Tuesday Night Round Table with Coach Hudspeth

[cajun_lannister]

We don't have 2 good DBs, much less 5 good DBs.

I rather have a db on receivers than linebackers . Plus we need more pressure up front in a bad way

[Just1More]

We don't have 2 good DBs, much less 5 good DBs.

The 4-2-5 places two DBs in corner pressure coverage. Based on the offensive alignment, they shade the WR out or in. A lot of average to good athletes in the south can be taught how to defend in man coverage. The 4-2-5 is not as dependent on DBs as it is LBs and safeties. Everyone has an assignment. It keeps it simple. The only thing LBs and safeties have to do is change alignment based on the offense.

Saying that our DBs aren't that good is precisely why you cannot play a soft prevent. A soft prevent requires exceptional read and react. When you do not force anyone off the line, you are at the mercy of your entire backfield being incredibly good at closing in on the play... after the play is 75% successful. We are expecting other offenses to make mistakes when no one is forcing the mistake.

The 4-2-5, with everyone with an assignment, and the corners pressing, forces mistakes... and/or forces all receivers to deal with a player right off the line of scrimmage. And, it allows someone to fire up a middle gap and one to fire off the edge in certain offensive sets.

Personally, I just cannot see how we didn't pick up some good defensive talent in the past 3 years, as heralded as we've been as a southern mid major on the rise. It just makes no sense. I think the coaching staff needs to reconsider what they're teaching.

[Just1More]

PS I am not a coach. I only know the extreme basics of defensive assignment and alignment football. I just do not like it that I watch many other programs that I do not think have any better talent than we do (or even less) and they do not use this soft coverage defense. I've never liked not having a 4th guy down, trying to fire through a gap. 3 down lineman are just never IMO going to pressure a decent QB. I could only dream that everyone meeting us in the SBC would use our defensive scheme. We'd win the SBC championship hands down.

[CajunT]

PS I am not a coach. I only know the extreme basics of defensive assignment and alignment football. I just do not like it that I watch many other programs that I do not think have any better talent than we do (or even less) and they do not use this soft coverage defense. I've never liked not having a 4th guy down, trying to fire through a gap. 3 down lineman are just never IMO going to pressure a decent QB. I could only dream that everyone meeting us in the SBC would use our defensive scheme. We'd win the SBC championship hands down.

No, I think its a reasonable question to ask. Monroe is playing the 4-2-5 and has the best defense in the SBC right now and has been at the top for the past 3 seasons.

[cajun_lannister]

The 4-2-5 is an old defensive of scheme but works very against the spread which everyone but TXST runs

[Just1More]

No, I think its a reasonable question to ask. Monroe is playing the 4-2-5 and has the best defense in the SBC right now and has been at the top for the past 3 seasons.

And you know T, that they have not got the "ideal player" starting at every position on defense. ULM is very good at busting plays. We never bust a play. We should consider it... the 4-2-5. It's not a complex defense. Most high schools are using it for the spread. It isn't difficult. One LB and one safety have to be smart. Everyone else has simple alignment assignments to know. Do you risk getting burned over the top? Yes. But, the 4-5-2 requires an offense to execute perfectly to allow a deep ball over the top. Heck, we struggle like hell against 4-2-5 defenses, and never get a wide open look at a deep receiver. I also think it would help prepare our offense for game day if they saw the 4-2-5 in practice.