🏈 What are your thoughts on the defense?

PSU tried to call the game where it would limit our touches and give them the best chance to hang in the game. 283 yards isn't a whole lot considering their TOP and snaps they had. The secondary is improving and CNS has stated before that getting pressure on the QB doesn't always result in sacks. We got to him and he forced throws and plays were made. Mallett will be a tougher test but if they can't establish some type of running game, he'll be throwing from his back. The same can be said for Garcia at USCjr.
 
Very legitimate question by someone who doesn't pull for our team. I don't see why everyone needs to play billy-bad-a$$ and give him smart aleck comments.

I see the same things from Bama's defense that I saw a bit of last year and the year before that to start the season.....Some confusion at times over who is supposed to be where. This was apparant against Va Tech last year, early on in the game, and even Clemson grabbed a decent gain or two against us. Our defenses tend to come together and gel as the season goes along. Of course, trickeration and sneaky plays that are big gambles will sometimes get us, as they do about everyone. For instance, Auburn last year punched us in the mouth with a couple of unseen, tricky type plays and put us down early. Heck, I don't think we'd been on the field 2 total minutes with our offense when we went down 14-0. And then Auburn's last score last year was a bit of a big play, busted coverage-type play. But the x's and o's football is where we shine, and dominate.

If someone is going to beat Alabama, they are going to need a playbook full of trick plays designed to keep our offense off the field, and our defense guessing. Otherwise, it's 14-0 again.
 
While I would liked to have seen more sacks, Penn State's plan had something to do with our lack in that area. There were a lot of three step drops, and most times they were running two and three receiver patterns, thus keeping in extra blockers. I thought our defenders were well prepared for their screens. Robert Lester has really impressed me so far, especially since his early boo boo in game one. He is showing a knack for being in the right place. Kirkpatrick is making progress as a corner. I have been impressed with the linebacker play so far.

Its not yet up to the high standards of last year's defense, but in my opinion it will be right there by mid season.

No we are not as good as last year's defense yet, but we are getting better each week
 
Dang I hate to say this, but I wonder how much injuries took their toll Sat. night. I haven't gone back to watch the entire game yet, but I noticed Chris Jordan in an arm sling (shoulder injury) for much of the game. I don't know exactly when/how he got hurt. I also know Courtney Upshaw was limited and don't know how involved he was throughout the game.

Supposedly Menzie still isn't 100%, and I saw Milliner riding the bike much of the 2nd half. I feel like I'm missing at least one other defensive player. Of course injuries aside the one I missed most was Dareus. Am I putting too much stock into his absence? I don't know, but his presence can't hurt.

I won't lie and say I'm not concerned, but I won't gang up on our D just yet. I was disappointed at the lack of push by the D line and the options given to Penn State in the secondary, but even I find it hard to complain and/or panic with the type win we had the other night. I tried to enjoy the win to its fullest the other night and leave all that other stuff to the coaches.
 
BamaDelta said:
Dang I hate to say this, but I wonder how much injuries took their toll Sat. night. I haven't gone back to watch the entire game yet, but I noticed Chris Jordan in an arm sling (shoulder injury) for much of the game. I don't know exactly when/how he got hurt. I also know Courtney Upshaw was limited and don't know how involved he was throughout the game.

Supposedly Menzie still isn't 100%, and I saw Milliner riding the bike much of the 2nd half. I feel like I'm missing at least one other defensive player. Of course injuries aside the one I missed most was Dareus. Am I putting too much stock into his absence? I don't know, but his presence can't hurt.

I won't lie and say I'm not concerned, but I won't gang up on our D just yet. I was disappointed at the lack of push by the D line and the options given to Penn State in the secondary, but even I find it hard to complain and/or panic with the type win we had the other night. I tried to enjoy the win to its fullest the other night and leave all that other stuff to the coaches.
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They only allowed Upshaw to play some on obvious passing downs. Ankle was still bothering him.
 
I'm impressed with the athleticism, but the rawness is still showing, and seems a little prone to errors. Just doesn't have that swagger the '09 version had, which isn't to say they won't eventually get it.

Part of the reason the Piggies game worries me is that I feel like if they're going to put up a stinker (relatively speaking), they're going to do it early- if I had to put my neck on the line, I'd say the team loses one game this year (revised downward from my preseason assessment of two), and it will come from the three-week @Ark, Florida, @SCe stretch, and it will be because the offense scores a good few points but coughs up a turnover or two, whilst the defense is unable to stop a guy having a hot day on the other team's O.

With the talent these guys have, by the time we go to Red Stick I expect them to be clicking, and if not playing quite at the level of last year's D, then close enough that the veteran offense should be able to make up for it.
 
in short...we won by 3 TD's which is about what i expected....but i hate that we needed 4 TO's to do it. As Duder said about the AU-MissState game. It leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Yes you can spin it and say that our defense is so good that we forced the TO's....but i would still rather the other team punt.
 
Speaking of defense, does anyone have a pic or can tell me what player blew up the Penn State's center? I remember the ball being hiked and the center getting thrown into the backfield.
 
I think there were times where you could tell the defense was missing Marcel and Upshaw. Now, MD's suspension is officially over with. He should see some time Saturday vs the blue devils. I say some, because they will use him to get some game time under his belt (seeing as how he hasn't seen any since the National title game last season) then, after we have the game pretty well wrapped up, he will rest up for what should be an undefeated Arkansas team the following week. Upshaw on the other hand still worries me. I thought for certain he would have played last Saturday. He may be injured worse than they originally thought. But, at the very least, big MD is done with the suspension (as we are made an example out of by the NCAA once again) and is back now.
 
BAMAFSTBACK said:
Says the barner on a Bama board.
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm an Auburn fan and I'm on a Bama board--great observation. My point remains, you added nothing of value you to the thread and yet again, you have not done so. Have you not noticed three pages worth of responses of intelligent conversation regarding a legitimate question? If you think your brethren don't frequent other boards I suggest you do some research. Some of us are football fans and enjoy discussion with rival fans--note the use of the word discussion as that is why I am here, in spite of several here trying to flame me, I've yet to knock your school.

The finer points of discussion obviously elude you. I'm sure you'll have some well thought out response, much like your last two. Please know that you will not get a response from me. I'm not here to entertain fans unwilling or unable to discuss their team's strengths and weaknesses honestly.

Oiler, I think Dareus will play a good bit Saturday to try and get him back into game shape.

To those that have had concerns about the secondary, do you think having your best pass rusher back to put more pressure on the QB will put more pressure on your secondary as a corollary? Your pass rush as (in the highlights and what little bit of the games I've watched) looked pretty good as it is. Having Dareus back will only put more pressure on the QB. To an inexperienced QB that will mean terrible throws, missed reads, etc. If you run into a season QB that is able to pick up the blitz and check down to his hot routes quickly, would that expose any weakness the secondary may have?

I still think the secondary problems are most likely growing pains getting used to the speed of the game; there is certainly no lack of talent back there. I guess my thought is if the QBs have to make quicker throws it gives the defensive backfield less time to recover if they miss an assignment. That being said, have the DBs been beaten off the ball or is it further into the routes that you guys are seeing the problem?

I've seen in several responses to this thread a bit of concern about Ryan Mallett. And true indeed he has a cannon arm and when he has time he can pick you apart. I think Mallett is an example of a seasoned QB that CANNOT make the hots and will still make errant throws in the face of pressure so my question is not at all meant to imply that he will do any more damage. I ask your opinion about the pass rush/coverage thing because in watching Auburn's defense this year I've seen that come out a bit. When we have had a solid pass rush if the receivers were able to get a step at all off the ball our DBs didn't have time to recover from a bad decision and get back into coverage. Granted there have been a ton of blown assignments even without a huge pass rush but there have been times where our DBs made a mistake and were able to get back to their man before the QB threw it if he wasn't pressured.
 
Bama4life, the player in question that "blew up" the center was CJ Mosley. I watched the replay last night and noticed that. Imagine when that kid has had a full year or two to get in on the conditioning program with Scott Cochran.
 
I just wonder how many Razorbacks receivers are going to hear footsteps this year, they dropped an awful lot of passes last year against Bama. I'm not sure if Mallett has improved on his game in terms of what happens when he gets pressured.
 
uagrad93 said:
Bama4life, the player in question that "blew up" the center was CJ Mosley. I watched the replay last night and noticed that. Imagine when that kid has had a full year or two to get in on the conditioning program with Scott Cochran.
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Mosley looked very good. My opinion on the D is I think that they will progressively get better with each passing week....gametime experience.....getting used to the speed of the game etc. My concern is with both cornerbacks....both are in my opinion future all-americans but will take some time to develop. Arkansas will run up some pass yards im sure if we cant get to Mallet. Our run defense is fine....they might get burned from time to time over pursuing but other than that....solid play. Lester and Barron are very good...no worries there....both smart and athletic. This defense in November / December will be much better than today.....just my opinion..but probably better than or as good as last year. Alot of smart and athletic kids that just need sum experience.
 

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