defense we are playing this year is still very much his system. The 3-3 DL and LB setup was played. The switching of linebackers was still there. The lack of run defense was evident. Lack of pressure was there. DE's standing upright a bunch.
His system is not good. It may have worked at Cincinnati and maybe that was because he had recruited far superior talent than the other group of five teams he played, I'm not sure. But the Mike Elko and Clark Lea defenses were undeniably far better, and that is an understatement.
He needs to put his ego aside and change his system. Great leaders and great coaches do that. It's surely not the only change he needs to make, but it is one of them.
Essentially the same players too with the addition of Brandon Joseph and Luifau. Hamilton didn't play for half the season so player-wise this team should actually be better.
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Yes, his D is prone to a much more big plays but is more aggressive too.
Weis had great offenses.
Total points is not always the only or even best to assess things.
If my offense averages 0 puts in first 3 quarters but averages 33 in the 4th quarter is that a good offense.
Likewise if your defense consistently holds teams scoreless early, but collapses late..??
Now, I'm not saying this to crap on our defense because I'm sure the complete lack of offense has affected them, but isn't that the point of having so much depth in the front 7. Has that been utilized correctly to keep the D fresh all game? Where are all these young talented LBs?
I'll admit, my first inkling of major concern was when I saw the first depths chart and looked at our LBs.
Two of the starting 3 I've seen miss soooooo many tackles that were drive stoppers, that I was like either they've gotten MUCH better or theses youngsters aren't as good as advertised, which brings the question how "actually" good of a recruiter this guy is we hired as HC, with no HC experience, but it's OK because players like him and he's a "GREAT" recruiter..??
This defense has been poor. In the Ohio State game, down by 4 points in the 4th quarter, ND had Ohio State pinned inside the 5 yard line. The defense needed at a minimum to hold them without a first down and make them punt. Best case, get a turnover. Both options would have given the offense great field position for a game winning drive. Instead, this allegedly great defense, allowed Ohio State to drive it down their throat for a 95 yard touchdown drive.
Against Marshall, ND leads 15-12 and punts the ball to the Marshall 5 yard line. Like Ohio State, this great defense needed to hold them without a first down or get a turnover. Let the offense have good field position and turn the clock out for a win. Instead, Marshall drives the ball down the defenses throat for a 95 yard touchdown drive to take the lead.
This is unacceptable. Despite the offensive problem that ND had in the two games, the defense also must hold some blame for the loss - despite only giving up 21 and 19 points. This is a case of stats being deceptive. In both games, the defense had their opponent pinned at their own 5 yard line. They needed to at least hold and force punts. Instead they allowed long touchdown drives.
Excuse me if I don't pat the defense on the back with a hearty "Well done boys".
To say the least.
The overall stats are putrid.
s in college you have a problem ON OFFENSE... not defense.
Phenomenal
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How do you figure his defense didn't "create pressure" like Elko and Lea's defenses?
turnovers and got the ball shoved down their throat in crunch time. That to a F'ing Sunbelt Conference shit team.
No way that happens with Clark Lea's D in 2020 and this D personnel is better than that personnel front to back. There are no excuses.
I don't care about sacks and turnovers. I care about shutting the other team the hell down. Shutting down the run game and then shutting the offense down.
The stats posted by ELP below this speak volumes.
Total Defense 79th, Red Zone Defense 98th, 1st Down defense 87th, 3rd down defense 101st, Rushing Defense 113th, Scoring defense 70th. Ohio State had a 95 yard drive that resulted in a TD and Marshall had a 94 yard drive that ended in a TD. Many defenses don't give up that kind of long drives in a season, let alone in two consecutive games. One against a non power 5 Sun Belt offense. That's pretty hard to do , even if a defense was trying.
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