Leach/T. Gordon/C. Johnson
I am rewatching the game right now. The defense isn't as bad as a whole as I initially thought. A lot of issues can be attributed to the linebackers right now. Edit: Kevin Leach just isn't quite capable of making enough consistent plays at this point. I am really impressed with Thomas Gordon, and I wouldn't mind seeing the coaches give him a shot at the OLB position (not sure what its called at this point) when Carvin Johnson is healthy. What do you think?
September 19th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
Thats awesome.....I figured Mike Leach would have tried coaching again before he puts on the pads....Hell, we need some piratitude on this D.
September 19th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
Today is actually "International Talk Like a Pirate" day. So it's funny Mike Leach gets brought up today.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day
September 19th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
Kevin Leach not Mike.
September 19th, 2010 at 9:42 AM ^
Holy crap. Your initial impressions must've been REALLY bad!
Yesterday's defense was The Horror bad. Worse, actually, if you consider the level of competition.
That rain outside is Bo crying.
September 19th, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
Oh no, more woes for Coach Rod.../jk, I'm assuming you meant Kevin...ironically, his middle name is Micheal. I REALLY think we need to give credit to the UMass coaching staff for coming up with a great offensive game plan and for coaching up their players, those guys did not come in here fazed at all. We could of done better, but the Minutemen played a whale of a game.
September 19th, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
any specific player, but on fourth and nine when you rush threee, people should be fucking covered.
September 19th, 2010 at 9:52 AM ^
Good to hear. Yeah that is the spur position you are speaking of. I think that is our equivalent of strongside linebacker but with more of a safety type athlete? Gordon seems like he has done pretty well and warrants more of a look.
A play here or there and any defense can look way better. Like a second down sack or a two yard loss on a first down running play. We were losing those matchups that create the disruptive plays.
The tackling and assignments were lousy too. But talent wise we were losing the matchups. These things are correctable. Not 85 Bears level like Rich said, but good enough to force some more punts for sure.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
Maybe you should include "Thomas".
Hopeful for Cam, but jeeeeeeez. Got excited when he grabbed the INT yesterday, then deflated on the fumble. Hoping he can get the monkey off his back next week. Need Carvin back soon to give us more options.
September 19th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^
We got pushed around, mauled, pancaked, bullied, and bruised. We were lackluster, bad tacklers, and we showed bad technique at every level. 3rd down is "pick on Kovacs" down, and he gets abused. He did make some great plays out there, but I just think the guy is a linebacker (not a Safety). Leave him out there 1 on 1 with a wide reciever on a passing play and you've got problems. Their backs were not getting touched until they were 11 yards downfield. Martin and Roh are starters. I'm not sure anyone else would start on any other Big 10 defense in our conference.
I just can't stop thinking about how we will face better offensive lines, better running backs, better QB's and better recievers when we hit the Big Ten schedule. We just have to score 45 points a game to win. I am losing faith in GERG, and his ability to make adjustments at halftime. His "bend but don't break" mentality is not effective. Our only option at this point is to zone blitz the hell out of teams. We can't cover anybody, so we might as well try to create some havoc. Pressure leads to good things, and rushing 3 guys gives the other QB way too much time to breathe.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^
I agree with u the defense stunk the field up I mean Honestly how can u be constantly out of position?, how can an running back consistantly gain 5-8 yards on 1st down?, how can u constantly misF%$#IN TACKLES!!!!!! GREG if you read this, (which he probably wont) u need to learn how to make second half adjustments...ur a terrible def coach and i see y u cant keep a head coachin job.....I understand u dont have much to work with in the cubbert, but hell at least make good wit what u got...u didnt make any adjustments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 19th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
um can u plz go to MLIVE now thanks dude
September 19th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
If GREG reads this, DB will terminate him on the spot, and rightfully soGREG if you read this, (which he probably wont) u need to learn how to make second half adjustments...ur a terrible def coach and i see y u cant keep a head coachin job.....I understand u dont have much to work with in the cubbert, but hell at least make good wit what u got...u didnt make any adjustments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
September 19th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
At least he doesn't murder the defense as bad as you do the English language.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^
I'd like to also add to your point that this is college football. Quarterbacks and receivers will still hit way more 10 yard hitches where the receiver sits and waits in front of coverage, then a play over the top with press coverage.
We can't be afraid to put our dbs out on an island as part of the strategy of pressuring the quarterback.
I still have a feeling that we will do more pressure type dial ups against the bigger opponents. That maybe the vanilla strategies are part of a larger plan for the season.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
I am convinced that the lack of execution on defense was the fact that we played too conservatively. I think mentally our defense played back on their heels trying to avoid giving up the big play and as a result, UMass consistently moved the ball. Yes, it was ugly, but people have really short memories. Last week at this time, people were praising RR and this team and now due to a hangover game vs. UMass (a win) everyone is searching for the zOMG panic button.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^
with the linebackers. They were so tentative, almost like they were trying to not make a mistake instead of playing and reacting. These are things that can be fixed and need to be fixed if we are going to compete in the Big Ten.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
but really strong for his size and he can tackle. I wouldn't mind seeing him at OLB.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
...That's essentially what spur is
September 19th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
does anyone else think Ron English was doing a decent enough job that Rich should have kept him on? Schaeffer (sp?) sucked, jury still out on GERG. Not sure I agree with the complete house-cleaning mentality. Not that it matters, but curious what others think.
September 19th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
Ron English....NOPE....the guy walked into a great situation in 06....a senor laden D who had been through a lot and he was fine until he faced an offense that could attack is his weakness (secondary) and the next year well yea we all saw what happened. English was also responsible for a lot of the transfers of defensive kids he was responsible for bringing in.
I still think Schafer was a good enough hire the problem was that he did not have the talent in the secondary to bring pressure all the time like he wanted to do all the time.
GERG is playing a D he thinks will give us the best chance AKA he has ZERO confidence in leaving our corners on an island.
If we find a way to get to 8 wins somehow I and having theh entire DL back along with most of the secondary and hopefully getting much more athletic in the middle we might be able to throw out a decent D next year....
Buckle up and enjoy the ride is my only advice.
September 19th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
do you think its a lack of confidence in corners or the safety positions? i think our corners have played pretty well in coverage but its cam and kovacs that seem to struggle in coverage. I think rogers and jt have done a pretty good job, maybe its that they are in zone, but they seem to be able to make plays on the ball where kovacs and cam are better at tackling/hitting and not the ball hawking safety types.
September 19th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
September 19th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
Obviously guys like Kovacs and Leach are smart players. They know the game well, they can read offensive plays, and execute. I think we can all agree though, that they lack the athleticism that you would typically see out of a Michigan defense. I think this was evident every time that Leach tried making a tackle. He was just manhandled. I don't know if he isn't running through the tackle like he should, but he would meet the RB head on and get pushed back for 3-4 additional yards. That ended up being the difference several times between third and short and third and long.
September 19th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
I think that if Mike Jones wasn't injured you would have seen him get a lot of time in this game/going forward with the season. Unfortunately with him and all the other injuries I don't think there are necessarily a ton of different guys we can switch around or experiment with on D