Defense?

Btowncat · Post by **Btowncat** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:45 am

Is Oklahoma State the most inept team in the nation offensively, or has our defense regressed pathetically from our first game? How can we hold a I-A team to 15 points, and now our most effective defense is relying on the goal post to knock down extra points and field goals?
I believe PSU did punt 3 or 4 times last night. However, considering that, even in games where an offense plays out of its mind, there are typically at least 2 or 3 series where an offense will stop itself (turnover, dropped pass, an untimely slip on the turf) our D didn't stop sh*t last night. I suggest going back to press coverage and blitzing the crap out of the other team on nearly every play. What do we have to lose? The other team scores in 1 minute instead of 2 and a half?

HelenaCat · Post by **HelenaCat** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:55 am

I was cleaning up some things a week or so ago and came across an article from August practices. Kramer was quoted about the 3-4 defense and how we would blitz like crazy this year and be an attacking defense. When are we going to see that??

Our defensive coaches must not know how to teach blitzing at all. Even when we do blitz, we rarely get close to the QB. Some teams seem to be able to blitz very effectrively, but I can not remember a Bobcat team in recent times that has blitzed well.

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:03 am

I concur that A) we are not blitzing enough (you're right; at this point, what have we got to lose?) and B) our blitzes are inneffective MOST of the time.

Our LB's & DB's seem to run RIGHT AT the blocking back in the backfield and rarely get by him. It seems our opponents "read" our blitzes far too easily. It's either our scheme or our personnel; unfortunately, if it's the latter, realistically there's very little our coaches can do about it (except bring in better personnel, of course).

Oh, a PS here; if we only have 3 down lineman and we "blitz" one LB or one DB, THAT'S NOT REALLY BLITZING!! 4 players going after the QB is NORMAL; you need 5 or 6 attacking to truly be considered blitzing. Is that maybe part of our problem?

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:33 pm

I didn't post anything yesterday, because I don't like posting when I'm heartbroken. But I'll say it - the defense broke my heart.

The days of great Cat defense are gone. Not only are they gone, but they've completely reversed. Was O'Brien that big of impact on this team? He had been DL coach, and needless to say our DL hasn't been anything to revel at in the last two years.

This bye week has come at the best possible time for us. We need to re-evaluate our defense. Perhaps with the return of Kolone, going back to a 4-3 wouldn't be out of the question. We simply cannot get ANY pressure on the QB, and RBs can pick and choose their lanes with time to spare.

They did play well vs OSU, SFA, and NDSU. It would be nice to think that the injuries to Mac, Kolone, and Lowe were a big reason for the decline, but that is just wishful thinking. We will be improved when they returned, but how much? Mac was back for the PSU game, and made his presence known, but it clearly wasn't enough.

FACT:
- Our run defense is the worst I have ever seen. If this isn't improved (I'm not asking that we be dominate again), we will miss the playoffs.
- Our pass defense is soft. We have talent at DB, so why not let them try some man-to-man? When we drop 7 or 8, their QB has all day to throw, and WRs will find holes in the zone. We are making average to bad QBs look like NFL talent.
- Our pass rush is anemic. I realize that PSU had only gotten sacked 5 times in 6 games, but we have hardly sacked anyone all year.

Some things I personally think we could/should do:
- When we know they are passing, instead of dropping 8, why don't we blitz 4 and drop 4? Hell, even blitz 5 to go along with the DL. PSU blitzed Lulay quite a few times, and he stuck in and made great throws. Do you really think many QBs in this conference can make those throws? I know of one other one.
- Switch to man-to-man. Even if our guys have a bit of a hard time sticking on their guy, isn't that better than leaving the middle of the field wide open game after game? Is there any way our pass defense could get worse?
- Switch back to the 4-3. Let's at least try and keep the OLs hands full. They are having no problem pushing our front 3 around.

Something has to be done.

We make average RBs look good, and good RBs look great, and great RBs... well that is just scary.

We make bad QBs look good, and good QBs look great. We haven't faced a great QB yet, and I'm mortified what EWU will do to us.

083190 · Post by **083190** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:40 pm

Special Teams put a ton of pressure on the defense. The average starting position for the Bobcat offense has been about the 25 yard line. The opponents starting positio has been closer to the 40. When the opposing offense has a short field to work with, it puts a ton of pressure on the defense. The special teams coach (Kramer) needs to figure out a way to get the ball deeper and keep it in bounds on kickoffs. It looks like he is trying to be too cute in the kicking game. The kicking game made Bodiford look like Rocket Ismail.

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:25 pm

Can't we play a basic 3-4 and zone coverage on typical running downs but on passing downs like 3rd and long or the end of the game go to man coverage on the corners and blitz.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:36 pm

tetoncat wrote:Can't we play a basic 3-4 and zone coverage on typical running downs but on passing downs like 3rd and long or the end of the game go to man coverage on the corners and blitz.

Sure works well in Madden 06

I like doing that as well. Pressure on the QB quickly usually makes for either INT's/FUMBLES/INCOMPLETIONS. Rushing 3 guys on 3rd down and playing a soft zone might stop the big play but it makes average QB"s look good as they have too much time to find a receiver in pockets in the zone.

gtapp · Post by **gtapp** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 2:09 pm

I still think that the talent level on D is just not there. Just a couple of years ago we averaged 6 or 7 1st team all BSC players on D each year and 3 or 4 more on 2nd team. One year 3 of the 4 down lineman were Cats and the fourth was on second team. This year we will be lucky to have 2 first team players on D. As I said on another post: our starting D-Line is two JC transfers and a walk-on player. That doesn't mean they can't play just that the recruting on D the last few years has not been as strong as on past teams.

iaafan · Post by **iaafan** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:16 pm

Obviously Kolone and Lowe need to be back on the field against EWU. They may not make the D as good as it was a couple years ago, but they could make it good enough to slow EW just enough to allow the offense to outscore them. EWU's defense isn't that good. They got a big lead (20-7 at half; 27-10 after 3 qtrs.) on UM and forced them to pass and took Lex out of the game.
If the defense can hold them to 31-34 points, MSU has a good chance. MSU can hang 40 on EW. We'll see how Kolone and Lowe look vs. NAU and SSU. If they can build some confidence, MSU still has a shot.

grizzh8r · Post by **grizzh8r** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:06 pm

gtapp wrote:I still think that the talent level on D is just not there. Just a couple of years ago we averaged 6 or 7 1st team all BSC players on D each year and 3 or 4 more on 2nd team. One year 3 of the 4 down lineman were Cats and the fourth was on second team. This year we will be lucky to have 2 first team players on D. As I said on another post: our starting D-Line is two JC transfers and a walk-on player. That doesn't mean they can't play just that the recruting on D the last few years has not been as strong as on past teams.

You must realize that we lost 2 of our d-linemen this year already (matakis, cogley) and kolone is out for 3-4 games. Had our D-line been healthy, we might be 5-2 right now (fatigue factor). Plus, we havent had lowe for the last 3 games, one of the fastest and biggest playmakers on our team.

I look for us to whip NAU and SSU and go into Cheney healthy and prepared and play as well as we can. Then we beat the Griz and either sit at 7-4 with a good shot at the post-season (only 3 I-AA losses, with all three against opponents who were ranked at some time, 2 in the top 10), or 8-3 and the champs of the BSC (assuming PSU loses a game), with a home playoff game! Plus, if all other teams with one loss in conf. lose 1 more game to the right teams, that sets up a crazy tiebreaker situation...

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:40 pm

grizzh8r wrote:
gtapp wrote:I still think that the talent level on D is just not there. Just a couple of years ago we averaged 6 or 7 1st team all BSC players on D each year and 3 or 4 more on 2nd team. One year 3 of the 4 down lineman were Cats and the fourth was on second team. This year we will be lucky to have 2 first team players on D. As I said on another post: our starting D-Line is two JC transfers and a walk-on player. That doesn't mean they can't play just that the recruting on D the last few years has not been as strong as on past teams.
You must realize that we lost 2 of our d-linemen this year already (matakis, cogley) and kolone is out for 3-4 games. Had our D-line been healthy, we might be 5-2 right now (fatigue factor). Plus, we havent had lowe for the last 3 games, one of the fastest and biggest playmakers on our team.

Way too many "coaches" here have way too many answers.

I look for us to whip NAU and SSU and go into Cheney healthy and prepared and play as well as we can. Then we beat the Griz and either sit at 7-4 with a good shot at the post-season (only 3 I-AA losses, with all three against opponents who were ranked at some time, 2 in the top 10), or 8-3 and the champs of the BSC (assuming PSU loses a game), with a home playoff game! Plus, if all other teams with one loss in conf. lose 1 more game to the right teams, that sets up a crazy tiebreaker situation...