State of Alabama defense

[gymcoach]

I keep seeing people talk about the tackling problem being contributed to wet players. Sorry, I don’t buy it. We were always taught to get our heads in front and wrap. Not saying to lead with the crown. I see our players, and other teams too, continue to try to grab. Unless the guy is running away from you or you are tied up there is no reason to grab. You have shoulder pads use them!! Yes, wet jerseys will cause missed tackles if you are grabbing but if you use your pads and wrap you don’t have issues with wet uniforms. The wet uniforms is a excuse for poor form by 85-90% of our players tackling. Drive through the guy!

And I will add “WANT TO” goes a long way in tackling.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Okay, one more of many one more final thoughts - the mush rush is a failure. Time for Saban to realize it and throw it in the dumpster. Most teams do not do this. Alabama started doing it because of the Manziel game. It is time to stop. It does not work.

THIS! Oh man I can't agree more

 

[TIDE-HSV]

And I will add “WANT TO” goes a long way in tackling.

Coaching football is so easy...

 

[The Ols]

And I will add “WANT TO” goes a long way in tackling.

I think part of it is that they all "WANT TO" get on ESPN with a big hit, not a tackle...
I hate to say that, but I think that there's a little truth in there...

 

[GrayTide]

IIRC, "the mush rush" was implemented by Alabama when we played Florida and Tebow was their QB. That has been a few years ago.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Great discussion. I think it boils down to we simply got Kiffined in Oxford the other night. Lane fundamentally knows our defense and drew up a brilliant plan with some pretty good weapons. He played his part perfectly as a 23 point dog at home and left us with a whole lot of consternation in a win that feels like a loss. We'll be aight. Got the feeling we'll play our best game of the year in Tuscaloosa come Saturday.

 

[B1GTide]

IIRC, "the mush rush" was implemented by Alabama when we played Florida and Tebow was their QB. That has been a few years ago.

I think that my point was that it does not work unless the QB is almost no threat with his arm, and a huge threat with his legs. When you have a QB who has great "escapability" and is a solid threat to run and pass effectively, forget the mush rush. Go after the QB. Do not try to contain him - try and sack him. Do not build a pocket and attempt to force him to pass from within that contained pocket. Get after him.

Tebow as taylor made for the mush rush. He was a far greater threat as a runner. Corral, Manziel, etc. are not. First, because you really cannot contain them. They will slip away if you let them and buy more time for their receivers to get open. Second, they are very capable passers. Even if you do contain them, they can throw the ball all over the field on you.

 

[CoachJeff]

IIRC, "the mush rush" was implemented by Alabama when we played Florida and Tebow was their QB. That has been a few years ago.

Are you sure about that? Mush rushes are generally used against scramblers. Tebow was a great runner, but he wasn't as great of a scrambler. I know Bama used it against Manziel, but I don't remember any cases before that.

 

[B1GTide]

Are you sure about that? Mush rushes are generally used against scramblers. Tebow was a great runner, but he wasn't as great of a scrambler. I know Bama used it against Manziel, but I don't remember any cases before that.

A few posters have said that it started with Tebow. I don't remember, personally. I first remember it featuring prominently against aTm with Manziel.

 

[DogPatch]

I think part of it is that they all "WANT TO" get on ESPN with a big hit, not a tackle...
I hate to say that, but I think that there's a little truth in there...

More than a little. You can tell by the showboating after routine plays.

 

[gman4tide]

All im gonna say is when the only time the OM O failed in first half was due to a bad snap...an adjustment is warranted. Stunts, lb blitzes, some zone coverages...something different.

 

[DogPatch]

As I read through the entire thread, two things come to mind.

1. This is Saban's defense.
2. He has lauded Golding for his football acumen.

Building on those two, and given the problems that this defense has seen in the middle of the field and with RBs coming out of the backfield for years, I believe it's a schematic problem that Saban has been, and may still be, too stubborn too address.

Given the amount of man coverage we play, and how many teams today vs. five years ago have 4 or more receivers running routes on every play, as many have said, it may be time for a defensive overhaul.

 

[TitleWave]

A horrible stat in which we're dead last in the nation - 3 and outs...

SDS

As rejiggered by the CFB Coaches Resume Service exclusively for G(e)lding's CV:

• Led a defensive unit to the most porous if not industrial-strength sieve of a third-down scheme in FBS even with an array of 4- and 5-star players up front and at the second level.

Perfect for the Big 12 school that thought for a fleeting instant they might want to play actual defense with 1- and 2-stars only to be disavowed of the notion after, like, the first quarter of the first game and thus opted not to renew the quote-unquote defensive coordinator's contract and go back to their MO of No-D by bringing in a new undefensive coordinator, who would be G(e)lding.

 

[GrayTide]

I may be wrong, but I thought that the mush rush was designed to basically surround the QB and not run past him in the rush and leave holes in the pocket which somebody like Tebow was more than capable of taking advantage of. Basically surround the pocket and make him pass.

 

[colbysullivan]

I may be wrong, but I thought that the mush rush was designed to basically surround the QB and not run past him in the rush and leave holes in the pocket which somebody like Tebow was more than capable of taking advantage of. Basically surround the pocket and make him pass.

You’re correct. They talked about it quite a bit during the 2009 SEC championship.

 

[imauafan]

I may be wrong, but I thought that the mush rush was designed to basically surround the QB and not run past him in the rush and leave holes in the pocket which somebody like Tebow was more than capable of taking advantage of. Basically surround the pocket and make him pass.

Yes it was implemented against UF in 2009 after we had so much trouble trying to contain him in the 2008 SECCG. I thought we had scrapped it around the time Smart left and I don't think we've used it since. I actually thought we should have used it Saturday night the way Corral was getting away from the pass rush.

 

[B1GTide]

Yes it was implemented against UF in 2009 after we had so much trouble trying to contain him in the 2008 SECCG. I thought we had scrapped it around the time Smart left and I don't think we've used it since. I actually thought we should have used it Saturday night the way Corral was getting away from the pass rush.

You did use it Saturday. Watch the game again.

 

[colbysullivan]

You did use it Saturday. Watch the game again.

It’s ALL we did on defense, we never tried anything else with the exception of a Surtain blitz. Maddening.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

As I read through the entire thread, two things come to mind.

1. This is Saban's defense.
2. He has lauded Golding for his football acumen.

Building on those two, and given the problems that this defense has seen in the middle of the field and with RBs coming out of the backfield for years, I believe it's a schematic problem that Saban has been, and may still be, too stubborn too address.

Given the amount of man coverage we play, and how many teams today vs. five years ago have 4 or more receivers running routes on every play, as many have said, it may be time for a defensive overhaul.

I agree...................

 

[Cruiser]

Have not read the whole thread; but just heard Bama "D" has the worst 3 and out percentage in the country, 9%. NEVER thought I would hear that stat??