Why was the defensive line so pathetically bad this year?

[screwduke1]

I know most of the line talk is about the o line...but one thing we all thought this team would at least have is an elite (or at least would be pretty good) defensive line. They got their asses kicked all year. What gives? And this is with a 1st round pick in Deone Walker...

 

[TuckyBlue]

 

[WildcatofNati2]

They started off pretty good. At some point, they probably just got demoralized. They were particularly bad in the last two games.

 

[mrschwump]

First part of the season the talking heads were giving them high props then it was like they hit a wall. Will say, however, that Walker played the season with 2 OL hanging on each shoulder. Guy was blatantly, overtly held worse than any player I've ever seen but could not get a call to save his life. Rybka, Oxendine, Silver especially just vanished.

 

[Soupbean]

I’m no DLine coach but if your slow and stand straight up on the snap it can’t be good

 

[The_Catfather]

First part of the season the talking heads were giving them high props then it was like they hit a wall. Will say, however, that Walker played the season with 2 OL hanging on each shoulder. Guy was blatantly, overtly held worse than any player I've ever seen but could not get a call to save his life. Rybka, Oxendine, Silver especially just vanished.

We started countless drives 1st-and-20 or had them stall because of holds. And I know our OL sucked. But then you'd see a replay of Deone Walker in a chokehold after he beat his defender over and over and over and there was never a flag thrown. It's infuriating.

Stoops isn't respected or feared by officials so judgement calls like holding or PI are never going to go his way.

 

[Blueaz]

I know most of the line talk is about the o line...but one thing we all thought this team would at least have is an elite (or at least would be pretty good) defensive line. They got their asses kicked all year. What gives? And this is with a 1st round pick in Deone Walker...

Terrible “get offs”.
Just terrible.
That is player and coach.

 

[yoshukai]

I’d love to know exactly what all went on during the bye week after beating ole miss .

 

[rolaid]

Anwar Stewart is a very bad Coach
Players were lazy and enabled similar to rest of team
No discipline in program whatsoever

 

[seccats04]

Anwar Stewart is a very bad Coach
Players were lazy and enabled similar to rest of team
No discipline in program whatsoever

Yes. Last week Jesse Palmer said Stewart is one of the best DL coaches in college football. I about spit out my drink from laughing so hard. His lines never get pressure. Our players do not get better over time. Ox is a prime example. He was really good as a young player but constantly gets blown off the ball now. Deone takes half the plays off. Silver is a non factor. It’s maddening.

 

[seccats04]

I’d love to know exactly what all went on during the bye week after beating ole miss .

Camp Cal.

 

[Blueaz]

Camp Cal.

The “tweak”

 

[catsfan325]

Yes. Last week Jesse Palmer said Stewart is one of the best DL coaches in college football. I about spit out my drink from laughing so hard. His lines never get pressure. Our players do not get better over time. Ox is a prime example. He was really good as a young player but constantly gets blown off the ball now. Deone takes half the plays off. Silver is a non factor. It’s maddening.

Have our D-Lines ever gotten real consistent pressure over the last 12 years? Have had some pretty good players during that time too. May be a feature, and not a bug...

 

[mrschwump]

Anwar Stewart is a very bad Coach
Players were lazy and enabled similar to rest of team
No discipline in program whatsoever

Here again, the early season talking heads called Stewart "an outstanding young DL coach." He also signed a contract extension last summer. He's a young guy, a UK grad who had years of DL experience in Canada. FWIW. The whole lack of discipline issue just permeated the entire team.

 

[seccats04]

Have our D-Lines ever gotten real consistent pressure over the last 12 years? Have had some pretty good players during that time too. May be a feature, and not a bug...

Well I remember how we got consistent pressure under LeBlanc. I know it’s been a big drop off since he left.

 

[howercat]

Lack of discipline. Guys just quit playing hard, and quit. Too hard for them to sustain a high level for 8 sec games. Meanwhile, the elite teams and coaches, they're players give max effort all sec games.

 

[ManitouDan]

Terrible “get offs”.
Just terrible.
That is player and coach.

I’d say he played himself out of the first round