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Why the Defense did not stand up to the pressure of Clemson...
Posted on 1/8/19 at 4:12 am
Posted on 1/8/19 at 4:12 am
There are several things that came together in tonight's "perfect storm" against Alabama.
Our defense has significant flaws and the Clemson staff did a fantastic job of focusing on them.
Clemson used the specific plays/concepts that several teams exposed over the last half of the season. They pulled specific overload plays that capitalized on lack of maturity, leadership, and communication at the LB and secondary levels. The plays/concepts attacked the same flaws over and over but from multiple directions so our lack of experience could not simply adjust to a specific "play" and our DC did not appear to understand what was happening to him.
Clem o-line packed in to protect the middle push and our lack of edge speed could not get around them. Packing in gave them the ability to take the Q effect out of play. Our choice to only rush 3 or 4 played into their plan.
We had to keep 7/8 in coverage in an attempt to hide back-end problems. The attacked our back-end weaknesses. DT at safety was busy attempting to do other peoples jobs and forgot to do his at times. He had done this often and they chose plays to take advantage of this tendency. OU and GA had both done the same earlier but Clemson did it better.
At LB, we had two WIL LB's playing all season but no Mike. Both 30 and 32 are better at scraping but when 30 tried to attack, he often attacked the wrong gap leaving a crease. The recruiting effort going after 3 players to fill one hole(Lee / To'oto'o / Dean) show that Saban knows there is an issue.
On the edge, we had only one player between two slots capable of setting the edge (33) but he does not have the quick twitch to both set the edge and speed rush. After injury to 47/24/4 we were left with young options with speed but lacking strength and experience to both set the edge and rush. Clemson used that knowledge to focus on stopping the inside rush.
An experience DC can hide flaws early but a good staff after 14 games of film can see the flaws and beat them. That happened tonight. Clemson coaches did a fantastic job of finding and hitting the Alabama flaws.
On the offense side, Clemson's Dline was good enough to pressure and allow them to move things in the back-end and keep Tua and our Wr's in check. We could run the ball but after a few "self-inflicted" issues, Locks and Tua were trying to hit quick rather than drive it down their throat. Then there was no longer enough time to drive it down their throat and catch up.
Dabo and company out coached Alabama from the end of the 1st qtr to the final play. The Clemson players played a fantastic game but their coaches made the right calls to set them up. Their D was good enough that our O could not overcome our flaws. When the Alabama D needed to step up and help, the horses were not there. Too many left for the NFL early or we watching from the sideline due to injury.
We have missed in recruiting at Mike LB for the last 4 years and it caught up with us tonight. The LB room is filled with WIL skill sets and no option to fill the Mike role.
Our defense has significant flaws and the Clemson staff did a fantastic job of focusing on them.
Clemson used the specific plays/concepts that several teams exposed over the last half of the season. They pulled specific overload plays that capitalized on lack of maturity, leadership, and communication at the LB and secondary levels. The plays/concepts attacked the same flaws over and over but from multiple directions so our lack of experience could not simply adjust to a specific "play" and our DC did not appear to understand what was happening to him.
Clem o-line packed in to protect the middle push and our lack of edge speed could not get around them. Packing in gave them the ability to take the Q effect out of play. Our choice to only rush 3 or 4 played into their plan.
We had to keep 7/8 in coverage in an attempt to hide back-end problems. The attacked our back-end weaknesses. DT at safety was busy attempting to do other peoples jobs and forgot to do his at times. He had done this often and they chose plays to take advantage of this tendency. OU and GA had both done the same earlier but Clemson did it better.
At LB, we had two WIL LB's playing all season but no Mike. Both 30 and 32 are better at scraping but when 30 tried to attack, he often attacked the wrong gap leaving a crease. The recruiting effort going after 3 players to fill one hole(Lee / To'oto'o / Dean) show that Saban knows there is an issue.
On the edge, we had only one player between two slots capable of setting the edge (33) but he does not have the quick twitch to both set the edge and speed rush. After injury to 47/24/4 we were left with young options with speed but lacking strength and experience to both set the edge and rush. Clemson used that knowledge to focus on stopping the inside rush.
An experience DC can hide flaws early but a good staff after 14 games of film can see the flaws and beat them. That happened tonight. Clemson coaches did a fantastic job of finding and hitting the Alabama flaws.
On the offense side, Clemson's Dline was good enough to pressure and allow them to move things in the back-end and keep Tua and our Wr's in check. We could run the ball but after a few "self-inflicted" issues, Locks and Tua were trying to hit quick rather than drive it down their throat. Then there was no longer enough time to drive it down their throat and catch up.
Dabo and company out coached Alabama from the end of the 1st qtr to the final play. The Clemson players played a fantastic game but their coaches made the right calls to set them up. Their D was good enough that our O could not overcome our flaws. When the Alabama D needed to step up and help, the horses were not there. Too many left for the NFL early or we watching from the sideline due to injury.
We have missed in recruiting at Mike LB for the last 4 years and it caught up with us tonight. The LB room is filled with WIL skill sets and no option to fill the Mike role.
3
Posted on 1/8/19 at 4:34 am to Tw1st3d
They had seasoned coordinators that are great coaches where we have guys that are primarily recruiting gurus. We got outcoached really bad. It was a blood bath.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 4:46 am to Tw1st3d
Love the post. Thanks for breaking it down.
2 novice questions: what is scraping? And is Kaho a Will too or could he develop into a Mike? TIA
2 novice questions: what is scraping? And is Kaho a Will too or could he develop into a Mike? TIA
Posted on 1/8/19 at 5:02 am to Gongora
Mike fills (forward) and WIL scrapes (side to side).
Mike fill - attack the LoS. Alpha Dog that move forward, takes on the Blocker and stuffs the run Think Reggie Ragland / Donta Hightower / Rolando McClain. The Thumper.
Wil Scrapes behind the MIke and flows with the ball sideline to sideline. More about speed, open field, and pass coverage. Think CJ Mosley.
Mike fill - attack the LoS. Alpha Dog that move forward, takes on the Blocker and stuffs the run Think Reggie Ragland / Donta Hightower / Rolando McClain. The Thumper.
Wil Scrapes behind the MIke and flows with the ball sideline to sideline. More about speed, open field, and pass coverage. Think CJ Mosley.
This post was edited on 1/8/19 at 5:18 am
Posted on 1/8/19 at 5:04 am to Gongora
I do not yet have a good read on Kaho, If he is to be a Mike he has to bulk up and get a killer instinct. He looks to be more of a WIL but time will tell.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 5:41 am to Tw1st3d
I think the Pick Six hurt us seriously. I also think Tua needs to learn more patience but that will come. They could not stop the run but I think our playcalling in the red zone was putrid. We would run off tackle or wide and they slanted or blitzed right into the play. The one time we play actioned down close we scored easily.
We had deficiencies on defense that time and recruiting will have to overcome.
We had deficiencies on defense that time and recruiting will have to overcome.
This post was edited on 1/8/19 at 5:42 am
Posted on 1/8/19 at 6:11 am to Tw1st3d
Perfect explanation. Much appreciated!
Posted on 1/8/19 at 6:38 am to Tw1st3d
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on the game, except in a much more knowledgeable about X's and O's kind of way. The defenses were the difference in the game. Theirs was very good and Venables (sp?) called a great game. Ours has been pretty meh, and Tosh looked green last night.
We lost to a better team. But, it's not the end of the world. Barring another rash of injuries, I think the defense will be greatly improved next year, and the offense is returning a lot.
We lost to a better team. But, it's not the end of the world. Barring another rash of injuries, I think the defense will be greatly improved next year, and the offense is returning a lot.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 8:00 am to Teague
For the 2nd time against Clemson in a National Championship game, our coordinators got outcoached and outclassed. Some of that could be blamed on staff turnover, but most of it falls on lack of preparation and poor game planning.
It's hard to say if Tosh is the answer at DC. He was working with a brand new secondary and two MLB's that aren't at the level we've become accustomed to. Add in the injuries to Allen and Lewis, and it's kind fo encouraging the defense did as well as it did this season. They got flat exposed the final 3 games of the year though.
It's hard to say if Tosh is the answer at DC. He was working with a brand new secondary and two MLB's that aren't at the level we've become accustomed to. Add in the injuries to Allen and Lewis, and it's kind fo encouraging the defense did as well as it did this season. They got flat exposed the final 3 games of the year though.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 8:04 am to The Spleen
quote:
For the 2nd time against Clemson in a National Championship game, our coordinators got outcoached and outclassed.
Not hard to do when you can watch our last 2 games and see what worked for other teams with lesser talent then CU. To bad our staff did not watch our tape to see the same things so adjustments could be made. But our last 3 games our D exposed the same way each time.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 8:12 am to antibarner
Yeah you give Jacobs 3 chances in the 10 and he’s going to score on one of them. You can’t changs my mind.
Oh well, we have a little work to do and some time before we come back next year
Oh well, we have a little work to do and some time before we come back next year
Posted on 1/8/19 at 10:30 am to nb200016
Offense will be fine...defense needs a complete overhaul. we have been spoiled with some great defensive ends, linebackers and defensive backs over the years....i didn't see any in those positions last night.
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