Having Dean lined up in the slot is killing this defense. He needs to be back there roaming around. He's not a nickle corner as HotRod said. He's consistently getting beat down the field and we've been fortunate that guys just keep dropping the ball. This is the antithesis of playing to your strengths. Let two starters play on the outside and put Moreland there on the inside receiver. I think this would make a big difference in our defense, even in the run game. I just don't get the logic of this alignment and it was obvious Lehigh went after it today. Maybe playing him a little deeper would help us set the edge a little better.

I agree. Love watching Marlowe play when you let him roam, he can be an interception machine.

(09-06-2014 03:30 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  Having Dean lined up in the slot is killing this defense. He needs to be back there roaming around. He's not a nickle corner as HotRod said. He's consistently getting beat down the field and we've been fortunate that guys just keep dropping the ball. This is the antithesis of playing to your strengths. Let two starters play on the outside and put Moreland there on the inside receiver. I think this would make a big difference in our defense, even in the run game. I just don't get the logic of this alignment and it was obvious Lehigh went after it today. Maybe playing him a little deeper would help us set the edge a little better.

He needs to play up closer until we get Gage back and the DL plays better. When this happens, he can move back to roaming around.

This is his senior year , and a transition to nickel is not a good one. Nickel is the hardest position to play in the defensive backfield. His man to man skills are not ready to play nickel , just move him to linebacker.

(09-07-2014 07:44 PM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  This is his senior year , and a transition to nickel is not a good one. Nickel is the hardest position to play in the defensive backfield. His man to man skills are not ready to play nickel , just move him to linebacker.

We need to win and we have to play him in the best spot to make it happen. He's not big enough to be a LB. He hopefully can play his position this week while getting the LBs more experience.

(09-07-2014 07:47 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  

(09-07-2014 07:44 PM)Hotrod829 Wrote:  This is his senior year , and a transition to nickel is not a good one. Nickel is the hardest position to play in the defensive backfield. His man to man skills are not ready to play nickel , just move him to linebacker.

We need to win and we have to play him in the best spot to make it happen. He's not big enough to be a LB. He hopefully can play his position this week while getting the LBs more experience.

Him at nickel and #40 at pro bowl depth will hurt us during CAA play. Unless dean gets better i dont want him guarding the all american wr at richmond in the slot lol. And I love dean.

Dean is a good safety. Play him at safety. I feel like we're trying to get too cute here. Just put him in the position where he's most effective. You have 3 corners who can cover pretty well. Don't play him up there, that's not his thing.

Holy Christmas. Go apply. geeeez.

Once Steele comes back the dynamics of this defense will be much different even in the secondary.

The defense needs work, but I have faith that it'll be much better in October than it is now.

Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

I agree that Steele's presence will have a huge impact on the defense...though I am still concerned that the d-line (which was in Withers' eyes the strength of the team) has failed to perform at a level I would expect them to. Steele's presence would seem to only have a modest impact on the d-line play.

Additional thought on Marlowe. Its the coaches responsibility to win football games...BUT...is some of moving Marlowe due to projected play at the next level? He does not seem to be suited nearly as well physically to play safety in the NFL.

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

Keep the offence on the field for more than 3 and out.

(09-08-2014 09:58 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

Keep the offence on the field for more than 3 and out.

While I don't know how good Lehigh's D is gonna be this year, I do know that 600 yards of total offense against a squad that is generally a playoff team is a good sign.

Outside of VIllanova and William and Mary (two games I expect us to get totally murdered in), I don't think we'll see too many three and outs this season.

(09-08-2014 10:14 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:58 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

Keep the offence on the field for more than 3 and out.

While I don't know how good Lehigh's D is gonna be this year, I do know that 600 yards of total offense against a squad that is generally a playoff team is a good sign.

Outside of VIllanova and William and Mary (two games I expect us to get totally murdered in), I don't think we'll see too many three and outs this season.

You think we will get murdered against W&M? Do you think they will score enough to murder anyone? I think they will be good, but I think our O will show up much differently than we did last year, for instance.

(09-08-2014 10:14 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:58 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

Keep the offence on the field for more than 3 and out.

While I don't know how good Lehigh's D is gonna be this year, I do know that 600 yards of total offense against a squad that is generally a playoff team is a good sign.

Outside of VIllanova and William and Mary (two games I expect us to get totally murdered in), I don't think we'll see too many three and outs this season.

Yes - I am very wary of Villanova game. I fear their QB Robertson will have a field day. I did see where he had a injury to his non throwing hand, but I dont expect that to impact him at all:

http://www.vuhoops.com/2014/9/7/6117113/...-this-week

I agree with the current JMU offense time of possession/ball control will not be a strong point, even on "long" drives I expect them to be quick time wise, obvously three and outs make the problem much worse.

(09-08-2014 10:21 AM)PhillyDuke Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 10:14 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:58 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:14 AM)arlingtonduke Wrote:  Guys - in your opinion what defensive adjustments do you think are necessary for us tto be better against the run and get more qb pressure? We seemend to tighten up in the second half of Lehigh, but not sure if that was more of a scheme change, better "execution" or other factors.

Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

Keep the offence on the field for more than 3 and out.

While I don't know how good Lehigh's D is gonna be this year, I do know that 600 yards of total offense against a squad that is generally a playoff team is a good sign.

Outside of VIllanova and William and Mary (two games I expect us to get totally murdered in), I don't think we'll see too many three and outs this season.

You think we will get murdered against W&M? Do you think they will score enough to murder anyone? I think they will be good, but I think our O will show up much differently than we did last year, for instance.

I do. While they may not score much, we'll score less. I can see a very frustrating 21-10 or 24-13 loss. That is in two months though, a lot can change with both squads.

(09-08-2014 10:24 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 10:21 AM)PhillyDuke Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 10:14 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 09:58 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-08-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  Have Steele be healthy...that is my adjustment.

Keep the offence on the field for more than 3 and out.

While I don't know how good Lehigh's D is gonna be this year, I do know that 600 yards of total offense against a squad that is generally a playoff team is a good sign.

Outside of VIllanova and William and Mary (two games I expect us to get totally murdered in), I don't think we'll see too many three and outs this season.

You think we will get murdered against W&M? Do you think they will score enough to murder anyone? I think they will be good, but I think our O will show up much differently than we did last year, for instance.

I do. While they may not score much, we'll score less. I can see a very frustrating 21-10 or 24-13 loss. That is in two months though, a lot can change with both squads.

Currently, I give W&M only a slight edge over us. Don't even want to talk about Nova.