I like this article. It reflects how I feel about our defense. We have a long way to go to be able to handle teams like MI and OSU, but at this point it's not as bleak as the numbers would suggest.
Well at least they have a plan and are trying to work around the deficiences. For now they have to count on the offense getting them the lead and keep pouring it on, they can hold down most other teams. Everybody likes Beamer Ball, yet Frank Beamer failed to account for Calvin Johnson and got beat. Rick Minter accounted for Calvin Johnson and held him to very little production and won the game. The Michigan game was a loss you can not blame on the defense. UM has a great defense for sure, but we really made it easy for them by getting down right away on turnovers forcing us out of our game plan and into what every defense that is good wants, not to have to worry about the run..just pin your ears back and come after the QB. The score of that UM game does not reflect the true measure of ND vs UM. They aren't that good and we aren't that bad. Terry
As I recall 2 yrs. ago we had plenty of offensive yds. and little to show for it. Seems that the shoe was on the other foot.
to me, it gets down to players. we can scheme to take away a team's #1 threat or even what they want to do generally. however, we just don't have the depth defensively to tell that one random guy (whoever it may be in a given week) and say you, you shut down this guy one on one. if you take him away, we can concentrate on bracketing other targets to shut them out. we just don't have those people in number yet, ergo we can slow people down but not dominate them.
Well said, Corey. Personnel. Ours and theirs. That seems to be the reason for the bend don't break approach.....We can shut down some good receivers but not all of them. Unfortunately, PU had 3 good receivers. Maybe someday we'll be able to shut down ALL of the opponent's receivers.
Corey is... <t>Of course correct, LOL. I'll take it a step further we don't have the defensive linemen yet to be stop offenses. Most QBS have have all day to throw as we do not rush the passer and when you have average to poor linebackers that offer little blitz help you see DBS hung out to dry and 300 yard plus passing days versus our defense. I posted several times IMO the key to our recruiting class is landing some down linemen that can rush the passer. I know how difficult it is to get these guys to ND but feel CW and staff will do it. The defense is obviously a work in progress.</t>
I'm tough on our DBs because so many times they don't even seem to be in the same zip code as the receivers. But I'll be the first to admit that the lack of consistent pressure up front is a major contributor to the problem. Our best LB is Maurice Crum and he is playing out of position. I feel strongly that our best D-Back on a consistent basis is Mike Richardson. Zibby is like a man without a country. His cover skills are minimal yet he makes a lot of big plays. He also gives up a lot of big ones. He's too small to play LB( unless he's outside ). ND fans are emotional about him like no one else on the team. He clearly plays hard and I do not doubt his effort. He's the kind of guy you want on the field all the time but you're not sure where to put him. Post ND, I see him as 3-4 round pick with a possible career on special teams and as a backup DB. Or he may just forget the whole thing and pursue boxing.
ND has given up an average of 35 ppg to Big Ten opponents. You can whistle in the dark all you want but I just don't think they can hang with top teams defensively.
George.. <t>I'm with you on the DBS. Take the first play of the offensive series last week, how far was the Purdue receiver in front of Walls? Talk about lucky the ball was overthrown and when I saw it on replay you just have to wonder what in the world Walls was doing letting the guy run right by him. Please nobody tell me he was looking for deep help as that is as rare in our secondary as Bill Clinton telling the truth. Doesn't happen.<br/> <br/> We just have to suffer with this bunch till the new troops arrive and get some experience. So we just outscore the rest.</t>