1. Gap control. Today looked like a game-long flashback to last year. Defenders constantly falling for misdirection, not minding their gaps with giant holes opening up repeatedly for KSU's run game (the LBs seemed to be constantly mugged up to the LOS and out of position for slower developing plays). And no spy on the QB in the redzone...who had 4 rushing TDs.
2. Blitzing. Every blitz I noticed was tipped off by having the blitzer right up on the LOS pre-snap, where he simply ran up the gut and was stood up immediately, effectively taking one of our back 7 out of the play for no purpose. Why no edge or delay blitzes? We seemingly opened up the "blitz book" versus UT and then put it back on the shelf.
3. DB Cushions. How many passes were completed with our DB playing way off the WR? And its a different game on those two 3rd and long interference/holding calls, but jayzus, can we teach the DBs not to grab the jersey where its easily flagged way out in space? Yes one of them was on a true frosh, but that is simply a fundamental.
4. DEs lined up inside the offensive tackle. I constantly saw our pre-snap shift place the DE inside the tackle so we had no edge control. E.g., on that option their QB kept for the TD, Bookie rightfully took the RB but there was no one left for containment of the QB (Perkins was lined up inside the tackle). We busted edge containment all game long simply by how we lined up pre-snap.
It seems like Grinch went into this game thinking a vanilla scheme - stay in a base D while keeping the WRs in front of you, with none of the DBs risked on blitzes - was gonna get it done versus an inferior opponent. If there was a half time adjustment, after it was apparent the "inferior" opponent was kicking your D's ass, I didn't see it.
2. Blitzing. Every blitz I noticed was tipped off by having the blitzer right up on the LOS pre-snap, where he simply ran up the gut and was stood up immediately, effectively taking one of our back 7 out of the play for no purpose. Why no edge or delay blitzes? We seemingly opened up the "blitz book" versus UT and then put it back on the shelf.
3. DB Cushions. How many passes were completed with our DB playing way off the WR? And its a different game on those two 3rd and long interference/holding calls, but jayzus, can we teach the DBs not to grab the jersey where its easily flagged way out in space? Yes one of them was on a true frosh, but that is simply a fundamental.
4. DEs lined up inside the offensive tackle. I constantly saw our pre-snap shift place the DE inside the tackle so we had no edge control. E.g., on that option their QB kept for the TD, Bookie rightfully took the RB but there was no one left for containment of the QB (Perkins was lined up inside the tackle). We busted edge containment all game long simply by how we lined up pre-snap.
It seems like Grinch went into this game thinking a vanilla scheme - stay in a base D while keeping the WRs in front of you, with none of the DBs risked on blitzes - was gonna get it done versus an inferior opponent. If there was a half time adjustment, after it was apparent the "inferior" opponent was kicking your D's ass, I didn't see it.
