Defense? Let's just out score the other teams

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:22 pm

We're worried about playing defense. Possibly the best approach might be to keep the gas to the metal and score baby score.

Then what ever the defense does is just gravy. If they stop someone, we go ahead. If they stop them again, we are up by two scores.

Then there is only upside for the D

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:59 pm

With our passing game hitting it's stride which it appears to be doing, and the emergence of Groves and shortly add Bass into the mix at RB, I think we do in fact have the ability to outshoot and put teams away with 3 of the 4 remaining games on our schedule. We'll need some lucky breaks to have this hold up against Eastern though - unless Meyer gets injured between now and then. Last year they came in and took one from us though, so maybe we can do the same this year. Kramer usually seems to do pretty well when we travel there. I remember 03, or maybe 01? We went in there pretty big underdogs and thumped them. Going to be a tough one this year though...

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:07 pm

The EWU game last year in overtime was a heart breaker.

My thought is that we will probably not turn the defense completely around to be the part of the team to support the run for the playoffs on. Thus, we need to score more than the other team, which amazingly we are probably capable of. Thus the emphasis on turning up the gas on Offense. We have the tools (with Lulay, the receivers and the line to get that done). Groves and Bass will help enough on the run and JD can do protection and surprise run/receive.

Instead of pounding the defense, I think root them on for as much as then can give and push to O a little more. We have the studs to very possibly get it done.

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:17 pm

If that is the case why have we not been doing that. Do you think we really don't try to score on every drive. We had the opportunities to score at the end of the PSU game and did not get it done. Maybe the offense is not the only answer.

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:51 pm

tetoncat wrote:If that is the case why have we not been doing that. Do you think we really don't try to score on every drive. We had the opportunities to score at the end of the PSU game and did not get it done. Maybe the offense is not the only answer.

We are definitely coming around on O - just like last year when we started putting up 500+ yards consistently. We scored on most of our drives against a solid PSU defense. As long as we keep it going and the receivers don't have any more let-down games, we should roll. I also have a feeling that our D will start to click shortly. We've been inconsistent and I know the D is disgusted with their play against PSU. I have a feeling that we will see very solid defensive performances starting against NAU.

grizhatr · Post by **grizhatr** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:18 pm

Did any of you watch the Coaches show last night at 6:30? Well, they had a little snippet of Coach Linders working with the defense. And tell you what, he was yelling at them about misalignments and missing assignments last week prior to PSU. So, maybe they really don't know how to coach this type of defense. Who knows, but quite funny considering we were discussing this yesterday.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:19 pm

tetoncat wrote:If that is the case why have we not been doing that. Do you think we really don't try to score on every drive. We had the opportunities to score at the end of the PSU game and did not get it done. Maybe the offense is not the only answer.

What you say is true, but it's a little more than that possibly. There are times when you use the clock and do conservative calls, conservative plays short of the first down but you might gain the extra yards on the associated run after catch. Then if you don't make it you punt and hold on defense. Also you might be on the other teams 35, to long for a field goal and it's 4th down. You might punt and hold on Defense. OR in these cases you call different plays that go for the 1st.

It's an approach that flavors the play calling. It's not the thought that we didn't make it on that series so we obviously can't score each time. That is the case, we will not score each time. But you are more likely to score by increasing the risk levels of the plays.

Some times you play not to be mistakes and turnovers because your D will control the game and you don't want to keep giving up short field.

It's a little more than just the simple statement.

G.W.Bush · Post by **G.W.Bush** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:20 pm

catatac wrote:We are definitely coming around on O - just like last year when we started putting up 500+ yards consistently. We scored on most of our drives against a solid PSU defense. As long as we keep it going and the receivers don't have any more let-down games, we should roll. I also have a feeling that our D will start to click shortly. We've been inconsistent and I know the D is disgusted with their play against PSU. I have a feeling that we will see very solid defensive performances starting against NAU.

We are 7 weeks into the season and you think now our defense is going to get on track? Interesting... I think that the defense will be derailed for the remainder of the year (just like it has been pretty much all year). Our only hope is that we can win in a shoot out.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:24 pm

G.W.Bush wrote: Our only hope is that we can win in a shoot out.

Why G. W. I always thought that you were a conservative type guy?? But then you are already in a shot out overseas now aren't you?

grizzh8r · Post by **grizzh8r** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:15 pm

G.W.Bush wrote:
catatac wrote:We are definitely coming around on O - just like last year when we started putting up 500+ yards consistently. We scored on most of our drives against a solid PSU defense. As long as we keep it going and the receivers don't have any more let-down games, we should roll. I also have a feeling that our D will start to click shortly. We've been inconsistent and I know the D is disgusted with their play against PSU. I have a feeling that we will see very solid defensive performances starting against NAU.
We are 7 weeks into the season and you think now our defense is going to get on track? Interesting... I think that the defense will be derailed for the remainder of the year (just like it has been pretty much all year). Our only hope is that we can win in a shoot out.

This is the kind of negative crap that our team doesn't need. The defense can be turned around, especially getting 2 more important parts of our defense back that have been missing the last 3-4 games (lowe, kolone). They just have to work harder, watch tape, fix mistakes and BELEIVE! Don't count them out just yet. I believe the boys on D are so pissed about the PSU game that they won't let it happen again.

An overload pass blitz would help every now and then, too.

catatac · Post by **catatac** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:35 am

G.W.Bush wrote:
catatac wrote:We are definitely coming around on O - just like last year when we started putting up 500+ yards consistently. We scored on most of our drives against a solid PSU defense. As long as we keep it going and the receivers don't have any more let-down games, we should roll. I also have a feeling that our D will start to click shortly. We've been inconsistent and I know the D is disgusted with their play against PSU. I have a feeling that we will see very solid defensive performances starting against NAU.
We are 7 weeks into the season and you think now our defense is going to get on track? Interesting... I think that the defense will be derailed for the remainder of the year (just like it has been pretty much all year). Our only hope is that we can win in a shoot out.

Yes, I am cautiously optimistic about what we see out of our D from here on out. They’ve had great games and $hitty games. I still think the 3-4 will produce. The personnel is there and I think the play-calling is there. This group just needs to trust the scheme, keep to their assignments and execute – I think they will. I think the injuries and the power-running teams we’ve been facing have thrown us out of balance. My money says that we see some damn good D – starting with NAU. Of course I’m an optimist and maybe just predicting what I want to see. Let’s just see what happens.

Kolone, Papich, Rogers, Siataga, Saucedo, Marudas, Mollohan, Lowe, Daly, King, Force, Grenfell, Hunter, Fuller. These guys are ALL damn good players – we’ve all seen what they can do. And add Rothenberger, Macciola, Curley, Mauia, Smith, Davis, LeBlanc to the mix for depth? The talent is there. Execution has been inconsistent.

catsrback76 · Post by **catsrback76** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 11:43 am

BobcatLionFan wrote:The EWU game last year in overtime was a heart breaker.

My thought is that we will probably not turn the defense completely around to be the part of the team to support the run for the playoffs on. Thus, we need to score more than the other team, which amazingly we are probably capable of. Thus the emphasis on turning up the gas on Offense. We have the tools (with Lulay, the receivers and the line to get that done). Groves and Bass will help enough on the run and JD can do protection and surprise run/receive.

Instead of pounding the defense, I think root them on for as much as then can give and push to O a little more. We have the studs to very possibly get it done.

That old saying "defense wins championships" I think is far more true than we are wanting to hear right now.

Unless our D comes around to more intensity and stops, we will not win anything. We might score 40/game and win some, but we have discovered that we will lose to ave-above average teams all the time.

Bcat · Post by **Bcat** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:12 pm

catatac wrote:Yes, I am cautiously optimistic about what we see out of our D from here on out. They’ve had great games and $hitty games. I still think the 3-4 will produce. The personnel is there and I think the play-calling is there. This group just needs to trust the scheme, keep to their assignments and execute – I think they will. I think the injuries and the power-running teams we’ve been facing have thrown us out of balance. My money says that we see some damn good D – starting with NAU. Of course I’m an optimist and maybe just predicting what I want to see. Let’s just see what happens.

Kolone, Papich, Rogers, Siataga, Saucedo, Marudas, Mollohan, Lowe, Daly, King, Force, Grenfell, Hunter, Fuller. These guys are ALL damn good players – we’ve all seen what they can do. And add Rothenberger, Macciola, Curley, Mauia, Smith, Davis, LeBlanc to the mix for depth? The talent is there. Execution has been inconsistent.

Agree, the talent is there, 3-4 has worked at times. Someone help me, it appears our defense has been on their heals and in a prevent the last couple of games. My thoughts on the miss tackles were that we seemed to be waiting for the play to come to us, not making the play. Why does it appear the D game plan or players was cautious or prevent in mind set? It appeared the players were NOT taking a risk to make a play, then getting caught on their heels, subject to open field/no wrap up tackles. I'm not schooled in defense, am I ignorant on this one?