Defensive Struggles

[Seany]

The defense looked pretty poor, but you also need to keep things in perspective a little bit. That offensive line they just went up against is the best line in all of college football, while the Buckeye wideouts are top-notch NFL talent and will be by FAR the best group of receivers we'll face this season. So yeah, we got exposed a bit out there, but I am confident these guys will round into shape as the season progresses and we will be okay.

The one thing that really frustrated me last night were the missed tackles, as there were way, way, way too many of those for my liking. That's something that can be cleaned up though, and again, I am confident this staff will do so.

 

[MplsGopher]

The pick was nice.

Sure.

And maybe a fair number of picks are just "right place, right time" rather than "I beat you".

But it was most definitely the former, here, and not the latter. Stroud simply made a bad throw, well behind his receiver, who tried to get a hand on it and ended up tipping it to our guy.

 

[MplsGopher]

The first touchdown: 100% Nubin's poor, poor leverage/angle and whiff on the tackle attempt. Guy easily stiff armed him like he wasn't there. TD.

 

[MplsGopher]

Also ....... sorry, I hate calling guys out ..... but Swenson is not the answer. We have to have someone better. Don't care if you have to burn someone's shirt.

Give me a guy with upper Big Ten athleticism, who will play like his hair's on fire the whole game ... might make some mental mistakes now and then .... all day.

 

[btowngopher]

Was thinking this morning that the last really good pass rusher we had was WVS so I looked it up cause I was sure I was forgetting someone. But what really struck me is that except for 2008, Brewster teams gave up more sacks than recorded. Except for the first year, Kill/Claeys completely reversed that. But under PJ, it's gone backwards. We've given up more sacks than we record (2017 was a push).

Year	Team Leader		Team Tot	Opp Tot
2006	VanDeSteeg	10	25	18
2007	Mike Sherels	2.5	11	13
2008	VanDeSteeg	10.5	34	30
2009	DL Wilhite / Eric Small	3	22	40
2010	Jewhan Edwards	3	9	17
2011	Gary Tinsley	4	19	22
2012	DL Wilhite	8.5	26	21
2013	Theiren Cockran	7.5	18	17
2014	Damien Wilson	4	24	19
2015	De'Vondre Campbell	4	22	19
2016	Blake Cashman	7.5	37	16
2017	Carter Coughlin	6.5	23	23
2018	Carter Coughlin	9.5	23	27
2019	Sam Renner	5	28	30
2020	Boye Mafe	4.5	8	13

You’ll notice that linebackers led us in sacks some of the Kill years, meaning they weren’t afraid to mix in blitzes, which Rossi seems reluctant to do, I think to his detriment. I get he’s afraid to get beat, but if you can’t cover for longer periods of time you’ll get beat anyway.

 

[btowngopher]

The first touchdown: 100% Nubin's poor, poor leverage/angle and whiff on the tackle attempt. Guy easily stiff armed him like he wasn't there. TD.

Nubin needs to make that one on one play, but it’s not great to see the opposing rb only needing to beat one guy on a run to be gone.

 

[MNVCGUY]

The defense looked pretty poor, but you also need to keep things in perspective a little bit. That offensive line they just went up against is the best line in all of college football, while the Buckeye wideouts are top-notch NFL talent and will be by FAR the best group of receivers we'll face this season. So yeah, we got exposed a bit out there, but I am confident these guys will round into shape as the season progresses and we will be okay.

The one thing that really frustrated me last night were the missed tackles, as there were way, way, way too many of those for my liking. That's something that can be cleaned up though, and again, I am confident this staff will do so.

Yeah, way too early to freak out about the defense. Let's see how they adjust after this game and also how they look against a team that doesn't have NFL talent at pretty much every position on offense.

Obviously they are going to have to play better but this is not the game to draw any massive conclusions from as to just how that group is going to play. Ohio State will be far and away the best offense we face in the regular season.

They did manage to hold Ohio State to 10 points in the first half. I would be willing to bet that in recent years there have not been very many games where Ohio State has gone to the locker room at halftime trailing.

 

[Tucker32]

You’ll notice that linebackers led us in sacks some of the Kill years, meaning they weren’t afraid to mix in blitzes, which Rossi seems reluctant to do, I think to his detriment. I get he’s afraid to get beat, but if you can’t cover for longer periods of time you’ll get beat anyway.

Kill/Claeys staff had some pretty strong defensive backs, and allowed pressure. The d-backs not nearly as strong now so even if Rossi wants to bring it he can't unless they improve significantly on the back end.

 

[salzie]

Yeah, way too early to freak out about the defense. Let's see how they adjust after this game and also how they look against a team that doesn't have NFL talent at pretty much every position on offense.

Obviously they are going to have to play better but this is not the game to draw any massive conclusions from as to just how that group is going to play. Ohio State will be far and away the best offense we face in the regular season.

They did manage to hold Ohio State to 10 points in the first half. I would be willing to bet that in recent years there have not been very many games where Ohio State has gone to the locker room at halftime trailing.

Only three times in Ryan Day era vs b1g teams

 

[salzie]

Kill/Claeys staff had some pretty strong defensive backs, and allowed pressure. The d-backs not nearly as strong now so even if Rossi wants to bring it he can't unless they improve significantly on the back end.

Having Murray and Brien boddy Calhoun able to play on island allowed for a lot of creativity

 

[MGGopher]

Not sure where this goes, but wanted to mention the best tackle I saw all night was Donald Wills when Stroud tried to scramble on a 3rd and long. Does anyone else remember that? I've seen so many GOpher defenders the past couple years come in hesitantly with their head down and whiff on open field tackles. Wills came in like a bat outta you know where, no hesitation, wrapped up Stroud like it was nothing. Those are the kinds of things I was hoping to see out of more athletic LBers like Wills, Gordon, and Oliver...just haven't seen enough of it.

 

[Five Toes]

Not sure where this goes, but wanted to mention the best tackle I saw all night was Donald Wills when Stroud tried to scramble on a 3rd and long. Does anyone else remember that? I've seen so many GOpher defenders the past couple years come in hesitantly with their head down and whiff on open field tackles. Wills came in like a bat outta you know where, no hesitation, wrapped up Stroud like it was nothing. Those are the kinds of things I was hoping to see out of more athletic LBers like Wills, Gordon, and Oliver...just haven't seen enough of it.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Our problem is that OSU can put 4 NFL quality WRs (speedy; shifty; fluid) on the field and still run believable play action which freezes DBs for a second. And that’s all it takes with OSU’s talent. We won’t see this level of talent, not even close, for the rest of the year. Don’t judge our defense until after we’ve played Colorado snd Purdue.

 

[Five Toes]

We put some good hits on OSU at the end of the 2nd Qtr. Our D did a good job with forcing the play. The big slant play in the 3rd for a TD with no help behind took some life out of the D. We are a very good team.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

The talent level is obvious but I'm more concerned about the blown coverages, missed communication and just plain being out of position.

Lots of new faces in the front 7, in this first game I'm willing to chalk it up to first game mistakes but they have some things to clean up. Some of those mistakes would have been almost as glaring against Bowling Green as they were against OSU.

Not panicking yet, but they made some mistakes that were NOT because of OSU's talent.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

You’ll notice that linebackers led us in sacks some of the Kill years, meaning they weren’t afraid to mix in blitzes, which Rossi seems reluctant to do, I think to his detriment. I get he’s afraid to get beat, but if you can’t cover for longer periods of time you’ll get beat anyway.

I’m a fan of the philosophy that if you are going to go down to a superior team, go down rushing forward with guns blazing rather than backing up. Score might have been worse if OSU always picked up the blitzes, but it couldn’t have been much worse. Most of OSU’s drives in the second half were just two or three plays. Hard to see how multi LB blitzes could have produced a much worse result.

 

[btowngopher]

I’m a fan of the philosophy that if you are going to go down to a superior team, go down rushing forward with guns blazing rather than backing up. Score might have been worse if OSU always picked up the blitzes, but it couldn’t have been much worse. Most of OSU’s drive in the second half were just two or three plays. Hard to see how multi LB blitzes could have produced a much worse result.

Exactly you might get beat on man coverage if the qb is poised and makes a good throw, but you’re getting torched rushing four and letting the qb have all day anyways.

 

[Fan of Ray Christensen]

I didn’t see any elite plays on the defensive end today (don’t talk about the gimme pick) OSU Their QB is bottom half of talent in the BIG. Linebackers were terrible, short screens, 10 yard passes, and inside tackle rushes were wide open. No pressure on the QB. D Tackles need to be better this year because they were a non factor today.

I'd like to see your list of the 7+ B1G QBs you think are more talented than Stroud.

 

[matt]

I'd like to see your list of the 7+ B1G QBs you think are more talented than Stroud.

I also wasn’t super impressed by Stroud, but I expect he will be a top 3 B1G QB by the end of the year with a good chance at #1 since there aren’t any elite B1G QBs.

 

[Fan of Ray Christensen]

I also wasn’t super impressed by Stroud, but I expect he will be a top 3 B1G QB by the end of the year with a good chance at #1 since their aren’t any elite B1G QBs.

I get the overreaction, but Stroud is going to be very good.

Speaking of overreaction, I lurked a little at Bucky's 5th Quarter earlier today. Pretty surprising meltdown, lots of badger fans convinced that Mertz is overrated, and bottom half of the B1G.

 

[salzie]

I get the overreaction, but Stroud is going to be very good.

Speaking of overreaction, I lurked a little at Bucky's 5th Quarter earlier today. Pretty surprising meltdown, lots of badger fans convinced that Mertz is overrated, and bottom half of the B1G.

Mertz has had one good game against very bad Illinois team.


He's still young so could get better. But right now he's no better than 4th in b1gw

 

[Boomtime]

I don't recall the ball being thrown Durr's way at all last night, guessing he was able to lock down his man most of the game. Not an easy task against the OSU receivers, nice job Coney.

That seems accurate.

What that tells me is they didn't need to attack Durr because they exploited others and the defensive coaches couldn't adjust.

 

[noamfromm]

Mertz has had one good game against very bad Illinois team.


He's still young so could get better. But right now he's no better than 4th in b1gw

Who are in your top 3? Tagovailoa, Mertz, Penix, McNamara, Morgan??

 

[Fan of Ray Christensen]

Our problem is that OSU can put 4 NFL quality WRs (speedy; shifty; fluid) on the field and still run believable play action which freezes DBs for a second. And that’s all it takes with OSU’s talent. We won’t see this level of talent, not even close, for the rest of the year. Don’t judge our defense until after we’ve played Colorado snd Purdue.

Watch the Bama game and Jameson Williams' 94 yard TD grab where he runs away from the Canes defense. William's transferred from OSU to Bama because he knew he would never crack the buckeye top 4 WRs. I'm guessing the Miami DBs are pretty fast, but they couldn't run down one of OSU's leftovers.

 

[salzie]

Who are in your top 3? Tagovailoa, Mertz, Penix, McNamara, Morgan??

I'm just referring to West.

I could potentially sell him short.

Morgan, Martinez, Petras

And I don't think much of 2/3 listed

 

[Boomtime]

I'm just referring to West.

I could potentially sell him short.

Morgan, Martinez, Petras

And I don't think much of 2/3 listed

Morgan is easily the best, but not all QBs are tasked with doing the same thing.

IMO, guys like Mertz and Petras are just supposed to limit mistakes and allow their respective defenses win games.

Martinez is the only threat at Nebraska, so he has to play very well for them to have any chance.

Morgan's roll might change depending on Mo's situation.

 

[noamfromm]

I'm just referring to West.

I could potentially sell him short.

Morgan, Martinez, Petras

And I don't think much of 2/3 listed

Oic -- I misread -- thought you were talking Stroud.

I'd go Morgan and Mertz for my 1a1b. I don't know if Martinez would start at any other west school (other than NU . . . Maybe)

 

[salzie]

Oic -- I misread -- thought you were talking Stroud.

I'd go Morgan and Mertz for my 1a1b. I don't know if Martinez would start at any other west school (other than NU . . . Maybe)

Martinez could be effective with complimentary run game.

Too much pressure on him to carry team.

 

[btowngopher]

Morgan is easily the best, but not all QBs are tasked with doing the same thing.

IMO, guys like Mertz and Petras are just supposed to limit mistakes and allow their respective defenses win games.

Martinez is the only threat at Nebraska, so he has to play very well for them to have any chance.

Morgan's roll might change depending on Mo's situation.

Iowa and Wisconsin will never be that great if that is all they want from their qbs.

 

[noamfromm]

Martinez could be effective with complimentary run game.

Too much pressure on him to carry team.

He is a horrible qb when he had time in the pocket. His only value add is his legs. I really learned a lot listening to backseatsports breakdown on AM2 and when he struggles.