Our "New" 3-4 Defense

[Teddyhawgeddy]

Is holding Conference opponents to a 46 ppg average (it would be higher but Saban felt sorry for us and refused to pass in the 2nd half) With all this talk about Bert I'm thinking that is where the first change will occur.

[HoggyCat]

That's not entirely accurate. Take out defensive touchdowns (3 vs USCe). I hate where we're at as much as anyone, and do not like the D.C., but at least use facts.

[DeltaBoy]

IT's The 34 Hole Swiss cheese Defense

[Sed76]

Sucks just as bad as last year. Just out of curiosity anyone know how Minnesota is doing defensively this year since our previous DC was supposedly our problem last year?

[gchamblee]

why did you put new in quotes? we ran a 4-3 last year and are running a 3-4 this year so it is new. its not sneaky new and there is no asterisk.

[jgphillips3]

It was always going to take at least a half a season to get in rythym defensively.  Right now, teams know that our players don't always know their assignments and are still having to think rather than just react.  That's where most of the busts are coming from.  We'll see what happens the rest of the way.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

IT's The 34 Hole Swiss cheese Defense

I'm sure that makes sense to you, somehow.

[Pig in the Pokey]

switching to an entirely new defense in year 5. Starting a true freshman 2* walk-on at guard in year 5. Playing obviously injured players. Being a sloppy, unhealthy, undisciplined mess while preaching hard-nosed character. Dude is obviously not the answer.

[Kevin]

I like the defense, when we blitz and play with our hair on fire. we finally blitzed the A gap Saturday night.

[onebadrubi]

I like the defense, when we blitz and play with our hair on fire. we finally blitzed the A gap Saturday night.

And it worked!!!! 

Also, I'm not sure the defense is completely resposnsible for all these points.  Averaging 35 yard punts doesn't help either

[Hogwild]

Sucks just as bad as last year. Just out of curiosity anyone know how Minnesota is doing defensively this year since our previous DC was supposedly our problem last year?

25th defense in the nation, had them at #1 defense through their first 3 games, but have given up 31,31,30, in their 3 Big 10 losses.

[Boss Hog in the Arkansas]

We aren't able to get pressure on the qb with a 3 man rush, but not many teams not named bama are successful with it. When we blitz it nullifies that weakness. My biggest problem is linebackers being out of place OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Bama scored on the 1st play of the game because a linebacker was out of place and left a huge gap. Discipline and awareness are huge in the 3-4. One person out of position can allow the opponent to take one to the house

[NaturalStateReb]

I think, on a play-to-play basis, this defense is clearly improved over last year.  Bama was going to dominate, regardless--it's a talent mismatch.  The problem is they still have some personnel issues, so even though the defense is better, it's still prone to giving up the occasional big play.

[Danny J]

And it worked!!!! 

Also, I'm not sure the defense is completely resposnsible for all these points.  Averaging 35 yard punts doesn't help either

Forced 3 straight punts and two 3 and outs along with a few sacks and their 1st interception.  They seemed to struggle at times when we were more aggressive. We need to stay aggressive and quit dropping back into coverage as much as we have been.

[b_stackhouse]

The biggest problem I have with the 3-4 is it takes our best defensive player (Agim) and puts him in a position where he can't be most effective. Asking him to be a 2 gap guy in the run game is tough. I feel like his strength is rushing the passer. Your outside linebackers are your edge rushers in a 3-4, so Agim is stuck inside rushing the passer.

I did like seeing the blitz used more against Bama. We seemed to get home with the pass rush more often. I can't stand to watch a defense drop 8 in coverage time and time again and give the QB all day to sit back and throw the ball. If you are gonna go down, at least go down being aggressive.

[onebadrubi]

The biggest problem I have with the 3-4 is it takes our best defensive player (Agim) and puts him in a position where he can't be most effective. Asking him to be a 2 gap guy in the run game is tough. I feel like his strength is rushing the passer. Your outside linebackers are your edge rushers in a 3-4, so Agim is stuck inside rushing the passer.

I did like seeing the blitz used more against Bama. We seemed to get home with the pass rush more often. I can't stand to watch a defense drop 8 in coverage time and time again and give the QB all day to sit back and throw the ball. If you are gonna go down, at least go down being aggressive.

Amen.

[longpig]

It was always going to take at least a half a season to get in rythym defensively.  Right now, teams know that our players don't always know their assignments and are still having to think rather than just react.  That's where most of the busts are coming from.  We'll see what happens the rest of the way.

That's what I'm seeing, not slow they're slow to react and often misread.