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How good can the defense be in 2014?

Duff Man

Duff Man

Club Member
Club Member
Junta Member
Pretty good (6-8 in the conference) IMO. The secondary and linebackers should be quite a bit better and if we get any of the junior defensive linemen to step up, could see a huge jump.

Depth is questionable, but outlook should be pretty positive here.
 
Im a little scared that Duff is being optimistic again. But I'm depressed that optimistic means top 2/3 of the conference at defense.

That said, a return to mediocrity is a great step in the right direction. It would be a huge difference. The ingredients are there, but only way we reach the top end is if quite a few of HCMM's unheralded recruits contribute. too many holes in the upper classes.
 
I think offense and special teams have more question marks. Not real confident there.

But defense has experience and talent. Time to make a big jump.
 
I agree that the LBs should be a major step up from last year, more speed should make the unit look very different. The DBs as well should be better, key may be if Crowley can play closer to his talent and make some of the plays he didn't last year. This unit is still a work in progress but we have reason to hope.

The interior DL should be bigger, stronger, and more experienced. They should be solid against the run.

Now that all the nice things have been said we still have to ask where the pass rush is going to come from. We play in a league with accomplished passing offenses, talented recievers, and QBs who can hit open recievers given the time. If we can't get pressure on the passer then no set of LBs and DBs can be highly successfull.

The most important thing for our defense may not even be a part of the defense. Our defensive success may be entirely dependant on developing an offensive line that can allow the offense to control the ball some and not be constantly giving up short fields. I think we will be a better defense than last year but in addition to the pass rush issues I also see a defense that is painfully thin at spots. If this defense is spending a lot of time on the field with their backs against the wall we will see them wear down and eventually break down. The special teams will also have an impact on this, we can't be constantly losing the field position game.
 
I believe we will be relying on a pass rush from players who are not on campus right now or never taken a down. I was scared to death of our Safety play before last season and I actually believed they played ok in 2013. This year is going to be our pass rush, for me. I am hoping we can get a good push from our interior Dline. They have the most experience of the whole team and could have PAC 12 all conference potential. If that happens, then we might have a chance from some of our pass rush specialists, whoever that maybe.
 
Linebacker depth scares me. I don't want Watanabe to start off his college career like Jon Major did. I hope we are sound enough there so he can get a redshirt year and not have to be rushed out there before he is fully healed. I like what Gillam did last year. I hope he has a higher ceiling to where he can get even better than what we've seen, and we know what Greer has the potential to be despite not being the fastest guy out there. I like Rippy based on his high school rating but am very worried beyond that. We may be very fundamentally sound but a little slow out there.
 
Definitely a lot of experience on the DL and secondary. We improved from 46ppg to 38ppg iirc. How about another TD or 31pts/game. Where would that put us?
 
Between Crawley and Henderson should be pretty solid. And S play was actually improving dramatically last year. Love Rippy and Gilliam and LB could be solid but as mentioned by others if injuries hit that unit there is almost no depth. D Line needs to step up. We were def undersized and outmanned much of last year. Not sure that has changed dramatically sadly
 
Ralphandler1 said:
Between Crawley and Henderson should be pretty solid. And S play was actually improving dramatically last year. Love Rippy and Gilliam and LB could be solid but as mentioned by others if injuries hit that unit there is almost no depth. D Line needs to step up. We were def undersized and outmanned much of last year. Not sure that has changed dramatically sadly
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This is the only post I disagree with. Crawley has been pretty inconsistent and it's no secret that he needs to make a major step forward. Coaches were definitely setting the stage for Hall and Witherspoon to compete for that spot, with perhaps Yuri coming to play?

Rippy cannot be mentioned until he proves something. For all I know he is skipping team workouts and thinking about transferring, or perhaps he's now a team leader. We have really no idea. We'll see if he's ready to bring it.

We will be as good as our weakest links. Need some pass rushers to emerge and need to avoid playing guys who aren't ready. I think that's where we are getting better: Depth. I think the staff is doing a good job of developing depth and we will hopefully see less and less true frosh. If we avoid the injury bug and find some pass rushers, I think we could actually be a top 6 defense, if not, we are looking at 8-10.
 
buffaholic said:
This is the only post I disagree with. Crawley has been pretty inconsistent and it's no secret that he needs to make a major step forward. Coaches were definitely setting the stage for Hall and Witherspoon to compete for that spot, with perhaps Yuri coming to play?

QUOTE]

Quite the contrary, Crawley has been darned good in coverage: he is rarely beaten and usually very close to his man. Its his finishing plays that is non-existent. The OSU game is a prime example: he covered Cooks well enough to intercept a couple of balls, but let Cooks take the ball away, despite Crawley having the better position on passes. (I continue to blame the crap coaching of he whose initials are "Greg Brown", which gave Crawley the shell-shocked heebie jeebies against getting beaten badly.) Crawley just needs to step up and finish plays.

Solis played well at times down the stretch, as did Tupou and Gilbert. Need the RSFr to step up at DE. Reid and McCartney showed flashs last fall but needed strength and time for study. I hope their time spent over the winter in the weight and film rooms, will show in the spring.
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Some of the incoming freshman had some good film getting to the passer. Now that was high school and it yet to be seen whether or not that ability will transfer to this level. I think defense could see a huge improvement as, IMO, we have improved over all team speed for the second year in a row. Slider, I hoping we can crack the 30ppg mark, down to maybe 28 or 27.

Offense is where I am much more worried.
 
I think success starts on the line, whether it's offense or defense. If that's true, then we're only going to be as good as those guys up front.

Rippy is a guy I have really high hopes for. Obviously Gillam is a stud... but what about that line? We've got a few defensive linemen who are decent, but no one who blows you away. I think they'll handcuff the D this season. We should improve, but the D will only go as far at the line takes them.
 
Duff Man said:
Pretty good (6-8 in the conference) IMO. The secondary and linebackers should be quite a bit better and if we get any of the junior defensive linemen to step up, could see a huge jump.

Depth is questionable, but outlook should be pretty positive here.
Click to expand...

We need Crawley to make a leap with Hall being dismissed.
 
My mantra with the D has been the O. We can't keep putting tremendous pressure on the D with the O going 3 and out. With PRich gone, not sure things are going to be any better on O this year.

However, looking at the D by itself...we have some talent, and should have an upgrade at LB and DB with seniors having graduated...but I've been around this block long enough to wait and see before getting too excited.
 
At least we have PAC 12 athleticism in our LB's this year. Not sure what that will turn into, but you have to be hopeful on that end. I am also a little weary of spread option teams, again in 2014. We absolutely got demolished by them last year. We made the Arizona QB look like an all american. Our DE's/LB's got demolished by him.
 
I think our MVP on defense this year might be Dave Forman (S&C coach). After asking most of the DL to lose mass amounts of weight last year, they now have had a year to try and sculpt the bodies they want. Especially being able to supervise summer workouts now (or whatever the new rules allow). Mac said it would take 18 months to whip the guys into shape and transform their bodies and we will pass that mark this season. Last year it was evident in how few starts were lost to injury, this year it should be evident in functional strength.

I am very hopeful that we will see an improvement out of our secondary. I think we have two coaches who focus on secondary, and that isn't even mentioning Mac who has a background in the secondary as well. With so much focus in that region, and the assumption that these coaches can "coach up" their players I think we will see a big improvement. Crawley might be fighting for his job with Awuzie having his first offseason and Yuri Wright hopefully making the most of his RS year.

Hopefully one (or a couple) of the DEs is who Mac was referring to when he would mention that he had some guys that redshirted last year that would surprise people. I don't know that our DL will be world beaters, but I think they will be able to adequately do their jobs (probably a big step up right there), keeping people off and allowing the DEs and LBs to roam and focus on their assignments. I think we all agree that we should have the personnel at LB to flourish when they don't have to worry about getting swallowed by OL getting to the second level consistently, but as far as DE it will most likely take a new name. If not one of the RS frosh, I hope Michael Mathewes establishes himself as a real player early on. From what I saw of him he was a man among boys, scary arms on that kid especially for a HSer. Plus a wrestling background means he shouldn't back down when going up against someone that has 60+ pounds on him.

Lastly one year and another full offseason in the defense should bring about improvements on its own. All in all, I think it is reasonable to expect our defense to hover around 30ppg and anything less is a big win in my book.
 
Darth Snow said:
Im a little scared that Duff is being optimistic again. But I'm depressed that optimistic means top 2/3 of the conference at defense.

That said, a return to mediocrity is a great step in the right direction. It would be a huge difference. The ingredients are there, but only way we reach the top end is if quite a few of HCMM's unheralded recruits contribute. too many holes in the upper classes.
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+1 all around.
 
Buffenuf said:
buffaholic said:
This is the only post I disagree with. Crawley has been pretty inconsistent and it's no secret that he needs to make a major step forward. Coaches were definitely setting the stage for Hall and Witherspoon to compete for that spot, with perhaps Yuri coming to play?

QUOTE]

Quite the contrary, Crawley has been darned good in coverage: he is rarely beaten and usually very close to his man. Its his finishing plays that is non-existent. The OSU game is a prime example: he covered Cooks well enough to intercept a couple of balls, but let Cooks take the ball away, despite Crawley having the better position on passes. (I continue to blame the crap coaching of he whose initials are "Greg Brown", which gave Crawley the shell-shocked heebie jeebies against getting beaten badly.) Crawley just needs to step up and finish plays.

Solis played well at times down the stretch, as did Tupou and Gilbert. Need the RSFr to step up at DE. Reid and McCartney showed flashs last fall but needed strength and time for study. I hope their time spent over the winter in the weight and film rooms, will show in the spring.
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Click to expand...

wat.

Crawley good in coverage? Do you actually watch the games or do you sit by the radio on your rocking chair?

Reid and McCartney showed flashs? While redshirting? What in the ****ing ****?
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4DemBuffs said:
So, top 12 in the Pac-12? I agree.
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:nod:

But being serious, I'd go with #6. I think Tupuo and Solis are going to be very good this year and that will open up the rest of the defense. I'm hoping that Greer can continue to develop and Rippy is the real deal (MM raved about him so we will see). We all know Henderson is a good corner and with Crawley now an upper classmen it's time to put up or shut up.
 
Actually come to think of it, the improvement on defense this year should show us a lot. MacIntyre+ an experienced DC should equal a much improved defense in year 2. If they can barely move the needle here, we have huge problems
 
sliderNcider said:
Actually come to think of it, the improvement on defense this year should show us a lot. MacIntyre+ an experienced DC should equal a much improved defense in year 2. If they can barely move the needle here, we have huge problems
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Well done.
 
White_Rabbit said:
Buffenuf said:
wat.

Crawley good in coverage? Do you actually watch the games or do you sit by the radio on your rocking chair?

Reid and McCartney showed flashs? While redshirting? What in the ****ing ****?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Crawley "good in coverage", dipwad. HCMM said on several occasions last season, his DB's (i.e. Crawley) were in position to make plays and didn't. He was focused on not getting burned. That Mannion pass to Cooks early in the OSU game being a prime example. yes, both Reid and McC showed some flashs of speed and skill in practice, but they were far from having a reasonable combo of speed, strength and familiarity with the system to compete last fall.

I'll give you a break since its pretty hard to watch practice from Redlands----especially with your head up your nether regions.
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