The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Some interesting stats for our defense:

Points per play: Rank - 75...PTS - .392
Yards per play: Rank - 63...YDS - 5.3
Rushing YDS per attempt - Rank - 86...YDS - 4.7
First half points per game - Rank - 36...PTS - 10.7
Second half points per game - Rank 111...PTS - 19.7

My take away:

1. Our defense is clearly improved, and when adjusted for pace of play, is not very far below average.
2. Depth is clearly an issue. When we have had time to build the type of depth needed to play at the FBS level, we can expect a fairly reliable defense.

I am very pleasantly surprised with the improvement we have seen on this side of the ball this year. They clearly are not great, but I didn't think it would be possible to go from the worst defense in FBS, to just not that good in one year. So far, it appears that I am wrong.

(09-23-2014 08:26 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  This made me laugh so hard from pilotonline.

I am a resident of Larchmont. I can barely tolerate all no noise pollution for the evening games as it is. And you have the gall to start the game at 8pm Friday night?! I am not going to stand for the noise going on till midnight! I hope administrators will have the sense to tone down the loudspeakers and ask fans to control their voices or I'll be contacting the authorities if it gets out of hand. Some of us do need sleep.

Call the authorities. They'll be at the game too.

For what this is worth, CBS has ODU ranked 88 and MTSU ranked 86. ODU moved up 13 spots after last weeks Rice victory.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...gs/cbs/128

(09-23-2014 08:26 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  This made me laugh so hard from pilotonline.

I am a resident of Larchmont. I can barely tolerate all no noise pollution for the evening games as it is. And you have the gall to start the game at 8pm Friday night?! I am not going to stand for the noise going on till midnight! I hope administrators will have the sense to tone down the loudspeakers and ask fans to control their voices or I'll be contacting the authorities if it gets out of hand. Some of us do need sleep.

I saw that, too. "Hey, you kids! Get off my lawn!" Must be some old guy who graduated from JMU!

(09-23-2014 04:47 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(09-23-2014 06:21 AM)BigBlueBobby Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 08:55 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 07:07 PM)BigBlueBobby Wrote:  ODU 48 MTSU 54 we still can't tackle! Arm tackling just doesn't get it at this level.

I guess we are not watching the same games. One of the things that has impressed me this year is how good the tackling has been.

Your right, we're not watching the same games. ODU does a lot of "arm" tackling and that is why the opponents break a lot of tackles and why we couldn't stop Rice at the end of the game. Thank goodness we got the ball last! That isn't the way to play football! The proper way to tackle is to put your shoulder into the ball carriers stomach, wrap your arms around his body and put him on the ground. For the most part, we don't do that nor have we ever done that and that is why we keep replacing our defensive coordinators each year. Why do we recruit defensive players that are not fundamentally sound? I coached 13 year olds for 10 years and every practice we worked on proper tackling. You didn't see Butkus or Karras or Huff arm tackle!

Thanks for sharing "the way to play football" coach. How much time did you spend scheming for opponents with those 13 year olds? Were any of them 210 pounds and running 4.6 40s? Were they being leaned on by guys who outweighed them by 50 pounds for 3 hours in 100 degree heat with 90% humidity. Were you and you opponents running 80-90 plays per game. Did you win 77% of your games at a division 1 football startup?

130 lb weight limit! I didn't recruit any of them and none were on scholarship! But they at least were fundamentally sound with football (tackling!). Ask the Green Run head coach back in the 80's (Tommy Rhoads) how good they were when they reached high school! An oh yes, we won 7 out of 10 city championships.

So it appears the answer to all of the above is no.

(09-23-2014 07:38 PM)BigBlueBobby Wrote:  

(09-23-2014 04:47 PM)Monarchblue Wrote:  

(09-23-2014 06:21 AM)BigBlueBobby Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 08:55 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  

(09-22-2014 07:07 PM)BigBlueBobby Wrote:  ODU 48 MTSU 54 we still can't tackle! Arm tackling just doesn't get it at this level.

I guess we are not watching the same games. One of the things that has impressed me this year is how good the tackling has been.

Your right, we're not watching the same games. ODU does a lot of "arm" tackling and that is why the opponents break a lot of tackles and why we couldn't stop Rice at the end of the game. Thank goodness we got the ball last! That isn't the way to play football! The proper way to tackle is to put your shoulder into the ball carriers stomach, wrap your arms around his body and put him on the ground. For the most part, we don't do that nor have we ever done that and that is why we keep replacing our defensive coordinators each year. Why do we recruit defensive players that are not fundamentally sound? I coached 13 year olds for 10 years and every practice we worked on proper tackling. You didn't see Butkus or Karras or Huff arm tackle!

Thanks for sharing "the way to play football" coach. How much time did you spend scheming for opponents with those 13 year olds? Were any of them 210 pounds and running 4.6 40s? Were they being leaned on by guys who outweighed them by 50 pounds for 3 hours in 100 degree heat with 90% humidity. Were you and you opponents running 80-90 plays per game. Did you win 77% of your games at a division 1 football startup?

130 lb weight limit! I didn't recruit any of them and none were on scholarship! But they at least were fundamentally sound with football (tackling!). Ask the Green Run head coach back in the 80's (Tommy Rhoads) how good they were when they reached high school! An oh yes, we won 7 out of 10 city championships.

You guys knock it off... lets not ruin a good week of afterglow with a bunch of back and forth horse$hip

(09-23-2014 07:38 PM)BigBlueBobby Wrote:  ! An oh yes, we won 7 out of 10 city championships.

Hey guys. I look forward to the game. I'm quite disappointed I will not be able to make the drive down from D.C. due to some family obligations. I was very much looking forward to seeing what you guys were building down there. I had been looking forward to this one since I learned we would be in the same conference together. Maybe things will work out two years from now.

Anyway, I agree with the sentiment. Defense was supposed to be the strength of our team this year, but so far they have not performed up to the expectations most had. That said, I don't think a shoot out is all that improbable. One thing I expect us to correct is we have come out very flat in the first half in our first two road games and I believe there is going to be a signficant focus on changing that by coming out strong, hitting hard and getting after Taylor early and often.

Prediction: Middle Tennessee jumps out to a huge lead early 21-0 in the first quarter. Lead 31-14 at the half and then Taylor goes to work. We flip roles instead of playing good in the second half we play poorly allowing ODU to get back in it. ODU ties the game 41 late in the 4th quarter. Last team with the ball wins.

(09-24-2014 03:22 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  Hey guys. I look forward to the game. I'm quite disappointed I will not be able to make the drive down from D.C. due to some family obligations. I was very much looking forward to seeing what you guys were building down there. I had been looking forward to this one since I learned we would be in the same conference together. Maybe things will work out two years from now.

Anyway, I agree with the sentiment. Defense was supposed to be the strength of our team this year, but so far they have not performed up to the expectations most had. That said, I don't think a shoot out is all that improbable. One thing I expect us to correct is we have come out very flat in the first half in our first two road games and I believe there is going to be a signficant focus on changing that by coming out strong, hitting hard and getting after Taylor early and often.

Prediction: Middle Tennessee jumps out to a huge lead early 21-0 in the first quarter. Lead 31-14 at the half and then Taylor goes to work. We flip roles instead of playing good in the second half we play poorly allowing ODU to get back in it. ODU ties the game 41 late in the 4th quarter. Last team with the ball wins.

Interesting scenario, and Lord knows I have been wrong before, but I really do not see you jumping out to a 21 point lead. It very well could be a shootout, but I'm seeing ODU holding you guys to four scores, three TDs and a FG. Final score, 45-24, ODU wins.

Yeah I don't remember the a time since we've started football that we've been completely shutout in the 1st quarter.

(09-24-2014 03:53 PM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  Yeah I don't remember the a time since we've started football that we've been completely shutout in the 1st quarter.

The homecoming against Villanova maybe? I remember after that game people were complaining our offense had finally been figured out.

(09-24-2014 04:01 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(09-24-2014 03:53 PM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  Yeah I don't remember the a time since we've started football that we've been completely shutout in the 1st quarter.

The homecoming against Villanova maybe? I remember after that game people were complaining our offense had finally been figured out.

Nope. We led 14-3 at the end of the 1st quarter. I thought it was going to be business as usual, then we didn't score, again.

(09-24-2014 04:04 PM)LuckyLion Wrote:  

(09-24-2014 04:01 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(09-24-2014 03:53 PM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  Yeah I don't remember the a time since we've started football that we've been completely shutout in the 1st quarter.

The homecoming against Villanova maybe? I remember after that game people were complaining our offense had finally been figured out.

Nope. We led 14-3 at the end of the 1st quarter. I thought it was going to be business as usual, then we didn't score, again.

Yeppers.
'Nova pulled back into what essentially was a 3-8 prevent, and shut us down.

Three deep and five in man under and we were dead. TH would kill that now, but teams that Spring new concepts on him have been successful. He's seen them all by now.


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(09-24-2014 04:18 PM)ODUR8R Wrote:  Three deep and five in man under and we were dead. TH would kill that now, but teams that Spring new concepts on him have been successful. He's seen them all by now.


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Plus, we run well enough now that we would kill those sorts of schemes on the ground.

Yes our 3 headed speedy, shifty ,running back by committee is something that we never had before. It is like it's own mini me track team.

(09-24-2014 03:53 PM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  Yeah I don't remember the a time since we've started football that we've been completely shutout in the 1st quarter.

It's only happened 3 times since we started back up in 2009...and we won all 3 games.

2009 - Jacksonville, won 28-27
2009 - Presbyterian, won 34-16
2010 - Georgia St, ugh, won 34-20

There were also 3 games where we only scored 3 pts in the first qtr

2010 - Jacksonville
2010 - Monmouth
2013 - Maryland

All other games have been a TD or better in the first quarter

It is all about time management. If we stay with the pass, and score too fast, we will see a tired defense in the second half. Ball control time may be more important than scoring quickly.