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(12-03-2012 10:57 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 10:24 PM)Uncle BLAZER Wrote:  Maybe that's the plan. I don't know.

No disrespect meant towards Connor at all, I promise you. I know ya'll have to be frustrated for him. He's a natural DE and shouldn't have to "take one for the team" at DT. UAB's lack of success in recruiting on the interior of the DL is a long running problem and continues to this day. Since the last Steel Shield member graduated, James Malone (03), Elliott Henigan is the only really good DT I can remember playing for UAB. That is almost a decade of terrible recruiting at those positions. I think with Boyett, Watkins, and Walton (not a Grissett fan) we have some quality at DE. Put some muscle between those bookends and we're in business.

Thanks.

(12-03-2012 05:17 PM)Smaug Wrote:  Hopefully Troy won't try to put us all in the same seat again.

I don't mind that as much, but it wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't have complimentary sheep for us.

(12-03-2012 10:57 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 10:24 PM)Uncle BLAZER Wrote:  Maybe that's the plan. I don't know.

No disrespect meant towards Connor at all, I promise you.I know ya'll have to be frustrated for him. He's a natural DE and shouldn't have to "take one for the team" at DT. UAB's lack of success in recruiting on the interior of the DL is a long running problem and continues to this day. Since the last Steel Shield member graduated, James Malone (03), Elliott Henigan is the only really good DT I can remember playing for UAB.That is almost a decade of terrible recruiting at those positions. I think with Boyett, Watkins, and Walton (not a Grissett fan) we have some quality at DE. Put some muscle between those bookends and we're in business.

Huge +1

Two good size DT's an this defense will improve. Another problem small LB's who cant bust through gaps. Anyway going back to the Dline a little more Christian,Morris,and Byrd along with the recruit would be great to see. That way Scott (who some say is the best pass rusher) can line up on the edge and I guess Gordon could too with there size.

The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

(12-04-2012 08:13 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

I couldn't agree more and I couldn't have said it better. This has been a problem for the past couple years.

(12-04-2012 08:13 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

IMO, I didn't think that the secondary played all that bad this season, they were victimized at various times by horrendous pass interference calls, many of them made by so-called officials who were practically tailgating in the parking lot, they were so far out of position and their primary area of coverage.

That by itself makes even the best cornerbacks and safeties gun-shy. If UAB can find some DL's that can get to the QB and put him on his @$$ before he can throw or get a good look, this'll cut some of that crap down, if not out entirely.

(12-04-2012 08:13 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

It's a chicken-and-egg thing. a lack of a pass rush has left our DBs hung out to dry. Give a QB enough time, and somebody will be open.

Uncle Blazer...+1000

(12-04-2012 08:57 AM)Matrix Wrote:  

(12-04-2012 08:13 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

IMO, I didn't think that the secondary played all that bad this season, they were victimized at various times by horrendous pass interference calls, many of them made by so-called officials who were practically tailgating in the parking lot, they were so far out of position and their primary area of coverage.

That by itself makes even the best cornerbacks and safeties gun-shy. If UAB can find some DL's that can get to the QB and put him on his @$$ before he can throw or get a good look, this'll cut some of that crap down, if not out entirely.

If DBs are getting gun-shy then they aren't cut out to be DBs.

(12-04-2012 09:19 AM)Smaug Wrote:  

(12-04-2012 08:13 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

It's a chicken-and-egg thing. a lack of a pass rush has left our DBs hung out to dry. Give a QB enough time, and somebody will be open.

When you don't have the ability to lock up receivers with DBs, you can't blitz, if you can't blitz you have to depend on a 4 or 3 man rush, 4 men rushing against 6 protecting. Advantage offense.

All we need now is to include stadium discussion in this thread.

(12-04-2012 08:57 AM)Matrix Wrote:  

(12-04-2012 08:13 AM)UAB?IAB Wrote:  The DL play will improve when the secondary improves, as it relates to pass rush. It is hard to get pressure on the QB when receivers are open, pressure forces the QB out of the pocket, rushes the throw, can lead to bad passes, but the longer the secondary covers the easier it is to pressure. It is hard to have an aggressive blitzing style defense if you don't have DB's who can cover 1 on 1, which effects a teams ability to stop the run. Because to consistently stop the run you have to have 1 more man in the box than the offense can account for and that leaves you vulnerable to the pass. In most defenses the DLinemen are occupiers, linebackers are left freed up to make plays in the run game. But if you have to use the LBs to support in pass coverage, they have read and react versus pinning their ears back and filling gaps. That is probably why we are recruiting several DBs.

IMO, I didn't think that the secondary played all that bad this season, they were victimized at various times by horrendous pass interference calls, many of them made by so-called officials who were practically tailgating in the parking lot, they were so far out of position and their primary area of coverage.

That by itself makes even the best cornerbacks and safeties gun-shy. If UAB can find some DL's that can get to the QB and put him on his @$$ before he can throw or get a good look, this'll cut some of that crap down, if not out entirely.

No offense Matrix, but I think you need glasses.

I know we were young and inexperienced in the DB but they lined up 8-10 yds off the receivers the majority of the time (especially on 3 and short), never jammed them at the line, and were always watching the receiver while in route(never looking back at the ball or watching the QB). That was the reason for alot of the PI calls. There were some bad ones( @ SC) but some were well deserved, I am sorry to say.
Even after they switched to a 3-4 with basically 8 guys in coverage, we got ate alive. 8 on 3 or 4 receivers should be pretty good odds. It wasn't.
I am not blaming the individuals. I know they did their best. I don't think the coaches did them any favors though. If you can't cover or run with a guy, you gotta try and jam them at the line. If your DB's can't cover and you don't get a good rush from the DL, why not blitz your DB's once in a while?
Again, all the pass rush in world isn't gonna help when the recs are wide open and the QB can get rid of the ball virtually immediately for significant yds.

Honestly, the DL discussion on here has become like Bamanblazerfan calling for a BIG BRUISING RB.

(12-04-2012 09:44 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  All we need now is to include stadium discussion in this thread.

Better DB play will lead to better DL play, which would lead to more wins, more wins would lead to more fans, more fans would lead to better attendance, better attendance would put us in better position to get a stadium. So all we need are great DBs and we get our stadium.

speaking of Connor "taking one for the team" it was frustrating to see him rewarded by sitting on the bench the last few games.
As if sitting him was going to solve our "problems"
same thing with Cody Payne, in three years he went from DE to DT to TE to OL back to DT (did I miss any?) and he was benched, as well
I'm not an expert but I think a couple of guys 6'6" should be able to help us out.
not a fan of how the D was run this year

(12-04-2012 10:05 AM)uabfl Wrote:  speaking of Connor "taking one for the team" it was frustrating to see him rewarded by sitting on the bench the last few games.
As if sitting him was going to solve our "problems"
same thing with Cody Payne, in three years he went from DE to DT to TE to OL back to DT (did I miss any?) and he was benched, as well
I'm not an expert but I think a couple of guys 6'6" should be able to help us out.
not a fan of how the D was run this year

I don't understand it either.

(12-04-2012 10:08 AM)Uncle BLAZER Wrote:  

(12-04-2012 10:05 AM)uabfl Wrote:  speaking of Connor "taking one for the team" it was frustrating to see him rewarded by sitting on the bench the last few games.
As if sitting him was going to solve our "problems"
same thing with Cody Payne, in three years he went from DE to DT to TE to OL back to DT (did I miss any?) and he was benched, as well
I'm not an expert but I think a couple of guys 6'6" should be able to help us out.
not a fan of how the D was run this year

I don't understand it either.

Apparently, Coach McGee is not a fan either, since he has decided to change to a 3-4.

To the point about Cody Payne: I have no idea how good Cody is, but if he were great, he probably wouldn't get moved around so much year after year. His big size has kept him in the mix for playing time, though.

As for the new defense next year, I think we can expect the outside LBs to be smaller and faster, maybe converted safeties (Ganus?). It appears we have a lot of guys that can fill this role, and we have a lot of guys that can still play safety. Other LB options could be smaller defensive ends like Rabb who may benefit from starting in a standing position. Imagine Rabb dropping in coverage in the flats on one play and then on the next play, he comes on a blitz. That could be problematic for opposing offenses.

We'll need a true workhorse at middle LB (too bad Burdette is gone), so maybe we are digging in the JUCO ranks to find one? Shaq Jones could be one of those guys, but we'll see. I feel good about Bastien and Slaughter, so we have some guys that can play.

I'll be surprised if our defense isn't dramatically better next year (finally!).

I thought Rabb would play more of a LB role anyway instead of a DE.

I think Grissett was LB in high school with pretty good stats, so maybe moing him might help
I hope that whatever McGee decides, he sticks with...too much moving around and changing game plans this year

Where is Gorilla when you need him?

(12-04-2012 11:40 AM)uabfl Wrote:  I think Grissett was LB in high school with pretty good stats, so maybe moing him might help
I hope that whatever McGee decides, he sticks with...too much moving around and changing game plans this year

I think that is a great point. We are going need help/depth at LB. Rabb and Grissett are more suited for that spot, IMHO.

I think it has to be tough for the guys to change defenses every year and change positions/play out of position so much.

I agree with an older post that McGee was stubborn with the offense but all over the place on defense.