Defense

[Duke Silver]

Does anyone have an explanation for why we stayed in nickel when ASU lined up in 2 TE set and crammed it down our throat over and over. We brought Smith and other corners/safeties up to help but they can't take on blocks from tight ends... I believe we win easy Saturday if we forced them back into 3wr sets by matching up better. They stayed in 3wr most of the first half and we handled it fine. The 95 yard drive they were in a heavy 2TE overloaded strong side formation and we never adjusted. We finally got bodies on the field when they had 1st & goal from the 3 and look what happened then...

Whitson being out hurt too of course cause he was handling the double teams better in the first half but I really can't blame our players for the 2nd half run defense.

[BravesDoggy]

Isaac Smith getting lost in the middle and missing several tackles contributed to a few of the long runs. He has to be better. For the most part, the DL did a solid job but their backs made several nice moves through tight lanes and then our back 7 missed a lot of assignments in allowing them to break into the open field.

[Lord McBuckethead]

I am finally back off of "political" banishment.
Tight lanes? There were runs in the second half I could have driven my GMC Sierra through.
Our DL and LBers got soft.

[Duke Silver]

To me Smith can't be on the field against a 2 TE set, not really his fault but he's a nickelback designed to guard slot receivers. They went tight 2TE set and just blew him off the ball. We've got to sub in another linebacker or DE to matchup. It also tires out the D line when you allow them easy 5yd runs based purely on personnel.

[parabrave]

I am finally back off of "political" banishment.
Tight lanes? There were runs in the second half I could have driven my GMC Sierra through.
Our DL and LBers got soft.

Or they were gassed.

[BravesDoggy]

I am finally back off of "political" banishment.
Tight lanes? There were runs in the second half I could have driven my GMC Sierra through.
Our DL and LBers got soft.

Go back and watch. A good many of their big runs were off the edge where the TE blocked down. There were also several where they broke into the open field after being stopped at the line and the LB and S completely whiffed.

[Coach34]

To me Smith can't be on the field against a 2 TE set, not really his fault but he's a nickelback designed to guard slot receivers. .

Smith is 6'0/220. He is specifically the kind of guy you play against run sets.

[R2Dawg]

We were outmanned much of the time when the run gashing started. They had double TE sets a lot but we didn't adjust. When we manned up on goal line you saw what happened. We must adjust to what teams do.

Last year we stayed in 3 man front all game. Hutzler must be adjusting.

[NCDawg]

We were fortunate their QB was so far off his throws. They had guys open. We still have very little pass rush, which will probably hurt us down the road if we can't do better.

[TNDawg35]

We were fortunate their QB was so far off his throws. They had guys open. We still have very little pass rush, which will probably hurt us down the road if we can't do better.

Their offensive line is one of the best we will see. They are not lacking in talent at all. Now the QB sucked the first half. He missed a lot of wide-open people.

[Westdawg]

Their offensive line is one of the best we will see. They are not lacking in talent at all. Now the QB sucked the first half. He missed a lot of wide-open people.

This. That offensive line AND their defensive line are both big reason why they will be a huge force this season. We just beat an exceptionally good team. I wouldn?t be surprised to see them win their conference again this year and be in playoff talks.

[Duke Silver]

Smith is 6'0/220. He is specifically the kind of guy you play against run sets.

Not against their 3 TE's all listed at 250, we needed a 4th large body D lineman on the field until they did something else. I'm specifically talking the long drive when they went under center, 2 TE's on the line with their hands on the ground, and were quite obviously going to run until proven otherwise.


If they don't happen to bust the run for >20yds down to the 3 we would have never gotten the ball back.

[MrCoachKlein]

Not against their 3 TE's all listed at 250, we needed a 4th large body D lineman on the field until they did something else. I'm specifically talking the long drive when they went under center, 2 TE's on the line with their hands on the ground, and were quite obviously going to run until proven otherwise.


If they don't happen to bust the run for >20yds down to the 3 we would have never gotten the ball back.

Depends on who you are replacing him with. If you're in base D and replace the FS/SS with him then it's brilliant. If you're running a big nickel with him in the slot it's better than a CB there but shouldn't be used against 13 personnel.

[Lord McBuckethead]

Smith is 6'0/220. He is specifically the kind of guy you play against run sets.

Well against a 2 TE front, he wasn't specifically the kind of guy you play against that run set, as proven by getting our tails kicked.

[Todd4State]

Not against their 3 TE's all listed at 250, we needed a 4th large body D lineman on the field until they did something else. I'm specifically talking the long drive when they went under center, 2 TE's on the line with their hands on the ground, and were quite obviously going to run until proven otherwise.


If they don't happen to bust the run for >20yds down to the 3 we would have never gotten the ball back.

I get that they don't want to take Smith off of the field but a more traditional 4-3 look would have helped. Even in a 4-3 look we could still put Smith at a traditional safety position.

[ZedFedder]

I think we are forgetting that was a top 12 team we just beat. If the ranking was the same and the name was USC instead of ASU I think sentiment would be different. That was a big, big win.

[BrunswickDawg]

I think we are forgetting that was a top 12 team we just beat. If the ranking was the same and the name was USC instead of ASU I think sentiment would be different. That was a big, big win.

Yeah, as usual we are being tough on ourselves and giving little credit to our opponent. ASU is a legit Top 25 team. They had 16 return starters off of a playoff team - most in the country.
Their QB1 has been slated as an NFL guy and Heisman candidate. WR1 is a pre-season All-American and projected as a First Round NFL guy. They replaced RB1 with a guy who ran for over 1000 and 9 yards a carry last year.
You know, all those reasons naysayers said we didn't stand a chance. They are still there.

Our game ebbed and flowed a lot like many of the big Top 25/SEC games have gone. One team dominates one half, other team adjusts and dominates the second. One team dominated passing, the other rushing. Game comes down to final possessions for each.
Do we have issues? Sure. But, we stood tall and were resilient in spite of those things. And watching a lot of SEC football the past two weeks, a whole lot of the SEC is flawed as well.

[R2Dawg]

Looking back at some of the game, Trevion made some good plays as well as Deonte and Sylva. We got some dudes on the DL. Whitson loss really hurts but we have depth and guys that can get it done. Lebby said the same.

[Todd4State]

Looking back at some of the game, Trevion made some good plays as well as Deonte and Sylva. We got some dudes on the DL. Whitson loss really hurts but we have depth and guys that can get it done. Lebby said the same.

Dinkins graded well also. I really like Sylla. He flashed some against Arizona State. Really we need Red Hibbler/Trevion to really step it up some.

[R2Dawg]

Dinkins graded well also. I really like Sylla. He flashed some against Arizona State. Really we need Red Hibbler/Trevion to really step it up some.

Yes forgot about Dink, he did play well and made some big plays. Trevion made some great plays too. One of the goal line stand stops Trevion stonewalled the RB on the tackle.

We have some depth and we need to keep these guys fresh and playing fast.