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The REAL thing we're missing about our defense against WVU
Posted on 9/2/14 at 8:56 am
Posted on 9/2/14 at 8:56 am
There has been lots of talk about our defense not being up to what we have come accustomed to.
The biggest thing I noticed about Saturday was that we were out of position a lot. We were still moving around when the ball was snapped a few times and we just didn't look "ready". The biggest reason for this was that we didn't have our normal defensive "QB" (DePriest) and our backups (Ragland and Foster) have never had to fill that role before. Compound that with playing a hurry-up/spread type team and we get what we saw.
Several times I saw those two squinting and looking to the sidelines, taking way to long to understand the call and then communicate it to the rest of the team. The result was linemen getting set to late and everyone else just looking a little confused and "slow" to react. My hunch is that once DePriest gets back in there, we'll see a whole, hell of a lot more "speed to react".
Yes, Sylve got burned a few times, but he's still learning. He'll be good before it's over.
The biggest thing I noticed about Saturday was that we were out of position a lot. We were still moving around when the ball was snapped a few times and we just didn't look "ready". The biggest reason for this was that we didn't have our normal defensive "QB" (DePriest) and our backups (Ragland and Foster) have never had to fill that role before. Compound that with playing a hurry-up/spread type team and we get what we saw.
Several times I saw those two squinting and looking to the sidelines, taking way to long to understand the call and then communicate it to the rest of the team. The result was linemen getting set to late and everyone else just looking a little confused and "slow" to react. My hunch is that once DePriest gets back in there, we'll see a whole, hell of a lot more "speed to react".
Yes, Sylve got burned a few times, but he's still learning. He'll be good before it's over.
7
Posted on 9/2/14 at 8:57 am to CrimsonCoast
quote:
Sylve got burned a few times
That's putting it mildly
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:07 am to CrimsonCoast
CJ?? 
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:19 am to CrimsonCoast
quote:
Sylve got burned a few times, but he's still learning.
Sylve was rarely out of position...on many of the passes thrown his way, he was all over the receiver...seems like he could just never find the ball and that's a concern. Someone in another post said Sylve looked like Menzie in Menzie's first season...and that's the same thing I related to my son during the game...
Hopefully, we'll find out that West Va is better this year than predicted...I know I'll be rooting for WVU for the rest of the season...
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:23 am to OldPete
We saw similar things from Dieon Belue in 2012
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:25 am to CrimsonCoast
quote:
we were out of position a lot.
agree. I was screaming at my TV a few times because WVU would shift their formation (or just motion their slot receiver) and our defense wouldn't react. The television angle didnt show the entire defense but we were playing at least ten yards off the slot receiver for much of the game. One time Trickett missed the crossing slot receiver on a play which might have gone for a TD.
but we shouldnt just rely on Depriest to come back and fix everything. The whole team needs to get better at getting the call and getting in position.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 9:30 am to UAFanFromNOLA
...and Marquis years ago
Posted on 9/2/14 at 10:40 am to OldPete
I don't remember Menzie ever playing outside of 2011 
And that year nobody could throw on him.
And that year nobody could throw on him. 
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:05 am to FourThreeForty
Surely, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner were the two outside corners in 2011.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:27 am to UAFanFromNOLA
I think Sylve will be fine when he can just find the ball. On two of the passes on him it's an interception if he sees the ball. He was in position just didn't know where the ball was.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 11:58 am to FourThreeForty
quote:
I don't remember Menzie ever playing outside of 2011 And that year nobody could throw on him.
He was a JUCO transfer and played a good bit in 2010 (all 12 regular season games and he started 7)...he was by no means terrible that year but he had trouble finding the ball when he was playing. You're right 'bout 2011 though...he showed dramatic improvement from his first year...
quote:
Surely, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner were the two outside corners in 2011.
Could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Kirkpatrick and Menzie were the 2 designated starters at CB in 2011...I think Menzie moved inside to the Star when Milliner came in when Bama went to nickel/dime packages...
This post was edited on 9/2/14 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 9/2/14 at 12:12 pm to FourThreeForty
quote:
I don't remember Menzie ever playing outside of 2011 And that year nobody could throw on him.
Menzie was on the team in 2010.
In 2011 he and Dre started in base, but we were hardly in base. In Nickel, Menzie was the Star. Dee and Dre locked down their guys most of the time. Menzie gave up a bit, but he was good in 2011. He was the weakest DB in Nickel though, but still good.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 1:00 pm to OldPete
quote:
He was a JUCO transfer and played a good bit in 2010 (all 12 regular season games and he started 7)...he was by no means terrible that year but he had trouble finding the ball when he was playing. You're right 'bout 2011 though...he showed dramatic improvement from his first year...
I knew he sustained a Achilles tendon tear in 2010, couldnt remembered if he played.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 1:13 pm to CrimsonCoast
The real thing was 24 rush attempts by WVU and only 28 yards.
People like to say, WVU doesn't rush but if they rushed for our average that game it would have been 141 yards.
People like to say, WVU doesn't rush but if they rushed for our average that game it would have been 141 yards.
Posted on 9/2/14 at 5:35 pm to CrimsonCoast
Someone needs to get Rueben some damn contacts or goggles
Posted on 9/3/14 at 1:16 pm to CrimsonCoast
Ultimately, I think it's that we just need to get better at defending against the spread and hunh.
The other part of this whole thing is this (it's very much overlooked.) People on the rant would have a field day with what I'm about to say because it's so open to interpretation, but it's absolutely true...
Bama has had the best defense in college football since about 2008 or 2009 all in all. We are leaps and BOUNDS ahead of any next defense (save MAYBE LSU's). This presents a perspective problem. We Bama fans and ALL of the onlookers are so UN-used to seeing our defense look "vulnerable." If you were to take that WVU offense playing as they did this past Saturday and put it against any other defense, there aren't a ton of defenses that would have had a VERY obviously better performance than we did... particularly for a first game of the season.
It's just such a dramatic departure from what Bama defense looks like vs any other type of offense that everyone thinks of Bama as compromised. So, I really do think PART of the emotional response everyone seems to have about it is about perspective.
The other part of this whole thing is this (it's very much overlooked.) People on the rant would have a field day with what I'm about to say because it's so open to interpretation, but it's absolutely true...
Bama has had the best defense in college football since about 2008 or 2009 all in all. We are leaps and BOUNDS ahead of any next defense (save MAYBE LSU's). This presents a perspective problem. We Bama fans and ALL of the onlookers are so UN-used to seeing our defense look "vulnerable." If you were to take that WVU offense playing as they did this past Saturday and put it against any other defense, there aren't a ton of defenses that would have had a VERY obviously better performance than we did... particularly for a first game of the season.
It's just such a dramatic departure from what Bama defense looks like vs any other type of offense that everyone thinks of Bama as compromised. So, I really do think PART of the emotional response everyone seems to have about it is about perspective.
This post was edited on 9/3/14 at 1:18 pm
Posted on 9/3/14 at 6:35 pm to m2pro
clean up all those missed tackles and bunches of wvu's yards vanish
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