Does The Entire Defensive Philosophy Need Scrapped?

[satcheluk]

And rebuilt in the off season?

We've had a top 20 defense, and even top 10 a time or two, every year since BW has been DC. Why would anyone scrap that after one disappointing season? There is nothing structurally wrong. They are running an NFL defense. This year, they have had poor execution and injuries to DBs that have exacerbated things. If the trend continues for two more seasons, then yes.

 

[mrschwump]

It really is. Unfortunately I don't see that changing under JH. He's a bad matchup for our defense. He's always going to get 7-14 free points on us. We're not good enough to overcome it.

UT week coaches need to (and probably do) preach discipline, discipline, discipline. They're always going to have better talent. Add in their tempo and scheme, and they are going to beat us on enough 1 on 1 situations to win every game. We have to counter with discipline and team defense.

As much as Georgia is lauded for recruiting and elite athletes, their discipline on defense is just incredible. They're rarely out of position. They barely ever get fooled. Even when they do, it's only a few false steps instead of completely blowing something. Imo that's the most impressive thing about their team.

Once heard Jerry Claiborne say: "There's 4-5 plays a game that'll determine a winner. Make those plays and you'll likely win, don't make them and you'll likely lose." I've found that to be very, very true. Bottom line is UK just doesn't make enough plays to win vs TN. Sometimes it's talent, sometimes it's coaching but it happens far too frequently.

Very true re GA. I'm envious the way their D plays.

 

[K_TIME]

It really is. Unfortunately I don't see that changing under JH. He's a bad matchup for our defense. He's always going to get 7-14 free points on us. We're not good enough to overcome it.

UT week coaches need to (and probably do) preach discipline, discipline, discipline. They're always going to have better talent. Add in their tempo and scheme, and they are going to beat us on enough 1 on 1 situations to win every game. We have to counter with discipline and team defense.

As much as Georgia is lauded for recruiting and elite athletes, their discipline on defense is just incredible. They're rarely out of position. They barely ever get fooled. Even when they do, it's only a few false steps instead of completely blowing something. Imo that's the most impressive thing about their team.

Amazing insight.....

Kirby does get elite talent...but those defensive dudes play so discipline week in/week out. And in the biggest games, they are usually on point.

On the other hand, UK has 3 games vs. Tn with guys from Dort, Ajian, Corker, Valentine to Zion, Hairston and Dre Phillips. IN all three games, we were not ready for short screens/bad angles to tackle, blow coverages on their deep routes outside the hashes and now this game...a scared ass DB (Jordan Robinson) who was bad all year yet White/Stoops game planned to move Dre over to the slot and start Jordan Robinson on the outside and he gave up an easy TD.

I'd have kept Hairston/PHillips on the outside and move Afari over the slot before I'd make this bonehead decision.

I'm sorry that was terrible coaching by White/Stoops to not see it was a terrible idea to run him out there and we are doing this every year with bad discipline. White is not terrible....but those stating he's an elite DC and future head coach...I'd beg to differ with that.

 

[23jumpboy]

We recruit for the 3-4 but we end up with the personnel to play the 4-3. Why not let the defense take advantage of the kids strengths. We don't have a scary edge rusher so why not go 4-3 and get creative with four dl that can stunt and move a little. We always have the linebackers for the inside. Josh Allen isnt' walking through that door.

 

[BlueRaider22]

We recruit for the 3-4 but we end up with the personnel to play the 4-3. Why not let the defense take advantage of the kids strengths. We don't have a scary edge rusher so why not go 4-3 and get creative with four dl that can stunt and move a little. We always have the linebackers for the inside. Josh Allen isnt' walking through that door.

We do play a flexible 3-4 where we will often play with 4 linemen.

 

[YaketySax]

Yes but also keep in mind we play the slowest tempo in college football most years so we can play keep away from the other team resulting in less plays for our defense. This year we haven't been able to do that so our defense has been exposed.

The overall number is also impacted by the last three opponents who all have Top 25 offenses. It'll come down a bit in the backhalf of the schedule. I'd predict people think the defense is good again after Miss. State and South Carolina, and it's bad all over again after Alabama. UofL will be the swing game.

I think the defense is a year away. Lots of young talent that will play in the NFL across the DL (Walker), LB (Wallace, Afari, and Wade), and secondary (Hairston, Bryant, and Phillips). Just need more game experience similar to 2018 guys in 2017. I think a telltale sign is the drop off when the back-ups are in. The depth just not there this year like last year when Wallace and Jackson replaced the starting ILBs for a multi-game stretch w/o missing a beat.

The big thing will be a bit pot of NIL money to prevent those players from transfering along with keeping Ray Sanders and Marques Cox another year. Probably also another portal QB if there's a good one available.

 

[YaketySax]

We recruit for the 3-4 but we end up with the personnel to play the 4-3. Why not let the defense take advantage of the kids strengths. We don't have a scary edge rusher so why not go 4-3 and get creative with four dl that can stunt and move a little. We always have the linebackers for the inside. Josh Allen isnt' walking through that door.

I think they ideally sign DL who can play two gaps but as with all recruiting you don't always get your first pick of the litter and you try to develop after the fact. I don't think you make the shift so players can improve in the system for the long run.

I think Wade will be a better player than Weaver. And UK plays w/ 4 down linemen in nickel.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

On the other hand, UK has 3 games vs. Tn with guys from Dort, Ajian, Corker, Valentine to Zion, Hairston and Dre Phillips. IN all three games, we were not ready for short screens/bad angles to tackle, blow coverages on their deep routes outside the hashes and now this game...a scared ass DB (Jordan Robinson) who was bad all year yet White/Stoops game planned to move Dre over to the slot and start Jordan Robinson on the outside and he gave up an easy TD.

I'd have kept Hairston/PHillips on the outside and move Afari over the slot before I'd make this bonehead decision.

Agree. Recruiting misses hurting us there. We started the season with hardaway who looks the part but doesn't play the part. Robinson looked ok at times in man vs Georgia and some other games. Then looked awful vs UT. Phillips is ok (very good vs the run) but that side will see all the balls because hairston is so good. We just don't have enough talent to combat their wrs. Plus Lovett and Geiger both being out hurt too.

That said, this is almost surely the worst QB they will have under huepel and other than the free one they didn't hurt us much. Give UT credit for getting the looks in the run game they wanted and exploiting it. It's pretty incredible to watch how well they execute especially at that tempo. They basically run a handful of plays over and over (a feature of air raid thinking) which lets them execute incredibly well.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

I think Wade will be a better player than Weaver. And UK plays w/ 4 down linemen in nickel.

Weaver is an incredible young man but.....Wade is already better.

 

[Creed Bratton]

The pass rush has been non existent since Josh Allen left. When you can't put pressure on the QB and play a zone it just allows the receivers time to get to the open spots of the zone and wait for the QB to deliver the ball. Most teams are okay getting 5-8 yards every play when it leads to a score and the last 3 games it has led to a score of either a TD or FG.

 

[mrschwump]

Weaver is an incredible young man but.....Wade is already better.

Agreed. Weaver never seemed to return to his pre-ACL injury level but he's been a great representative of the program. To me Wade has moved ahead of Weaver on playing level. Really need for Fearbry/Matthews to step it up.

 

[Eccain01]

Re Safety, injuries to Geiger and now Lovett have hurt. Have turned to true freshman Ty Bryant who was leading tackler with 12 vs TN and true freshman Elijah Reed. Hard to believe all the DBs they brought in via portal have bombed so badly.

2nd time in three years the secondary has been bad. They have to get it fixed