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(01-12-2022 06:11 PM)eroc Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 11:45 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 09:47 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Yes, I think that's the way to go...the bigger issue to me is the fact that we ran a 4-4 against Navy the last time we played them and basically ground them to a halt, but thought we could get away with a 3-3 this year and almost got nipped for it. I don't care if we're 3-3 stack, 4-3, 4-2-5, etc...my biggest issue is that we ran base so damn much and just relied on the talent gap that there was almost nothing new to scheme against for most teams in the later half of the year. We need to be more multiple now in order to keep teams off balance, seeing as how our talent gap on defense vs. most of our opponents' offenses is no longer anywhere near as large.

I think it's more of an implementation issue than an alignment. Everyone's base defense is some sort of nickel yet even when we were getting plowed in the run game vs Tulsa and Bama we didn't bring safety's up into the box. How the front 6 breaks down doesn't really matter to me; if you're not willing to bring 7 and 8 into the box occasionally. You could go 5-1-5 and it doesn't really matter if the back 5 are all staying back. I listened to Joel Klatt on Ryen Rusillo's podcast and he was very critical of Fickell being willing to sit back and die a slow death without making them testing the corners.

i listened to that pod as well and was nodding my head in agreement. Some are phrasing it as playing not to lose. Honestly, i would phrase it as playing not to get blown out. i have my qualms with that but whatever my qualms, we closed the season as the #4 team in both the AP and the Coaches poll. i don't know if that happens if we take chances and, likely, get our doors blown off for the non-zero chance of winning. Coach Fickell is building something. While i wish we emptied the chamber, results be damned, i can't argue with #4 in the nation.

Well said. Almost like “building the program” strategy. Don’t do anything to lose the chance for the quarterback and the cornerback to both get drafted in the first round, and keep the game close to sell it to potential recruits. Taking one for the team for the long run.