Can the defense get better this season, or will it have to be addressed in the offseason?

[bamaga]

Wow, new world.

I dont expect that to happen . Pointing out The absurdity that it is a possibility. Given CKD’s recruiting chops on the West. Coast, , its not unPossible

 

[Ledsteplin]

Keenan (320 lbs) returning certainly helps. And freshman, London Simmons (303lbs), is looking good. He's learning the ropes quickly. Losing Beamon for the season hurts. Hopefully the coaches find a way to make it work.

 

[gtgilbert]

UT and UGA were able to play 4 DL and still get pressure on the QB regularly..this is where we need to improve. If our front 3/4 could stop the run and push the line back it would really help. UGA just muscled UT on one drive all the way for a TD...we haven't shown any ability to stop that type of pure OL push.

a vast majority of teams are playing a 4 man line these days. It's much more the norm than an odd front.

 

[gtgilbert]

Our softness up the middle isn’t always the DL. Many time our MLBs fill incorrect holes, take poor angles, and/or do not attack and simply allow the ball carrier to attack them. The DL is supposed to eat up blocks and allow LBs to flow to the run. This doesn’t allways happen. I have seen improvement, but we have along way to go.
recently it seems our best defense is to score so many points that our opponent gives up on the run

The DL eating blocks used to be the case in the old saban scheme where we preached the 2 gap technique, but I think with the new coordinators, I think the DL at supposed to be attacking a single gap, with the LBs and at least one Ss also having a gap responsibility.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

Keenan (320 lbs) returning certainly helps. And freshman, London Simmons (303lbs), is looking good. He's learning the ropes quickly. Losing Beamon for the season hurts. Hopefully the coaches find a way to make it work.

Faga is quietly making a name for himself. Look for him to start next season along with Simmons.

 

[Tidewater]

One weakness that - in my estimation - can't possibly be addressed in-season is the dearth of experienced size that we have in the middle. While the swarm concept is completely capable of working on 1st Down as well as 2nd/3rd and medium/long, at some point, you've got to have some beef that you can put up front on 2nd/3rd/4th and short. Whether it's due to injuries, recruiting, or both, we are sorely lacking that true inside presence that can stuff the run on downs when you know it's coming.

Maybe we could move Proctor over from o-line to d-line. He seems quite hefty.

 

[AWRTR]

Maybe we could move Proctor over from o-line to d-line. He seems quite hefty.

Not sure he’s got the foot speed for it or for LT for that matter.

 

[TDBama78]

Maybe we could move Proctor over from o-line to d-line. He seems quite hefty.

Not mean enough or quick enough, maybe on goal line at nose tackle

 

[AlexanderFan]

Better tackling would make a noticeable difference in the statistics. Guys have gotten away behind the line of scrimmage a lot.

 

[colbysullivan]

The NCAA Division I Council approved emergency legislation allowing for immediate eligibility for undergraduate athletes transferring after a head coaching change.

• This rule grants an immediate 30-day transfer portal window for players on a team experiencing a coaching change, such as UCLA, to enter the portal.

How it Applies to UCLA Players

• Following the firing of DeShaun Foster, UCLA players are now eligible to enter the transfer portal immediately under this rule.
  
  
• They can transfer to a new school and become eligible to play right away, assuming they meet academic progress requirements at the new institution.

I’m pretty sure this doesn’t mean during the season.

 

[arthurdawg]

We just need more dudes in the middle. Beaman and Keenan were both bigger. Hill and Fagia are just smaller guys. If the big JUCO guy can learn the ropes he is a monster.

Our edge guys are impressive athletes, need them to continue to improve on the "making the big play" issue.

And as pointed out, MLB needs to be sharp. It seems like Jefferson is a heat seeking missile, but just doesn't always hit the right gap.

 

[bamaga]

Maybe we could move Proctor over from o-line to d-line. He seems quite hefty.

The only offensive lineman I see that has the athletic ability to play defensive line is Carroll. But then we will be losing our future left tackle.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Faga is quietly making a name for himself. Look for him to start next season along with Simmons.

I hope he does well. I'd like to see him gain a few pounds. He's at 296 lbs.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

I hope he does well. I'd like to see him gain a few pounds. He's at 296 lbs.

he actually moves quite well at almost 300 lbs. he came in around 260 lbs and has gained good weight while adding strength and keeping his agility.

 

[BAMARICH]

As I've watched three games, the defense (compared to the FSU game) has "improved". But even with their improvement, it seems we are still "soft" between the tackles against the run. I'm not sure if some of this has to do with the scheme (which I'm still not overly impressed with), personnel, or a combination of both.

I just wonder how much improvement we can realistically expect this season before we reach a point where we just say, "This is who we are this season."? Thoughts?

IMO, we'll improve some more, but it'll take the offseason to improve on a massive scale. Specifically, it'll take a few guys coming in via the transfer portal.

 

[bamadwain]

We do need to beef up on the line, what aggravates me is 2nd or 3rd and say less than 3yds we go with two lineman instead of 4 daring them to run inside, as far o line , we are a pass first team so these guys automatically are going back on their heels so we have no push in the run game because they are used to going back to pass protect

 

[Bamabuzzard]

IMO, we'll improve some more, but it'll take the offseason to improve on a massive scale. Specifically, it'll take a few guys coming in via the transfer portal.

And hopefuly DeBoer realizing we can't survive in the SEC with "smaller" defensive linemen. Yes, we need defensive speed, but there will always be a need for big space eating DT's in the middle.

 

[TideMan09]

It's getting there & looks too be understanding their role in this style defense..

Our defensive players are reacting too plays or anticipating as the plays unfold, which allows for our defense too play in top gear at all times..

It's a fun defense too watch, the more reps they get, as the keep.improving hopefully..

 

[gtgilbert]

We do need to beef up on the line, what aggravates me is 2nd or 3rd and say less than 3yds we go with two lineman instead of 4 daring them to run inside, as far o line , we are a pass first team so these guys automatically are going back on their heels so we have no push in the run game because they are used to going back to pass protect

technically, we are going with 3 DL and then the 'wolf'. It's really not that different from what Saban ran with 3 DL and a Jack/Sam LB. the only real difference in the front is that our new look has the bandit DE style player who is somewhat smaller but is still a DL. A VAST majority of teams run a 4 man front like this and the only variation is in the 'wolf' type and whether he's more big OLB, or if he's a pure WDE. Most of our great OLBs from the last several years were really DEs (with a little extra flexibility in what they could do) and that's where they end up playing in the NFL.