8 Comments

  1. Philly Frog

    All hail the 1-1-9 Angry Bird defense.

    It only works if you have a 400-pound 1-tech, however.

  2. Davey OBrien

    OSU got shredded by OU for 300+ yards on the ground in their 3-man front and I thought they were much better defensively when they ran a 4-man front. I understand the desire to throw multiple looks at the offense and I understand how difficult it is to find good defensive tackles, but when you have an above average front four which they had last year I really think you weaken your defense.

    If the hole idea is to try to create free defenders and you have four defensive linemen who can tie up five offensive linemen and free your linebackers and safeties why go away from it?

    I think Patterson has deviated too far from his base in playing his ends out way too wide and I think we see a change back to a base front. Not so sure it is a bad thing for the Big 12 is OSU goes to the 3-3-5.

    • ianaboyd

      3-3-5 is good if you have lots of sturdy, versatile DL but lack the edge guys that can dominate or lack a really good anchor tackle.

      They just lost a really good 3-technique and might feel like this is an easier system to recruit to or just better suits the current roster.

      They’re bringing back 3 DEs that played a lot last year so what happened last year isn’t a great metric for this coming year.

      • Davey OBrien

        I keep going back to something told to me by a friend who is a college offensive line coach who when I first me him years ago was a high school defensive coordinator. His believe is most college defenses get beat before the snap because their defensive coaches don’t put them in the best situations to succeed. Sounds simple, but his point is too many defensive staffs rely on gimmicks, tricks, and stunts that put their players in bad situations where they are destined to get beat before the snap. Best example to me is what Mike Stoopes’ defense was doing against Texas the past few years. The only way Freeman wasn’t going to gain yardage on some snaps was if he ran into his offensive line or fell down. OU was out of place and combined with bad fundamentals couldn’t stop a thing.

        Based from what I have heard and discussed with friends who coach the basics are still the key. It is critical each snap the defense get in proper alignment each snap, they are not asked to do anything they can’t do, they recognize, and they execute. All coaching cliche’s but again all too often their own coaches put them in situations to fail. Another example to me was when Patterson the past year would have his defensive ends line up 3-5 feet outside the offensive tackle. They were there covering up for other players, but it basically made the DE’s ineffective in the pass rush and almost impossible to support the run. TCU’s base defensive concepts were to take away the inside run on first and the short throws to the outside receivers. They went away from that for a variety of reasons and it killed them last year.

        Go back to what my friend the o-line coach told me. Best way to attack an offense is to control the interior offensive linemen. I you can limit their effectiveness in the run game and provide pressure in that area in the passing game.

        Game of football has and still centers around controlling the LOS. Most of the major changes we have seen offensively center around getting the defense to over compensate one way or another. It isn’t any thing new and we you address a weakness you can’t expose yourself. OSU weakened the best part of their defense last year against OU and got ripped. They might have three very good DE’s but in a three man front they have new responsibilities and in some ways are more limited than in the even front where in the past they have been allowed to attack off the edge.

        It takes courage to stand by your base principles and tweak them instead of overhaul your defense. I think it hurt Stoopes and it hurt Patterson. Two guys who made their reps with defense.

  3. Travis

    Good post, Ian.

    I think you hit the nail on the head for Baylor’s D: finding a good Strong Safety is going to be key.

    Taion Sells played boundary safety under Phil Bennett, and played pretty well when he got in (he was stuck in a battle with Orion Stewart). But he’s always been more of a downhill guy, explosive and quick, but i’m not sure how he’ll hold up in man-coverage. I do wonder if Travon Blanchard comes back whether they’ll use him as a SAM or a SS.

    Davion Hall has serious potential as a Free Safety.

    • ianaboyd

      Oh yeah, if they get Blanchard back I think he’d be a great candidate for that SS spot. Last I heard there were charges pressed against him but it was more of the same in regards to the previous charge that a lot of people didn’t think would hold him out for the fall.

      I’m sure Baylor will be very cautious here since it’s an allegation of violence against a woman.

  4. Philly Frog

    I’ve always liked that Owens kid for the Cowboys. Frogs lost a good one when he flipped. Plays a little like Stansley Maponga did.

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