSU defense doesn't get punked by any mobile QB. Reason: Our overall team speed and front seven are too good to allow him openings, and our coverage is too tight for them to consistently hit that late opening at WR. I say "Let those QBs run against us". It's their funeral, especially in Death Valley against the BEST DEFENSE IN AMERICA, consistently, year after year.
Mr. Heisman Trophy winner was the only reason Florida nearly beat us last year, and I seem to remember him getting nearly 80 yards rushing. I didn't look that up, so I could very well be wrong. And yes, LSU's achilles heel last year was running QB's. Taylor from VT, Tebow, Schaeffer (from Ole Miss), even ANDRE WOODSON (listed as a near 6 second 40) either scored a rushing TD or racked up serious ground yards against the LSU D last year. If it wasn't a weakness, every team we matched up against wouldn't have tried to exploit it. And I don't buy into the "injured" theory. That was a scheme issue. There was often nobody within 20 yards of a QB when he would tuck it and turn the corner upfield for a fifteen yarder. That needs to be fixed if we are to beat Florida AT Florida this year. They will be better, and will have home field on top of it.
There was undeniably an issue with the scheme last year. I even made mention of what opposing OC's were saying about it in this thread. Having a couple of injuries should NOT cause such a precipitous collapse in the ability to stop people when you've racked up the embarassment of riches that we have on defense in recent years. It boggled me how someone with such a great defensive mind as Pelini simply could not make the adjustment. It will be interesting to see what the Huskers do against the spread this year. And you are correct, Woodson scored I belive a 12-yd TD run against us. Woodson. Of all people.:rolleye33:
