We don’t need a multi-front defense, just a front

Submitted by iawolve on

 

Something that just keeps popping up for me is the need to just have one base defense so the players know what in the hell to actually go do. Even with freshmen or new players, you would expect them to at least be executing on reads or showing some progress by the eighth game of the year. We play slow and look lost at times which does not make sense after a point if everyone knew where they were supposed to be. It is one thing to be overpowered at the point of attack due to size or technique, it is another to have opposing offensive players continually just running in open space.

The base does not even need to be that exotic, case in point is Parker’s defense at Iowa which is the same vanilla 4-3 they played since 1990. I watched them start their third string MLB against MSU (a local kid who only showed up on campus in the fall) due to injuries and have him play effectively. They can do that since the reads are not that complex which is a deliberate strategy they deploy for their defense to enable faster play and easier substitutions. I only saw Iowa shift to a three man front once or twice the entire game just to address the 5 wide formations. I am not saying there is any real comparison of the Iowa and Michigan defensive situations, just a case in point.

I will let the board debate what the base defense should be. My only thoughts are that there have been many talented DCs in the Big Ten over the years that didn’t run a 3-3-5 and GERG is a 4-3 under specialist who works with the defensive line. Having him run 3 man front bases and coach LBs is really not playing to his strengths. (go ahead and insert your zinger reply comment about him having any strengths). Additionally, it has not been fair to the players who have had to continually jump schemes. I thought we had at least found an identity last year, but that did not seem to carry over. Just go do one thing, learn to react within that scheme and then get complicated at some later time. 

 

EDIT: Damn it Brian, I put this up and then you crush me with better logic on the same point 15 minutes later :)

willywill9

November 1st, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^

Sometimes I feel like our defense are like the Germans in WWII... too soon?

I'll attempt to add at least some value:

If i'm not mistaken, GERG actually has extensive experience with the 3-3-5...  But the 3-3-5 isn't the exact reason we rush 3 from time to time... all defenses have some sort of 3 rush package... it all varies depending on the strengths of the opposition, situation of game, and what the O is showing etc.  Really, they're doing their best with what they have.  No one here is being stubborn, they're trying different looks, they just haven't put it all together.  FWIW, the D looked better in the 2nd half.  Maybe it was my beer goggles.

 

MightAndMainWeCheer

November 1st, 2010 at 1:25 PM ^

Every defense has multiple schemes, even Iowa.  They do not run the same 4-3 every time; they will run different alignments and variations (e.g. over vs under; shade the strong-side vs shade the weak-side, etc).  The only difference is that they run their 4-3 better than we run our 4 man fronts. 

You can't run the same defense on every play; the offense will pick you apart.  Every defensive formation has weaknesses, and not having multiple fronts and defenses will allow the offense to attack this without having to guess.

Obviously our defense is horrible so I can see your point in learning how to perfect one aspect of our defense.  I'm not sure it will make us "play faster".  The reason why we look slow is because we aren't getting off blocks; more importantly, our linemen aren't protecting our linebackers by occupying blockers. 

I hate to say it, but it looks like our D linemen need to get stronger (especially Black and anybody who is backing up Mike Martin).  Black not being physically ready is understandable since he is a true freshman but Patterson, Sagesse and Banks not being able to at least hold up to Big 10 linemen is annoying.

TrueBlue88

November 1st, 2010 at 1:40 PM ^

like are defense is too soft. Just looking at that pic and seeing are CBs ten yards off the WRs on 3rd and 4 rubs me the wrong way. I give GERG some slack because the talent and depth simply isnt there. But C'mon man put some pressure on the opposing teams to at least help out our young secondary. Keep only rushing 3 and we will see more of the same on Defense!

Hail!

Don

November 1st, 2010 at 3:08 PM ^

In nine games for OSU, he's got 14 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and a sack. I assume it's mop-up duty, but even so the fact that he's getting in there as a pure freshman DL is a statement about his talent and potential in the eyes of OSU's staff. Too bad that our recruiting staff couldn't come to the same conclusion until it was too late.