Will the defense be better next year?

[kramer]

If all the players play this year will the drop off in talent/experience be made up for by the motivation/attitude of the new starters? How much will this defense improve or drop off from last year?

[gamecocks]

I think we will have an upgrade in team speed on defense which will help in a lot of ways. I think speed is the biggest thing that has changed on our team from the teams that won national championships.

[Pedro Guerrero]

Good defenses are built around speed and that is something we did not have this year. Hopefully the news kats coming in can change that. Crap did you see the speed at LB that USC had? It was unreal. Speed changes everything.

[Pedro Guerrero]

I think we will have an upgrade in team speed on defense which will help in a lot of ways. I think speed is the biggest thing that has changed on our team from the teams that won national championships.

You must of been typing when I was otherwise I would of just agreed with what you said.

[gamecocks]

Likewise!!!!!!

[hoyamannn]

Yep, the speed is what makes or breaks. We didn't have it this year.

 

Man, I just watched my 96 Title Game DVD again, and it's amazing to watch our D-Linemen run sideline-to-sideline with Florida's skill players. And if they do get the burst and get past Peter and Wistrom, then our LB's just blow them up. We need that back.

[rawhide]

I think a big part of this years D will be which player will step up to lead the team. The JUCO players will hopefully play a big part in filling the gaps left by graduation and leaving for the NFL. Maybe some of the freshmen will prove to be the next Fabian. The main thing is having guys with non stop motors. Like everbody has said, Speed is the name of the game. We had it in the past and can get it again. This year the D should be more cohesive with a stable group of coaches without major changes in philosphy. IMO the D should play the weaker teams much tougher and make a game out of the bigger challenges.

 

 

GBR

 

[Benard]

If all the players play this year will the drop off in talent/experience be made up for by the motivation/attitude of the new starters? How much will this defense improve or drop off from last year?

No not even close. Hard to be better when losing Ruud, Bullocks and fabain. Arguably are 3 best players on defense.

[Pedro Guerrero]

No not even close. Hard to be better when losing Ruud, Bullocks and fabain. Arguably are 3 best players on defense.

If the two new starters at DB can play man to man then it will be an improvement. J. Bullocks wasn't a man to man guy and Fabian looked lost this year. Hopefully whoever play ILB is better at pass coverage then Ruud. He was a stud against the run but struggled against the pass.

[formerfan]

With coz-worthless leading the way, and blake, elmo, busch, etc. I wouldnt expect too much improvement.

 

Hell, you could get bring in the Steelers D and they would play like crap for those guys.

[hoyamannn]

We'll be much better. Attitudes and athleticism will be greatly improved. We'll probably have DE's this year with more speed than our LB's last year.

 

Our weakness last year (LB and DL) should be more of a strength this year, and with added pressure on the QB our DB's should be able to make more plays like they did in 03. Having slow linebackers that can't effectively rush the passer OR provide decent pass coverage killed us this past year.

[formerfan]

We'll be much better. Attitudes and athleticism will be greatly improved. We'll probably have DE's this year with more speed than our LB's last year.

 

Our weakness last year (LB and DL) should be more of a strength this year, and with added pressure on the QB our DB's should be able to make more plays like they did in 03. Having slow linebackers that can't effectively rush the passer OR provide decent pass coverage killed us this past year.

I guess for your lb's to effectively pass the rusher, your D-cord would have to mix in a blitz or two in his package.

 

Coz-worthless has yet to set a gameplan that includes a good blitz.

[DaveH]

We'll be much better.  Attitudes and athleticism will be greatly improved.  We'll probably have DE's this year with more speed than our LB's last year.

 

Our weakness last year (LB and DL) should be more of a strength this year, and with added pressure on the QB our DB's should be able to make more plays like they did in 03.  Having slow linebackers that can't effectively rush the passer OR provide decent pass coverage killed us this past year.

I guess for your lb's to effectively pass the rusher, your D-cord would have to mix in a blitz or two in his package.

 

Coz-worthless has yet to set a gameplan that includes a good blitz.

I believe when it was all said and done we blitzed more this year than last. I can't remember where I read that. It clearly wasn't as effective though. I think Hollowell and Williams had a lot to do with it.

[hoyamannn]

I guess for your lb's to effectively pass the rusher, your D-cord would have to mix in a blitz or two in his package.

 

Coz-worthless has yet to set a gameplan that includes a good blitz.

I believe when it was all said and done we blitzed more this year than last. I can't remember where I read that. It clearly wasn't as effective though. I think Hollowell and Williams had a lot to do with it.

Yep, we did blitz more this year. Not very effective though when slow LB's are blitzing and getting picked up easily and the front 4 isn't getting thru. The great Bill Belicheck could have sent the blitz last year and it wouldn't have been effective.

 

I'm sure the coaches will be blamed when we lose and luck will be blamed when we start to win.

[DaveH]

Imagine what it would be like if we didn't HAVE to blitz to get any kind of pressure The blitz would be feared in that case as it is much more effective when LB's, saftey's and corners have lanes to blitz.