Watched the UMass vs Kent game last night on ESPN3. This isn't the impotent UMass of a few years back. Their OL gives the QB time to throw and he threw down field pretty darned well. They had a little success running it, too, but I think it will be a lot harder against our DL. Getting to the QB will be the key, IMO. Of course, when hasn't that been the key?

I'm glad Umass is homecoming and after a bye week. They could sneak up on a lot of MAC teams. They are going to throw for 300/400+. But if they can't run for 60 yards and don't stop us, we should waste them by the end of the game. 58-28 is my prediction. Hopefully Kareem will be back.

(10-14-2014 04:15 PM)djsfw57 Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 01:15 PM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Very informative. Thanks for posting. I'm certainly not calling for the DC's head, but i am curious as to why our defense hasn't been as effective as other teams'. I'm for giving the defense time to show improvement.

I've noticed that we don't just play 5-10 yards off a receiver, we also start back-pedaling before the ball is snapped and are more like 10-15 yards off the receiver before he starts his route. Is that the problem? Do we have some tell that our opponents recognize that negates our disguises? Or are we just thin on defense and once we get the proper recruits into the program, we'll be fine?

Sorry, but I think they have had PLENTY of time to fix the problems on defense. This has been a problem for the last few years. Seems to me like no one is doing anything about it. I don't know if it's because they don't know we have a problem, or they just don't have the coaching skills to fix the problem. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think we will have any progress until we get a defensive coordinator who knows how to coach defense. Clearly the one we have is clueless.

I don't understand what you people expect? This DC has coached 7 games, this defense is getting better. The last 5 games will give us a better picture on how well the defense has improved. Give it time.

(10-16-2014 11:52 AM)FrickerRon Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 04:15 PM)djsfw57 Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 01:15 PM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Very informative. Thanks for posting. I'm certainly not calling for the DC's head, but i am curious as to why our defense hasn't been as effective as other teams'. I'm for giving the defense time to show improvement.

I've noticed that we don't just play 5-10 yards off a receiver, we also start back-pedaling before the ball is snapped and are more like 10-15 yards off the receiver before he starts his route. Is that the problem? Do we have some tell that our opponents recognize that negates our disguises? Or are we just thin on defense and once we get the proper recruits into the program, we'll be fine?

Sorry, but I think they have had PLENTY of time to fix the problems on defense. This has been a problem for the last few years. Seems to me like no one is doing anything about it. I don't know if it's because they don't know we have a problem, or they just don't have the coaching skills to fix the problem. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think we will have any progress until we get a defensive coordinator who knows how to coach defense. Clearly the one we have is clueless.

I don't understand what you people expect? This DC has coached 7 games, this defense is getting better. The last 5 games will give us a better picture on how well the defense has improved. Give it time.

A quick perusal of NCAA Statistics shows Toledo ranks #123 in Passing Yds. Allowed and #122 in Pass Efficiency Defense; there are #125 teams playing FBS football. I don't know enough about defending today's complex offensive schemes to make any proclamations. I'm sure injuries play a huge role in the statistics.

What I DO know is what I see when watching a game and that is opposing receivers more often than not running wide open; often times in what appear to be HUGE gaps in our zone defense. And let's be clear, WMU, Ball St and Iowa State will never be confused Baylor or California. That to me would seem to be a coaching issue.

(10-16-2014 11:52 AM)FrickerRon Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 04:15 PM)djsfw57 Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 01:15 PM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Very informative. Thanks for posting. I'm certainly not calling for the DC's head, but i am curious as to why our defense hasn't been as effective as other teams'. I'm for giving the defense time to show improvement.

I've noticed that we don't just play 5-10 yards off a receiver, we also start back-pedaling before the ball is snapped and are more like 10-15 yards off the receiver before he starts his route. Is that the problem? Do we have some tell that our opponents recognize that negates our disguises? Or are we just thin on defense and once we get the proper recruits into the program, we'll be fine?

Sorry, but I think they have had PLENTY of time to fix the problems on defense. This has been a problem for the last few years. Seems to me like no one is doing anything about it. I don't know if it's because they don't know we have a problem, or they just don't have the coaching skills to fix the problem. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think we will have any progress until we get a defensive coordinator who knows how to coach defense. Clearly the one we have is clueless.

I don't understand what you people expect? This DC has coached 7 games, this defense is getting better. The last 5 games will give us a better picture on how well the defense has improved. Give it time.

I agree. I would be willing to bet my paychecks for the rest of the year that our defense performs better against UMass, EMU, Bowling Green, and Kent than they did the first few games. That will show the improvement of our defense throughout the season.