Word is Townsend is going to make the defensive calls for the Orange Bowl

[Coach34]

interesting...hope DT is ready for the challenge

[msstate7]

Wow. This could be a real opportunity for Townsend to get a co-DC title

[Bass Chaser]

I don't have a problem with this based on what I read when he was with the Steelers.

[Todd4State]

That's surprising, but I like it.

[maroonmania]

My only concern is that I'm not sure when the last time would have been DT has even seen a triple option offense. He sure didn't see any in the pros.

[preachermatt83]

My only concern is that I'm not sure when the last time would have been DT has even seen a triple option offense. He sure didn't see any in the pros.

exactly! If This is true I am going to be so perplexed. Only reason could be that Mullen knows Turner is out after the game. Bring on COACH O!!

[Coach34]

My only concern is that I'm not sure when the last time would have been DT has even seen a triple option offense. He sure didn't see any in the pros.

He's been watching it on film for 4 weeks now. There are only so many ways you can defense it- and he has other guys on the staff to talk strategy with. Not to mention he can make some phone calls. We'll be fine

[dawgs]

My only concern is that I'm not sure when the last time would have been DT has even seen a triple option offense. He sure didn't see any in the pros.

If you don't have GT or the military academies on the schedule, when was the last time any coach anywhere saw the triple option? (Obviously I don't mean the modern spread option where there are sometimes 3 options to take the ball)

[Todd4State]

If you don't have GT or the military academies on the schedule, when was the last time any coach anywhere saw the triple option?

Hughes probably saw it the last time we played GT.

One thing about Deshea is the corners are probably going to see the least amount action compared to the other defensive groups. That will allow the other position coaches to coach the other players that are going to be more involved and they won't have to worry as much about making calls and coaching their group if/when we need to make adjustments.

[engie]

Hughes and Turner both...

[JDog13]

Get a hat on a hat, keep your lanes, shed your blocks, don't over pursue, and wrap up.

[Sacrifice]

Townsend wants to be a DC. I remember when Mullen hired him DT said that's one that attracted him to State was the fact that Mullen promoted from within...

[HancockCountyDog]

interesting...hope DT is ready for the challenge

I just love this matchup for is defensively. They don't have the athletes to attack our weakness. I feel the same way I did heading into the gator bowl.

[blacklistedbully]

Get a hat on a hat, keep your lanes, shed your blocks, don't over pursue, and wrap up.

Actually, there is more to it than that. D-linemen generally need to follow the O-lineman to where he is blocking, while keeping his shoulders square-to-the-line. So, if the opposing o-lineman blocks inside, our D-lineman needs to go inside with him to "plug things up" and take a way the gap they are trying to make. But he has to keep his shoulders square to prevent opening up a "cut-back lane" for the ball carrier.

Also, they don't want to "shed blocks" so much as they want to "occupy" the O-linemen for as long as they can by keeping contact so they can keep the GT O-linemen off our LB's, especially our Mike LB. D-linemen's job isn't to "shed the block, make the tackle or pursue" when playing the Flexbone. It's to fill gaps the O-line is trying to create AND keep the O-line for getting thru to the LB's.

It's the LB's we want making the tackles, and if not them, then the safeties or corners. You want your D-linemen to get their hands out and more or less "fend off" the "cut-block attempt" by pushing the O-lineman down, stepping inside with the block into the gap they're trying to create, and keeping the O-lineman from getting to our LB's.

That's the simplified version, and doesn't account for the multiple stunts we will see, as the offense knows what the defense is going to try to do, so tries to mix things up and disguise moves, etc. Our stunts should stop them from trying to key regularly on a specific defender/gap, etc.

[Political Hack]

I just hope Nick James still has knees after this game.

[thf24]

I just hope Nick James still has knees after this game.

My thoughts exactly. To be completely honest, if I were able to choose between a guarantee of the win and a guarantee of coming out of the game without a significant d-line injury, I'd take the latter. I'm not sure of the severity of the injuries in their game vs. FSU, but FSU had DL down on the field right and left. Those relentless cut blocks might be legal, but they're brutal on a d-line.

[JDog13]

Actually, there is more to it than that. D-linemen generally need to follow the O-lineman to where he is blocking, while keeping his shoulders square-to-the-line. So, if the opposing o-lineman blocks inside, our D-lineman needs to go inside with him to "plug things up" and take a way the gap they are trying to make. But he has to keep his shoulders square to prevent opening up a "cut-back lane" for the ball carrier. Hat on a hat, keep your lanes

Also, they don't want to "shed blocks" so much as they want to "occupy" the O-linemen for as long as they can by keeping contact so they can keep the GT O-linemen off our LB's, especially our Mike LB. D-linemen's job isn't to "shed the block, make the tackle or pursue" when playing the Flexbone. It's to fill gaps the O-line is trying to create AND keep the O-line for getting thru to the LB's. Hat on a Hat, keep your lanes

It's the LB's we want making the tackles, and if not them, then the safeties or corners. You want your D-linemen to get their hands out and more or less "fend off" the "cut-block attempt" by pushing the O-lineman down, stepping inside with the block into the gap they're trying to create, and keeping the O-lineman from getting to our LB's. Shed Blocks, Don't over pursue, wrap up

That's the simplified version, and doesn't account for the multiple stunts we will see, as the offense knows what the defense is going to try to do, so tries to mix things up and disguise moves, etc. Our stunts should stop them from trying to key regularly on a specific defender/gap, etc.

I kept it simple to keep from typing so much. What I typed was basically what my coach in high school told us when a team we faced ran a lot of option. Our coaches kept everything simple. I agree with everything you said. You made some good points that I'd never really even thought about. I played LB, so I was never in the Line groups during practice. The LB's were taught line techniques that we used. Pushing down on the lineman when he tried to cut you, and handling being blocked from the side while keeping your pads square and in your lane. Other than that, we watched the qb and rb, and for pulling guards. There may have been more but that was 17 years ago.

My buddy played DE at MC. He's the coach you saw on tv from Loyd Star when his player died. He told me about swim moves and stuff. I was like, "What's a swim move?" He told me a lot of stuff that would have been useful to me when I played. Don't ask me how I made it through 2 high schools and 3 different coaches without learning that stuff.

[BLITZII]

Get a hat on a hat, keep your lanes, shed your blocks, don't over pursue, and wrap up.

Yep......discipline and make the tackle.

[bulldawg28]

Good call coach Mullen.

[Bucky Dog]

So do we read this is Turner is probably headed to Florida after the game? I certainly hope not.