We need more Freshmen starters on Defense...can’t get any worse!

heversle

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Seniority playing a factor in who starts is now totally irrelevant. The defense has been unbelievably poor this season, effectively minimizing and now squandering the efforts of a potentially all-time great offense. Our secondary is mediocrity personified. Elam and Shawn Davis have played decently enough to keep their jobs. Stiner and Wilson should be benched in favor of Trevez Johnson and Jaydon Hill. Johnson showed me more in his one TFL today than Stiner has in an entire season. Hill has also had good moments at times. Brad Stewart forced a turnover before Moon knocked him out of the game, but he is a starter when healthy.

The defensive front is not very good. Slaton just isn’t very stout and leaves a lot to be desired. Dexter will be a star, but he is still learning to be an every down SEC DT. Dunlap is just a guy. Cox has been effective as a pass rusher at times, but can’t seem to set the edge very well. Moon is just OK. Bogle would have helped us today. Not sure what’s up with Kyree Campbell’s unavailability...

The linebackers are average at best outside of Ventrell Miller. Way too many missed tackles. As good as Diabate was last year, he seems to have taken a step back. Houston and Brunson are inconsistent. Would like to see more out of Burney...very disappointing thus far. I want to see what the Freshman Wingo can do with some PT.

I’m not sure why the defense has regressed to this point, but I would rather see a youth movement then endure the nonsense we are currently witnessing. Time to go back to the drawing board or else jobs should be on the line.
 

Swamp Donkey

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but I would rather see a youth movement then endure the nonsense we are currently witnessing. .
There is no help on the bench. A couple of DTs who will be ready i a few years and some safeties we hope grow into LBs.

It would be nice to have another 2 gap plug like Slaton up front, even if it is a converted OL, but that just isnt Grantham ball. He pretty much concedes the run in order to have a blitzing team.
 

Renard904

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The front 7 is what it is, but I’d like to see the secondary revamped. We’ve been recruiting 5-10 DBs a year. Should be able to find a few that gives effort.
We don’t recruit DTs or ILBs so not sure we even have bodies to replace the starters with.
 

TN G8tr

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No sense in wasting time. Get the younger guys ready to play. Wilson and Stiner absolutely awful. I would love to go back (if I could stand to watch) and see how many of the TD were on Wilson.
 

Tunaboat

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Maybe this team should go down in history as somehow being ranked #4 while fielding a Pee-Wee league defense.
This season is gone - play the young guys.
 

GatorJB

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There is no help on the bench. A couple of DTs who will be ready i a few years and some safeties we hope grow into LBs.

It would be nice to have another 2 gap plug like Slaton up front, even if it is a converted OL, but that just isnt Grantham ball. He pretty much concedes the run in order to have a blitzing team.

Screw Grantham ball. Convert a big backup O-lineman to DT for the year, and have the kids plug up the middle. I guess Mullen forgot the success we had when Meyer did that with one of the Pounceys.

Also, practice tackling in practice. It's clear this isn't practiced enough, if at all. If a guy tries in practice to tackle without wrapping up, then run him til he pukes.
 

Double Gator Dad

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Seniority playing a factor in who starts is now totally irrelevant. The defense has been unbelievably poor this season, effectively minimizing and now squandering the efforts of a potentially all-time great offense. Our secondary is mediocrity personified. Elam and Shawn Davis have played decently enough to keep their jobs. Stiner and Wilson should be benched in favor of Trevez Johnson and Jaydon Hill. Johnson showed me more in his one TFL today than Stiner has in an entire season. Hill has also had good moments at times. Brad Stewart forced a turnover before Moon knocked him out of the game, but he is a starter when healthy.

The defensive front is not very good. Slaton just isn’t very stout and leaves a lot to be desired. Dexter will be a star, but he is still learning to be an every down SEC DT. Dunlap is just a guy. Cox has been effective as a pass rusher at times, but can’t seem to set the edge very well. Moon is just OK. Bogle would have helped us today. Not sure what’s up with Kyree Campbell’s unavailability...

The linebackers are average at best outside of Ventrell Miller. Way too many missed tackles. As good as Diabate was last year, he seems to have taken a step back. Houston and Brunson are inconsistent. Would like to see more out of Burney...very disappointing thus far. I want to see what the Freshman Wingo can do with some PT.

I’m not sure why the defense has regressed to this point, but I would rather see a youth movement then endure the nonsense we are currently witnessing. Time to go back to the drawing board or else jobs should be on the line.

I will take a pass at your comments

I agree completely on the DB’s it’s time for a youth movement. Nothing to lose.

I think Slaton has played pretty well. He’s the only DT playing that is big enough. Opponents know this and double team him regularly

The only other legit DT is Campbell and my understanding is that he has academic issues which is inexcusable when you have your own cache of tutors

The DE’s each possess one pass rush move that can easily be seen on film and addressed. Nobody fell for Cox’s cute little swim move yesterday because they have eyes that can watch film

I think you are being too kind to the LB’s. They’re awful period. This is what happens when you refuse to recruit the position for 2 years. Brunson and Burney are not SEC caliber players period.

Diabate was playing a different position last year where he was primarily a speed rusher only. He’s being asked to play OLB this season and he’s clearly not ready
I agree that a youth movement needs to happen to include the defensive coaching staff but I realize that no meaningful changes will be made
 

soflagator

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Keep Davis, Slaton, Elam, Carter(at his actual position), Cox(at his actual position) and Miller. The other positions are all up for grabs. Can Grantham and let Gray take over as an interim.

Also, if guys like Hopper are still not ready, find out who recruited and is in charge of developing them, and send him packing as well. May as well get Wingo out there too. There are no redshirts anymore and as I said last week, what on earth could possibly be worse than what we’ve seen? Unless they change the value of a TD to 10 points if given up by a freshman, we have literally nothing to lose.
 

Swamp Donkey

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I

I think you are being too kind to the LB’s. They’re awful period. This is what happens when you refuse to recruit the position for 2 years. Brunson and Burney are not SEC caliber players period.

Diabate was playing a different position last year where he was primarily a speed rusher only. He’s being asked to play OLB this season and he’s clearly not ready
I agree that a youth movement needs to happen to include the defensive coaching staff but I realize that no meaningful changes will be made
I agree completely.

There really are no OLBs in our "3-4", on 99% of plays. The Rush backer usually has his hand in the dirty and rushes even when he does, and the Sam linebacker is swapped w a nickel corner most of the time.

it's just a huge transition to move guys like Diabate and Burney to inside linebacker. I believe either could play outside linebacker and a real 3-4 or maybe a true strong safety.

this defense is so gimmicky there just aren't many positions for some of these guys.
 

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