SBC FOOTBALL '08

[Just1More]

In order to blitz successfully, you must have a good gameplan and the right players to carry out that plan. I love Burkhalter's work ethic and attitude, but the guy would just get swallowed up most of the time by the O-line when he blitzed.

Perhaps, we need more zone blitzes with the SS and OLB more in the action as oppossed to the MLB. _

I never really caught on last year who and from what position we were stunting and blitzing. The overall effect was no penetration and no pressure on the opposing QB. Our LBs are decent run stop LBs, but struggled to assist our secondary in pass coverage. We seemed to lack any speed/technique for getting into the backfield, so we were basically handcuffed. We were manhandled at the line, and left people wide open over the middle all year long. It was as if the decision was made we couldn't dominate from any position on the field, so we opted to fall back to a super conservative "try not to get burned" defense.

In light of the situation (a make or break year) I would prefer we maintain the attack style, whatever that takes (continuous substituting, whatever), and see where the cards fall. I just do not want to see a basic prevent defense again this year. We can't prevent anything... so how about we interrupt something!

[zephyr]

_ I never really caught on last year who and from what position we were stunting and blitzing. The overall effect was no penetration and no pressure on the opposing QB. Our LBs are decent run stop LBs, but struggled to assist our secondary in pass coverage. We seemed to lack any speed/technique for getting into the backfield, so we were basically handcuffed. We were manhandled at the line, and left people wide open over the middle all year long. It was as if the decision was made we couldn't dominate from any position on the field, so we opted to fall back to a super conservative "try not to get burned" defense.

In light of the situation (a make or break year) I would prefer we maintain the attack style, whatever that takes (continuous substituting, whatever), and see where the cards fall. I just do not want to see a basic prevent defense again this year. We can't prevent anything... so how about we interrupt something! _

I think you're correct. It never seemed like we committed to attacking the line from any particular angle. Its almost like our LB or DB would just kind of try to run through the line or expected a huge hole to open. If you aren't committed to something, you aren't going to do it as purposefully and I believe they were thinking more than reacting.

[zephyr]

_ OK, I get whwere your coming from now.

And, to answer your question, I believe the answer is YES. They did abandon it.

We did attack a lot early on. The problem we were having was that even though we were blitzing, we could not put any pressure whatsoever, and the oppossing offenses were ripping us apart down the middle.

In order to blitz successfully, you must have a good gameplan and the right players to carry out that plan. I love Burkhalter's work ethic and attitude, but the guy would just get swallowed up most of the time by the O-line when he blitzed.

Perhaps, we need more zone blitzes with the SS and OLB more in the action as oppossed to the MLB. _

I completely agree with your assessment, especially that of Burkhalter. I like him as well but he just doesn't have the athleticism to truly roam the middle and make plays and his pass defense is worse than mine. The other area that needs to significantly improve is the CB position. I think we will be fine at the safety position. We need to find 3 guys who show that they can cover somebody. Bentley is supposed to be a really good player. I also like Gillis but he is also a freshman. Scooter Rogers, Justin Branden, Junior Jean, Orkeys Aurienne= Several of these guys need to step in and grow a pair and start covering some guys. In case nobody saw the FAU game last year, we won't go far if we can't cover a Receiver. This conference is adopting the spread offense like most of the country and you have to be able to cover man to man or you are dead.