🏈 does the Bama secondary change?

[jdpas29]

it's scheme or personnel to avoid having the seccg resemble the lsu game defensively?

you could visibly tell our guys were frustrated, and, of course, mett had a magical day a la garcia 2010. sometimes it's just hard to defend that when a qb is that "on". but there were a ton of plays where there was not a defender within 3-4 yards of the player catching the ball... sometimes more. especially #80 on their team who seemed to be uncoverable for most of the night.

do you guys think we will see different personnel, alignment or scheme changes to deal with Murray's passing game?

i think getting some pressure on him regularly would be crucial. from my recollection fla did that pretty well, but we didn't get to mett that much and when we did he still had just enough time to throw. maybe uga's line is < lsu's to such an extent that we can get pressure with 4-5 rushers. that would be nice.

 

[Bamadrill]

IMO, I think Kirby did not have them properly prepared for the LSU or A&M game. I think the "D" had the "Big Head Syndrome"

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

it's scheme or personnel to avoid having the seccg resemble the lsu game defensively?

you could visibly tell our guys were frustrated, and, of course, mett had a magical day a la garcia 2010. sometimes it's just hard to defend that when a qb is that "on". but there were a ton of plays where there was not a defender within 3-4 yards of the player catching the ball... sometimes more. especially #80 on their team who seemed to be uncoverable for most of the night.

do you guys think we will see different personnel, alignment or scheme changes to deal with Murray's passing game?

i think getting some pressure on him regularly would be crucial. from my recollection fla did that pretty well, but we didn't get to mett that much and when we did he still had just enough time to throw. maybe uga's line is < lsu's to such an extent that we can get pressure with 4-5 rushers. that would be nice.

I think all your points are spot on. Ultimately, this defense is young & they got a wake up call to practice perfection or they'll get beat. Losses do that to young teams, that pay attention.

Also, I find myself constantly comparing this defense to those on last years team or even 2009. This team IS NOT either one of those. They may be at some point later but not now. The offense must do their part, or more than accustomed, in the next 2 games!

 

['65 Cobra]

The biggest problem I saw with LSU and TAMU was that the QBs had way too much time. We were not getting good contained pressure. That, in turn, exposed some secondary problems. For example, Vinnie was out of position several times.

BUT, there was also a good bit of missed tackling going on, and some laziness in coverage. I think all these things are fixable. Let's hope CNS and CKS come up with the right blend of game plan and motivation to fix the problems with only a week to prepare.

 

[0LDSCH00L]

Most of the problems that I have noticed have happened when there is little or no pressure on the quarterback. Let's face it even Ronny Lott or Dion Sanders couldn't cover someone if the opposing QB has from 8 to 10+ seconds to find an open receiver.

Having said that, we have had some broken and/or loose coverage in some situations this year at least compared to previous years.

 

[TerryP]

Out of all these thoughts on this defense, I've only seen one person come close in my opinion. And, Cobra didn't hit it, just hit the symptom.

The biggest problem I saw with LSU and TAMU was that the QBs had way too much time. We were not getting good contained pressure. That, in turn, exposed some secondary problems. For example, Vinnie was out of position several times.

BUT, there was also a good bit of missed tackling going on, and some laziness in coverage. I think all these things are fixable. Let's hope CNS and CKS come up with the right blend of game plan and motivation to fix the problems with only a week to prepare.

Everyone here knows we play a nickel defense almost 75-80% of the time.

A true nickel is defined how? Five defensive backs with three corners, two safeties, right?

What have we been playing? Five defensive backs with three safeties and two corners.

Ole Miss exposed it. Miss State tried to attack it. LSU attacked it and had success but didn't get the win. A&M attacked it and got the win but not solely because of that lineup.

If you are an offensive coordinator watching film and see three safeties and you don't put a slot receiver in a one on one against that third safety you should be fired. It's simple football.

The advantage of that match-up only came to fruition against A&M. But, it wasn't simply that match-up. It was also the point when we pressured Johnny he had the ability to make some very dynamic plays.

Now, after A&M put 20 on the board we switched our scheme. Milliner took Vinnie's spot in the that fifth back role and Fulton was put in on the corner. They had some success on Fulton. But, Fulton also grew up a lot that afternoon as well.

We need cornerbacks!!!

Approaching Georgia we aren't going to change our nickel look. We'll see CJ on the field more than we did against LSU because UGA doesn't have the bruising offensive line LSU fields this season.

Do we go with three corners or three safeties? There's where I find the biggest question mark.

NOW, let me add one thing to this. When we moved to three corners against A&M it was putting more speed on the field. UGA doesn't present the same threat as the Aggies.

 

[UAgrad93]

A problem that we have had has been that we have been playing a 3rd safety in our nickel and dime packages. This has meant often moving Vinnie or another safety down to cover a slot wr. It took until the LSU and A&M game for someone to pick up on it and exploit it. When Travell Dixon, the JUCO signee, didn't pan out; it put us in a bind. The hope was for Dixon to be the next DeQuan Menzie to fill in the Star or Money position but it didn't happen. The younger corners were struggling with simply learning their own position to comprehend the Star and Money too. That was and is the problem when it has come to our defense in a nutshell. We had survived with one of our safeties on a TE but when the opponent placed another wr there, we were exposed.

 

[Bamabww]

We were not getting good contained pressure. That, in turn, exposed some secondary problems. For example, Vinnie was out of position several times.

I've wondered if Vinnie, who has shown can't cover the slot receivers very well at all, is on the field because he can read the offense better than most of our defensive players. If that is true then he can help make the right calls with Milliner, Mosely or whoever else does that. I noticed against the barn and WCU he was on the field with the 2's and 3's I think for just that reason. Probably something he picked up from dad. What do you think?

 

[JoshB]

Same reason Nico stays on the field with the 2s & 3s imo

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I've wondered if Vinnie, who has shown can't cover the slot receivers very well at all, is on the field because he can read the offense better than most of our defensive players. If that is true then he can help make the right calls with Milliner, Mosely or whoever else does that. I noticed against the barn and WCU he was on the field with the 2's and 3's I think for just that reason. Probably something he picked up from dad. What do you think?

I agree, and that's why I think we blitz him more than any other DB. He's a smart, tough nosed ballplayer who is really more rover/small LB in skills than a coverage safety. Smart is using him when he is a strength. As some of our more athletic safeties (Ha-Ha, Collins) become more capable in read and respond, I wonder if Vinnie's playing time will decline, or at least plateau.

Changing the subject, does Sal return to our staff?

Good conversation and thoughts, guys.

RTR,

Tim

 

[JoshB]

I would think going from D-Coordinator back to LB Coach would be seen as a demotion to him, plus who knows the new Tennessee coach may want to keep him around.

 

[Houndstoothpuller]

I hope our defense will be let off the chains this weekend, early in the game.
Murray needs a Bama blitzkreig facial.
His rhythm should be our #1 enemy.
We can beat them by beating Murray up front, not from the d backfield. Attack.

Bama does not want to be in a shootout with anyone, imo, so attacking their shooter is the better way, not defending against his bullets. He's gonna make some passes, but so are we.
Who's going to run the ball and keep the other shooter off his gun, that's the question to me.

 

[bamatommy]

If you are an offensive coordinator watching film and see three safeties and you don't put a slot receiver in a one on one against that third safety you should be fired.

:td:

 

[PhillyGirl]

During the LSU and A&M games, the CBs and safeties looked really over-matched, size-wise and speed-wise. Especially in the A&M game. We got picked apart, and it was ugly. We have not had a legit challenge since A&M, which worries me. The last real game we won (the last real challenge we won) was LSU almost a month ago. It's basically been a vacation since though obviously Saban does not run that kind of ship haha. Aaron Murray is talented but he throws the ball a LOT. He is no superstar though, so I think we will not be picked apart anywhere near as easily as Manziel did to us. Once Johnny got that momentum going, he would not be stopped. If we can shut down Murray early on and maybe get a key INT or fumble (or 2, or 3, or 10 ..), we can control this game.

 

[bamaraider]

I wish Kirpatrick would have returned, him and Dee covering...man..

Still a very young secondary though, our d-line has not been generating pressure to help them...Really missing Nick Gentry and Upshaw on 3rd down...