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The Defense is a MAJOR area of concern...

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This topic really needs it's own thread…so I am creating one…after yesterday, it is once again confirmed that simple is often better.

Here's my starter chum from first half of the OU game, and copies of other's post therafter:

Rick said

The defensive scheme needs to be simple, and stay simple - period.

Our two best years (Jovan Dewitt, and Chris Kiffin) we ran simple schemes…every time we get the "guy who is aggressive and runs a complex scheme" as a defensive coordinator we lose - big.

Need to let that soak in…
Posted On: Sep 1st 2018, 1:25 PM #379946

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Roscoeowl said

Well I already had my doubts about our DC hire and his schemes.  Reminds me a lot of Belantoni, looked a lot like it today too.  What's worse is they could have easily permanently implanted our D in some embarrassing record books if they didn't call off the dogs in the 2nd qtr.  

Also, like someone else said.  I thought we were keeping the super up-tempo we had last year with a twist of Kiffin injected into it.  Getting the play called and the ball snapped before the d could even get set was what demoralized d's we ate up last year.  We just looked like every other spread somewhat up-tempo out there today.  

I dont think a lot of people(me being one of them) realized how much effect losing Briles,  Chris and our O line coach would have on our product on the field.  I know it's still early and all and they were more athletic, yadda yadda yadda but dam*, today was absolutely pathetic.
Posted On: Sep 1st 2018, 11:45 PM #380042
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Local Owl said

On page 19, d-owl has a long post. But the last sentence is the most important. He said this loss was on the staff as much as the players. We were ill prepared.The losses of Briles, Kiffin, Justice, and who ever else was evident. Someone else stated that installing a complicated D hasn't worked at FAU. Let me tell you why. Our HS's in south Florida simply turn the kids lose. Play. Don't think. I think the DC for  the canes has the most simplified system you can have. Don't hand cuff the athletes. I wanted to hear Al-Shires name 20 times yesterday. I never heard the name Young. Our kids looked out of sorts yesterday. I know they are better. It's up to the coaches to put them in a position to succeed. Not to hand cuff them with too many rules and responsibilities.
Posted On: Sep 2nd 2018, 8:27 AM #380052
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owlcountry40 said

I have been worried about this “multiple” aggressive d all off season.
It’s what Roc ran basically.
Those runs up the middle look familiar?  
Yesterday I saw DE way out of position in running plays.
Safety’s no where to be found or taking poor angles.

Also Lane said all camp the hardly went live to keep guys healthy and it showed.
Posted On: Sep 2nd 2018, 8:43 AM #380054
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OwlPT15 said

The defense looked exactly like what we used to see a few years ago. I think Oklahoma is probably the most talented and well coached offensive team we have played in quite some time, but still we didn't do anything well. I didn't expect a win but I was surprised that we weren't able to show anything on national television. The lack of continuity on the coaching staff is a much bigger issue than people wanted to believe. I think Conference USA is still ours for the taking but the team I watched yesterday is not in the same league as Oklahoma and that is unfortunate.
Posted On: Sep 2nd 2018, 8:58 AM #380056
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DeltAlumnus said

How the defense looked is very worriesome. Hopefully it looks much better against C-USA competition. If we play like this UCF will wax ya like Oklahoma did. 
Posted On: Sep 2nd 2018, 9:11 AM #380059
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Tackling (or really the lack of) seemed like an epidemic in lots of the games I saw all weekend at every level.  While nobody likes a beatdown like that, I think this is more the "letdown" of thinking FAU was a top-25 team over anything else.  OU is going to make a whole bunch of defenses look like a Jr. High JV squad.  The way it ended up, I am not sure the Owls could have had a worse opponent to start other than maybe the UCF team that is on the schedule in a couple of weeks (that could be another "ouch" if there isn't a significant change in preparation).

OU wanted to use the first half as a statement and then coasted.  If the same FAU team shows up against the Knights, they will use the entire game so they can bolster their ranking with style points.

Right now I just hope the entire team isn't demoralized to the point that AF comes in here and makes them look silly.  A complex defense that blitzes and over-pursues is the ABSOLUTE last thing you want against a triple option team, where the defense has to play very disciplined and assignment defense.  Will the DC (or Lane) be able to make a shift in scheme and style quickly to prepare for that?
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We just played the BEST O in football so it has to improve. AF does NOT have the size or speed of OU and their D did not get tested at all by playing FCS Stony Brook. The season begins now OWLS!
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owlsdad said

 Right now I just hope the entire team isn't demoralized to the point that AF comes in here and makes them look silly.  A complex defense that blitzes and over-pursues is the ABSOLUTE last thing you want against a triple option team, where the defense has to play very disciplined and assignment defense.  Will the DC (or Lane) be able to make a shift in scheme and style quickly to prepare for that?
Posted On: Sep 2nd 2018, 9:51 AM #380074
It's on the coaching staff to get their mentality right after a beatdown like that. It's inevitable that players will be demoralized after being on such a winning high for so long. Robison had this game penciled in for a year. The staff should be able to get it right for next week.

The D is a concern. Most of these same defenders had a real tough time in 2016 playing a style similar to what we saw and will see with the new coach. Chris really complemented their skill set well last year, and essentially the same group played a style that seemed to fit them and they performed well. Yesterday was a throw back to 'same ol' FAU' defense that, for example, gave up 77 to WKU at home. Honestly, Air Force is a real concern from a defensive standpoint given what I saw yesterday.
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There is a real need to simplify in order to stop Air Force. Getting fancy against the option attack of Air Force can cause a lot of problems. It is best to have very basic assignments and stick with them. Hopefully the defensive playbook gets trimmed down to just the basics. If not, it could be a long game for the Owls.

GO OWLS!!!

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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