Defense....

It seemed to me that the paradigm changed this year and it was under the radar because of the qb situation and how everyone is so enthrawled with that and the play of the offense. It used to be we knew the defense would keep us in games and bail out the offense when they put em in tough spots. Not this year. To me I felt like the O needed to make plays cause I had little confidence in the D slowing down the other team.

What are the reasons for this?.. Talent? Well we have 2 defensive tackles that will get drafted off this team. One of em in the first round possibly. But the DEs are terrible. Yes I know Ott had a bunch of sacks but the guy couldn't defend the run what so ever. All 3 LBs were sub par I suppose you could say 5 or 6 of em as several played through out the year none being a difference maker really. And our secondary wasn't terrible but they aren't the fastest and took terrible angles in pursuit and other then King they aren't that great of tacklers. I like King alot he's a stud. But the other 3 spots.... So beyond the Xs and Os of the D I'd say it's almost across the board talent that needs to be upgraded/developed. Should be a long cold off season...
 
It seemed to me that the paradigm changed this year and it was under the radar because of the qb situation and how everyone is so enthrawled with that and the play of the offense. It used to be we knew the defense would keep us in games and bail out the offense when they put em in tough spots. Not this year. To me I felt like the O needed to make plays cause I had little confidence in the D slowing down the other team.

What are the reasons for this?.. Talent? Well we have 2 defensive tackles that will get drafted off this team. One of em in the first round possibly. But the DEs are terrible. Yes I know Ott had a bunch of sacks but the guy couldn't defend the run what so ever. All 3 LBs were sub par I suppose you could say 5 or 6 of em as several played through out the year none being a difference maker really. And our secondary wasn't terrible but they aren't the fastest and took terrible angles in pursuit and other then King they aren't that great of tacklers. I like King alot he's a stud. But the other 3 spots.... So beyond the Xs and Os of the D I'd say it's almost across the board talent that needs to be upgraded/developed. Should be a long cold off season...

Ott's a very good football player. He plays way too many snaps though...way too many. He needs to play 40 snaps a game...and he's playing 60. Same thing with LTP...I get the warrior thing, but it hurts production. That's what it's all about. These guys need a series off or a blow during a series if they are playing 10-12 plays.

Jaleel made strides this year and I think he makes a big leap next year. Cooper is back and sometimes a year off is good to make you realize it's a short window. I think those two are going to be very good. We need faith and bazata to make some huge progress though. I'm hopeful Nelson is as good as people say...because we need another DE to step up. Spearman will be there also...he's going to be two big to play LB and it's time he put the hand on the ground again.
 
It all goes back to the recruiting and or lack thereof. We don't have speed, we lack size, we lack it all. Our corners are always undersized and typically slow. Our linebackers this year were pathetic. To think that Bower and Jewell are B1G linebackers is a joke. They never will be B1G material yet we have zero replacements coming in. Those linebackers along with Spearmen are also the slowest trio guaranteed in any power 5 conference period What we saw yesterday was a coach who recruited his A double S off and the results were bore out on that field. He's got the number 4 class coming in and we have the 66th. This ain't getting any better either. Someone please pull the damn cord on Kirk before we crash…..
 
Did you see the tackle attempt Lowdermilk made on the one touchdown run? He was trying to tackle the guy from behind and led with his shoulder. I don't think I've ever seen anyone try to do that in all my years of watching football.

Yes, it was very apparent and the kind of technique that sends Chris Speilman over the edge. Saw Speilman call out a ND kid for that kind of weak effort earlier this year. To be honest it seems to be how a lot, dare I say most, DB's and safety's tackle anymore.
 

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