Offense has been terrible, but what about the defense?

[Matthew Toming]

People love pointing the finger at Arch and Sark, and rightfully so, but what about the defense's inability to get off the field Saturday?

I do understand that the offense's inability to maintain drives puts strain on the defense, but that side of the ball was not good enough vs. a bruised Florida offense w/ a QB making his first collegiate start. Florida was able to stay balanced and convert on 3rd down, most of which felt like manageable yardages. The secondary gave up countless short yardage competitions, which was a big knock on PK's scheme.

I am worried that without Simmons the defense is taking a massive step back - who steps up in his absence?

There is no question that the offense needs to be better, but this is a collective failure and needs to be treated as such.

Edited 1 hour ago by Matthew Toming

[CJ Vogel]

I might be at 5% of the blame pointed at the defense.

[mmdaytontexas]

7 minutes ago, Matthew Toming said:

People love pointing the finger at Arch and Sark, and rightfully so, but what about the defense's inability to get off the field Saturday?

I do understand that the offense's inability to maintain drives puts strain on the defense, but that side of the ball was not good enough vs. a bruised Florida Offense w/ a QB making his first collegiate start. Florida was able to stay balanced and convert on 3rd down, most of which felt like manageable yardages. The secondary gave up countless short yardage competitions, which was a big knock on PK's scheme.

I am worried that without Simmons the defense is taking a massive step back - who steps up- in his absence?

There is no question that the offense needs to be better, but this is a collective failure and needs to be treated as such.

It's quite obvious the Muschamp defense is not much better, if at all, to PKs defense. Sark was scapegoating his own failures on offense and gaslighting the fans on where the real problems are. His buds on the coaching staff are failing him and he'll end up having to do a Mack-like 2010 purge of most of his staff just to keep the heat off. Knowing our experience with coaches since DKR, we might be looking at at a bleak period again while we go through another coaching reset.

Edited 1 hour ago by mmdaytontexas

[Matthew Toming]

9 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

I might be at 5% of the blame pointed at the defense.

Definitely feel that.

Do we think Sark takes 24 points pregame knowing what he has on the defensive side of the ball?

[AustinsTruth]

14 minutes ago, mmdaytontexas said:

It's quite obvious the Muschamp defense is not much better, if at all, to PKs defense. Sark was scapegoating his own failures on offense and gaslighting the fans on where the real problems are. His buds on the coaching staff are failing him and he'll end up having to do a Mack-like 2010 purge of most of his staff just to keep the heat off. Knowing our experience with coaches since DKR, we might be looking at at a bleak period again while we go through another coaching reset.

Agree that the change was mostly pointless. I would say that Cryer seems to be one of the smarter defensive players we have had in a while. It is very evident that he is in complete control and very prepared, including calling out the offensive play. 

However, tackling has taken a significant step back. Biles misses a ton of tackles, Kobe Black had a terrible game tackling. Tackling got worse as the defense got more fatigued, but I have noticed a ton of missed tackles this season. 

I would still say that Florida's offense is clearly talented, new QB without film was always a concern. Especially when you give their offense so many chances to figure it out. Artificially giving them a chance for momentum at the end of the half was killer. Can't do much more on that 4th and 12 if you're a DB

[TheContractor12]

37 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

I might be at 5% of the blame pointed at the defense.

Yes but only bc so much other blame on Arch/Sark and OL and ST. Not enough % left to go around haha

[Red Five]

47 minutes ago, Matthew Toming said:

There is no question that the offense needs to be better, but this is a collective failure and needs to be treated as such.

No it shouldn't. You can't ask your defense to win games for you week in and week out like we've been doing. Eventually they won't play an A level game, because that's how football works. And eventually they'll wear down. 

[LonghornFan4Ever]

The only critique I have of the defense is like 2008 and 2010, they’re not forcing turnovers.  Other than that they’re doing everything they can to keep the offense in these games, but not getting enough help.

[mmdaytontexas]

22 minutes ago, AustinsTruth said:

Agree that the change was mostly pointless. I would say that Cryer seems to be one of the smarter defensive players we have had in a while. It is very evident that he is in complete control and very prepared, including calling out the offensive play. 

However, tackling has taken a significant step back. Biles misses a ton of tackles, Kobe Black had a terrible game tackling. Tackling got worse as the defense got more fatigued, but I have noticed a ton of missed tackles this season. 

I would still say that Florida's offense is clearly talented, new QB without film was always a concern. Especially when you give their offense so many chances to figure it out. Artificially giving them a chance for momentum at the end of the half was killer. Can't do much more on that 4th and 12 if you're a DB

Our defense wore down for sure, but this defense did nothing to force Florida out of its rhythm. No one was getting any pressure on the QB except Simmons and he kept running by him and letting him lose for a first down run or throw. I like Muschamp and the D had been good, but so was PKs. Our DBs were late closing on open WRs or trailing the WRs in man coverage.Frankly, I don't see where we improved much at all on defense, and our offense has regressed. Sarks plan was badly conceived and had been a total failure.