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So after three games to assess, IMHO here is the core problem with the UAB defensive scheme run by this coordinator.

This simplistic defensive scheme only works if a team has superior talent to the opponents.

The talent gradient between Lipscomb and other high schools blinded this staff to the portability of their defensive scheme. It’s predicated on most of your players being the bigger and better athletes than those in the other color jersey. I suspect that the unrealistic SEC type talent pool recruited to Lipscomb biased and confused Dilfers ability to assess Sione’s skill as a DC. He did not recognize the uniqueness of his deep talent differential.

But Dilfer is smart and this morning he now knows that he cannot successfully replicate the Lipscomb defensive strategy in the American Athletic Conference. UAB doesn’t have superior talent, or in some cases even equivalent talent. I anticipate that he will learn and adapt and eventually be successful at UAB, but the price of that lesson will be a lost season for the fans and seniors, and some difficult decisions ahead for him as a leader.

UAB probably has only one game this year where our talent is uniformly superior to the opponent and we won that game but struggled a bit on defense.

What should have been a 6 win UAB bowl team, assuming a solid DC with a collegiate defensive scheme, will win only 1 to 3 games.

But again, I expect Trent to learn and adapt quickly, but painfully.

Blaze on.

Offense & Special Teams need to stop getting a pass too tbh, we're currently #96/133 in red zone efficiency

The difference is that I can see the offense being effective, particularly as the OL gels and spends time at the training table and weight room. At least after the playcallers get the cute ideas beaten out of them.

The defense and special teams have been wretched.

I've enjoyed time in a dentist chair more than I did the game last night.

The offense had a tough night, QB sacked 7 times and harassed all night, several TO's and still managed almost 400 yards which is a miracle with their level of OL play. I am not worried about the offense. It will be really good in time.

The scheme has little to do with simple tackling. In most cases we have guys at the point of contact, they just don't/can't make the tackle. Our DLine don't generate the push required to rush the opposing QB and the linebackers don't step up in the gaps well either. Maybe the coaching staff is working with what they have and this year will be what it is and we'll have to see how the his recruit grade out in the next few years.

Nailed it KD.

(09-17-2023 02:47 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  The scheme has little to do with simple tackling. In most cases we have guys at the point of contact, they just don't/can't make the tackle. Our DLine don't generate the push required to rush the opposing QB and the linebackers don't step up in the gaps well either. Maybe the coaching staff is working with what they have and this year will be what it is and we'll have to see how the his recruit grade out in the next few years.

But as stated earlier, we have more returners on Defense than we do offense: Swoopes, Bratton, Fish, Joker, Fairbanks, Mac, Miller Twins, Dempsey, Eason. All of those player started or got meaningful reps last year. Yes we lost 3 key players on defense, but we didn't replace everyone. Defense has lost its aggression. While yes I hated all the penalties the defense would get, especially on 3rd and long, but at least they were feared and mauled offenses and were all over the ball.

(09-17-2023 03:19 PM)blazerblazer Wrote:  

(09-17-2023 02:47 PM)kdblazer Wrote:  The scheme has little to do with simple tackling. In most cases we have guys at the point of contact, they just don't/can't make the tackle. Our DLine don't generate the push required to rush the opposing QB and the linebackers don't step up in the gaps well either. Maybe the coaching staff is working with what they have and this year will be what it is and we'll have to see how the his recruit grade out in the next few years.

But as stated earlier, we have more returners on Defense than we do offense: Swoopes, Bratton, Fish, Joker, Fairbanks, Mac, Miller Twins, Dempsey, Eason. All of those player started or got meaningful reps last year. Yes we lost 3 key players on defense, but we didn't replace everyone. Defense has lost its aggression. While yes I hated all the penalties the defense would get, especially on 3rd and long, but at least they were feared and mauled offenses and were all over the ball.

During the Clark era our defense was known for trying knockout punches (not wrap ups) and it worked for the most part during that era. The left over guys may not have been the guys that were good at that sort things so they need to wrap up to be successful. At any rate if the scheme is good enough to get the players in position for the tackle, then what's left is on the players not the scheme.

I don’t think the defensive scheme is simple. I think it’s the opposite. I think we are trying to be very multiple with lots of different coverages and fronts and we have a lot of people thinking instead of reacting. That explains why players seem hesitant sometimes and why are DBs and linebackers sometimes look like they are lost.

(09-17-2023 03:27 PM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  I don’t think the defensive scheme is simple. I think it’s the opposite. I think we are trying to be very multiple with lots of different coverages and fronts and we have a lot of people thinking instead of reacting. That explains why players seem hesitant sometimes and why are DBs and linebackers sometimes look like they are lost.

agree with this

(09-17-2023 11:33 AM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  Offense & Special Teams need to stop getting a pass too tbh, we're currently #96/133 in red zone efficiency

Didn't TD say before the season that he's not going to have a special teams coach? If so, that's obviously a big mistake.

(09-17-2023 05:15 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(09-17-2023 11:33 AM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  Offense & Special Teams need to stop getting a pass too tbh, we're currently #96/133 in red zone efficiency

Didn't TD say before the season that he's not going to have a special teams coach? If so, that's obviously a big mistake.

I was thinking Gilstrap was also assigned ST's.......may be wrong.

(09-17-2023 06:08 PM)Bham Blazer Wrote:  

(09-17-2023 05:15 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(09-17-2023 11:33 AM)Auburn_Blazer Wrote:  Offense & Special Teams need to stop getting a pass too tbh, we're currently #96/133 in red zone efficiency

Didn't TD say before the season that he's not going to have a special teams coach? If so, that's obviously a big mistake.

I was thinking Gilstrap was also assigned ST's.......may be wrong.

Correct and both of his assignments happen to be the worst coached on the team