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re: There is no improving this defense.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 9:54 am to SummerOfGeorge
Posted on 11/23/21 at 9:54 am to SummerOfGeorge
Coming from you, that is high praise indeed, sir. Thanks.
I wonder if there's a stat someplace that indicates the average yardage needed on third or fourth down. I think that's what drives us crazy the most -- the number of third-and-longs we give up. I can understand giving up a first down on third and one, but third and 11? That's not Alabama football.
Similarly, we seem to give up a ton of yards on second-and-long. At least once or twice a game, it feels like we'll have a team facing second and 20, and they'll get 18 yards to make third down manageable. I HATE that crap.
I wonder if there's a stat someplace that indicates the average yardage needed on third or fourth down. I think that's what drives us crazy the most -- the number of third-and-longs we give up. I can understand giving up a first down on third and one, but third and 11? That's not Alabama football.
Similarly, we seem to give up a ton of yards on second-and-long. At least once or twice a game, it feels like we'll have a team facing second and 20, and they'll get 18 yards to make third down manageable. I HATE that crap.
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Posted on 11/23/21 at 9:55 am to TidalSurge1
Yep - so we don't let teams drive the field a ton (which is good and why we have good YPP and Available Yards % allowed numbers), but when they do drive the field they almost always score.
Which again, presents so many damn opportunities for slight improvement that turns a good defense into a great one, but we haven't been able to do it through 11 weeks. Which is frustrating as all hell.
Which again, presents so many damn opportunities for slight improvement that turns a good defense into a great one, but we haven't been able to do it through 11 weeks. Which is frustrating as all hell.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 9:57 am to Sauron
quote:
I wonder if there's a stat someplace that indicates the average yardage needed on third or fourth down. I think that's what drives us crazy the most -- the number of third-and-longs we give up. I can understand giving up a first down on third and one, but third and 11? That's not Alabama football.
Similarly, we seem to give up a ton of yards on second-and-long. At least once or twice a game, it feels like we'll have a team facing second and 20, and they'll get 18 yards to make third down manageable. I HATE that crap.
I think there is, and I'll look for it.
But I totally agree - we feel so damn close to being great, and yet we do so many little things that negate it. 2nd and 13 turning into 3rd and 4. Giving up multiple 3rd or 4th and 10+s. Blowing 2-3 coverages that hand over 2 TDs.
So many little things where if you fixed just 1 of them you go from frustratingly inconsistent defense to really damn good defense.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:02 am to SummerOfGeorge
Hell, look at the Arkansas game
Arkansas Scoring Drives - Events that Happened
1st TD Drive (2nd Qtr)
- 1st and 10 at their own 4 --> 32 yard pass
- 3rd and 16 at their own 30 --> Jefferson runs for 15 to set up 4th and 1 (which is then converted)
- 3rd and 3 at our 33 ---> 10 yard pass
- 3rd and 2 at our 15 ---> 15 yard TD pass
2nd TD Drive (2nd Qtr)
- 3rd and 14 at our 41 ---> 40 yard completion on a bust
3rd TD Drive (3rd Qtr)
- 3rd and 1 at their 34 ---> 66 yard completion for TD
4th TD Drive (4th Qtr)
- 3rd and 6 at their 40 ---> 27 yard completion
- 4th and 9 down by 13 in the 4th qtr we get beat on a fake FG
5th TD Drive (4th Qtr)
- 4th and 11 at their own 34 ---> 16 yard completion
- 3rd and 17 at their own 43 ---> pass interference (which was bullshite)
EVERY ONE of those TD drives had at least 1 just catastrophic fvck up on them. Every one.
On 4 of their 5 TD drives they converted or got into range for an easy 4th at least 1 3rd or 4th and 7+.
Arkansas Scoring Drives - Events that Happened
1st TD Drive (2nd Qtr)
- 1st and 10 at their own 4 --> 32 yard pass
- 3rd and 16 at their own 30 --> Jefferson runs for 15 to set up 4th and 1 (which is then converted)
- 3rd and 3 at our 33 ---> 10 yard pass
- 3rd and 2 at our 15 ---> 15 yard TD pass
2nd TD Drive (2nd Qtr)
- 3rd and 14 at our 41 ---> 40 yard completion on a bust
3rd TD Drive (3rd Qtr)
- 3rd and 1 at their 34 ---> 66 yard completion for TD
4th TD Drive (4th Qtr)
- 3rd and 6 at their 40 ---> 27 yard completion
- 4th and 9 down by 13 in the 4th qtr we get beat on a fake FG
5th TD Drive (4th Qtr)
- 4th and 11 at their own 34 ---> 16 yard completion
- 3rd and 17 at their own 43 ---> pass interference (which was bullshite)
EVERY ONE of those TD drives had at least 1 just catastrophic fvck up on them. Every one.
On 4 of their 5 TD drives they converted or got into range for an easy 4th at least 1 3rd or 4th and 7+.
This post was edited on 11/23/21 at 10:03 am
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:05 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
Yep - so we don't let teams drive the field a ton (which is good and why we have good YPP and Available Yards % allowed numbers), but when they do drive the field they almost always score.
Which again, presents so many damn opportunities for slight improvement that turns a good defense into a great one, but we haven't been able to do it through 11 weeks. Which is frustrating as all hell.
Our defensive approach was different vs OM, MSU & TN. Just basic 3-3-5 with zone coverage without stupid delayed blitzes and last second play calls. Better results and fewer busts and costly mistakes. We were better positioned, quicker, faster, more aggressive and tackled better. Focus, intensity and consistency.
This post was edited on 11/23/21 at 10:17 am
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:07 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
Our defensive approach was different vs OM, MSU & TN. Just basic 3-3-5 with zone coverage without stupid delayed blitzes and last second play calls. Better results and fewer busts.
And I think the most frustrating thing is that we are EXCELLENT on standard downs/early downs. Like, as good as anyone in the country.
Then we get to passing downs (2nd and 8+, 3rd and 6+, 4th and anything) and we lose our fvckin minds. I dunno what the change needs to be there - maybe it needs to be to 3-3-5 basic coverage without the stupid delayed blitzes - but it needs to be SOMETHING. Because we're literally 2-3 stops on those away from having PPG allowed numbers that rival Georgia.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:14 am to SummerOfGeorge
On the passing downs, how many of it were targeted toward Jobe?
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:15 am to Panthers4life
quote:
On the passing downs, how many of it were targeted toward Jobe?
Specifically in the Arkansas game quite a bit (and to be fair, Burks is a fantastic jump ball/physical one on one receiver), but in general no more than the middle of the field stuff where our safeties/stars bust.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:17 am to SummerOfGeorge
SOG it appears their football IQ level just isn't the level that can get them to greatness.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:18 am to Sauron
Of course you go and do mostly the same thing I was doing while you were posting. 
There's another interesting thing about these numbers - UGA isn't particularly better. They rank 43th, but the difference is a couple of stops. Their opponents are 13 for 26 in converting 4th downs.
Our overall 3rd/4th success is also incredibly similar. When you add opponent's 4th down successes to their 3rd down successes our foes (as you noted) succeed in extending their drives 42.5% of the time. UGA's foes though extend their drives 38.6% of the time.
We're virtual mirror images - except for the damned busts.
quote:
Fourth-down conversions are terrible, though. We've faced 24 conversion attempts, and allowed 15 of them (62.5%). That puts us at 100th in the country.
There's another interesting thing about these numbers - UGA isn't particularly better. They rank 43th, but the difference is a couple of stops. Their opponents are 13 for 26 in converting 4th downs.
Our overall 3rd/4th success is also incredibly similar. When you add opponent's 4th down successes to their 3rd down successes our foes (as you noted) succeed in extending their drives 42.5% of the time. UGA's foes though extend their drives 38.6% of the time.
We're virtual mirror images - except for the damned busts.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:19 am to Panthers4life
quote:
On the passing downs, how many of it were targeted toward Jobe?
I know it wasn't the case but it sure FELT like all of them.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:20 am to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
quote:
SOG it appears their football IQ level just isn't the level that can get them to greatness.
Yea, which almost makes it more frustrating because we seem to refuse to lower the difficulty level of assignment to their level of ability to complete it. I don't know if they really think our guys are on the cusp of getting it so they don't want to give up on it, but damn it if it isn't frustrating to see the same combo coverages collapse time and time again after playing 2 great plays in a row to force a tough 3rd or 4th down.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:20 am to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
quote:
SOG it appears their football IQ level just isn't the level that can get them to greatness.
So why deploy an overly complex defensive scheme that's high-risk for costly mistakes?
Square peg meets round hole.
This post was edited on 11/23/21 at 10:49 am
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:22 am to JustGetItRight
quote:
We're virtual mirror images - except for the damned busts.
I mean it really isn't an overstatement to say we are 3-4 plays a game away from being in the same ballpark as Georgia defensively - combinations of making 1-2 more plays on 3rd down, giving up 1-2 less busts - it's the difference in 28 pts and 10 pts. But those 3-4 plays a game seem to be just completely out of our reach as a defense.
Mind-numbing.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:30 am to SummerOfGeorge
UGA's front 4 (for the most part) doesn't just sit there and take it straight up. They shift and they came after somebody's azz at the snap. As Nick says you might the bear but then the bear might get you on those games. I would say if the bear is going to get you every down if you don't attack him then get after his azz and live with the results.
Beat Auburn is all the matters
Beat Auburn is all the matters
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:34 am to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
quote:
Beat Auburn is all the matters
Yep - be nice to see a complete defensive game this week.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:38 am to SummerOfGeorge
The Barn will TE us to death. Got to keep them from making 5 years running the ball on 1st down over and over.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 10:41 am to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
quote:
Got to keep them from making 5 years running the ball on 1st down over and over.
We've dominated non-QB running games this year and Auburn hasn't been much more than average running the ball. With Nix out, the option part of the game is gone, so it's basically just straight handoffs. Nobody has run the ball on us that way all season, and we've played some pretty solid run offenses - #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 vs P5 in the league plus LSU post-Florida game who was running it well.
Against the best run defenses on their schedule Auburn's run game was basically non-existent (and that was with Nix's run threat)
- #2 Georgia (29 carries, 46 yards, 1.59 YPA)
- #15 Mississippi State (27 carries, 106 yards, 3.93 YPA)
- #40 Texas A&M (29 carries, 73 yards, 2.52 YPA)
This post was edited on 11/23/21 at 10:45 am
Posted on 11/23/21 at 12:28 pm to BamaWins15
Yeah they’ve definitely reached their potential. Not sure why we even practice anymore. Repetition is overrated. No way anyone improves at football at the collegiate level. OP just gets it.
Posted on 11/23/21 at 1:17 pm to BamaWins15
quote:would feel better if you just stopped ever posting here
This is the best defense we have had in a long time. They are good hearted kids and put in a lot of work and I appreciate it very much.
Y’all feel better now?
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