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Do we need a Defensive coordinator?
Posted on 9/14/25 at 8:36 am
Posted on 9/14/25 at 8:36 am
It is glaringly obvious that our offense is pretty good…and has improved year to year.
Seems just as obvious that our defense is not very good and has not improved.
It appears to me the players are actually better talent wise. When I see us CONTINUE running the same blitz leaving our dbacks in man…without ever even sniffing putting pressure on the QB, I can only think…why keep touching the hot stove?
We have a good scheme offensively going into every game. Sometimes halftime adjustments slow us down and the chess match starts…but far too often on defense we just keep to our single minded game plan and watch the ship sink.
Better football minds than me will know…how many times did we play a cover 2 or some variation and did it work better?
Seems just as obvious that our defense is not very good and has not improved.
It appears to me the players are actually better talent wise. When I see us CONTINUE running the same blitz leaving our dbacks in man…without ever even sniffing putting pressure on the QB, I can only think…why keep touching the hot stove?
We have a good scheme offensively going into every game. Sometimes halftime adjustments slow us down and the chess match starts…but far too often on defense we just keep to our single minded game plan and watch the ship sink.
Better football minds than me will know…how many times did we play a cover 2 or some variation and did it work better?
7
Posted on 9/14/25 at 9:01 am to Rzrbackguy
A blitz heavy package can work, a few years ago Army ate teams alive by pulling blitzes seemingly out of thin air. They had to, as always the Cadets were slow and under sized.
The difference between that and what we do, however, is Army disguised their blitzes very well, and would drop back into a surprise zone to keep teams honest.
We show our blitz early, don't change when the other team audibles, and then looked amazed when they make an easy first down.
Despite having better talent we've regressed as a defense. We will probably wind up the most terrifying 6 win team in the history of college football (if Green stays healthy) while we all wonder just how good we could have been if we had a defense that could stop an unruly toddler.
The difference between that and what we do, however, is Army disguised their blitzes very well, and would drop back into a surprise zone to keep teams honest.
We show our blitz early, don't change when the other team audibles, and then looked amazed when they make an easy first down.
Despite having better talent we've regressed as a defense. We will probably wind up the most terrifying 6 win team in the history of college football (if Green stays healthy) while we all wonder just how good we could have been if we had a defense that could stop an unruly toddler.
Posted on 9/14/25 at 9:08 am to Arksulli
From what I could tell we went zone less than 10 plays all night. Maybe less than 5. The only time I can remember us for sure going zone was on that last 3rd down we stopped ole miss and forced them to punt. It’s okay to be blitz heavy but it can’t be the ONLY thing you do. Also it didn’t matter if it was 5 man blitzes, 6 or 7 which we sent at different times, we never got home and never covered in the back end. At some point you’re just defining insanity by doing the same thing and expecting diff results. What should’ve happened at half time was, “welp, that didn’t work. We may not be able to slow them down going drop 8 but we will at least try.”
Posted on 9/14/25 at 9:38 am to Rzrbackguy
Yes and a recruiter who has an eye for talent and can coach them up. Our defense is worse year after year and so is the talent.
The boosters may be waiting until Pittman is gone to open the pocket books. People won't like it, but I think the big money wants Bobby P. He won't have to recruit with plenty of money. I don't give a shite what anyone thinks, this will probably be the best offense since Bobby was here last time.
Pittman will pull a Nutt and buy himself more time by getting a new defensive coordinator. I think it's obvious now that the fight between Travis the rapper and Bobby the coach was because the offense was destroying the defense.
The boosters may be waiting until Pittman is gone to open the pocket books. People won't like it, but I think the big money wants Bobby P. He won't have to recruit with plenty of money. I don't give a shite what anyone thinks, this will probably be the best offense since Bobby was here last time.
Pittman will pull a Nutt and buy himself more time by getting a new defensive coordinator. I think it's obvious now that the fight between Travis the rapper and Bobby the coach was because the offense was destroying the defense.
Posted on 9/14/25 at 9:57 am to SmackoverHawg
Can’t remember the last DC we had that was unanimously liked. Seems like we’ll have a good year every now and then but then fall off a cliff on that side of the ball.
Posted on 9/14/25 at 10:36 am to Rzrbackguy
Hire Bobby as head coach and when Kentucky fires mark stoops bring him in as DC?
Posted on 9/14/25 at 10:39 am to Rzrbackguy
Yes.
Pittman is a good head coach as long as their is an elite coach controlling the offense and defense.
And special teams.
Oh and a general manager controlling personnel
Pittman is a good head coach as long as their is an elite coach controlling the offense and defense.
And special teams.
Oh and a general manager controlling personnel
Posted on 9/14/25 at 5:53 pm to Rzrbackguy
You guys had better start pumping lots of cash into that NIL.
Without better talent, it doesn't matter who the DC is.
Without better talent, it doesn't matter who the DC is.
Posted on 9/14/25 at 7:17 pm to Rzrbackguy
I miss Barry Odom
Posted on 9/15/25 at 8:11 am to Hogwarts
Here is what I'm seeing.... again... career HS coach ...
We are Thin on the DL, don't have an elite pass rusher so it appears that TWill is trying to create pressure from various looks (corner blitz, LB, safety, twist, cowboy stunts, etc.) That's all well and good, except that you typically find yourself a man down in the secondary which is why they are playing so much man coverage, not enough bodies left for a zone structure.
NOW...... Elite DC's go to fire zones and different looks where they drop and replace or roll and bait. wall and carry, different things depending on the zone and or the pressure.
It doesn't appear that TWill and the gang are willing to get that complex.
I haven't seen anything much beyond a base 4-3 or a 4-2-5 look and we typically play cover 1 (man) or even at times Cover 0 man with no safety help.
I think I counted 4 maybe 5 plays where we were in a 2 high safety structure and a legit zone bracket presnap. (which would assume cover 2 or palms)
Interestingly enough.... and I think it was pointed out already.... Chambliss struggled every time we showed him this look but we never stuck with it.
(end of first post) I'll explain why I think we do this in post 2
We are Thin on the DL, don't have an elite pass rusher so it appears that TWill is trying to create pressure from various looks (corner blitz, LB, safety, twist, cowboy stunts, etc.) That's all well and good, except that you typically find yourself a man down in the secondary which is why they are playing so much man coverage, not enough bodies left for a zone structure.
NOW...... Elite DC's go to fire zones and different looks where they drop and replace or roll and bait. wall and carry, different things depending on the zone and or the pressure.
It doesn't appear that TWill and the gang are willing to get that complex.
I haven't seen anything much beyond a base 4-3 or a 4-2-5 look and we typically play cover 1 (man) or even at times Cover 0 man with no safety help.
I think I counted 4 maybe 5 plays where we were in a 2 high safety structure and a legit zone bracket presnap. (which would assume cover 2 or palms)
Interestingly enough.... and I think it was pointed out already.... Chambliss struggled every time we showed him this look but we never stuck with it.
(end of first post) I'll explain why I think we do this in post 2
Posted on 9/15/25 at 8:20 am to ElDawgHawg
So .... all that said,
I think that our secondary has some decent athletes, and the first two weeks we looked ok in coverage.... Saturday exposed some really bad technique. I hate to pick on Walker after his injury but his hip level, footwork and hands all are really sloppy. The result is being out of position on a double move and having to grab late to make up ground.
The other glaring issue I see..... DE and LB technique....
We get outleveraged from the backfield CONSTANTLY by backs AND QB's.
Even Sorey who is supposed to be our best LB got out-leveraged at least twice by the back.
There is a simple technigue you teach with leverage to never let a releasing back cross your face..... but we don't come to balance on the edge and it happens constantly.
I've seen this be an issue the entire Pittman era. Tackling and leverage fundamentals have plagued us his entire tenure and I don't understand it.
Folks that ask why Vandy is better.... it's simple... they understand (especially defensively) that they are working with less talent and they put them in better positions.
Our answer is try to blitz to death and hope we get home enough to force a turnover or two.
I doubt we see a scheme change so we had better tighten up on the switches and the communication or it'll be a long year. Expect to see a ton of motion and shifts until we figure it out.
I think that our secondary has some decent athletes, and the first two weeks we looked ok in coverage.... Saturday exposed some really bad technique. I hate to pick on Walker after his injury but his hip level, footwork and hands all are really sloppy. The result is being out of position on a double move and having to grab late to make up ground.
The other glaring issue I see..... DE and LB technique....
We get outleveraged from the backfield CONSTANTLY by backs AND QB's.
Even Sorey who is supposed to be our best LB got out-leveraged at least twice by the back.
There is a simple technigue you teach with leverage to never let a releasing back cross your face..... but we don't come to balance on the edge and it happens constantly.
I've seen this be an issue the entire Pittman era. Tackling and leverage fundamentals have plagued us his entire tenure and I don't understand it.
Folks that ask why Vandy is better.... it's simple... they understand (especially defensively) that they are working with less talent and they put them in better positions.
Our answer is try to blitz to death and hope we get home enough to force a turnover or two.
I doubt we see a scheme change so we had better tighten up on the switches and the communication or it'll be a long year. Expect to see a ton of motion and shifts until we figure it out.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 9:14 am to ElDawgHawg
quote:yeah I was being facetious when I asked why vandy is better, since everyone on here likes to only blame our talent level when it’s clear we aren’t coached well and put players in position to succeed. And if we were unwilling to change anything at halftime last week it shows we aren’t going to change anything ever. We’re going to do what we do.
they understand (especially defensively) that they are working with less talent and they put them in better positions. Our answer is try to blitz to death and hope we get home enough to force a turnover or two. I doubt we see a scheme change so we had better tighten up on the switches and the communication or it'll be a long year. Expect to see a ton of motion and shifts until we figure it out.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 12:21 pm to Hawgnsincebirth55
quote:
yeah I was being facetious when I asked why vandy is better
No doubt, I figured you probably were,
My point was that we aren't really building structure with our scheme, looks like he's just trying to build chaos.
Fundamentals and alignment are really bad.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 2:51 pm to ElDawgHawg
I agree with everything you said. Just not sure chaos alone will work at the sec level. Guess we will see. Kiffin is also the best offensive mind I think we will face this year, except maybe heupel so maybe it will.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 5:13 pm to Hogwarts
quote:
I miss Barry Odom
His last year here was the worst defense I have ever seen at Arkansas.
Posted on 9/16/25 at 8:57 am to Rzrbackguy
I feel like the core issue is lack of NIL/investment in players. Our defensive talent is quite lackluster
I agree though we have issues with defensive fundamentals
I agree though we have issues with defensive fundamentals
This post was edited on 9/16/25 at 8:58 am
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