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If you're a DC facing Bama...
Posted on 9/20/18 at 5:34 pm
Posted on 9/20/18 at 5:34 pm
...with a decently talented defense, say something along the lines of LSU's defense, what do you run to stop this Bama offense under Locksley? What schemes do you employ, what calls do you make, how much do you blitz, where do you blitz from, what coverage calls do you run, what front do you employ, etc? Be as specific as possible.
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Posted on 9/20/18 at 5:45 pm to prevatt33
Well you definitely need the talent because you simply can't leave receivers like we have 1 on 1 with Tua throwing the ball. You've gotta get after Tua, no one has really had sustained success doing that. But he's too good for a blitz, he'll throw hot to the open man with a release so quick you can't stop it, accuracy so on point that the receiver likely gets the ball in stride, and then receivers so good that they probably get a big play, if not a TD.
You've got to find a way to get pressure with 4 and mix up your coverages on the back end with 7. If you can create confusion in the OL with who you're going to send and who is going to drop, thus throwing off the timing of the play, you've got a shot. You'll have to get Tua on the move or on the ground. If he scrambles you have to worry about him tucking and running, so you need the athletes with their eyes on him and ready to make a play. However, he always keeps his eyes downfield, so if a backer or DB gets antsy and tries to come up and get him too early, he'll throw behind them and make them pay.
This isn't even mentioning our dynamic running game. If you let us have the numbers advantage in the box we'll just run right over you with 3 backs rotating so we always have fresh legs. Then of course off of that is RPOs that Tua can shred you with.
I honestly don't know how you stop this offense without simply having better players and hoping Bama plays an off game. You'll have to keep Tua off the field, easier said than done against our defense, and then when he's on it you'll have to play every play 110% like you're being coached by Nick Saban. We're simply too loaded. We're 4 deep at WR, 3 or 4 deep at TE (though Smith is the primary receiving target), and 3 (4 with BRob) deep at RB. Our OL is insanely talented and just needs time to gel, which they've been doing. Tua is the best QB in the country. Locksley seems like a good playcaller. And Nick Saban is running the ship and keeping everything running smoothly. It's as close to impossible to stop as any offense I can remember.
You've got to find a way to get pressure with 4 and mix up your coverages on the back end with 7. If you can create confusion in the OL with who you're going to send and who is going to drop, thus throwing off the timing of the play, you've got a shot. You'll have to get Tua on the move or on the ground. If he scrambles you have to worry about him tucking and running, so you need the athletes with their eyes on him and ready to make a play. However, he always keeps his eyes downfield, so if a backer or DB gets antsy and tries to come up and get him too early, he'll throw behind them and make them pay.
This isn't even mentioning our dynamic running game. If you let us have the numbers advantage in the box we'll just run right over you with 3 backs rotating so we always have fresh legs. Then of course off of that is RPOs that Tua can shred you with.
I honestly don't know how you stop this offense without simply having better players and hoping Bama plays an off game. You'll have to keep Tua off the field, easier said than done against our defense, and then when he's on it you'll have to play every play 110% like you're being coached by Nick Saban. We're simply too loaded. We're 4 deep at WR, 3 or 4 deep at TE (though Smith is the primary receiving target), and 3 (4 with BRob) deep at RB. Our OL is insanely talented and just needs time to gel, which they've been doing. Tua is the best QB in the country. Locksley seems like a good playcaller. And Nick Saban is running the ship and keeping everything running smoothly. It's as close to impossible to stop as any offense I can remember.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 5:46 pm to prevatt33
quote:
If you're a DC facing Bama with a decently talented defense, say something along the lines of LSU's defense, what do you run to stop this Bama offense under Locksley? What schemes do you employ, what calls do you make, how much do you blitz, where do you blitz from, what coverage calls do you run, what front do you employ, etc? Be as specific as possible.
Nice try Dave Aranda. We’re not helping you. Move along.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 6:04 pm to AllBamaDoesIsWin
Nice write-up.
My approach would be stay in Nickel with single high safety. Other safety is in or near the box. Corners will line up in bump-n-run man coverage and play physical, so physical as to test the referees and what they'll allow.
Regarding the front, I'd basically run a 4-2-5 with 3-4 personnel, and bring an extra guy every single snap. Constant pressure, with a blitzer from somewhere every play. Why? To blitz the run.
Blitzing the run has 2 benefits: filling gaps quickly in the run game and getting a nice pass rush on passing play/play action. However, it leaves you open to screens and draws, and I will have spent all week teaching my front to read their cues for these things as well as possible.
In the front 4, I'm running as many stunts and crossing stuff as I possibly can, trying to steal a sack. As complicated as possible.
On the back end, I'm coaching defensive holding and pass interference. Play the receivers as aggressive as possible and as legal as possible, unless you're beat, upon which you hold or interfere immediately. 15 yards is better than 6 points.
I also disguise my coverages as much as possible, showing man and then dropping to a robber zone, etc. Play mostly man, but get really creative on obvious passing downs. Try to steal a pick or 2.
And do this full blast for 4 quarters and hope for the best. I might get eaten alive by the screen game, but I'll go down in a hail of gunfire. If I get a few turnovers, I might have a chance in the 4th.
But I think you have to try to stop both the pass a run. If you don't commit 5 (or 6) to coverage, you'll lose through the air. If you commit too much to the pass defense, you'll lose via the Bama run game. Gotta go single high safety, Nickel, and constant pressure.
My approach would be stay in Nickel with single high safety. Other safety is in or near the box. Corners will line up in bump-n-run man coverage and play physical, so physical as to test the referees and what they'll allow.
Regarding the front, I'd basically run a 4-2-5 with 3-4 personnel, and bring an extra guy every single snap. Constant pressure, with a blitzer from somewhere every play. Why? To blitz the run.
Blitzing the run has 2 benefits: filling gaps quickly in the run game and getting a nice pass rush on passing play/play action. However, it leaves you open to screens and draws, and I will have spent all week teaching my front to read their cues for these things as well as possible.
In the front 4, I'm running as many stunts and crossing stuff as I possibly can, trying to steal a sack. As complicated as possible.
On the back end, I'm coaching defensive holding and pass interference. Play the receivers as aggressive as possible and as legal as possible, unless you're beat, upon which you hold or interfere immediately. 15 yards is better than 6 points.
I also disguise my coverages as much as possible, showing man and then dropping to a robber zone, etc. Play mostly man, but get really creative on obvious passing downs. Try to steal a pick or 2.
And do this full blast for 4 quarters and hope for the best. I might get eaten alive by the screen game, but I'll go down in a hail of gunfire. If I get a few turnovers, I might have a chance in the 4th.
But I think you have to try to stop both the pass a run. If you don't commit 5 (or 6) to coverage, you'll lose through the air. If you commit too much to the pass defense, you'll lose via the Bama run game. Gotta go single high safety, Nickel, and constant pressure.
This post was edited on 9/20/18 at 6:14 pm
Posted on 9/20/18 at 6:39 pm to prevatt33
I know what i’d do.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 6:48 pm to AllBamaDoesIsWin
quote:
Well you definitely need the talent because you simply can't leave receivers like we have 1 on 1 with Tua throwing the ball. You've gotta get after Tua, no one has really had sustained success doing that. But he's too good for a blitz, he'll throw hot to the open man with a release so quick you can't stop it, accuracy so on point that the receiver likely gets the ball in stride, and then receivers so good that they probably get a big play, if not a TD.
You've got to find a way to get pressure with 4 and mix up your coverages on the back end with 7. If you can create confusion in the OL with who you're going to send and who is going to drop, thus throwing off the timing of the play, you've got a shot. You'll have to get Tua on the move or on the ground. If he scrambles you have to worry about him tucking and running, so you need the athletes with their eyes on him and ready to make a play. However, he always keeps his eyes downfield, so if a backer or DB gets antsy and tries to come up and get him too early, he'll throw behind them and make them pay.
This isn't even mentioning our dynamic running game. If you let us have the numbers advantage in the box we'll just run right over you with 3 backs rotating so we always have fresh legs. Then of course off of that is RPOs that Tua can shred you with.
I honestly don't know how you stop this offense without simply having better players and hoping Bama plays an off game. You'll have to keep Tua off the field, easier said than done against our defense, and then when he's on it you'll have to play every play 110% like you're being coached by Nick Saban. We're simply too loaded. We're 4 deep at WR, 3 or 4 deep at TE (though Smith is the primary receiving target), and 3 (4 with BRob) deep at RB. Our OL is insanely talented and just needs time to gel, which they've been doing. Tua is the best QB in the country. Locksley seems like a good playcaller. And Nick Saban is running the ship and keeping everything running smoothly. It's as close to impossible to stop as any offense I can remember.
Great write up. Honestly it feels like we have reached the Patriots style of offense. Everyone knows Brady is the GOAT, but the Patriots win games every season with a multitude of offensive game plans that go against the weaknesses of the defense. The only way our defense doesn't put up 25+ is bad execution or poor game plan. I think I would play nickel and try to stop big pass plays. If you do that at least you slow down the scoring so your offense can keep the game closer. I would also run an offense like Miss State did last year. Try to play for Time of Possession.
We have it good boys.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 6:51 pm to prevatt33
Drop 7 in coverage and tell your starting D-line they better kick some arse or it'll be a long night.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 7:14 pm to prevatt33
Consult former Saints DC, Gregg Williams and inquire about his bounty procedures and where they went wrong.
Seriously though. Too many wpns and a decent OL are a great problem to have. As long as Tua and Jeudy as the WR1 stay healthy, it will be very hard to stop.
Seriously though. Too many wpns and a decent OL are a great problem to have. As long as Tua and Jeudy as the WR1 stay healthy, it will be very hard to stop.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 7:15 pm to Robot Santa
Press man coverage and bring a blitzer every play to make Tua throw quickly. Maybe someone can frustrate us if they force us to dink and dunk down the field 7-10 yards at a a time and Tua gets impatient and forces one into coverage.
It's going to take a great effort because you have to account for the run and control it and get us in obvious passing downs where the defense can dictate to the offense. If you let us get in 3rd and 5 or less, we'll kill you. Keep Bama in 3rd and long, and your odds get better. Not great, but better.
It's going to take a great effort because you have to account for the run and control it and get us in obvious passing downs where the defense can dictate to the offense. If you let us get in 3rd and 5 or less, we'll kill you. Keep Bama in 3rd and long, and your odds get better. Not great, but better.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 7:41 pm to prevatt33
Give Tua the Tonya Harding special.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 8:40 pm to phil4bama
Considering what Tua has done in the past, I'm not so sure that keeping 'Bama in third and long is the best option. 
Posted on 9/20/18 at 8:42 pm to prevatt33
You hope Tua throws an INT of the return he makes the tackle and is called for targeting and tossed out of the game.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 8:58 pm to phil4bama
quote:
Press man coverage and bring a blitzer every play to make Tua throw quickly. Maybe someone can frustrate us if they force us to dink and dunk down the field 7-10 yards at a a time and Tua gets impatient and forces one into coverage.
If you blitz him every play that’s kind of the opposite of making him dink and dunk down field to frustrate him.
If someone blitz Tua will recognize it. He is very good at giving a fake snap and then watching the D to see what he will need to do next. Out of all his strengths to me it’s what separates him from the rest.
Posted on 9/20/18 at 9:12 pm to TideWarrior
quote:
You hope Tua throws an INT of the return he makes the tackle and is called for targeting and tossed out of the game.
Been waiting on this to happen to someone
Posted on 9/21/18 at 10:06 am to SirHoyle
I think something like the "Wide 9" that Jim Schwartz runs in Philly could be effective. Heres a little summary taken from another site.
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defensive ends slanted at an angle far outside the tackles (in the nine-gap, hence the name), allowing them to take after the offensive tackles in different ways. It was a staple during his time in Detroit, and Schwartz took it with him to Buffalo and Philadelphia.
When the defensive ends are aligned that far outside the tackles, it forces the tackles to fan out to block more quickly, eliminating the potential for those outside blockers to come back in to counter linebacker blitzes and defensive tackle stunts. Once the tackles are out there, they’re committed. And when you can get consistent pressure with four linemen (which Schwartz prefers, as he’s not generally a big proponent of the blitz), it allows your linebackers and defensive backs to affect coverage more clearly.
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Keeping as many people in coverage I think would be essential. Try and limit the splash plays and hopefully through pressure engineer a turnover or two. Forcing Tua to get rid of the ball fast and make him press and put balls into coverage would probably be the best route.
That said, even if you are effective on defense, you'll have to have an offense that can up at least 28-35 points to have a chance.
----
defensive ends slanted at an angle far outside the tackles (in the nine-gap, hence the name), allowing them to take after the offensive tackles in different ways. It was a staple during his time in Detroit, and Schwartz took it with him to Buffalo and Philadelphia.
When the defensive ends are aligned that far outside the tackles, it forces the tackles to fan out to block more quickly, eliminating the potential for those outside blockers to come back in to counter linebacker blitzes and defensive tackle stunts. Once the tackles are out there, they’re committed. And when you can get consistent pressure with four linemen (which Schwartz prefers, as he’s not generally a big proponent of the blitz), it allows your linebackers and defensive backs to affect coverage more clearly.
----
Keeping as many people in coverage I think would be essential. Try and limit the splash plays and hopefully through pressure engineer a turnover or two. Forcing Tua to get rid of the ball fast and make him press and put balls into coverage would probably be the best route.
That said, even if you are effective on defense, you'll have to have an offense that can up at least 28-35 points to have a chance.
Posted on 9/21/18 at 10:18 am to prevatt33
Its a nightmare that is for sure. I assume with decently talented, the db's can't cover all our outside weapons straight up, some solid dline and lb play allows for some decent pressure and they can make open field tackles.
If you play the old strategy of "stop the run and make them beat you with the pass" you may find yourself down a whole lot and forced to get one dimensional fast.
So I think the initial strategy has to be something with two high safety's to try and protect from Tua throwing the receivers open deep. Mix it up a some run blitzes and zone on the early downs - try your best to confuse the offense on a play and get to 3rd down.
3rd down have to get creative with some zone blitzes IMO. If you play zone I think Tua will pick you off, if you play straight man Tua will throw one of the receivers open deep or one of the many outside weapons will get open. Maybe some stuff where you drop some a lb back off the line at the snap, still rush four in some combination and hope to get Tua caught in a mistake to get an int or bat the ball down with the lb's back - coupled with some heavier blitzes from time to time.
Even mix it up on 3rd and long a couple times, only rush 2 and play some heavy zone with a spy roaming the middle.
If you play the old strategy of "stop the run and make them beat you with the pass" you may find yourself down a whole lot and forced to get one dimensional fast.
So I think the initial strategy has to be something with two high safety's to try and protect from Tua throwing the receivers open deep. Mix it up a some run blitzes and zone on the early downs - try your best to confuse the offense on a play and get to 3rd down.
3rd down have to get creative with some zone blitzes IMO. If you play zone I think Tua will pick you off, if you play straight man Tua will throw one of the receivers open deep or one of the many outside weapons will get open. Maybe some stuff where you drop some a lb back off the line at the snap, still rush four in some combination and hope to get Tua caught in a mistake to get an int or bat the ball down with the lb's back - coupled with some heavier blitzes from time to time.
Even mix it up on 3rd and long a couple times, only rush 2 and play some heavy zone with a spy roaming the middle.
This post was edited on 9/21/18 at 10:23 am
Posted on 9/21/18 at 10:52 am to prevatt33
Keep receivers in front of you, conceding the short passes. Get as much pressure on the QB as you can without leaving the back end vulnerable. Pray.
Posted on 9/21/18 at 10:58 am to The Spleen
Awesome discussion, good stuff.
I think that the only way you can truly hope to slow our offense down is by winning in the trenches. If you HAVE to blitz to get to Tua or to stop us from getting 4+ a play, you are going to get blitzkreiged. No team has good enough safeties and corners to cover our 3 WRs and Irv Smith 1-on-1 with Tua at QB. If you are forced to stack the box or blitz, you are fricked.
However, if you can win up front, you can then use blitzes and pressures on your own terms, and that gives you a shot to be creative and get some negative plays.
I think that the only way you can truly hope to slow our offense down is by winning in the trenches. If you HAVE to blitz to get to Tua or to stop us from getting 4+ a play, you are going to get blitzkreiged. No team has good enough safeties and corners to cover our 3 WRs and Irv Smith 1-on-1 with Tua at QB. If you are forced to stack the box or blitz, you are fricked.
However, if you can win up front, you can then use blitzes and pressures on your own terms, and that gives you a shot to be creative and get some negative plays.
Posted on 9/21/18 at 11:03 am to SummerOfGeorge
There's just no way to defend Tua's accuracy. Even with average WR's, he'd be putting up huge numbers. Then you add the Harris's and Jacobs that can also catch the ball really well out of the backfield, and it's just unfair.
I definitely agree it starts with the DL and being able to get pressure on the QB without having to blitz. Auburn and LSU are the only two teams on our schedule that I think can do that. And LSU's OL stymied Auburn's DL all day last week, so not even sure they can.
I definitely agree it starts with the DL and being able to get pressure on the QB without having to blitz. Auburn and LSU are the only two teams on our schedule that I think can do that. And LSU's OL stymied Auburn's DL all day last week, so not even sure they can.
Posted on 9/21/18 at 11:06 am to The Spleen
Thats why i think you have to confuse him with the coverages, maybe you can force him into an early pick or two where he misreads the coverage, doesn't anticipate the lb dropping back from on the line into coverage. Maybe you can get him rattled a little bit and off his game.
I don't think there is a "formula" for this, just hoping some things fall the right way and he gets off his game.
I don't think there is a "formula" for this, just hoping some things fall the right way and he gets off his game.
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