PJ Smith Article in OWH

[NUance]

I didn't see PJ much after the Wiscy game, where he struggled mightily. I recall him completely whiffing on containment for a Russell Wilson bootleg which led to a score.

This has been my point every time PJ comes up. He admitted after this game that they had worked SPECIFICALLY on this play during the week but he still fell for the fake and got caught looking inside. Just because Pelini's system is relatively "complicated" doesn't mean it's rocket science. If you're specifically coached to look for one thing (QB boot) in a specific situation and can't perform, I don't think that's really all that complicated. Not trying to put the entire year on one play but at some point a player has to perform to deserve to play.

As for PJ, you confirmed what I was observing and thought. I hope he gets it together and help us out. I agree that Pelini's system isn't impossible to learn, beacuse it has been proven that it can be. Throughout last season I saw numerous times that plays that our guys, in the seconday specifically, did not read keys which could have prevented big plays.

But is that PJ's fault (or other players' fault), or is it Pelini's fault? Look at Callahan, for example. He was a pretty good coach--for NFL caliber players. But his systems didn't always work with 19 and 20 year old college players. Okay, OKAY--before we get started on it, I am NOT saying Pelini is like Callahan. But I am questioning whether, if your system is not grasped by (some of) your players, is it really the most effective system? I am not sure that is the situation, but it seems that way. It seems like some of our best athletes don't see the field because they can't grasp the defense. And if that is what's happening, I dunno the answer. Well, other than to simplify the schemes and reads.

 

[Treand3]

I didn't see PJ much after the Wiscy game, where he struggled mightily. I recall him completely whiffing on containment for a Russell Wilson bootleg which led to a score.

This has been my point every time PJ comes up. He admitted after this game that they had worked SPECIFICALLY on this play during the week but he still fell for the fake and got caught looking inside. Just because Pelini's system is relatively "complicated" doesn't mean it's rocket science. If you're specifically coached to look for one thing (QB boot) in a specific situation and can't perform, I don't think that's really all that complicated. Not trying to put the entire year on one play but at some point a player has to perform to deserve to play.

As for PJ, you confirmed what I was observing and thought. I hope he gets it together and help us out. I agree that Pelini's system isn't impossible to learn, beacuse it has been proven that it can be. Throughout last season I saw numerous times that plays that our guys, in the seconday specifically, did not read keys which could have prevented big plays.

But is that PJ's fault (or other players' fault), or is it Pelini's fault? Look at Callahan, for example. He was a pretty good coach--for NFL caliber players. But his systems didn't always work with 19 and 20 year old college players. Okay, OKAY--before we get started on it, I am NOT saying Pelini is like Callahan. But I am questioning whether, if your system is not grasped by (some of) your players, is it really the most effective system? I am not sure that is the situation, but it seems that way. It seems like some of our best athletes don't see the field because they can't grasp the defense. And if that is what's happening, I dunno the answer. Well, other than to simplify the schemes and reads.

Don't worry about the Callahan comarison from me. Personally I feel that is on the players more than anything, added with Raymond's philosophies. However, I also feel with the system that Pelini runs requires adequate DL production, which we sorely missed last year. So I can't pin it all on the Secondary, just perfect storm of injuries, DL performance and Coaching(Raymond) more or less IMO. If the system is run properly, it can be a lot more effective than single gap assignment, strict zone/man defense, not many coaches know it.

 

[NUance]

Don't worry about the Callahan comarison from me. Personally I feel that is on the players more than anything, added with Raymond's philosophies. However, I also feel with the system that Pelini runs requires adequate DL production, which we sorely missed last year. So I can't pin it all on the Secondary, just perfect storm of injuries, DL performance and Coaching(Raymond) more or less IMO. If the system is run properly, it can be a lot more effective than single gap assignment, strict zone/man defense, not many coaches know it.

Yeah, totally agree on DL point. I've said that many times in the past. The fate of our DBs is in the hands of the DL. Our big guys get pressure on a passing QB in around 2.5 seconds, and our DBs will look like heros. If the QB isn't getting jittery feet by 3.5 seconds we are screwed, and the whole system goes out of whack.

 

[Treand3]

Don't worry about the Callahan comarison from me. Personally I feel that is on the players more than anything, added with Raymond's philosophies. However, I also feel with the system that Pelini runs requires adequate DL production, which we sorely missed last year. So I can't pin it all on the Secondary, just perfect storm of injuries, DL performance and Coaching(Raymond) more or less IMO. If the system is run properly, it can be a lot more effective than single gap assignment, strict zone/man defense, not many coaches know it.

Yeah, totally agree on DL point. I've said that many times in the past. The fate of our DBs is in the hands of the DL. Our big guys get pressure on a passing QB in around 2.5 seconds, and our DBs will look like heros. If the QB isn't getting jittery feet by 3.5 seconds we are screwed, and the whole system goes out of whack.

Also, throw in the fact that our inexperienced DBs were not able to take away in QBs first read numerous times, which is imperative for our type of pass rush.

 

[NUance]

Don't worry about the Callahan comarison from me. Personally I feel that is on the players more than anything, added with Raymond's philosophies. However, I also feel with the system that Pelini runs requires adequate DL production, which we sorely missed last year. So I can't pin it all on the Secondary, just perfect storm of injuries, DL performance and Coaching(Raymond) more or less IMO. If the system is run properly, it can be a lot more effective than single gap assignment, strict zone/man defense, not many coaches know it.

Yeah, totally agree on DL point. I've said that many times in the past. The fate of our DBs is in the hands of the DL. Our big guys get pressure on a passing QB in around 2.5 seconds, and our DBs will look like heros. If the QB isn't getting jittery feet by 3.5 seconds we are screwed, and the whole system goes out of whack.

Also, throw in the fact that our inexperienced DBs were not able to take away in QBs first read numerous times, which is imperative for our type of pass rush.

Which in turn would give the DL another half second or so.

 

[Treand3]

Don't worry about the Callahan comarison from me. Personally I feel that is on the players more than anything, added with Raymond's philosophies. However, I also feel with the system that Pelini runs requires adequate DL production, which we sorely missed last year. So I can't pin it all on the Secondary, just perfect storm of injuries, DL performance and Coaching(Raymond) more or less IMO. If the system is run properly, it can be a lot more effective than single gap assignment, strict zone/man defense, not many coaches know it.

Yeah, totally agree on DL point. I've said that many times in the past. The fate of our DBs is in the hands of the DL. Our big guys get pressure on a passing QB in around 2.5 seconds, and our DBs will look like heros. If the QB isn't getting jittery feet by 3.5 seconds we are screwed, and the whole system goes out of whack.

Also, throw in the fact that our inexperienced DBs were not able to take away in QBs first read numerous times, which is imperative for our type of pass rush.

Which in turn would give the DL another half second or so.

Correct.