(10-12-2014 09:49 PM)Tribeheart Wrote: Maybe Mike Reilly is just being double teamed/isolated, but if he is, then it seems like we should be seeing others taking advantage. That alone, is a reflection that we are not playing to potential. Our memorable defenses had everyone flying to the ball and wrapping up. Have seen a lot of players holding their position and waiting for the play to come to them, and shoulder hits with no wrapping up. The Green Swarm hasn't appeared.
At some point, it's about players not overthinking on both sides of the ball and just instinctively playing the game. Airek Green may be the only one having that kind of season to this point.
So I had our defense explained to me by someone who really understands football. And now that I see what he was talking about, I can't unsee it.
Against the run we use our big interior lineman (Coleman, Claytor, Stephens) to eat up space, plug holes and occupy blockers. That way Airek and Luke can come screaming downhill to make the tackles.
Teams have had some success running the ball this year because they've either been running to the outside where they have superior speed or they run during passing situations. When we have our smaller tackles on the field it allows the opposing o-line to get to the second level and make blocks on our linebackers.
Against the pass our biggest problem is simply a lack of experience. Our "smaller" pass rushing tackles just don't have the game experience (or raw physical attributes like Stephens) that our other tackles have. In a few years I think it will be a great unit. They just aren't there yet.
This leaves the pass rush up to Reilly and Sinnott. They're capable but a lot of times Mike is getting doubled or the quarterback is simply able to avoid the rush by stepping up in the pocket.
It was also interesting to me that he pointed out that Mike really only has one move (it's a helluva move though). And if you can prepare and counter his bull rush you can really shut him down.
Anyway I'm not a coach but the way this was explained to me made a lot of sense and I hope I relayed his analysis coherently.