DRC: What we learned from UNT's win over USM

[Brett Vito]

DRC: Harrell's name coming up at UTEP early because it makes sense on paper. It's too early to see what the school is thinking

http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/mean-green/2017/10/02/monday-edition-learned-harrells-name-will-heat

[MeanGreenTexan]

2. UNT might be figuring it out defensively

Looks like we improved SIGNIFICANTLY on 3rd & 4th down VS SoMiss (USM offense: 5-15 on 3rd down, 0-2 on 4th down).   I didn't get to see the game.   Can anyone who did comment on the amount of pressure brought on those downs?    Did we keep rushing just 3 (as we've been doing), or did we bring 4-5?

[BTG_Fan1]

5 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

2. UNT might be figuring it out defensively

Looks like we improved SIGNIFICANTLY on 3rd & 4th down VS SoMiss (USM offense: 5-15 on 3rd down, 0-2 on 4th down).   I didn't get to see the game.   Can anyone who did comment on the amount of pressure brought on those downs?    Did we keep rushing just 3 (as we've been doing), or did we bring 4-5?

Looks like they brought pressure

[MeanGreenHoops]

5 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

2. UNT might be figuring it out defensively

Looks like we improved SIGNIFICANTLY on 3rd & 4th down VS SoMiss (USM offense: 5-15 on 3rd down, 0-2 on 4th down).   I didn't get to see the game.   Can anyone who did comment on the amount of pressure brought on those downs?    Did we keep rushing just 3 (as we've been doing), or did we bring 4-5?

Early on we did our normal blitz thing and got burned. As the game went on, realized their QB couldn't beat us and started going to more of a 4 man rush. And it worked. Good coaching adjustment.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Just now, MeanGreenHoops said:

Early on we did our normal blitz thing and got burned. As the game went on, realized their QB couldn't beat us and started going to more of a 4 man rush. And it worked. Good coaching adjustment.

Yes, but over the past few games, I've seen several 3rd-and-long situations converted because we just send the 3 down linemen and drop everyone else back into coverage.  The QB has eons to throw, and finds a man to convert the 3rd down.   
So, if you're saying we were sending 4 men, that's an additional man to create a little more pressure... which is good.

[MeanGreenHoops]

9 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Yes, but over the past few games, I've seen several 3rd-and-long situations converted because we just send the 3 down linemen and drop everyone else back into coverage.  The QB has eons to throw, and finds a man to convert the 3rd down.   
So, if you're saying we were sending 4 men, that's an additional man to create a little more pressure... which is good.

Yes, that is what I'm saying. It wasn't - 3 men, no pressure, eventually someone gets open, it was 4 man, decent pressure, QB wasn't good enough to beat us and he didn't. Offense kept scoring, then the 4 man rush just tee'd off when no longer worrying about the run game.

[MeanGreenTexan]

Just now, MeanGreenHoops said:

Yes, that is what I'm saying. It wasn't - 3 men, no pressure, eventually someone gets open, it was 4 man, decent pressure, QB wasn't good enough to beat us and he didn't. Offense kept scoring, then the 4 man rush just tee'd off when no longer worrying about the run game.

Awesome.  Thanks for clarifying!   That's good news & I hope to see it continue.   No more 3-man rushes on 3rd-&-long.

[Aldo]

15 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

Yes, but over the past few games, I've seen several 3rd-and-long situations converted because we just send the 3 down linemen and drop everyone else back into coverage.  The QB has eons to throw, and finds a man to convert the 3rd down.   
So, if you're saying we were sending 4 men, that's an additional man to create a little more pressure... which is good.

Staggers was bracketed (hey it worked!) at times, and Griggs was off target a lot. 

We were more strategic about blitzes and pressure, containing Ito Smith and Staggers.

[MeanGreenTexan]

4 minutes ago, Aldo said:

Staggers was bracketed (hey it worked!) at times, and Griggs was off target a lot. 

We were more strategic about blitzes and pressure, containing Ito Smith and Staggers.

Yeah.   I knew this would work for everyone but Sutton! 

[MeanGreen_MBA]

I believe we beat up the UAB QB a lot more that we did the USM QB.  The UAB QB as just a tough as nails kind of guy bouncing back up.  I do not believe we hit the So. MIss. near as much....