Read scheme on defense is Odom's decision

So was this the source of the rift between BO and Kul?

I just read a story about "the U" returning to an aggressive penetrating defense and getting rid of the former coaches Read and React defense. A move that was applauded by the DL. 1 DL described the defense as a "Bumass Scheme."

However for the sake of recruiting, most NFL teams run a variant of Read and React because of the OL talent at the NFL level. I have read several articles on the subject, and R&R is a good defense with lots of flexibility, but there is a steep learning curve. Recruits will need to be smart and versatile. I have to admit, I feel better now that I've educated myself instead of just reacting to what I see in games so far.

It should be obvious that contributed to the riff.

Not only did BO take the job he wanted, he had a totally different philosophy for the DL.

"Didn't have time to install" has as much or more to do with who the DL coach was as it has to do with time.

BO is a first rate guy. He's not even going to hint at a riff with Kuligowski. He's just going to say he didn't have time to install it.

This is easy 2+2 arithmetic.

Question from the Tiger Mailbag


Mizzou Mule asks: Did Kul or any other staffer actually give our D playbook to any competitors? Why did the coaches feel the D had to be changed from last year?

GD: The first question is one that's simply unlikely to ever have a definitive answer. That's the rumor going around and I've certainly heard it, but I doubt anyone in a position to confirm it is ever going to actually say it happened on the record. As far as why the defense was changed, DeMontie Cross said last week that it is a different team. I asked Barry Odom that exact question on Monday and he didn't really answer it, but said he thinks the defense and the defensive line will be good as time goes on. On Tiger Talk Monday night, Odom said that he actually wanted to install a similar scheme last year but didn't feel he had enough time. It may not end up being the right decision, but that's not a judgment we should be making after two games (even though I know we like to make judgments much more quickly than that).

Reading between the lines...
Yes, Kul passed around the playbook, but it won't ever be confirmed. Maybe not the entire playbook, but enough to be an issue. Too much smoke for there to be no fire here.

That, combined with Odom's desire to change up the defensive scheme made the change happen this season. It's not a "different team" - too many of the same personnel on D. That's just coach-speak. Odom wanted to transition, and the advantages we may have had from Kul's scheme were pretty much gone. He has new coaches that share his philosophy. So, he pulled the trigger.

He knows they aren't there yet, but believes they will improve weekly. He figured this season wasn't going to be much anyway, thinking it would take the offense at least a year under Heupel to be really competitive. Maybe the offense is further ahead than he anticipated, and now there is increased pressure for the D to step it up. Most new coaches don't plan to come in and compete for a championship in year 1 - they know it'll take time. Odom is no different.

I hope Odom knows what he's doing.

You take the signature element of Mizzou football for over a decade and trash it rather than incorporate it.

At least he's going to rise or fall on his own terms, balls out.

I would point out that while the defensive line was a large part of MU's successes, it was completely neutralized in the worst losses. Think back to the losses to OU in the conference championship games, the losses to NU and TTU in 2010, the losses in both SECCGs. Attempting to create pressure predominantly with the front 4 lends to predictability and therefore exploitability when the talent levels are even or tipped to the other side. Once installed the system will allow for disguising pressure while maintaining gap control at the LOS. While unpopular right now, I get why Odom is moving to the system.

It makes sense. It's going to be rough while they learn it.

LBs and Safeties must tackle in R&R.