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Defenses are Ahead of Offense
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:38 pm
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:38 pm
Can we talk about how the old Big12 conference was a science lab for viral strains of offensive and defensive football concepts? It still continues to shape football at every level, especially this season.
The Big12 was a playground for offensive minds like Mike Leach, Art Briles, Mike Gundy, etc. The introduction of spread, airraid, veer & shoot, etc effectively neutralized a Nebraska program that was meant to stabilized the northern division of the conference. They didn’t have the athletes to play in space, their tackles were too fat to stay infront of elite pass rushers. You might say why not line up in 12 personnel and run it 35 times? In the event you don’t convert you have to punt & fall behind another score. Eventually the entire conference fell into the madness. Most of these teams didn’t have the depth to win championships, but we’re pretty formidable on a week to week basis. Texas & OU objectively under achieved in this era. The offensive explosion eventually lead to combative defensive concepts.
Around 2016 the average combined scores of Big12 matchups began to deplete dramatically. While the conference still had the reputation of a “no defense” conference, it was quietly the most compelling defensive conference in the country. Patterson at TCU running pattern match cover 4 base concepts out of a 4-2-5, Heacock at Iowa State utilizing triple high looks out a 3-3-5, Oklahoma State playing almost positionless defensive football under Gundy, Texas running a variation of Heacocks defense, etc. Todd Bowles even took inspiration from Iowa States defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes in the ‘21 Super Bowl.
Fast forward to this season in the NFL and College ranks, almost everyone is running a two or three high shell with a rover who can fly down to fit the box if needed. Even if there’s four down lineman, one end will drop out on occasion. This style of play is tough on the screen game, takes away the deep ball, and fits traditional run game concepts really well. This is why QB play looks pedestrian as ever this season. Dynamic plays are limited. The name of the game is check downs and YAC receivers. Defense has the upper hand right now, even with the rules favoring offense. It’ll be interesting to see how offensive football adjusts. The fullback might need to make a return.
The Big12 was a playground for offensive minds like Mike Leach, Art Briles, Mike Gundy, etc. The introduction of spread, airraid, veer & shoot, etc effectively neutralized a Nebraska program that was meant to stabilized the northern division of the conference. They didn’t have the athletes to play in space, their tackles were too fat to stay infront of elite pass rushers. You might say why not line up in 12 personnel and run it 35 times? In the event you don’t convert you have to punt & fall behind another score. Eventually the entire conference fell into the madness. Most of these teams didn’t have the depth to win championships, but we’re pretty formidable on a week to week basis. Texas & OU objectively under achieved in this era. The offensive explosion eventually lead to combative defensive concepts.
Around 2016 the average combined scores of Big12 matchups began to deplete dramatically. While the conference still had the reputation of a “no defense” conference, it was quietly the most compelling defensive conference in the country. Patterson at TCU running pattern match cover 4 base concepts out of a 4-2-5, Heacock at Iowa State utilizing triple high looks out a 3-3-5, Oklahoma State playing almost positionless defensive football under Gundy, Texas running a variation of Heacocks defense, etc. Todd Bowles even took inspiration from Iowa States defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes in the ‘21 Super Bowl.
Fast forward to this season in the NFL and College ranks, almost everyone is running a two or three high shell with a rover who can fly down to fit the box if needed. Even if there’s four down lineman, one end will drop out on occasion. This style of play is tough on the screen game, takes away the deep ball, and fits traditional run game concepts really well. This is why QB play looks pedestrian as ever this season. Dynamic plays are limited. The name of the game is check downs and YAC receivers. Defense has the upper hand right now, even with the rules favoring offense. It’ll be interesting to see how offensive football adjusts. The fullback might need to make a return.
This post was edited on 9/30/25 at 8:39 pm
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Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:39 pm to EastTXHorn
quote:
The fullback might need to make a return.
I pray to the Football Gods daily for the Powerback era to return ...
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:47 pm to EastTXHorn
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:48 pm to EastTXHorn
quote:
This is why QB play looks pedestrian as ever this season
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:49 pm to EastTXHorn
quote:I blame the portal for the lack of coherent OL play. That’s the first domino of bad offense.
Defenses are Ahead of Offense
Posted on 9/30/25 at 8:56 pm to Landmass
The only good defense Ole Miss has faced y’all struggled to score 24 points. You act like Ole Miss has some sort of explosion on offense against a good D.
And no…Arkansas, Tulane, and Kentucky aren’t impressive.
And no…Arkansas, Tulane, and Kentucky aren’t impressive.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:00 pm to BevoBucks
I don’t think it’s that black & white. Take Texas for example, no portal bodies on the offensive line. Texas has never recruited a portal offensive lineman, all of the starters have been in the system 3+ years. Yet they struggle reading defensive fronts pre-snap. Quicker front are crossing their faces consistently. They look lost at times, especially in the run game. NIL probably has some considerable influence though. Go take a look at DJ Lagways Instagram. He doesn’t look like he’s turned down any promotional opportunities, he’s like a walking billboard. Imagine the pressure he’s under, he probably feels like he needs to score on every snap.
This post was edited on 9/30/25 at 9:05 pm
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:01 pm to EastTXHorn
TLDNR
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:04 pm to EastTXHorn
I don’t have much to add, but great thread 
It’s very apparent in the NFL and it seems like teams attacked Mahomes with it to great success and now it has spread.
It’s very apparent in the NFL and it seems like teams attacked Mahomes with it to great success and now it has spread.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:06 pm to Zgeo
Interesting op, even if you disagree, it's worth a read.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:17 pm to EastTXHorn
This was a really interesting post; kudos!
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:22 pm to EastTXHorn
The main reason is piss poor offensive line play. Defensive lines have gotten faster and better. It starts at the high schools all across America
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:33 pm to EastTXHorn
quote:
Defenses are Ahead of Offense
This is true at Texas because Sark is massively overrated.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:34 pm to EastTXHorn
Cliff notes please
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:41 pm to Nasty_Canasta
quote:
The main reason is piss poor offensive line play. Defensive lines have gotten faster and better. It starts at the high schools all across Americ
Poor offensive line play for sure. Better athletes at the defensive line. Quicker D ends.
But it’s cyclical. The way to counter the quicker defensive end is to run it right at them. Myles Garrett used to over penetrate and you could run right in behind his penetration. Perkins, LSU’s speedy LB, can be neutralized by pounding it right at him.
The Earl Campbells and Eddie Georges are out there, they are dust linebackers at the moment. They will come back to the offensive side of the ball soon enough and replace the 205 pound running back.
The bruisers (and the FBs) WILL make a return. And they will chew up these smaller quicker defenses.
This post was edited on 9/30/25 at 9:42 pm
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:43 pm to EastTXHorn
excellent post and read. thanks for sharing your thoughts, share more.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 9:45 pm to Jobu93
quote:
The bruisers (and the FBs) WILL make a return. And they will chew up these smaller quicker defenses.
I definitely see that happening. Big backs 5’11” to 6’2” like 225 to 235 who can run are definitely out there. The question will be who can get the most out of those guys. Because the days are over of several physical backs waiting for a shot on one roster.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 11:25 pm to EastTXHorn
quote:
don’t think it’s that black & white. Take Texas for example, no portal bodies on the offensive line. Texas has never recruited a portal offensive lineman, all of the starters have been in the system 3+ years. Yet they struggle reading defensive fronts pre-snap. Quicker front are crossing their faces consistently. They look lost at times, especially in the run game. NIL probably has some considerable influence though. Go take a look at DJ Lagways Instagram. He doesn’t look like he’s turned down any promotional opportunities, he’s like a walking billboard. Imagine the pressure he’s under, he probably feels like he needs to score on every snap.
That’s a lot of words to say sark is a fraud and needs to hire an oc.
Posted on 9/30/25 at 11:33 pm to Jobu93
Interesting to add I watched a high school game this past weekend. 1Q team goes spread offense and basically gets limited. 2Q on, they ran I formation and the defense looked completely lost they could not stop it. 1 power back and 1 speed guy a few out routes and slants and the defense coordinator had no answer.
Posted on 10/1/25 at 12:05 am to EastTXHorn
If you want the money, you get everything that comes with it.
This is the business he has chosen.
This is the business he has chosen.
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