Thoughts On The Defense

by Benno on Sep 27, 2011 3:08 PM PDT

From what I have seen over the first four games this year (three of which I have seen), we need to be playing the backup players more. The Cal game was a good example, as Kearse, Shirley and Gilliland all provided some plays for the team. At this time, there are only two players on the defense who should be out there for more than 70% of the snaps; Dennison and Trufant.

Here is how I see the rest of the Defense lining up:

DT - Ta’amu should be the third, but hasn’t provided the necessary disruption that he showed the last 4 games of last year. With Potoae, Shelton, Tokolahi and Lagafuaina, there is enough depth to man the 2 positions.

DE – Thompson and Shirley starting, but Crichton, Hudson should get serious playing time. Nobody is heads above anyone else right now. Jamora’s injury really hurts the team.

LB – Timu and Fuimaono have not filled the voids left by Foster and Aiyewa. Gilliland, Kearse and Tutogi should be seeing playing time (especially with Dennison banged up right now). I have to believe that the starters are better right now, but I don’t see a huge drop-off at these positions right now (excepting Dennison). Will Timu play, and if so how will he perform after the injury last week?

DB - Richardson is back to early form from last year. But Ducre is getting on the field and I hope the concussion doesn’t hold him back. Gobern and Peters I know nothing about.

Safety - The safetys are playing well, but there is quality depth there (Glenn/Fellner and Parker/Shamburger/Sample (if healthy).

Again, rotate the players in the game. It gives them valuable experience, and keeps everyone fresh throughout the game. This was a hallmark of the old Don James teams, where everyone got in the game.

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I agree with analysis. If D does not improve by year’s end would want new D coordinator. For the price we are paying Holt I would think we could get a coordinator from the SEC (where they do play defense) or an NFL coordinator. Holt makes a Hell a lot of money do not see it on the field.

by lorenzothedog on Sep 27, 2011 9:04 PM PDT reply actions

Not there yet

I’m not ready to jump on the Fire Nick Holt bandwagon. While I have not been happy with the production of the defense, we will have to see how it improves over the second half of the year. Right now this team is struggling with the big plays and no pressure from the front four. Things will balance themselves out by the end of the year. If they are still bad, Holt’s position should be re-evaluated. I’m expecting much improvement over the next 9 weeks.

Benno

by Benno on Sep 28, 2011 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice write up.

I agree, rotating in more players can only help. The current starters aren’t playing great, put some pressure on them by adding more competition and it will help keep the starters fresh throughout the game.

"Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."
"Legends are made on the shores of Lake Washington"

by Lear Pilot on Sep 28, 2011 6:55 AM PDT reply actions

Exactly

Competition is good. Look at Pete Carrol at USC, or for a different mentality (same approach) the Ducks. Get your players in, give them experience, and they will get better throughout the year. There are some players who grade well in practice, and other who grade well when playing. Coaches love when players do both, but tend to play players who practice well. But when there isn’t a clear cut pecking order, rotate players in. I was dissapointed the rotation wasn’t used more early in the year (or at least I didn’t see it) since those were (and will be) the games when we can use the 2-deep more freely.

Benno

by Benno on Sep 28, 2011 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I felt there was more substitution in the Cal game,

but will concede it might have been dictated by the early injuries. I saw combinations of Laga/ Shelton in for Taamu, ET outside with Potoae/Shelton at 3. Gilliland was in about as much as Fuimaono. Gobern played a lot rotating with Q. Playing time for the reserves is good but there is a reason they are reserves to start with.
IMO, Crichton needs to step up his contribution, hopefully the move back to weakside DE will allow him that opportunity. I like Andrew Hudson, but he is still very young. Watch Lagafuaina on the snap of the ball, his first move seems to be to stand up and fail to get the leverage by staying low.
It would have been nice to blow out EWU and get the reps for the young guys, but that didn’t happen. We are who we are for this year. But we are getting more depth each year and better talent.

by prrbrr on Sep 28, 2011 3:48 PM PDT reply actions

I saw more against Cal as well

But I question why there wasn’t more against EWU (didn’t see Hawaii). Nebraska was a game where you should lean on your best players. While I agree in principle that players are reserves for a reason, there are times when you need to rotate your players. It provides a break for players, a chance for a backup to get valuable experience, and there are times when you have a 1a and 1b (or 2a and 2b in some cases) situation. At this time I only see a few players who I don’t want to see leave the field (Dennison, Trufant). Ia 70% Chrichton better than a 100% Hudson? What about a 80% Fuimaono over a 100% Gilliland?

Benno

by Benno on Sep 28, 2011 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I think the plan was to get more guys in against EWU.

In the first game, you probably want to play your starters 3/4 of the game to let them work out kinks and get used to one another in game day situations and then let the reserves play. With the game so tight, it never allowed the reserves to get a shot. Same thing happened against Hawaii.
As it stands right now, reserves will probably not play wholesale as a unit unless we are getting really blown out (don’t see us routing anybody left), and that would probably be only for the last half of the 4th qtr. I think you will see more reserves playing in individual situations with the first unit maybe up to half the guys so as not to totally blow the lead.
I would like to play 1a, and 1b for their experience also, but there aren’t that many of those positions on this team right now. We do have many 2a/2b spots however. Like I said before, the reserves are reserves for a reason.

by prrbrr on Sep 29, 2011 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Interesting thought about EWU

I could see the coasches wanting to develop some cohesion in the teams, but I would still think a rotation would work better.

As for the lack of a 1a and 1b, I think I laid out who I thought were sold 1s on the team (Dennison, Trufant). Two who should have been 1s are/were injured (Ta’amu, Jamora). Who else doesn’t fit in the 1a/1b position? I haven’t been blown away by Timu & Fuimaono, Fellner/Glenn are now a push, and the D-Line has provided virtually no pressure. Parker may be the only other clear cut stater on the team.

Benno

by Benno on Sep 29, 2011 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions