Teams Scoring Just Before Half

[Statefan]

I remember last year we suffered from a recurring nightmare of teams scoring on us right before halftime. I think it happened against AUB, LSU, A&M, USC, and some more teams. With Collins being the great DC that he is, does anyone have an idea of why this kept happening? Or why we should be confident/scared about it going into this year?

[State82]

This bunch is deep and talented. I just don't see that being an issue this season.

[FISHDAWG]

This bunch is deep and talented. I just don't see that being an issue this season.

basically the same guys and DC as last year though ... I hope you're right

[starkvegasdawg]

How much of that happened early in the season and how much late in the season? Just wondering if that was before the defense had a chance to gel and improve as a unit.

[FISHDAWG]

seems like 7 teams did this to us all during the season ... not a 1st half of season thing at all

[messageboardsuperhero]

That was something I hated seeing last year. I'm not sure if it was schematic, lack of depth, lack of maturity, etc.

I'm going to say that it was a combination of always going to that God-awful prevent defense before the half and a lack of the maturity/leadership it takes to close out a half. Hopefully Collins has learned his lesson, and a year of experience for young players takes care of the second part.

[engie]

When you trust your safeties and corners, you never have to go prevent...

We didn't last year early -- but will from the first drop this year. Justin Cox notwithstanding(I still don't know what to expect here)...

[Pollodawg]

That used to infuriate me when we gave up a long scoring drive just before half. It kills whatever mo you had heading into the locker room.

[engie]

I think some of that was our "fading just before the half" -- and then we come out fully flat and incapable of doing much in the second half. This happened constantly last year up until the Carolina game. I thought this may have had something to do with the curveball job switch in the strength and conditioning program.

I posted an interview with Dak a few days ago saying the new strength coach does alot more running and cardio exercises -- and alot more positional stuff...

[RAYn_Man]

Combination of losing focus just before you get to go in for halftime and the fact that the 2-minute drill is so important in today's game that teams practice it daily. Teams get really good at it and a defense doesn't have the adrenaline and focus it would have during a 2-minute drill at the end of the game, simply because the game isn't on the line.