Here for the Wins

Could be. Jackson needs to replicate this effort as we haven’t seen it consistently to date. He has certainly had a limited number of games to date to prove that consistency though.

Yes, plenty of time. I’m very high on Muschamp. Of all coaches I’ve seen, he’d be my #1 choice to play for so that should be an indicator of my feelings toward him. He and I would have been a helluva combo. i enjoy the stats but lean towards the FEI/OFEI/DFEI since it lends credence to opponent and tosses out garbage time amongst other things.

Hill. I ask again where does that originate? The blitz rates that is. PFF. In 2025, Hill’s coverage rate was 74.4% of pass plays. In 2024, Hill’s coverage rate was 84.5%. In 2023, Hill’s coverage rate was 73%. So 2023 and 2025 were similar but 2024 was dissimilar. Now I believe Hill played more Dline in 2025 too so perhaps the blitz rate was different. Blitz rate could be lower but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t rushing the passer. 2025 also had Spence, Moore and others to mix in some rush. Also, this far the NFL is treating Hills higher value as a coverage guy. I am open to more information, better information. That does not accurately depict the Ohio State game. What will constitute this defense as a championship level defense is winning a championship, which is TBD. Many defenses are multiple. That’s what Will is. He proved that Saturday. PK was that too. Certainly the approaches are different but they aren’t entirely different in every scenario. Theres lots to be excited about this year, no doubt.

2nd and 7 screenshot below. “Nice try though.” Hill is a coverage guy. His NFL team has him in coverage 90% of the time. He rushed the passer up to 10% higher last ear at Texas than the previous year. He’s a 2nd level rusher not a best you 1 on 1. Biles rushed the passer 10% of pass plays, Cryer was 5%. Versus Tennessee. Hill was at 25% for the season. But sure stick to the guns that he was deployed improperly or that Will does things drastically different. All the material interior defensive guys are back. Simmons back. Jackson, Zina. Littleton more experienced. Jelani more experienced. Williams healthier. Kade more experienced. LBs may be down but not much. You lose Hill, Taaffe, Burke, Guilbeau, Moore. You add Geffrard, Biles, Mascoe, Cryer. Nevermind Hill, Taafe missed 2 games each. Yes, this defense was likely better with no change. Where are you getting the blitz rate? I’m curious about that but struggle to find good info. You guys soil yourself about such things that aren’t really material then call guys off 15 yards a “prevent” defense to justify how it’s different. You may not have complained about that specific thing, but I’ve read quite a few complaints about such a thing in previous years.

No. I’d guess we almost never played 10 yards off on 3rd and 6. Only two teams in top 10 3rd down defense two of the past three years - Texas, Utah. Only 1 in top 25 all 3 years - Texas. The numbers say otherwise.

Do you remember two years ago at A&M? You know a team, a program full of piss and vinegar. Do you remember how many offensive points they mustered? You were probably salivating over yourself that Muschamp that was going to relentlessly bring the house. We didn’t. We played a lot of coverage. This is a more talented, more experienced defense too as compared to last year. No significant injuries yet. 3rd and 12. The corners 7 yards off. Last year, PK, you’re a moron playing 15 yards off. This year Muschamp you’re a genius. And just for photo evidence of us playing off see below. This was Ohio State, and pretty certain we did it the other day too. I am pushing back because of the needless comparison. But some of the fallacy too.

My hope is the entire team learned. Yeah it’s over and played a role for making the game more memorable too. The penalty is part of his performance and impact on the game. That’s the message I hope each player gets - one play can be very impactful on the game. Im not asking for any repercussions although I’d hope there might be something internally.

That was a premeditated celebration. On the football field, he committed a crime and did it knowingly. He played great, but that penalty discounts the positives from the preceding 3 plays. In the stadiumTennessee had no juice at that point. It provided them an opportunity to grow their confidence, it took an offensive possession from us and changed momentum. Take that embarrassment out of the equation. It was one of the momentous plays in the game. Purely speculative on my part, but I think we score that possession, if it’s 6, it’s probably game over at that point. That discounts his overall game a great deal as it gave them some life when they had none.

You seem to be responding to a PFN post and referencing PFF. PFF posts pass blocking grades for all the offense, similar for pass rush, and not unit grades. Both QBs were pressured 46% of dropbacks. Brandon took about 1 second longer on average to throw on those pressures. Brandon graded poorly. That’s not a blocking issue when he breaks the pocket to the outside and runs right into Simmons. PFF had Texas with a better pass blocking grade as a team than Tennessee and consequently a better pass rush grade. I tried to search PFNs site but didn’t have much luck finding more breakdowns. I’m much more familiar with PFF.

Alternative view after week 3 you have to get to the 39th ranked OFEI to find a defensive schedule rated more difficult than Texas at 16th. Ole Miss was at 17th but Tennessee was about 20 spots better in DFEI than Florida.

I’m not sure there aren’t too many influences in his ear. We’re probably somewhat in that phase of unknowns regarding other teams defenses and what gameplan they’ll bring to the table too. So you add a little complexity to the thinking too much, maybe trying too hard.

He was pressured on 14 of 30 dropbacks. But he threw in less than 3 seconds. Only 9 QBs average less time to get rid of it when pressured. Two were from Buffalo. That does say something.

Absolute truth. Ive read a ton of let Vince be Vince on this site. That’s goes for every QB that ever played. Whatever their skillset, play into it rather than restrict it.

Nice to see. Now we get to see how much the Oline has improved. Good example regarding Arch. And I mean in the sense that people are generally clueless. Yet they build off each other’s critiques. The play where he says Arch should stay in the pocket and hit Shannon over the middle. The throwing lane is gone. No one was hitting Arch but the DT/Nose/whatever he was pushed the pocket. There’s a ton of this in critiques - complete disregard for the throwing lane/arm angle. So a QB can wait but then gets accused of staring a dude down. Or he can risk a throw that might get deflected or might become slightly off target.

What exactly do you mean here?

Very true. It’s always interesting to me that most people view their team as a one sided coin. The LBs are only going to struggle from a physicality standpoint if our guys upfront are not winning battles or eating up two blocks. But the flip side of the coin of LB versus Olineman is that the Olineman should win way more often because they have the size/strength advantage. That doesn’t really change if a LB is 220 or 240. If you have a Guard that consistently loses a physical battle with a LB, you have a backup Guard. And that is certainly something a fanbase would bemoan. The front has to make enough plays, win enough battles so the olinemen don’t get quick and free releases to the next level. An oline has to win versus the first level before the second level matters. That’ll be the case here.

Thought the question was about DBs being a bust not elite. Jelani is not a bust even if not elite.

This might be a game you want to get downhill and make them feel it when they tackle you.

I like the discussion here. But on the big time throw rate, I think the QB gets credit even if they are dropped. Now, yards per attempt? The Wingo and Coleman misses alone drop that yards per attempt almost a yard alone. Arch’s drop percentage is 12th in the country at 12.2%. Five guys higher rates have 50 or fewer throws. Of the numbers quoted, it impacts yards per attempt, completion percentage and also impacts perspective on the average time to throw.

Arch’s adjusted completion percentage- 2024 - 76.5%; 2025 - 73%; 2026 - 75.6%. Mensah’s. 2024 - 75.7%; 2025 - 76.2%; 2026 - 92.2%. Mensah 2026 is extraordinary. We will see how that plays out.

I don’t believe Lacy came back. From what I recall, he was banged up versus Louisville too.

I’ll be real quiet when we’re on offense. Maybe that’ll help.

Missouri had 230 yards of offense versus Troy. At Missouri. A Troy that gave up 335 yards passing to SHSU, a team they beat by 3 at home. MSU, UF both gave up a lot of points, committed a ton of penalties. Ole Miss is good, but they are having to navigate a more difficult schedule than last year. Lacy is already banged up. They get to suit up and head to Florida next week. Somehow they only have 4 road games again.

Is Zina U a legit pass rusher opposite Simmons? I was sporadic watching the game, but our front 4 were active from what I saw. If that’s who they become, that is the single biggest takeaway from the game - good or bad.

59-14