Chilling Stat: Our Cornerbacks have NOT made an INT since November 20, 2021 (331 days and counting)

[ReturnOf]

Our last CB to get an INT was Justin Hodges against UCONN, last year?? Our defensive line has more INT's than our CB's during that span.... Shit, this year, our D-line and LB's have more passes deflections than our CB's?

Kinda hard when you're always playing 10-15 yards off the line. When do you ever seen us play some one and one, bump and run. And when we're finally in good position to make a play, butter fingers....

 

[PositYourself]

Good that means we're due for 17 INTs vs. Cincy!

 

[80'sKnight]

Hey, we might lose our DC because of that stat! He needs to be a HC in the NFL!


Now, don't get me wrong, I hope he stays because he shows some good ability, every game but ECU he knew what to do in the 2nd half, but there's absolutely zero chance we actually lose him. I know there was an incredible amount of love for him after we played absolutely no offense of any ability, but get a grip. He's great at getting recruits, he's great, except for just 1 game, at 2 nd half game planning, but he's no way ready for prime time yet. I'm betting next year, after this year, will be a big improvement, but no one, except a low G5 team is going to be interested so far. In the end, I'm really excited he's here, he'll be great, eventually, but he ain't there yet.

 

[beelit47]

Looking at the defense as a whole, our secondary has improved greatly under twill but none are ball hawks. Our lb position is patched together with transfers who are good at tackling but poor in pass coverage. Were going to need to develop the incoming starts like Nikai, Braeden, and the hendo twins. Need more ball hawks with good instincts

 

[The Knightman Cometh]

That's bad.

 

[Ace of Knights]

They consistently only play the man and attempt to face guard him. If they would just turn around and look for the ball they could of had done of those 50-50 passes against ECU.

 

[BlakNGoldAllDay]

Probably should have gone zone when they were killing our man non stop.

 

[ReturnOf]

Probably should have gone zone when they were killing our man non stop.

I'm not sure how effective zone would have been on those short outs. We didn't jam well enough on the LOS.

 

[beelit47]

I'm not sure how effective zone would have been on those short outs. We didn't jam well enough on the LOS.

Rmember in the oeach bowl when chequan burkett jumped a slant route for six? I miss those days where we had defenders jumping routes

 

[KnightLife1]

Looking at the defense as a whole, our secondary has improved greatly under twill but none are ball hawks. Our lb position is patched together with transfers who are good at tackling but poor in pass coverage. Were going to need to develop the incoming starts like Nikai, Braeden, and the hendo twins. Need more ball hawks with good instincts

Believe it or not, we have some very good ball hawks in our secondary. However they are on the bench and come off in spurts behind many of our non- ball hawks.

If we start Martinez, Koby Perry, William Wells and Justin Hodges and keep them on the field, it appears that we will then achieve more interceptions and a much higher rate of pass breakups.

I am not a fan of starting guys merely because they are upper classmen and/or arrived on campus a year or two earlier. Let's play the guys who have shown a propensity to break up passes and attack the ball before, (not after), the receiver catches it.

 

[BlakNGoldAllDay]

I'm not sure how effective zone would have been on those short outs. We didn't jam well enough on the LOS.

That way they can look at QB and read him. Not seeing ball until receiver has it means we can’t cover man. We don’t have the bump and run corners. We have the trail and hope we get help corners.

 

[Retnuhrace]

The current scheme appears to be playing very soft on the outside in order to avoid the big play, but play tight red zone defense to force the FG attempt. That had been pretty successful up until this past week, when ECU found a way to get into the end zone. Doesn’t help that our offense was anemic. But T Will does like to blitz a lot, but he’s keeping the corners soft to avoid the big play if the blitz doesn’t get home. Unfortunately, the blitzes have not been getting home.

 

[ucffan642]

We don’t attack the ball, we wait for them to catch it and than we attack for the tackle.

 

[beelit47]

The current scheme appears to be playing very soft on the outside in order to avoid the big play, but play tight red zone defense to force the FG attempt. That had been pretty successful up until this past week, when ECU found a way to get into the end zone. Doesn’t help that our offense was anemic. But T Will does like to blitz a lot, but he’s keeping the corners soft to avoid the big play if the blitz doesn’t get home. Unfortunately, the blitzes have not been getting home.

Hopefully as we recruit stud DL’s & DE’s the need to blitz will fall off because the 4 linemen can get to qb without help. This would allow the corners to play man and the lb’s to play an underneath zone

 

[Knight_Classes_begin_7pm]

Our last CB to get an INT was Justin Hodges against UCONN, last year?? Our defensive line has more INT's than our CB's during that span.... Shit, this year, our D-line and LB's have more passes deflections than our CB's?

Kinda hard when you're always playing 10-15 yards off the line. When do you ever seen us play some one and one, bump and run. And when we're finally in good position to make a play, butter fingers....

It like we're back in the bend don't break crap that failed GOL

 

[beelit47]

It like we're back in the bend don't break crap that failed GOL

I think we have to because the cbs arent good enough to let anyone behind them

 

[mattropolis]

It like we're back in the bend don't break crap that failed GOL

You mean the 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 season failures where we played for or won conference title games, or tied for conference title without an existing conference title game? I mean that's only 50% of the seasons he coached here (fired/resigned in year 12).

 

[ucffan642]

“Bend don’t break” defense only works when you have a high powered offense…We don’t have that which is why we don’t beat good teams. Malzahn needs to recruit bigger, stronger, faster, and more athletic Offensive and defensive Linemen if we have any chance at winning in the Big12. The fact we were dominated by ECU on both sides was embarrassing.

 

[Gwoz]

You mean the 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 season failures where we played for or won conference title games, or tied for conference title without an existing conference title game? I mean that's only 50% of the seasons he coached here (fired/resigned in year 12).

Many recall the last defense that was lead by Chuck Bresnahan, a DC that was fired by USF the previous season.

 

[GoldenFunk]

I don’t think they are ball hawks, but if our D Line could generate any sort of pass rush they would be good enough. The problem is we don’t get takeaways and we don’t get very many sacks/hurries. It’s tough to get off the field relying on tight coverage and run stopping but giving the QB all day.

 

[akhenaten]

The CB's haven't improved since freshman year when it comes to turning around before the ball arrives. They are always bulldozing into the receiver as he catches the ball and/or committing pass interference.

The entire team only has 2 interceptions this year, and they're both by the same player. Not a CB.

O'Leary's defenses might've been bend-but-don't-break, but they also forced a ton of turnovers.

Remember this secondary? Between 2004-2008, Joe Burnett, Sha'reff Rashad, Johnell Neal, and Jason Venson had 50 combined interceptions. 50! (And I believe they were all 2-star recruits).

In 2007, Burnett and Neal -- the CB's -- had 6 interceptions each.

O'Leary also recruited and coached up CB Josh Robinson (10 career interceptions, 6 interceptions in 2009), and CB Jacoby Glenn (9 career interceptions in just 2 seasons, 7 interceptions in 2014).

Winning the turnover battle is arguably the most important stat in football. We need more ball-hawks, either through a change in coaching philosophy or a change in recruiting philosophy.

 

[Gwoz]

The team is on pace to break 2015 record low of 4 INTs in a season.

 

[ucffan642]

I may be in the minority but this is why in my opinion, Coach T-Will is a great person but not a good defensive coordinator. Our D-line cannot get pressure on anyone Without blitzing, our linebackers can’t cover crossing routes or opposing tight ends, our corners don’t press at the line, never turn around for the ball and cause a lot of pass interference calls, and our safeties wait for the ball to be caught and then go for the tackle. Literally, we haven’t played any top-tier programs and our pass defense can’t get us off the field.

 

[Retnuhrace]

I re-watched most of the game, and it was clear to me that the ECU offensive coordinator recognized on tape that tue DBs don’t turn around for the ball. A bunch of successful back shoulder throws were made. Hopefully there is an adjustment this week.

 

[OtterKnight]

Why would one be coached to not turn around and look for the ball? Isn't that basic fundamentals? Is there some alternate technique that I'm not aware of?

 

[BlakNGoldAllDay]

Seems like after wins fans want to give raises and hope a guy doesnt leave. Then after a loss the coach can’t coach and the D sucks.

 

[Wings0fred]

Seems like after wins fans want to give raises and hope a guy doesnt leave. Then after a loss the coach can’t coach and the D sucks.

Nailed it.