Press Coverage and Defensive Back discussion

1. Our DBs were getting repeatedly beaten on slants using the so-called "GL Slant technique" (because that is where it is especially effective): a step (or three) to the outside- to threaten the Fade, and then hard inside.  Seems like our CBs fell for it every time.
   
   As RaisedGoBlue and others point out, in most coverage, it is important to protect the inside.
   As a general rule: bite now on any inside moves, slower to react on any outside moves.  You have time to recover if you go for the inside fake and the receiver cuts outside (with a speed turn if necessary).  Not so if you get faked to the outside and the receiver comes in.
    
2. I don't understand the press techniques being taught.  Good press technique typically requires using the feet and hips to disrupt the release.  Contrary to popular opinion, the hands and arms only come into play when the hips are in position as the receiver comes into you.
    
3. Seems like Countess especially was sitting back on his heels, waiting to "catch" the receiver.  This made it especially easy to get by him.
   
   
   It also seems obvious to me that Michigan decided after last season that if MSU can get away with all the grabbing in pass coverage. etc. ("they can't throw a flag on every play") we'd try it too.  Unfortunately:
   a) we are not as good at doing it or getting away with it.
   b) you still need the ability and technique to back it up

While there was definitely not enough pressure, it seems like for the most part the DL did maintain pass rush lanes and responsibilities, and Golson did not have much  chance to escape.

But it seemed to me the DEs (especially Clark) were rushing too deep, with little threat to go under, and the throwing window to the slant was always open.

I'd like to see more hands up on the rush as well, but there again, I would have to see game film.

There is no sense in blitzing if the blitzers don't get home and hit or hurry the QB and if we can't cover the receivers getting the quick throws.

They had 226 yards passing.  After 2 games this season 226 yards passing per game is the #67 team in the country.  Pretty mediocre.  Is our pass defense really the problem?  You can't shut down a team like Notre Dame.  I mean, complaining because they completed a few slants?  "You can't let them beat you inside, blah, blah, blah."  You are going to get beat sometimes.  Thank god we don't play A&M or Baylor.

Golson runs almost like Denard but has a world-class arm and would rather throw the ball.  I don't care who is in coverage and what technique they use, they aren't going to keep everyone in a spread formation covered when the QB can create 10-15 seconds for them to get open.

Hard to say it better than this!

So, if the defensive coaching is bad, whose fault is it, Hoke, Mattison, Manning, Mallory, Smith, all of the above?  I find it hard to believe that all of these coaches are bad.  Is Hoke and/or Mattison somehow handcuffing them?  Have these coaches been proficient elsewhere?  I just find it hard to believe that we've had such struggles on defense for two consecutive regimes.  I mean Mattison was so much better in 2011 from the previous year.  It's not like he forgot how to coach after the 2011 season.  Despite the recruiting rankings is it possible that the players they are identifying although good are not suited for what they want?  Or, maybe we're still transitioning into players that fit the scheme? It just seems to me we can't find an identity anywhere.  The coaches want an identity but our personel doesn't seem suited for what they want.  They try to force it, then realize it won't work, then become indecisive, and players lose confidence.  I don't know...so many more questions than answers.  Why am I still wasting my time trying to figure this out ugh.

I coached and ran a lot of man coverage.

There are different types of press-man:

• Cover 0: No safety help, corner always aligns on inside half of WR.  There are different bump techniques out there, so unless you're at practice, you don't know exactly how the technique is incorrect.  You know it's incorrect simply b/c dudes were getting toasted at the LOS.
• Cover 1: center field (aka MOF - middle of field) help.  Corners shade WRs based on alignment.  Saban divider rules apply here.  What that means is basically if the WR is inside the hash, CB aligns outside shoulder to take away out routes.  If WR goes inside, it's a crosser or middle seam where you likely have a LB in the low hole and a FS bearing down on a more vertical throw.  If WR is outside the hash, CB aligns inside to take away slants and skinny posts.  Fade is a low percentage throw.  (I know--sure didn't look like it Saturday.)
• Cover 5 (a lot of different names for this): Man under with 2 deep safeties.  Corners align as in Cover 1, but now the usual technique is called trail technique where you first step toward leverage and jam, then trail the WRs near hip, b/w him and the QB.  If CB is in good position, the throws that can beat him are verticals, and that's where the 2 deep safeties come in.

I've mentioned this in a few places, but if we're using cutoff technique in 0 or 1, then it's somewhat counterintuitive.  The object is to use your hands, but as more of a hand-check a la basketball than to physically disrupt a WR.  When you try to get too physical, your weight is forward and it's easy to be off-balance and discarded by WR moves.  Therefore, it's not good to play that technique unless you have help (safety behind you, bracketed coverage, etc.)

It's my experience that it takes HS players a year to get the technique down.  With more advanced athletes at the D1 level, it probably takes less adjustment time, but it still takes time, especially since our DBs are used to different techniques.  Peppers being a bump corner a lot his last few seasons might actually make him a better technician.  However, I will say that it wasn't uncommon for even Woodson to get beat his freshman year, especially early in the season.

If we're going to do this (which I like), we're going to have to stick with it because the only way to get good at it is to rep the shit out of it, especially in practice.  

By the way, the slant is the hardest route to cover in bump man, and Kelly knew that and we all saw it Saturday.