Our Defense is Broke, Mon...

[Danny Bateman]

Where do you even begin to fix this defense this week on the practice field? It was kind of mind boggling to me last night as I thought about where you'd even begin. I'd imagine it's going to start with one hard-ass film session. I figured this thread would be appropriate since we have so many threads about the offense, Beck, Martinez vs. Carnes, etc... and not so many about the defense. Sure, a few ripping on the secondary and Fisher in particular, but I'm curious what you as a coach would actually do in the situation.

• I'd think some pieces would need to be shuffled. But clearly, the coaches must have stuck with Fisher/Blatchford/Thorrell/Baker/Stafford at safety for some reason. Are the reserves really that much worse? I'd hate to think so... that would not bode well for the time it takes to turn this thing around.
  

• I too like the idea of kicking Crick out to end and letting T Mo man the other tackle spot. As ludicrous as it sounds, T Mo seems to play a little more physical inside than Crick when he gets in. Perhaps he just disengages his blocks better and therefore can make more plays. Plus, he probably isn't commanding the double teams Crick does on the inside. I'd like to think if we put Crick at end and they try to double him out there, at least one out of Cam, T Mo, or Baker could beat their man one on one and get a presence in the backfield. Kicking Crick outside would, in fan's mind, get the best 4 players on the field, since Crick > Any other DE we have right now. Keep in mind, our idea of "the top 4 players" is based entirely on what we've seen in game action... for most of us.
  

• Good God get the other linebackers some reps. Get David Santos ready for the future if nothing else. I don't know how the hell Whaley and all the walk ons fell off, but I was hoping Slaughter, Roach, Whaley, or anybody would step up and take a spot away from Fish. Compton looks better than him, but that ain't saying much, and Will still doesn't look very good. But, as in the benching Martinez discussion, we do we got that's better.
  

• The secondary is just a mess right now. A trainwreck. I find it a real mystery why Coutney and PJ haven't been able to take spots away from Cassidy or Stafford. Our safeties are non-existent on deep passes. They get split like a loaf of bread. I don't know what the answer at corner is, either. Whether it be Green/Evans/Mitchell/Cooper/Bell/SJB that steps up.... but someone needs too. Hesitancy and non-physical, non-instinctual play is killing us. Problem is, these are such young, green kids, I don't know if they even have or trust any instincts. Hopefully that will come with time.
  

So Husker fans, what say you? And you know what, in honor of this thread, and at the risk of derailing it right away...

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bNE-5TVAmg

[zoogs]

If I could talk to Bo, first thing to come out of my mouth would be, "We need someone else to step up at dime, brah."

 

Also, send Stafford down to the PESO. Other than that, I don't have any ideas...hopefully Courtney Osborne straightens out whatever it was that got him benched and finds his way back on the field. We need him and PJ back there, at least rotating in regularly.

[Stumpy1]

What we need is Stafford at backer along with David and have PJ and Osborne as safeties. Stafford is a tackling machine like David and has the quickness to get to the edge and make plays. Keep Compton at middle and let the other two patrol the outsides.

[Chaddyboxer]

Bo stated that the athletes aren't taking to the teaching....meaning the players aren't fixing their mistakes and executing fundamentals and technique.....that scares me....I hope sh#t gets fixed...

[Chaddyboxer]

What we need is Stafford at backer along with David and have PJ and Osborne as safeties. Stafford is a tackling machine like David and has the quickness to get to the edge and make plays. Keep Compton at middle and let the other two patrol the outsides.

I really like stafford...he has a ton of potential and will get better as the season goes on I bet.

[Chaddyboxer]

Is it talent!??? It has to do with the coaching....something isn't meshing...

[VectorVictor]

What we need is Stafford at backer along with David and have PJ and Osborne as safeties. Stafford is a tackling machine like David and has the quickness to get to the edge and make plays. Keep Compton at middle and let the other two patrol the outsides.

 

I like this to go along with the idea to kick Crick outside.

 

Plus, Bo *has* to start playing scrubs in the 3rd and 4th quarters to build experience when we're up. IMO, part of the reason we're in the hole we're in on defense is because we aren't giving the lower-string players enough live reps to fail or succeed.

[Danny Bateman]

I'm almost tempted to suggest we bring the two-way player out of retirement and let Enunwa play some defense. Could you imagine that kid roving the middle of the field, over the top? Who knows if he could handle it, but if he could get it down (probably better than Cassidy anyway)... That would be pretty nuts. That kid would punish some offensive players. THAT is exactly the kind of physicality and swagger the Blackshirts are missing right now.

[3rd and long]

I'm almost tempted to suggest we bring the two-way player out of retirement and let Enunwa play some defense. Could you imagine that kid roving the middle of the field, over the top? Who knows if he could handle it, but if he could get it down (probably better than Cassidy anyway)... That would be pretty nuts. That kid would punish some offensive players. THAT is exactly the kind of physicality and swagger the Blackshirts are missing right now.

 

Rex tackled pretty well Saturday night....

[Huskerfan1985]

anyone else notice that for years we've been complaining about the offense, now it seems we have a lot of young talent on that side of the ball. I kind of feel like we've been recruiting more talent and speed on the offensive side and forgot about new talent on defense. we've been pretty spoiled lately that when the d loses a great player we just reload with new young talent. It just doesn't seem to be there this year personnel wise.

 

Also, doesn't it seem like you know right away that players either "get it" or "dont get it"? I mean, is another year or two really going to help andrew green or Ciante? Fisher or Compton? It seems like the really good players step up and know what to do. See: Lavonte David, Amukamara, Gomes, Hagg. Maybe we just didn't see some of the players as freshman/sophs because of JUCO or depth in front of them, but its just frustrating not to see anyone stepping up.

[Blackshirt39]

What I would like to see.

 

D-Line - I would still Rotate heavily with any setup.

DE - Crick - Move him out for more 1 on 1 situations.

DT - T. Moore - Guy plays well when in there and good size.

DT - Randle - Has a serious chip on his shoulder what Steinkuhler lacks.

DE - Carter - Playing better than Ankrah.

 

Backers - Here's where its interesting.

OLB - David - The one consistency we have we dont toy with.

MLB - Meredith - Good Size and athleticism. Only question mark would be play recognition and pass coverage. I wouldn't mind trying him out here.

OLB - Stafford - Undersized a bit but makes up for it with a nose for the ball. Has been great against the run game so move him here.

 

Secondary - Oh god.

CB - Dennard - The best DB we have we leave alone.

FS - C. Osborne - Played pretty well at this position last year. Don't know what he did to piss Bo off tho.

SS - Jackson/Cassidy/Smith - I would rotate this out until someone steps up cuz I honestly don't know which poison to pick here.

CB - Cooper - Great size and athleticism, but lacking the mental aspect. However, everyone else lacks the mental aspect so play the best athlete and hope he is a quick learner.

[roundegotrip]

Keep Compton at LB and Meredith at DE, and that is a lineup I would love to see them try out.

[HuskerGBR]

I never advocate changing philosophy in the middle of the season. But I think the 2 gap needs to go. Our guys aren't good enough to run it and it gives too much time for the QB to make a play, because we have no pressure from the front 4. Our secondary isn't good enough in coverage as it is, but when the QB and WR have time to make a play, then that puts more pressure on the secondary. We need to dial up the blitzes and get creative with it. Line up David on the end during some plays and let him rush. Also set our front 4 loose and let em rush the gaps. Crick is at his best when that is what he is concentrating on.

 

We need new guys at LB in place of Fisher. Compton is OK. The LB's are out there thinking and not doing.

 

Honestly, if it is true that guys aren't applying the coaching in the games then find someone who will. That is your job as a leader/coach. You find someone who can get the job done. I feel like the defense is doing what the offense has been doing for awhile now...trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. Plus it seems like they are just going with who has the most experience and knowledge of the defense...which is something I remember us all talking about with the offense with Watson. There are playmakers on this defense so find them and get them out there. That is why coaches get paid the big bucks. I seriously question the whole competition at every position talk we keep hearing about and I have for a couple of years now, but never said anything.

[gobiggergoredder]

Stafford has to replace Fish. I know I'm in the minority, but I still don't think the DB's are in that bad of shape.

[Blackshirt39]

Stafford has to replace Fish. I know I'm in the minority, but I still don't think the DB's are in that bad of shape.

 

Agreed totally. I Don't think we have played any of the same DB's in the same position for more than 2 games. Athleticism is there but mental aspect is lacking but, given another game or two we will see I guess. After listening to Bo's presser today he sounds like he has thought about the Stafford switch.