What if you were the DC for Michigan?
This topic is primarily directed at those frequent visitors of the blog who have experience coaching defense, but any of us arm chair coaches can respond as well. I profess no knowledge of defensive schemes aside from what I learn on this blog, but here's the question:
If you were the Defensive Coordinator, what would you do?
Obviously you're stuck with an insanely young defense that lacks depth, experience, and in most positions talent. This question also assumes you're taking over right now and not during spring practice when you can really make wholesale changes.
My answer:
I'd run a conventional 4-3 with 2-deep safeties, one of whom will probably spend a lot of time in the box. My alignment would be:
DE - Roh
DT - Martin
DT - RVB
DE - Banks/Black
LB - Mouton
LB - Demens
LB - Kovacs (with a dose of TGordon/Johnson/Robinson here and there)
FS - Vinopal (yes, I know - but who else? Carvin?)
SS - CGordon
CB - Rogers/Avery
CB - Talbott (I think he's made mistakes, but seems the best in man coverage)
I think a conventional 4-3 is the easiest way to let the defense just play football and not over-think. Right now they're lost mentally and that's affecting them physically. This reminds me exactly of 2008 when the D seemed confused - and THAT defense had a lot of veterans on it. Just put the guys out there and let them play. Try to play man defense for those young corners, play two safeties as much as you can, put Roh with his hand down, and keep Kovacs near the line of scrimmage.
Yes, good offenses will chew you apart, but that's going to happen no matter what!
November 5th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
an 11-0-0.
November 5th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
Coaching Qualifications: 2 Years (1 HS), Limited defensive responsibility. Held numerous conversations about different defensive schemes & philosophies with qualified defensive coach(es).
Considering the following factors, this would be my defense:
- No Floyd, Woolfolk, Jones
-Bunch of freshman
- No spring/off-season to install
- All personnel who is looking like a red-shirt (Ash, Furman, etc.) will remain that way.
Base: 4-2-5
Why? Provides versatility, somewhat close to what we run/ran so the transition wouldn't be too difficult, considering it is mid-season. Takes advantage of available bodies, talent.
SDE: Ryan Van Bergen, Greg Banks/Craig Roh
DT: Greg Banks, Adam Patterson/Renaldo Sagesse, Ryan Van Bergen
NT: Mike Martin, Renaldo Sagesse/Quinton Washington, Adam Patterson
WDE: Craig Roh, Jibreel Black, JB Fitzgerald, Steve Watson
Why?
The most difficult part of this is depth, which could be why we use a 3-man front so much (as others have noted on this site before. Craig Roh gets put back on the line where he has been more effective. Martin is an obvious choice. Banks/Van Bergen could switch, but I trust RVB more on the outside than I do Banks. Black has played up and down this year, struggling in the run game more so than in the pass game, which is understandable given his youth; this is why he is only listed as a WDE. Sagesse/Washington battles for back-up DT, I would hope Washington wins, so I could use Sagesse more at DT. Patterson would be able to use his athleticism at DT more than at NT, so he is the back-up at DT. Banks and Roh are the only two that I think could do a decent job at SDE, so I would put them in and put in Black at WDE or Patterson/Sagesse in at DT. It isn't that I don't like a 3-man front, when you have the personnel to use it, but Banks is clearly over matched at the DE spot, a 4-man front gives him help, while allowing Roh to move to his more natural position. The obvious downside is lack of depth.
Mike LB: Kenny Demens, Obi Ezeh/Isaiah Bell/JB Fitzgerald
Will LB: Jonas Mouton, Brandon Herron/JB Fitzgerald/Kevin Leach
Why?
Demens, for the most part, has been effective at stopping the run, while struggling vs. the pass. Obi struggles at everything. I haven't seen Bell, but my hope would be that he could win the back-up spot. Mouton has the athleticism necessary for the Will, unfortunately he has been up and down all year (mostly down). He is still most likely the best option, unless Fitzgerald surprises. Demens main focus is stop the run, he will be pulled on obvious pass downs (more on this later).
CB: James Rogers/Cullen Christian
CB: Terrence Talbott/Courtney Avery
FS: Marvin Robinson/Ray Vinopal/Cameron Gordon/Carvin Johnson/James Rogers
SS/Rover (strong-side always): Jordan Kovacs/Marvin Robinson, Cam Gordon
Wolverine (weak-side always): Thomas Gordon/Carvin Johnson/Marvin Robinson, Cam Gordon/Brandin Hawthorne, Floyd Simmons
Why?
Free Safety: Wide open competition, I don't care who starts, just someone competent who can cover deep without a) getting beat routinely, b) taking bad angles in coverage and coming up vs. the run, and c) support run. Any plays made would be a bonus. Corners: We have no one else. I will change the coverage though (more later). SS/Rover: Gives Marvin another chance to start get time. Kovacs is solid vs. the run, bad vs. the pass. Cam Gordon closer to the line. Run responsibilities are outside contain, with the goal to turn it inside to the DL, Demens, and Mouton, and clean-up. Pass responsibilities will mainly be short (more later) Wolverine: Another chance for Marvin to see the field. Thomas Gordon and Carvin Johnson have played solid at the hybrid position, despite being freshman and a bit undersized. Run responsibilities are outside contain and clean-up. Pass responsibilities will be detailed later.
Goal line Defense:
Rogers/Christian Banks-Q. Wash-Martin-Sagesse-RVB Talbott/Avery
M. Robinson Demens Mouton T. Gordon/C. Johnson
Nickel Defense:
Rogers/Christian Roh-RVB-Martin-Black Talbott/Avery
Mouton Bell/M. Robinson
M.Robinson/T. Gordon T. Gordon/C. Johnson
M. Robinson/Vinopal/C. Johnson
Strategy vs. the run:
Force everything inside to the DL and Demens/Mouton. The SS/Rover & Wolverine will take a read-step just like linebackers. In the event a runner gets outside, the responsibility falls on the SS/Rover & Wolverine, with backside pursuit from the LB's. FS main goal is to prevent deep, so his responsibility in the run game is minimal, if he has to keep making tackles, that means the front 6 & hybrids did't do their job.
Strategy vs. the pass:
This will be limited due to the experience of the secondary. Will be a mix of man and zone.
Man Defense: Press Coverage and regular man (about 6 yards off).
DL: Rush passer
Corners: Man
FS: Deep Coverage Only
LB: Man or Blitz [Depends on opposing offense and what defense were in (base vs. nickel)]
Hybrids: Man or Blitz [Depends on opposing offense and what defense were in (base vs. nickel)]
Zone Defense: Cover 1, 2, 3
Cover 1: FS Deep
Cover 2: FS & Wolverine Deep; Corners Flats; SS/Rover & Will have curls Middle has middle.
Cover 3: FS, Strong-side corner and Wolverine Deep; SS/Rover & weak-side corner have flats; LB's have curls. Short/medium middle is vulnerable.
Miscellaneous:
* Always rush at least 4.
* FS is always deep.
* Blitz a lot. Mainly Mouton and from the hybrid positions.
Why?
The secondary is clearly the biggest weakness, pressure will help them. Mouton and the hybrids have the athleticism needed to create pressure and can disguise it. Don't want too many (if any) secondary blitzed because of the youth. Give the FS one responsibility only, that is his only job, he should be able to do it.
Projected Results:
The defense will still struggle, especially given the depth on the DL and youth in the secondary, but this should be an improvement. The defense should go from terrible to average, maybe slightly below-average.
November 5th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
A couple of informed commenters now have suggested the 4-2-5 for many of the same reasons. My question is now that (supposedly) roh will be playing exclusively on the line from here on out, does that mean we're likely to see something like a 4-2-5 soon?
November 5th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
I agree with most of the people up here. I would keep the 3-3-5 because it really is just a hybrid defense and I like the versatility of safeties. I would blitz like crazy, not necessarily bringing 7 or 8, but creative blitzes with 5 or 6 allowing the corners and safeties to cover for much shorter periods of time.
November 5th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
I think this is the most important thing. Find effective blitz packages that don't come with the safeties or corners b/c they are already poor in coverage. We can't allow the QB to have 5 seconds to look downfield.
I would probably suggest blitzing from the hybrid positions with the most athletic kids on the defense. The first person I would be sending on the blitz is M Rob to find out if he is an effective weapon.
November 5th, 2010 at 1:31 PM ^
and teach these guys what tackling really is.
November 5th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
Stand up and say a 3-3-5 doesn't work unless you're playing a spread offense, then play a 4-3-4 against non B10 teams and a 5-2-4 in the B10 and pray or sacrifice GERG's hair as a burnt offering!! LOL
November 5th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
If I were the DC for Michigan I would probably fire myself... after moving Roh to DE! :)
November 5th, 2010 at 2:53 PM ^
Oh wait, he already moved himself LOL
November 5th, 2010 at 2:25 PM ^
Why can't GERG just stay at a Holiday Inn?
November 5th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
All your schemes are better than what we have now. Having Roh playing LB, and guys playing out of position. Fuck the 3-3-5 and go with something the players are comfortable with.
November 5th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
1. Steal underpants.
2. ?
3. Win with great defense. And profit.
November 5th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
4-man front for sure, but I'd send 5-7 guys to the QB on every play. you can sit back in an 8-man zone, but if half your guys don't understand zones, can't read or react, and can't tackle, you're basically fucked anyway. you've got to force the QB to make quick throws and hope maybe you get a bad decision that leads to a turnover.
other than that, spend 100% of recruiting effort on finding new players.
it's a dire situation.
November 5th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
It is better to give up a quick touchdown and get the ball back into the hands of our offense than the long drive TD that is going to happen anyway, and we just might get a few stops.