Can we limit the short passing game?

I think letting Oregon dink and dunk was one of the keys to our win in the first game. I am convinced Steele was letting them throw the short ball on first and second down. We were tackling so good into space, they were only getting 3 yards or so on each down. That would get them into 3rd down every drive and we would shut it down. They had a bunch of drives like that.

Plus, I checked with Gus tonight and he said to frick off band geek.


Where you been man?

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We should be able to stretch the field enough with the run game that I’m not worried about our offense.

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I have the opposite concern of you. Not too worried about the defense. Worried about the offense.

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I was watching some of Auburn/Oregon last night, and I realized that completion percentage didn't really mean squat in that game. We kept giving them the short stuff, Oregon kept taking the bait, and we'd repeatedly tackle them in space. If Florida wants to try the same, I'm all for it...I like our odds of trying to stop the run on 3rd and short, as opposed to trying to defend deep balls (giggity) all day.

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Absolutely. That is exactly what Steele was doing and it worked because we were tackling so well. 3 yards, 3 yards, make a play, punt

I'm very confident we give up 2 (offensive) TD's or less. We win as long as we don't turn it over and give them short fields or defensive/special teams TDs

"and we'd repeatedly tackle them in space."

"our guys tackle. It's a great feeling."

I'd rather give up short passes and force them to run the ball on 3rd and short

That’s not the main key.

I think we can limit the short passing game like we did against Oregon because of our speed and tackling in space. I think we're okay on deep routes on the outside, although we play the man not the ball and could get a few PIs against us if Trask intentionally throws short.

What I'm concerned with is our safeties and linebackers in the intermediate to deep middle. Our safeties have played great against the run but they've also been utilized to help generate a pass rush due to our OLBs not getting there, and sometimes bring the WLBs as well e.g. Dinson, Pappoe sack at Miss State. Big Kats first step has been offside or slow, and it seems Moultry has all but disappeared. A guy like Jeff Holland would've made this a non-issue.**

We've gotten lucky a few times that opposing QBs have overthrown deep middle routes due to secondary busts. A&M ate us alive on the middle of the field the later part of the game with starters still in and our LBs were not covering well over the intermediate middle. I'm not privy to the scout team practices or if our 1s on D go against 1s on O, and though Gus has increased his attack in the intermediate middle it's not as much as many offenses do -- so I'm not sure how much our D gets reps on those. Maybe they do, they probably do from the scout team on game week, I don't know.

If I were Mullen, I would have the RB, TE, and slots running all over the place in the middle of the field and have the outside WR run to the deep middle. Trask throws a decent deep ball. Granted their OL is shite, so maybe we get some sacks or force Trask to throw outside the pocket, where we can hopefully start catching some INTs. Our LBs are improving. Steele has done this a long time and think he'll have us ready, I just think the above may keep games closer with the big boys who have good WRs.

**Edit: we haven't had a speed rusher at Tuberville WDE or Lawson/Ford level in awhile either.