re: 4 Games In: What's Broken & How Does It Get Fixed?

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The scheme of the defense is not the problem. I wish the whole cushion and 3rd down crap would quit being made up. Indiana was 1 of 14 on 3rd downs. UCF made 3 great plays on 3rd down. It happens.

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Part of the reason it won't go away is because the cushion won't go away. It's not only on third downs. It's regularly ran in this scheme. I don't know how many times.....this year....I have sat and watched this defense get burned for ten yard outs. It's frustrating to sit there and watch this defense give up an easy 10 or 12 yrd. completion and go right back to playing with a 8 to 10 yrd. cushion the very next play. They may line up only 5 yrds. out, but before the ball is snapped, they are fading backwards and then when the ball is snapped they are a true 10 yrds. off. All the receiver has to do is sell a go route and stop at 10 to 12 yrds. and he's open.

It's the refusal to adjust much like when Steckel would not give up on the 3-4 dumpster fire of a scheme last season and cost us a possible conference championship. Pinkel has to intervene at times to snap Steckel out of his do or die ways. Would be nice to help his defense recognize the screen also. He can't seem to figure that one out either.