Look for the Ball?

[Zaimejs]

I have seen this in a few posts, and my own family members scream during the game, "LOOK FOR THE DAMN BALL" as our dbacks helplessly try to cover a receiver only to have the ball be caught in front of them with no chance to deflect or intercept.

This has been a Husker tradition for several years, and I wonder if it's coaching. How many defensive coordinators have we had with this same mindset of having the players just run with receivers without making a play on the ball? Why is it this way? Is this a strategy? Is it something that has merit and value? I get it, you can run faster if you are looking forward, and you can follow the receiver better if you are looking at him, but once the receiver looks for the ball, shouldn't the defender know to also look? 

Help me understand this strategy that we seem to be using. 

 

[Nebfanatic]

Inexperience at DB right now 

 

[84HuskerLaw]

I have seen this in a few posts, and my own family members scream during the game, "LOOK FOR THE DAMN BALL" as our dbacks helplessly try to cover a receiver only to have the ball be caught in front of them with no chance to deflect or intercept.

This has been a Husker tradition for several years, and I wonder if it's coaching. How many defensive coordinators have we had with this same mindset of having the players just run with receivers without making a play on the ball? Why is it this way? Is this a strategy? Is it something that has merit and value? I get it, you can run faster if you are looking forward, and you can follow the receiver better if you are looking at him, but once the receiver looks for the ball, shouldn't the defender know to also look? 

Help me understand this strategy that we seem to be using. 

Indeed this is the conventional and almost universal defensive technique which a cornerback is supposed to do when covering a pass receiver.  They are to focus on the receiver and not be trying to guess when the ball is coming and then turn at the right moment to thereby see and deflect or intercept.  When a defender takes his eyes off the receiver, he will lose the close proximity / contact position with which he can successfully defend the pass once the receiver makes himself ready to make the catch.  The defender is supposed to keep his eye on the receiver and watch for the receiver to begin his movements to catch the ball (raise his arms, focus his eyes, etc).   The defender is to read the receiver and not be looking around for a possible ball somewhere back over his shoulder.  So, yes, the defender is not supposed to turn around and look for the ball, UNLESS and UNTIL certainty and good position has been fully established.   

 

[Hayseed]

My guess is they have no idea what is going on and are just trying to decide who to cover and stay with him. I think an inexperienced Dback would have better luck in man coverage than the soft zone we've been playing. The very accurate Oregon QB with no pressure just picked us apart. All their receievers did was run to an open spot and catch the ball....hardly any coverage from what I could see. Our guys looked frustrated and worn down in the first half. Seemed exactly like the first game.

 

[ZRod]

If you turn and look for the ball and don't pick it, then what? You're  out of position to make the tackle and chasing the reciever down now. One of our previous DB coaches explained the technique they coach. They play the man, and get their hands where the receiver's are to break up the pass. Of course you should probably turn and loom on a fade route in the endzone...