The View From Section 241 -- Cincy

[FfldCntyFan]

Seoul is correct that the offensive productivity (or lack thereof) does have an impact on our defense.

To answer Pal's question on the BYU game vs Cincy, for openers not having Adeyemi (and then losing Ormsby during the game) played an enormous role in terms of our ability to stop the run. We were much thinner in terms of physical size and depth in the rotation along the defensive line in the Cincy game which allowed them to run far more effectively against us than did BYU.

I also believe that Cincy presented a considerable amount of speed at the WR position that BYU did not (even if they did have three quality WR's).

 

[businesslawyer]

I thought you loved the scheme? It was wrong against BYU as well. Yep, that was an awful game.

I want to see players for more than just seeing them. I also want to see them to develop depth.

However, seeing players in games is the only was to accurately assess their ability and make up. I feel that football coaches over value practice. There is a reason for that. First, most of football is practice. There is only one game a week. There is practice five days a week. Baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer have as many game days as practice days. Since football coaches they spend so much time in practice, they view the games as a reflection of practice. That is only true to some extend. That's why you constantly hear football coaches say after a loss, that they are surprised because they had a good week of practice. You never hear a baseball manager say after a no-hitter that the team looked good in the batting cage.

Another reason that football coaches over value practice versus games is that they control everything in practice. It's their world. They own it. Practice is an extension of their ego, the games are not, even if you're Urban Meyer.

Yes, it is rational for coaches to believe what they see in practice. But it's not always the truth. Players react differently when the lights are on. My guess is that Nick Williams was not a great practice player. Two coaches sat him for the majority of his UConn career. Yet, he continues make a living in the NFL. There was a disconnect of some type at UConn. The coaches just couldn't see it.

So, hell, yeah, I want to see how the players play in games. I'm not in practice. I don't see they players all week long like the coaches. That has it's advantages as well as it disadvantages. I want to see them (in games) just to see them because after all, games are more important than practices.

Good post. Two things I wanted to respond to/comment upon.

1. I don't love or hate any scheme. I just want to win. But the soft zone didn't bother me against BYU because their receivers weren't fast enough to have huge YAC again and again and again. So we could give up yards between the 20s and then stiffen up. And it worked. Against Cincy, I was worried before the game that this would be a problem and was upset we never changed out of it. Just because a scheme makes sense against one opponent doesn't mean it will make sense against all opponents.

2. You make a well argued case on playing more players but here's the thing -- you note in your argument that most coaches do want to rely on practice as to who can contribute on game day. Now, just because most coaches have one philosophy and you have a different one does not make yours wrong. Maybe this will be like Gallileo and on day you will be commended for having a view different from the prevailing view of those who are closer to the situation than you. The smart money, however, is that when experts reach a concensus it is likely to be correct, and your theory is more like your theory that there isn't global warming than Gallileo. But it was an interesting argument and I am glad you shared it.

 

[jbdphi]

So, hell, yeah, I want to see how the players play in games. I'm not in practice. I don't see they players all week long like the coaches. That has it's advantages as well as it disadvantages. I want to see them (in games) just to see them because after all, games are more important than practices.

You know it isn't about you, right?

 

[huskysupporter]

Our whole defense scheme (which I have vocally disagreed with) is intended to mask our deficiencies of not having a pass rusher and smaller DB's.

If you don't have a pure pass rusher, you can vary up the scheme to bring more rushers than there are blockers, or run a blitz that will confuse the offense.

We are way too slow at linebacker (Walsh has good instincts but doesn't have great speed, Stewart has great speed and horrible instincts) to stay in this vanilla scheme.

 

[RedStickHusky]

You know it isn't about you, right?

That could tee up an interesting philosophical debate.

 

[justgoplay]

If you don't have a pure pass rusher, you can vary up the scheme to bring more rushers than there are blockers, or run a blitz that will confuse the offense.

We are way too slow at linebacker (Walsh has good instincts but doesn't have great speed, Stewart has great speed and horrible instincts) to stay in this vanilla scheme.

 

[justgoplay]

There is vanilla, and then there is Bob Diaco vanilla.......When he was defensive coordinator at Cincinnati it was brutal to watch. I spent many afternoons watching offensive guards just teeing off on our LB's, and QB's having all day to stand in the pocket. The 3-4 can be effective if played aggressively and you take chances. Diaco will not stunt, he will not send LB's, he will not take chances. Diaco has always "Always" preferred to line up in a 3-4, and play read and react. That might be OK if you have a 350lb. nose guard that can cover two gaps and destroy double teams, plus four absolute stud LB's. I don't know about UCONN, but at Cincinnati we ain't getting too many five star DL or LB recruits. At Cincinnati, Diaco's defensive philosophy seemed to be "Let's hurry up and let them score so that we can get the ball back'' We went 12-0 with Diaco as defensive coordinator, but we had to score 50 points a game to do it........Focus on the offensive side of the ball, and try to out score everybody.