Defensively dumbfounded

[gators4224]

Is it just me or is anyone else confused by all these new defensive schemes we see from collins and even saw under muschamp. To me, I enjoy seein a 4-3 defense. I think if you have the right players and depth this style can be played against many teams without really having to adjust much. It seems like we've gotten away from this and we've implemented different schemes that are more or less confusing to me, and not necessarily better than a standard 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

 

[TheDouglas78]

Is it just me or is anyone else confused by all these new defensive schemes we see from collins and even saw under muschamp. To me, I enjoy seein a 4-3 defense. I think if you have the right players and depth this style can be played against many teams without really having to adjust much. It seems like we've gotten away from this and we've implemented different schemes that are more or less confusing to me, and not necessarily better than a standard 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

Havent' had the players to play a true 4-3 or 3-4 in some time due to lack of bodies at DT and Linebacker. Muschamp recruited those areas poorly. And the first two recruiting cycles McElwain has also not done the best job. Which is why two big bodied DT's was an excellent get in the last week.

 

[chferg]

Last yeah we ran a hybrid due to lack of #'s at LB...

I think as the #'s improve you are going to still see a 3-4 hybrid

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

The more offenses start running these spread schemes, the fewer linebackers you can play. 4-2-5 is becoming standard now that we're seeing lots of 4- and 5- wide offenses as opposed to the traditional I-formation or pro sets we used to see. That's also why teams like Alabama just recruit monstrous running backs, so all they have to do is get to the second level and they have a bunch of DB's trying to tackle them.

 

[SGG]

It's just you.

 

[rogdochar]

Is it just me or is anyone else confused by all these new defensive schemes we see from collins and even saw under muschamp. To me, I enjoy seein a 4-3 defense. I think if you have the right players and depth this style can be played against many teams without really having to adjust much. It seems like we've gotten away from this and we've implemented different schemes that are more or less confusing to me, and not necessarily better than a standard 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

...now which is it, more confusing or less confusing ?
[ Sorry 4224, for going gnarly-gnat on you. Maybe you just got flea-dipped by a flea ?]

 

[gators4224]

...now which is it, more confusing or less confusing ?
[ Sorry 4224, for going gnarly-gnat on you. Maybe you just got flea-dipped by a flea ?]

I think alot of it has to do with our personnel. When's the last time we've been able to stop the run consistently and imposed our will. When we face teams like LSU(fournette), BAMA( any one of their huge rb's) even tenn(hurd) they often times beat us at the line of scrimmage when we have to go to more traditional sets

 

[Concrete Helmet]

recruit monstrous running backs, so all they have to do is get to the second level and they have a bunch of DB's trying to tackle them.

Oh yeah baby, big powa football at it's finest. Hopefully we're gonna be doing the same ourselves...

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I think alot of it has to do with our personnel. When's the last time we've been able to stop the run consistently and imposed our will. When we face teams like LSU(fournette), BAMA( any one of their huge rb's) even tenn(hurd) they often times beat us at the line of scrimmage when we have to go to more traditional sets

Never mind what LSU and Bama did, I think Michigan's equipment manager had over hundred rushing yards on us....Lack of true ass kicking 240-250# LB's have been the biggest problem compounded by lack of space eating NT/DT types on the line. If you recall in 2012 we had Bostic-250, Jenkins-240, and McCray-245 at LBer most of time and a pretty good defensive line which could play 3 or 4 down sets.

 

[GatorJB]

Our true base defense last year was the nickel because of lack of LB depth and more teams are playing 3 or 4 WR sets. It worked because we were very deep in the secondary, but we struggled against very good running teams like LSU and Bama. UT's only success was running the ball last year too.

I expect we'll still play lots of nickel this year, but I'm sure the coaches want to play more 4-3 and 3-4. That is evident in the new DT's they brought in for next year. Hopefully the LB's will stay healthy this year so we won't be forced to play nickel when we didn't need to be like last year.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Yeah, it all boiled down, as others have said, to being too damn soft up the middle. Neither 3-4 nor 4-3 works with a bunch of 240-250 lb linemen and 215 lb outside linebackers or walkons playing inside.

Picking up some big beef will help.

I have been seeing many teams playing 3-3-5 with 3 huge linemen (NT/DT types, not 240lb DE/LB hybrids like we have). If you have the personnel it can be a great system. The problem with most 4-3 weak ends is that most are speed rush specialists and can't defend the run. We have a bunch right now.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

Never mind what LSU and Bama did, I think Michigan's equipment manager had over hundred rushing yards on us....Lack of true ass kicking 240-250# LB's have been the biggest problem compounded by lack of space eating NT/DT types on the line. If you recall in 2012 we had Bostic-250, Jenkins-240, and McCray-245 at LBer most of time and a pretty good defensive line which could play 3 or 4 down sets.

Although your comments are accurate regarding inside size, the reality of the bowl game was simply the fact that the defense was not ready to play and they got clobbered. Everyone in the stadium knew what Michigan was going to do but our guys were too busy interviewing agents to focus on the game.