Another LSU starter out

[Jarius]

The defense was extremely talented when Sirmon was here. A good DC turned those same players into an above average unit by simply having them in position. If we have Sirmon level talent we will be fine. The problem is that I don’t believe we have Sirmon Year talent at some spots.

[Jack Lambert]

Our D has some holes for sure. It staff is encouraged by the progress being made. What I am saying is that we are better than what some have said. Big thing here is we are flying to the ball and practices are physical. Verbatim. "I was here under Dan and these practices are more physical than under Dan".
Another thing to point out is that during fall camp it's usually 4 weeks of practice this year it's 6 weeks. We are in installation and repping now. This being said I'm not saying we are going 10-0 but I was told we have more talent than people think.
So I agree with you to some extent and disagree with you as well. I'm just ready to kick off

You will always have posters on here who will be negative about all things Miss State sports. They live for it. They hope for the worse and when things go better than what they say they disappear. Why I don't know but thanks for you being positives.

[ShotgunDawg]

The defense was extremely talented when Sirmon was here. A good DC turned those same players into an above average unit by simply having them in position. If we have Sirmon level talent we will be fine. The problem is that I don?t believe we have Sirmon Year talent at some spots.

Was it that talented?

That was Simmon?s FR year and before the JUCOs came in. That was the gap year where the talent was really young.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2016/team/430/tackle/index.html

[Prediction? Pain.]

Sirmon level defense means Arnett sucks and guys are out of position.

I?ll never forget that year watching an Auburn RB run a simple flat route in the end zone and go completely uncovered.

I think our D could be like Ole Miss? last year under McIntyre if Arnett is good. Their defense wasn?t great or good but McIntyre was good and they were substantially improved from the year before and competed.

Exactly, Sirmon was a horrible coach. Completely clueless. I just don't see Arnett being Sirmon level.

The defense was extremely talented when Sirmon was here. A good DC turned those same players into an above average unit by simply having them in position. If we have Sirmon level talent we will be fine. The problem is that I don?t believe we have Sirmon Year talent at some spots.

Off topic a little, but all this Sirmon talk had me interested to see if he was still a position coach a Cal, where he'd been since leaving Louisville's defense in ruins.

Well, he's still at Cal, but somehow he's continued rising the ranks. First an LB coach there, then last year co-DC with Tim DeRuyter (who's been solid there as DC for several years), and, what do you know, now he's officially the DC at Cal with DeRuyter being the co-DC. Why the change? Sirmon's still a hot commodity and they wanted to lock it down. Seriously. That's why:

The California Golden Bears have four new coaches on staff, but it was announced at Wednesday's first spring practice that the defensive coordinator roles will flip between Peter Sirmon and Tim DeRuyter.

DeRuyter has had the title of defensive coordinator for the past three seasons since Justin Wilcox assembled his first coaching staff in 2017. And Cal?s defense has been its strongpoint throughout that time.

But citing "staff continuity," Wilcox announced Wednesday that Peter Sirmon will take over as defensive coordinator, which includes play-calling duties. DeRuyter will remain at Cal as co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach.

Sirmon was previously hired by Wilcox in 2018, after recent one-year stops as a defensive coordinator at Louisville and Mississippi State.

Many reports this offseason had Sirmon high on the "wish list" of other Power-5 schools looking for a defensive coordinator. Cal ensured those offers would not sway him by making the promotion.

Gotta give it to the guy. His voodoo powers of persuasion are legitimately terrifying.

ETA: Sirmon's defense here was awful. But what we did last year under Shoop wasn't far behind.

[TrapGame]

Sirmon graduated from the Joey Freshwater School of Self Promotion.

[BeardoMSU]

Sirmon graduated from the Joey Freshwater School of Self Promotion.

Failing Upward University**

[Homedawg]

What about marks in space?

They think he's a difference maker down the road. He's gonna step in and play right now.

[Homedawg]

Exactly, Sirmon was a horrible coach. Completely clueless. I just don't see Arnett being Sirmon level.

The Sirmon level defense was meant by where would could possibly end up statistically. All i have heard about Arnett is praise. Give the guy Jeffery Simmons and bet he doesn't do what Sirmon did w him....

[ShotgunDawg]

The Sirmon level defense was meant by where would could possibly end up statistically. All i have heard about Arnett is praise. Give the guy Jeffery Simmons and bet he doesn't do what Sirmon did w him....

I don’t see a defense that bad as possible if Arnett is above average

That defense was 110 nationally. It’s virtually impossible with the amount of talent we have on defense to be this bad as long as guys play hard and are generally in the right spot

[hp22]

I don?t see a defense that bad as possible if Arnett is above average

That defense was 110 nationally. It?s virtually impossible with the amount of talent we have on defense to be this bad as long as guys play hard and are generally in the right spot

If we are running to the ball, then we are already better than the Sirmon product. Because that defense ran away from it.

[Jarius]

Was it that talented?

That was Simmon?s FR year and before the JUCOs came in. That was the gap year where the talent was really young.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2016/team/430/tackle/index.html

It was very similarly talented to what we have this year IMO. I may be off but Simmons as a freshman was still an outstanding player. Our biggest problem was no one knew what the hell to do. After 10 games we didn’t make Arkansas punt. We were getting worse throughout the year. That was the most embarrassing Defensive performance I have ever seen.

[TrapGame]

If we are running to the ball, then we are already better than the Sirmon product. Because that defense ran away from it.

Sirmon's philosophy was wait for the ball to come to you.

[msbulldog]

Off topic a little, but all this Sirmon talk had me interested to see if he was still a position coach a Cal, where he'd been since leaving Louisville's defense in ruins.

Well, he's still at Cal, but somehow he's continued rising the ranks. First an LB coach there, then last year co-DC with Tim DeRuyter (who's been solid there as DC for several years), and, what do you know, now he's officially the DC at Cal with DeRuyter being the co-DC. Why the change? Sirmon's still a hot commodity and they wanted to lock it down. Seriously. That's why:



Gotta give it to the guy. His voodoo powers of persuasion are legitimately terrifying.

ETA: Sirmon's defense here was awful. But what we did last year under Shoop wasn't far behind.

Damn, don't those head coaches watch film of his previous stops? SMH

[Prediction? Pain.]

I don?t see a defense that bad as possible if Arnett is above average

That defense was 110 nationally. It?s virtually impossible with the amount of talent we have on defense to be this bad as long as guys play hard and are generally in the right spot

It was very similarly talented to what we have this year IMO. I may be off but Simmons as a freshman was still an outstanding player. Our biggest problem was no one knew what the hell to do. After 10 games we didn?t make Arkansas punt. We were getting worse throughout the year. That was the most embarrassing Defensive performance I have ever seen.

2016 and 2019's defenses were almost identical in SEC play. Guess which one's which:

Total Defense (yds per game / yds per play)

Team A: 11th / 12th
Team B: 10th / 12th

Scoring Defense

Team A: 12th
Team B: 10th

Yards per pass attempt allowed

Team A: 14th
Team B: 13th

Yards per rush allowed

Team A: 11th
Team B: 9th

3rd Down defense

Team A: 10th
Team B: 11th

Red Zone TD% allowed

Team A: 13th
Team B: 9th

20+ yard plays allowed

Team A: 13th
Team B: 12th

National S&P+ defense ranking

Team A: 70th
Team B: 61st

Y'all see much difference there? Because I don't.

Not trying to harp on how bad the defense was last year but I think it's relevant to talking about the prospects for this year. Sirmon was inept here. But Shoop, a well-respected defensive mind, produced a terrible product here last year, too, and that performance has more direct bearing on 2020 than 2016. I'm really hoping that the S&C and discipline improvements, along with the scheme shift and whatever good juju Arnett's got going for him will right the ship. Grantham was able to do it in a big way in 2017, but he had 59% of 2016's production returning. Arnett's got less that 50% coming back this year. (48% as of January. I'm guessing it's a little lower now because of Lovett's and Jones' transfers to FSU.) Tall task. I'm stoked to see him give it a whirl, though.

[MrCoachKlein]

Team A was Sirmon's?

[BrunswickDawg]

Team A was Sirmon's?

Nope. Team A is 2019.

The lack of player continuity and S&C killed the defense last year. And, I think the defense quit a little due to them being so heavily impacted by tutorgate.

[Prediction? Pain.]

Team A was Sirmon's?

Nope. Team A is 2019.

The lack of player continuity and S&C killed the defense last year. And, I think the defense quit a little due to them being so heavily impacted by tutorgate.

Brunswick wins the prize! Which is nothing!

I don't know what killed the defense last year. But it sucked. Bad.

Shoop had a really, really weird run. As a defensive coordinator in the SEC for four straight years, he produced three defenses ranked 10th or worse in the SEC in just about every major defensive statistical category that there is. Scoring D, Total D, Red Zone D, Rushing D, etc. And then in the middle of all that suckitude, he produced the best defense in the entire country.

[BrunswickDawg]

Brunswick wins the prize! Which is nothing!

I don't know what killed the defense last year. But it sucked. Bad.

Shoop had a really, really weird run. As a defensive coordinator in the SEC for four straight years, he produced three defenses ranked 10th or worse in the SEC in just about every major defensive stat that there is. Scoring D, Total D, Red Zone D, Rushing D, etc. And then in the middle of all that suckitude, he produced the best defense in the entire country.

It really makes me think that there was so much motivated talent on that 2018 Defense that I could have coached them and had the top defense in the country. They really were just next level. 11 guys off that defense in NFL camps right now.

[confucius say]

They think he's a difference maker down the road. He's gonna step in and play right now.

I think he can be more explosive than Hill (not necessarily this year).

[confucius say]

2019 was without autry at dl, gay at lb, and Murphy at safety. Not to mention dantzler for almost half the year at CB. Give 2019 those 3 suspended guys and ******* culture (in which dantzler plays) and the 2019 defense is much better. Look at the difference those guys made when they played (ky, TN, OM, Ark). 2019 > 2016.