2017

[maroonmania]

Do we at any position? Who does have bama's players all across the board? Are you listening to yourself? So abandon a defense because we don't recruit as well as the top program in the nation.

1- We can stick to a 4-3 and struggle vs the spread or we can switch and better handle it. Therefore handling most teams that we will face.
2- We don't know what Sirmon can do because it's the first year this team has played a 3-4 under Mullen. Sirmon doesn't have a year under him in recruiting players he may need.


Bama switched to a 3-4 in 2007. Bama ranked 31st that season. The next season they jumped 3, then 2, and have pretty much stayed in the top from that point. Their 2007 classhad no 5 stars and only 3 4 stars.

Let's look at leading up to that change.

2004, no 5 stars and only 1 4 star signed(WR)
2005, no 5 stars, 1 4 star signed (SDE)
2006, no 5 stars, 1 4 star signed(RB)

Already told you 2007...

2008 1 5 star on defense..CB 9 4star players signed


So let's talk about those players that Bama gets and we don't? The difference wasn't just in coaching, but it was also the switch. Sirmon is working with far better talent than Bama had making the switch.

Are you listening to yourself? How about making a comparison to a college defense somewhere with comparable talent to ours that is successful running the 3-4. Bama has always had talent, even under Mike Shula and others. Coaching may have been bad but Bama recruits itself.

[DudyDawg]

Coach, bama (who you originally compared us to) ranked 31 their first year in the 3-4. Where do we rank?

[redstickdawg]

what are you willing to bet that we will be ranked above 31 in total defense at the end of '17?

[GTHOM]

We run a NFL style conservative bend but still break 3-4. We are going to be conservative on defense and overall as long as Mullen is here. Its just the way it is. I personally prefer the 3-4 because you can throw more at the offense out of it. We just sit back and wait for the offense to make a mistake. You can run a traditional NFL style 3-4 if you have a bad ass front 3 and your 2 OLBs can rush the passer. We dont have that. You can stunt, slant, twist and bring all kind of fire zone blitzes to make up for it but we dont. It wont change under Mullen you can book it. On the positive we will be better at CB next year due to Dantzler and Morgan Walker

[DudyDawg]

For the record, I don't really care what we run as far as 3-4, 4-3, 4-2-5, whatever. I'm wholeheartedly against sirmon being employed by Mississippi state university tomorrow though.

[Goldendawg]

Hey, you better hope Mulllen puts the best DB's on the field next year. Smokey will be a Senior, Jiles a 6th year Senior, and Cleveland a Senior will be back. Heck, JUCO's ( I know 3 are safeties) may not see the field for three years as redshirt Srs, if we go by seniority again.

[Coach007]

Smart had a year under Saban before he was promoted. But Saban runs that defense like Mullen runs our offense. What's BS is your argument. We were ranked 110 this year in total defense. You can't honestly defend that. I think opposing teams averaged 450 yards against us. We were pathetic on defense this year. Do you really think we're going to be that much better next year? Because a few Juco guys?

Had Smart been a DC before, yes or no? Isn't that how we play the this game?

I'm not defending the 110 rank. Show me where I have. Maybe you are reading to much into what I'm saying.

Do I think we are going to be that much better on defense? Yes! Making a generalized statement isn't the best approach to this, but yes. We will be better. No it's not a "few" juco guys. It's not just because of 11 new guys already on campus.

[DudyDawg]

It would only taken a little to have been 10-3 or 11-2 this year.

Would've taken six inches to have been 5-8

[Really Clark?]

Are you listening to yourself? How about making a comparison to a college defense somewhere with comparable talent to ours that is successful running the 3-4. Bama has always had talent, even under Mike Shula and others. Coaching may have been bad but Bama recruits itself.

I agree with you about the Bama comparison. But to your question Vandy and Wisconsin both run a 3-4. So their talent would be comparable or even lower than our talent with Vandy.

[Goldendawg]

I do not buy in at all to the Maroon colored look that we lost three games on the last play in 2016. There were many other plays not made, bad coaching decisions, and other issues in the losses to BYU, USA, and KY that helped us become the the 6 -7 team we barely are for 2016. I'm soon to be 62 years of age, a season ticket holder for 50 plus years and this was not a good team and by far not a good coaching staff, especially on D. JMO. BTW, Nick James got his one and only career sack today according to 24/7.

[HoopsDawg]

Are you listening to yourself? How about making a comparison to a college defense somewhere with comparable talent to ours that is successful running the 3-4. Bama has always had talent, even under Mike Shula and others. Coaching may have been bad but Bama recruits itself.

You just can't argue with stupid.

[dawgday166]

I agree with you about the Bama comparison. But to your question Vandy and Wisconsin both run a 3-4. So their talent would be comparable or even lower than our talent with Vandy.

I was trying to remember who I saw running a 3-4 with similar talent to ours and it's Vandy. And they do a pretty damn good job on defense. If we played them we'd be in serious trouble.

[maroonmania]

I agree with you about the Bama comparison. But to your question Vandy and Wisconsin both run a 3-4. So their talent would be comparable or even lower than our talent with Vandy.

And that's fine, that's all I'm talking about. If you want to make a point use a reasonable comparison, leave Bama out of it.

[Dawgsfanalongtime77]

Actually a chip shot missed fg in the opener kept us from 6. However the defense caused major issues all season

[RougeDawg]

Better hope the JC players get a real chance to see the field over less talented players rewarded for being in the system ahead of them. I hope we see the best players on the field at all times.

Did you forget these **? We all have a Better chance of hitting the lottery than the most talented players seeing the field no matter age or years in program. This glaring issue has been the most prominent during Dan's tenure.

[parabrave]

I answered that question above and in another thread. Who has the top defense in the nation right now? Bama. What do they run?

Bama:

Ranked 1 in defense
Ranked 1 in defensive TDs
Ranked 6 in pass defense
Ranked 1st in rush defense
ranked 26th in INT
Ranked 4th in sacks
Ranked 7th in TFL

They are also aggressive as shit, know how to tackle and are held to a higher standard. Do you think Saban would continue to play personnel who can't tackle?