WE CHANGED DEFENSIVE STRATEGY !

[JR4AU]

You pretty much said that most fans are dumb asses, but you know what you are talking about....so I said I would shut up and let you talk, because you like to let people know how smart you are. You probably got the tone right, but it was your assumptions and comprehension that fucked you all up...

No, I didn't say that, you took it that way.  Fact is, most fans are not dumbasses when it comes to knowing something about football, but they are largely ignorant about coaching, Xs and Os, and the like.  There's a difference in stupidity and ignorance.  And that ignorance is ok.  They're not coaches, and most never played beyond HS, if at all.  I do know a little more than the average fan because I see to it that I do, and I coach a little too, and I also realize that most fans are happy in their ignorance, which again, is ok.

[Snaggletiger]

Not getting in the middle of this little point/counterpoint exchange...but WE knows just a touch more than he's letting on.  He may look ignorant....

I'm the average fan out there.  Like many, played some ball in high school and follow it with a passion...too much passion some times.  I've said several times that my brother in law has been a high school coach around here for a long time but I usually bring that up to point out that I really don't know jack shit about X's and O's like I would like to think I do.  He's been a head coach for many years and spent the last few as the defensive coordinator at a 5A school here.  We watch a lot of AU football together and it became readily apparent to me early on that I watch the game as a fan.  He watches from a coaches standpoint.  I say that was a great throw and catch.  He says it was inevitable with the way the linemen were slanting and they continued to bring pressure from the corner every time we were in that particular set. ( I have no idea what the fuck I just said)  But, you get the picture.

Obviously, teh X's and teh O's get more complex with each progressive level of play and I would imagine in the SEC, it can get pretty far out there. I recall going to a practice several years ago and wondering why the hell Muschamp was talking Chinese to his players. 

[JR4AU]

Not getting in the middle of this little point/counterpoint exchange...but WE knows just a touch more than he's letting on.  He may look ignorant....

I'm the average fan out there.  Like many, played some ball in high school and follow it with a passion...too much passion some times.  I've said several times that my brother in law has been a high school coach around here for a long time but I usually bring that up to point out that I really don't know jack shit about X's and O's like I would like to think I do.  He's been a head coach for many years and spent the last few as the defensive coordinator at a 5A school here.  We watch a lot of AU football together and it became readily apparent to me early on that I watch the game as a fan.  He watches from a coaches standpoint.  I say that was a great throw and catch.  He says it was inevitable with the way the linemen were slanting and they continued to bring pressure from the corner every time we were in that particular set. ( I have no idea what the fuck I just said)  But, you get the picture.

Obviously, teh X's and teh O's get more complex with each progressive level of play and I would imagine in the SEC, it can get pretty far out there. I recall going to a practice several years ago and wondering why the hell Muschamp was talking Chinese to his players. 

Yep! 

And back to the original point.  While the article has some merit in it's base about having complimentary schemes, it was apparent, even to "the ignorant fan" that Auburn's defense suffered from a lack of talent, and fundamentals.  I'm sure a scheme change and philosophy change played in to it, but it was still largely talent and techniques. 

[No Huddle]

You can use a swarming defense against the option. When they say your responsibility they mean the ball. You have the dive, you have the QB, you have fast pitch and you have slow pitch. The rest of the defense is coming but these people are used to make sure the play does not pop for a big gain. I do not like tackling the ball. A good sure tackle will result in getting you defense off the field.

[JR4AU]

You can use a swarming defense against the option. When they say your responsibility they mean the ball. You have the dive, you have the QB, you have fast pitch and you have slow pitch. The rest of the defense is coming but these people are used to make sure the play does not pop for a big gain. I do not like tackling the ball. A good sure tackle will result in getting you defense off the field.

I dont know for sure that's what Roof coaches, just that I've heard that.  IF he does, and last year's tackling is the net result, I concur...I'd rather get the turnovers naturally occurring than try to force them while missing tackles. 

[Jumbo]

You can use a swarming defense against the option. When they say your responsibility they mean the ball. You have the dive, you have the QB, you have fast pitch and you have slow pitch. The rest of the defense is coming but these people are used to make sure the play does not pop for a big gain. I do not like tackling the ball. A good sure tackle will result in getting you defense off the field.

I blitz a lot when I play Ncaa football.

[JR4AU]

I blitz a lot when I play Ncaa football.

Bobby Bowden says: "when you blitz, somebody's band is fixin' to play!" 

[War Eagle!!!]

I blitz a lot when I play Ncaa football.

I bet you get your ass whipped by Navy...

[JR4AU]

I bet you get your ass whipped by Navy...

The man coverages SUCK on NCAA Football. You man up, you'll get your ass beat 8 ways to Sunday.

[wesfau2]

The man coverages SUCK on NCAA Football. You man up, you'll get your ass beat 8 ways to Sunday.

Speaking of...

When does the new edition of this game come out?

[JR4AU]

Speaking of...

When does the new edition of this game come out?

Usually in July isn't it?  July 13th according to the innerwebs.

[wesfau2]

Usually in July isn't it?  July 13th according to the innerwebs.

Thanks for being my little google monkey.

[CCTAU]

I say that was a great throw and catch.  He says it was inevitable with the way the linemen were slanting and they continued to bring pressure from the corner every time we were in that particular set. ( I have no idea what the fuck I just said)  But, you get the picture.

If you coach like the average fan watches, one play at a time, you are probably losing a lot of games. Offensive football is all about setting up the next play. Or several different combinations of plays, depending in the success of the next play. And most coaches always tend to coach toward that play that their players execute best. Fans see the end result or lack thereof. Think Nallsminger for lack thereof.

[JR4AU]

If you coach like the average fan watches, one play at a time, you are probably losing a lot of games. Offensive football is all about setting up the next play. Or several different combinations of plays, depending in the success of the next play. And most coaches always tend to coach toward that play that their players execute best. Fans see the end result or lack thereof. Think Nallsminger for lack thereof.

Yep, and you also must run some plays that are not your bread and butter, but desinged to keep defenses honest.  A good OC has to factor in a certain number of these plays, that usually are not productive in the sense of gaining yards or scoring points, but facilitate the the running of his "bread an butter" plays.

[No Huddle]

Yep, and you also must run some plays that are not your bread and butter, but desinged to keep defenses honest.  A good OC has to factor in a certain number of these plays, that usually are not productive in the sense of gaining yards or scoring points, but facilitate the the running of his "bread an butter" plays.

Very true and a good OC will find certain plays that will work one week and not the next. The plays are not drawn in the mud or anything but used against certain coverages and what not. I will even say your "bread and butter" could change slightly from week to week. In real football or NCAA I play zone all over the place. I will blitz but zone behind. As an offensive guy any defense you run has a hole. the job is to find it quick and hammer it time and time again.

[jmar]

 I posted this topic knowing it would get a rise. Mr. McGrady basically wrote an apology while offering nothing to support this new strategy. And most of us are in agreement about his anti-swarming, new tackling technique/ approach angles, ball stripping comments.

 My defensive knowledge is limited to high school too, but defense is reactionary, fundamentals and technique are stock, even if a coordinator sees the need to back off at a given stage of a game. We had a base defense that ran stunts and blitzes. Staying at home was merely protecting your area. And we stripped the ball after the ball carrier was stood up. Swarming was expected.

 McGrady describes this as if it were a hockey defense, defending a power play, bend but don't break. There might be something to meshing a defense with a hurry-up offense, but it cannot be considered a change in "fundamental defensive philosophy."  The article was nicely written, but it was style without substance.