dirk put it together. 19 missed tackles for a total of 172 yards after the missed tackle.
So, UCLA still would have gained 400+ yards on us...
...that suggests a superior scheme, coupled with the element of surprise (due to a lack of film), talent, and team speed.
It's a good thing that, for our next opponent, we aren't facing a new coach with good team speed, talent, and a dual threat quarterback...all of which we have zilch for meaningful film on.
Otherwise, we could very well see a similar outcome to the UCLA game.
maybe - some of those were 3rd downs which would have resulted in punts...but instead ended up being another 30 yards with a score. in any other game 172 would have been significant. That's about what Alabama allows for an entire game...and that's just what we gave up on missed tackles.
Exactly - and several of them were behind the line of scrimmage. Potential 5 yard losses turned into 20+ yard gains, which is the case every time a Pelini D faces a mobile quarterback. You can look back to two or three missed tackles behind the line (at least 2 by Whaley) that would have changed the game, and instead turned into big gains and eventually points for UCLA.
Look back at our good defenses in '09/10 and you'll see Gomes playing alongside Dillard and David. All three had speed and could cover RBs and WRs. Our front four wasn't much better in '10 than they are now, they just had time to get to the QB because our LBs weren't getting burned. We'll never be able to match up with Compton and Whaley on the field, and our slow D will continue to be taken advantage of.
