Discussion About the Defense

[CyGuy5]

In a number of games this season, it seemed like the defense let us down when we needed them most. In an attempt to look at what went wrong, I thought it would be worth the time to take a look at the numbers in the areas that I thought were the biggest issues this season.

Issue #1: Inability to get sacks

2018: 32 sacks / 33 QB hurries
2019: 28 sacks / 33 QB hurries
To me, despite the difference in sacks only being 4, it seemed like the defense could not get sacks when we had opportunities to get one and put the opponent behind schedule. It seems like a lot of those QB hurries had opportunities to be sacks and we just couldn't execute. Oftentimes, it seemed like we would get guys in the backfield and simply miss tackles or fail to wrap up. A prime example of this was in the Iowa game, when we allowed Stanley of all people to escape the pocket and run.

Issue #2: Dropped Interceptions/Lack of Turnovers

2018: 8 Interceptions / 8 fumble recoveries
2019: 6 interceptions / 7 fumble recoveries
This was another big issue that seemingly showed up in almost every game. I was surprised to see the numbers as close to each other as they are. In previous seasons, it seemed like the defense was able to come up with a turnover when we needed it the most (Mike Rose against K-State last year). This year, however, we could not seem to get the big turnover when we needed one the most. On a number of occasions we would have perfect opportunities for interceptions, but then drop them. Could this have been due to our youth in the secondary? maybe, but with upperclassmen like Eisworth, Lewis and White, I feel that we should have at least had more interceptions/turnovers.

Issue #3: Lack of Adjustments

I can't really directly compare from season to season on this one, but it really seemed like Heacock did not do as good of a job with adjustments as we have the last few seasons. If we look at last season's K-State game, and then look at this season's, the adjustments made at halftime in the 2018 game were very clear, and we played much better football In the second half which allowed us to come back and win. Meanwhile, in the 2019 game, it seemed like little to no adjustments were made despite KSU running the ball down our throats. It seemed evident again today, as we let Claypool go off on us throughout the important parts of the game.

In conclusion, I know we lost some playmakers last season with guys like Willie Harvey, Spencer Benton, and Brian Peavy, and we were definitely hurt with the loss of Bailey, but it seemed like there was very little improvement from the defense throughout the season, and a lot less in game adjustments than we saw last season. Ultimately, the defense was not to blame for all of our losses (thanks Manning), but there was a lot of underachievement on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[madguy30]

I thought Rose was a step behind a lot this year and seemed better last year for getting to the ball.

Also didn't think the Dline was as strong at maintaining gap presence as years' past and also took themselves out of plays.

 

[cyups2323]

I know that if you rush only 3 and get zero pressure there mathematically shouldn't be wrs and tight ends wide open on every pass play.

 

[spitfyr36]

I think Heacock did some great adjustments at half. See OU game.
The biggest issue was spotting teams multi touchdown leads in the first half. Adjustments just needed to be made sooner.

The inability to catch an interception is what hurt us alot of games.
We were only 2 shy from last year, but seemed oike we should have been +5 at minimum.

 

[dirtyninety]

I know that if you rush only 3 and get zero pressure there mathematically shouldn't be wrs and tight ends wide open on every pass play.

That second or third ND touchdown was a joke...we sent three gassed guys and Book literally read a book and started to cook before he found the tall WR open. I should time it. 7 seconds? When a team like ND has three weeks to prepare for our defense they probably sit around the film room and laugh and say "really...that is all they got?". Even Clemson--who we supposedly had a mind meld with of coaching staffs-- last night really only were effective when they could bring seemingly random and unpredictable pressure to the pass rush. The times they only rushed three was rare and only a distractor really. Ohio State still got theirs though too.
The third-and-15plus stats on our defense alone should trigger the analytic guys to change the defensive scheme a little anyway.

 

[SECyclone]

It was brought up before but we need to start running a defense like the Steelers. 3 down with a 4th pass rusher on one of the ends. Will McDonald comes to mind as the stand up guy. Play the position like TJ Watt

 

[dafarmer]

After watching Clemson run this defense part time, maybe we need better players to use it. I do wish we ran a 4 man front against power running teams, because our DE seem to get caught shooting the inside gaps on end runs.

 

[Beyerball]

We played scared.. once we had first 2 TOs we crawled into fetal position and Purdy just looked off..

A few points:

1- moving Mike Rose to outside was tragic mistake.

2- Clemson running our D looks unstoppable bc they have DBs it’s are elite.

3- Short yardage play calling has to change and must change or local media needs to start holding cmc accountable to these atrocious play calls..

 

[Clonehomer]

While the base 3 man front works against the air raid offenses, it has been exposed against teams that want to run first. I'd like to see a package with a 4 man front against teams like Iowa or KSU.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Good review and insight. The were left on the field often, yesterday was a very good example of it. Graduation hurt on the back end. Lots of injuries, causing guys to be out or play hurt. Especially; Lewis, Lima, Eisworth, Bailey. Bailey might be the sack difference, plus the two Safeties hurt an young corners.

I have had bigger frustrations with the lack of consistency from the offense and the extremely unspecial special teams.

 

[HouClone]

Lack of pressure was a big problem. Our scheme is for the DE's to line up relatively close to the DT, short splits I guess they call it. This is to help take away the inside run. But on true passing plays, they still line up like this. I have seen numerous times where all 3 are pinned together like a traffic jam, and the QB has all day. I would like to see wide splits on true passing downs. Baylor's scheme are wide splits, and they get pressure with just 3, though granted they have an elite DL.

 

[heitclone]

The way this defense is built, you give up short yardage plays but keep everything in front of you. When you tackle poorly, this is going to backfire on you.That's the biggest step backwards the defense took IMO. Yesterday, they started out playing well but the offense did them no favors and eventually, a more talented team just took it to them, especially after they wore down. I'm not reading too much in to the bowl game, there weren't any new problems exposed, it was just arguable the best team we played all year so those problems really stuck out.

 

[Clonehomer]

Lack of pressure was a big problem. Our scheme is for the DE's to line up relatively close to the DT, short splits I guess they call it. This is to help take away the inside run. But on true passing plays, they still line up like this. I have seen numerous times where all 3 are pinned together like a traffic jam, and the QB has all day. I would like to see wide splits on true passing downs. Baylor's scheme are wide splits, and they get pressure with just 3, though granted they have an elite DL.

Elite DL and depth to rotate guys as they get tired. We have a huge drop off when Lima is not in.

 

[isuno1fan]

Given porous D’s of past years, I’m still reasonably ok with what the D was able to do this year. My two biggest frustrations are dropped INTs and complete inability to blitz effectively.

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Bailey out for season. Lima out or playing hurt.

Harvey graduation. Rose moved to outside.

Peavy and Payne graduations. Eisworth playing hurt. Lewis out or playing hurt.

I am sure I am missing some factors, significant impacts to all three levels and the levels are mutually dependent on each other.

 

[AuH2O]

Elite DL and depth to rotate guys as they get tired. We have a huge drop off when Lima is not in.

There was little drop off from Lima to Johnson.

I see a few main things.

1. Losing Bailey obviously hurt a lot. Peterson did some great things, but like the guys before him, he has some work to do on keeping contain. There were a couple times he got way upfield and allowed Book to roll out to the right and buy lots of extra time. Letting the qb get out of the pocket underneath a DE kills this scheme and it happened a lot more this year with Bailey out.
2. The staff bet on McDonald at the SAM and that didn't work out. As a result they have to scramble and play Rose out of position.
3. Injuries to Lewis and Eisworth were killer. They were rarely close to full strength. Lewis was never the same as he was last year. Just don't think he was ever really healthy and had to play a bit of a different role with Eisworth hurt.

 

[KCClone1]

If your numbers are right 13 turnovers in 13 games is unacceptable. And a good chunk of those were probably against ULM. TOs are huge momentum plays and we absolutely need more next year.

 

[MartyFine]

ISU’s inability to get pressure by blitzing was evident all year, but ISU continued to blitz anyway for some reason. What has worked is dropping 6-8 guys in coverage the last couple years. Don’t understand why we have two d-back coaches given this level of production

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

When we are only playing 3 down lineman, you have to blitz to get enough pressure on the QB. The key is switching it up, and bring the fourth rusher from different spots, and keeping the Oline guessing.
Delaying the blitz a count or two also works well, and we do not do much of it. Allow the lineman to get into their blocks, and then the 4th Blitzer comes screaming into the line. This works well if you loop the D lineman, a gap to their normal rush zone.

 

[CycloneVet]

While the base 3 man front works against the air raid offenses, it has been exposed against teams that want to run first. I'd like to see a package with a 4 man front against teams like Iowa or KSU.

I too am surprised they didn’t do that but I don’t remember Iowa gashing us in the last 2 years in the run game. KSU has both of the last 2 years which probably requires a better football mind than mine to tell you KSU has but Iowa hasn’t.