I was at the LSU/AU game and only got to watch the game on TV last night. I've made several comments about the schemes used by Pelini when defending UK and AU. I didn't like the schemes and didn't like the fact the blitz was rarely used and when used it wasn't hidden at all. Well I would like to re-evaluate my comments after watching the AU game. I still believe there was not enough blitzing and it seemed to work well when they did blitz. Even without blitzing and having the LB's play a zone, they were still able to pass 10 yd routes easily. Countless times on passing plays, 2 LBs were taken out of the play. They would hover about 5yds behind the LOS and the pass plays were for 10yds on out patterns. The LBs were 5yds away from each other and were completely ineffective in taking away routes or covering anybody. My point is that they might as well be blitzing to force pressure on the QB because the DB's were in man coverage and weren't getting any help from the LB's. Many have commented that the blitzing was occuring b/c the DB's would be forced into man coverage, well they were in man coverage anyway and the LB's were doing anything to help them out many times. The LB's were playing a soft zone for short routes in passing situations. Sure they were looking fore the RB to come out the back field but many times they didn't. I still don't like what I saw against a pocket passer who gets rattled easily and makes mistakes easily. Zenon made some mistakes but the others were good. Have some faith in their man coverage and stop playing LB zone so much because they were completely out of plays many times and were just wasting space. Maybe Bo is being conservative, but UK and AU seemed to move the ball easily with 10 yd routes with this type of play calling so I think mixing more blitzes in would help against pocket passers who are picking your defense apart.
Sounds like you want to overhaul the defense. I would argue they played pretty well against a team that was on a roll. You can't take away everything from an offense. Besides the bookend drives to start and finish the game LSU fairly dominated them, consider: Auburn Drives 3 plays - punt 3 plays - punt 5 plays - punt 12 plays - FG 3 plays - punt 8 plays - punt 3 plays - punt 3 plays - punt Yes...they can play better, but geez...
No I don't want to overall the defense. I just don't think enough pressure is being put on pocket passers. If they have time to pass it puts enormous strain on the secondary which has a distinct disadvantage when the QB has time. I simply noticed that the LB's were simply ineffective in many plays when they played the zone. The LB's in zone still forces the DB's to be man. Why not blitz those LB's sometimes? That's all I'm saying. It is quite obvious the defense is not playing the same schemes and blitzing like they were early in the season against Vtech and SC. The defense did make some important stops in the 2nd half and a lot of it was stopping the run which they have been awesome at all year. Also, much of it was due to some clutch knock downs by the db's. All I'm saying is that the success teams have had moving the ball with their passing game could be slowed with more pressure on the QB and OL. That's not revamping a defense, it is just pointing out the fact that pressure on the QB and OL has dropped way off against pocket passers b/c of no blitzing.
Bo puts a lot of faith in our d line to get pressure and sometimes it backfires. I wouldn't look for much of a change this week. I suspect he will take his chances on Bama going 80 yards each drive with short passes and I doubt we will give them many easy long throws.
We have been talking about the defense a lot lately, and there seems to be a willing desire to forget or not address the defensive woes. It is a good defense, but I agree...more pressure!!!! Give even an average QB enough time, and someone will come open. Further when your safety is leading in tackles, something is wrong.
