I find it ironic there's not a question about players execution of the responsibilities in your questions much like there's no mention of that when people are pointing fingers.
Since we're veering back to Ole Miss a bit here you've made a good point. Realistic is a word missing.
Ole Miss receiving corps > Tide secondary when it comes to talent. Experience is on their side, no doubt. They have a talent edge with Yeboah and Moore. Older, more talented players make plays. But no we're getting into a pet-peeve of mine. The inability of a lot of Bama fans to admit an opponent just made the play.
Yeah, I believe all the questions I asked pertain to why and how defenders are better executing their responsibilities in more recent games
as opposed to the early games. Most any answer could be true I suppose, just like almost anything in life is possible, but some things are highly unlikely. One possible answer could be because of better communication on defensive calls, between press box, to the sideline, and onto the field.
If I remember correctly, you had said that communication was a problem with our last DC, ( his name escapes me) who was let go and went to the NFL Browns. I think you said, as that season progressed, CPG had been making most of the D calls then.
I can't pretend to know the reasons for better D play, but I can't believe the D team would just start being in a better position to make plays. To play faster, to be more mentally into the game and do their job and to tackle better without somebody coaching better, explaining to the players in easily understandable fashion, or making some reads and responsibilities a little more simple.
I am usually not one to knock someone or point my finger. But I am a believer that the buck has to stop somewhere and CPG is the DC. I also think he has coached inside LB's since he has been there. I might be wrong there, let me know. The point I am trying to make is that for the past couple or
three years, our LB's seem to be out of position many times, to make the play before 7,8, 10 yards or more are gained on a running play. Or not to cover a tight end or forget that RB can be an eligible receiver out of the backfield.
It's a little bit funny, some people seem to think that all coaches coach and teach at the same level. They don't. Who can say for certain how good CPG is compared to other DC's at Ga, Clemson, or Ohio State or any other schools. The coaching profession is just about like all other professions. CPG is probably better than some and not as good as others. Some lawyers are better than others, same with ditch diggers and doctors and all professions, trades, crafts and levels of skill of everyone.
It could be that better D play could be because of the difference in defending more modern offenses ( Ole Miss ) as compared to more old school offense like Ga or Tenn runs. You have pointed that out Terry P, I believe, and that could very well be the main reason why our D has played better as of late.
I do know that RPO's are the demons of DC's and players. Maybe coaches will be able to learn as they go, on how better to defend RPO's.
But it will probably take a rule change that will not allow OL down field before meaningful advances are made in defending them.
No, I don't have the answers, only questions. I suppose there can be many answers to every question I have posed and any number of them
could be the correct answer, or not.
