Fewest Penalty Yards 98(9)]
Fumbles Recovered 121(11)****
Passes Intercepted 115(12)****
Punt Return Defense 73(8)
Red Zone Defense 98(12)****
Rush Defense 62(7)
T/O Margin 112(10)***
T/O Gained 127(12)****

Being last in the MAC in Red Zone Defense and Turnovers Gained is pathetic. UT has better athletes than that. Can't give the opposing QB all day to find his receivers. You're not going to get turnovers and eventually there is going to be a breakdown in coverage. Can't let an opposing receiver get behind our deep coverage. Too many great receivers in the MAC, like Davis and Golladay, not to pressure the QB and the DB's to use improper technique and blow coverages.

Seems like we've reverted to the out-score them mentality, which does nothing to empower the defensive mind-set and players. Having them play non-aggressively, preventatively is supposed to keep the offense in front, keep them from getting behind. Hasn't work out that well.

I agree with you,

Go after the DAMN QB!!!

We can always hope Coaches are leaving something in reserve for the WMU game, but I doubt it. If they can't stop BG, WMU is going to cramp up scoring on us. Let the D play. They'll need to be used to a full game of high energy. Not a full game of sitting on their heels.

(10-16-2016 09:43 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  Seems like we've reverted to the out-score them mentality, which does nothing to empower the defensive mind-set and players. Having them play non-aggressively, preventatively is supposed to keep the offense in front, keep them from getting behind. Hasn't work out that well.

I agree with you,

Go after the DAMN QB!!!

We can always hope Coaches are leaving something in reserve for the WMU game, but I doubt it. If they can't stop BG, WMU is going to cramp up scoring on us. Let the D play. They'll need to be used to a full game of high energy. Not a full game of sitting on their heels.

Watch the WMU/CMU game. Western succeeded in getting great pressure on Cooper Rush and the game was a rout. Rush didn't have nearly the time to throw that Morgan did yesterday.

I hav a feeling next week's game will be another nail biter--hopefully we end up on the winning score.

I get a sense the DL is not interested in finishing. I gave them a pass with the altitude but no excuse yesterday


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I think people forget that this team only had 3 starters returning on D this year. 1 of those three was knocked out for the rest of the season and Earl was as well. If I do the math correctly, that means on 2 starters are left from last year. The first 3 teams Toledo played were so bad, they masked how weak Toledo's defense really was. The last two weeks show what the reality is. Toledo will have to keep scoring to win and hope the defense improves as the season goes on. Toledo will have to fight for each week, to give themselves a shot at Western. While disappointing, the defense is not a surprise to me.

(10-16-2016 12:53 PM)falconplucker Wrote:  I think people forget that this team only had 3 starters returning on D this year. 1 of those three was knocked out for the rest of the season and Earl was as well. If I do the math correctly, that means on 2 starters are left from last year. The first 3 teams Toledo played were so bad, they masked how weak Toledo's defense really was. The last two weeks show what the reality is. Toledo will have to keep scoring to win and hope the defense improves as the season goes on. Toledo will have to fight for each week, to give themselves a shot at Western. While disappointing, the defense is not a surprise to me.

Amen. We're 5-1 and still *****, *****, *****. This defense has been over achieving and will continue to do so. Offense will need to carry the load this year. That's college football...

(10-16-2016 09:14 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Fewest Penalty Yards 98(9)]
Fumbles Recovered 121(11)****
Passes Intercepted 115(12)****
Punt Return Defense 73(8)
Red Zone Defense 98(12)****
Rush Defense 62(7)
T/O Margin 112(10)***
T/O Gained 127(12)****

Being last in the MAC in Red Zone Defense and Turnovers Gained is pathetic. UT has better athletes than that. Can't give the opposing QB all day to find his receivers. You're not going to get turnovers and eventually there is going to be a breakdown in coverage. Can't let an opposing receiver get behind our deep coverage. Too many great receivers in the MAC, like Davis and Golladay, not to pressure the QB and the DB's to use improper technique and blow coverages.

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Boca said we have "better athletes" than that and I agree. Regardless the experience, it's how the coaches choose to use and develop them. I don't happen to think that putting them on their heels is a way to develop. This team has one chance fr the big picture and that's to take chances. If coaches are continually waiting for the offense and the defense to be "sound" in the same year, we'll always be second while the other teams are rowing the boat into the deepest water they can find and saying paddle or swim.

Give the kids on D a chance to compete.

Stepec and Ola are good. Swift and Remy seem good as well. We miss Jalen... Obviously. We cant stop the run, but it seems a scheme problem. I like our D and we have been very good in some halves this season. We have about the 4th-7th best D in the MAC with the 1st or 2nd best Offense. We can win a title like that... Breathe it was a rivalry game. We are 5-1 with a loss to a team who just beat MSU and MSU worse than they beat us.

(10-16-2016 12:41 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  I get a sense the DL is not interested in finishing. I gave them a pass with the altitude but no excuse yesterday


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I think that's unfair to the personnel. I blame the D coaching, scheme and game plan. I think the D line in spite of depth problems particularly at LB has played hard. We need to get more pressure on the QB (especially the last two we've played against) and we won't be able to do that rushing just four players in a vanilla scheme. We also need to let our DBs play instead of simply trying to minimize risk. It's hurting their development and effecting their confidence. Let them compete. To my eye they seem a bit handcuffed and demoralized as a result.

(10-16-2016 12:41 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  I get a sense the DL is not interested in finishing. I gave them a pass with the altitude but no excuse yesterday


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This is me acknowledging my unfairness. Bad choice of words


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(10-16-2016 12:41 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  I get a sense the DL is not interested in finishing. I gave them a pass with the altitude but no excuse yesterday


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I am not sure if it is "interested in finishing" or "capable of finishing" under the circumstances but either way, it is not good. Near the end of the game yesterday I was really concerned that UT would score too soon (like with 1:20 or so left on the clock) and we could relive the 1:11 disaster at Provo (with a 2 point conversion thrown in as well this time). Frankly I think that face mask call was a lot bigger that many people realize because it allowed the Rocket to burn the game clock down to 18 seconds and that may well have been the difference in the game given the way BG was moving the ball in the last 7 or so minutes of the 4th quarter.

I also agree with several of the previous posters that question the defensive coaching mindset of playing not to lose rather that playing to win-----I thought that we put failed that philosophy behind us last year, yet here we go again.

(10-16-2016 02:25 PM)T-Town Wrote:  

(10-16-2016 12:41 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  I get a sense the DL is not interested in finishing. I gave them a pass with the altitude but no excuse yesterday


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I am not sure if it is "interested in finishing" or "capable of finishing" under the circumstances but either way, it is not good. Near the end of the game yesterday I was really concerned that UT would score too soon (like with 1:20 or so left on the clock) and we could relive the 1:11 disaster at Provo (with a 2 point conversion thrown in as well this time). Frankly I think that face mask call was a lot bigger that many people realize because it allowed the Rocket to burn the game clock down to 18 seconds and that may well have been the difference in the game given the way BG was moving the ball in the last 7 or so minutes of the 4th quarter.

I also agree with several of the previous posters that question the defensive coaching mindset of playing not to lose rather that playing to win-----I thought that we put failed that philosophy behind us last year, yet here we go again.

The Facemask call was HUGE!!!!! for running down the clock.

One thing I don't think gets taught to LB's and DB's about playing zone pass defense is:

WHEN THERE IS A MAN IN YOUR ZONE, GO STAND NEXT TO HIM!!!!!!!!!!
Don't let him catch the ball and then go try to tackle him......