(1) Total Defense - 14th (329 yards per game)
(2) Points Per Game - 36th (24.2 points per game)
(3) Turnovers Gained - T-41 (23 total)
So, where did it all go wrong for the defense...??? 3 CRITICAL STATS are MOSTLY directly attributed to DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY:
(1) Tackles For Loss - T-102nd (4.9 per game)
(2) Team Sacks - T-68th (2.08 per game)
(3) Red Zone Defense - 60th (82.6%)
So, I take away two things from these stats. First, we really have had piss poor coaching with respect to the defensive line play and how we use/line up our defensive linemen, and I think that the scheme/system is to blame as much as Franklin teaching technique, or lack thereof. Second, we haven't been effective as a COLLECTIVE DEFENSIVE UNIT against the GOOD TEAMS who we play. In other words, our defense looks respectable and puts up solid numbers against the lame duck offenses like Virginia Tech or some other inept offense, but then gets sliced, diced, and grilled against BONA FIDE QUALITY OFFENSES such as Duke, Florida State, and Nebraska...
So, YES, we need more elite talent on the DEFENSIVE LINE, but MORE THAN ANYTHING, we need to see a COMPLETE OVERHAUL and change to the way we go about attacking offenses with the Front Seven- how we line up our defensive linemen, how we bring our linebackers down to stack the box, and how we bring pressure.
Thoughts...???
This post was edited on 3/24 2:38 PM by advarkas
(2) Points Per Game - 36th (24.2 points per game)
(3) Turnovers Gained - T-41 (23 total)
So, where did it all go wrong for the defense...??? 3 CRITICAL STATS are MOSTLY directly attributed to DEFENSIVE LINE PLAY:
(1) Tackles For Loss - T-102nd (4.9 per game)
(2) Team Sacks - T-68th (2.08 per game)
(3) Red Zone Defense - 60th (82.6%)
So, I take away two things from these stats. First, we really have had piss poor coaching with respect to the defensive line play and how we use/line up our defensive linemen, and I think that the scheme/system is to blame as much as Franklin teaching technique, or lack thereof. Second, we haven't been effective as a COLLECTIVE DEFENSIVE UNIT against the GOOD TEAMS who we play. In other words, our defense looks respectable and puts up solid numbers against the lame duck offenses like Virginia Tech or some other inept offense, but then gets sliced, diced, and grilled against BONA FIDE QUALITY OFFENSES such as Duke, Florida State, and Nebraska...
So, YES, we need more elite talent on the DEFENSIVE LINE, but MORE THAN ANYTHING, we need to see a COMPLETE OVERHAUL and change to the way we go about attacking offenses with the Front Seven- how we line up our defensive linemen, how we bring our linebackers down to stack the box, and how we bring pressure.
Thoughts...???
This post was edited on 3/24 2:38 PM by advarkas
