Defense is the Worst in the Country

[untbowler]

just to make it sound even more inept, this is a worse defense, even with the new clock rules where teams are getting off less plays, let that kick in the nads sink in.

Bad defense, but could worse if the new time clock rules were not in place

[meangreenbob]

On 9/12/2023 at 7:54 AM, MAX KOCH said:

Coponi is just the worst.  Do all the players hate him?  It looks like no one is even making the slightest effort. 

For the love of whatever, would someone step in and help Caponi. It’s obvious he is in way way over his head. 

Edited September 14, 2023 by meangreenbob

[Monkeypox]

BIG problem along the lines. We don't have near the size to run a 3-man front, and I'm not certain we have the right depth and distribution to run a good 4-man front.

For comparison, Iowa State vs UNT.

Iowa State has 20 DL to 16

Their average height is 6'3", with a number of them 6'4" or greater (11 vs 2). and few less than 6'3" (4 vs 10). Their average weight is 274(vs 263). They have 9 players at 280 lbs or greater (vs 5). They only have 2 players less than 250. We have 6.

I did a quick glance at FIU, and they have only 14 DL but also much better size than we do along the DL.

 

 

[southsideguy]

lets surprise latch and come out with a four man line

 

[GrandGreen]

14 hours ago, Monkeypox said:

BIG problem along the lines. We don't have near the size to run a 3-man front, and I'm not certain we have the right depth and distribution to run a good 4-man front.

For comparison, Iowa State vs UNT.

Iowa State has 20 DL to 16

Their average height is 6'3", with a number of them 6'4" or greater (11 vs 2). and few less than 6'3" (4 vs 10). Their average weight is 274(vs 263). They have 9 players at 280 lbs or greater (vs 5). They only have 2 players less than 250. We have 6.

I did a quick glance at FIU, and they have only 14 DL but also much better size than we do along the DL.

 

 

The problem with this type of analysis; is it is usually based on printed roster sizes, which are often significantly overstated.  If you doubt that look at the last year's roster versus this year's NT roster.   The same players are now mostly shorter than they were last year.  

Based on the first two games, my belief is it is mostly a coaching issue at this point.  Morris decided to change the offense and defense to his style of play whether the team was built for the new strategy or not. 

Cal would have beaten NT anyway, but it would have been much more competitive and NT would have trounced FIU as usual IMO if the team had stayed with the run first offense and four man front defense.    

NT hired Morris because they wanted a change and they got one.  Way to early to tell if Moris is the answer or just another bad hire.  

 

[Monkeypox]

10 hours ago, GrandGreen said:

The problem with this type of analysis; is it is usually based on printed roster sizes, which are often significantly overstated.  If you doubt that look at the last year's roster versus this year's NT roster.   The same players are now mostly shorter than they were last year.  

 

So is UNT the only school with accurate numbers, or can we assume that all schools do it to a degree? FIU has less DL than we do (14 to 16), but they are also LISTED at better heights and weights than ours. UTSA has some absolute mammoths, so even if they're lying straight out, they'd be much bigger than ours. You will find the same for almost everyone on our schedule. Our DL are too freaking small, by any measure. You can also see it on the field.

And that's an issue with what our coaches brought in. We should've been all hands on deck to get some experienced big DL in until the last possible moment.

[Udomann]

15 hours ago, southsideguy said:

lets surprise latch and come out with a four man line

 

Might as well come out with a 12 man line. Really see the shock on their faces.

Hell, we would probably give up less yards just taking the penalty 

[Aquila_Viridis]

Right; at this point a full on blitz every down would be better. It would give a tiny chance to win, versus assured loss by 5, or 40, yard carries every time.

[97and03]

1 hour ago, Udomann said:

Might as well come out with a 12 man line. Really see the shock on their faces.

Hell, we would probably give up less yards just taking the penalty 

Can we score a TD first and then commit penalties indefinitely? Is there a foul they can’t decline and we just let them end up 1st and goal until the clock runs out with a 7-0 victory??

[GrandGreen]

3 hours ago, Monkeypox said:

So is UNT the only school with accurate numbers, or can we assume that all schools do it to a degree? FIU has less DL than we do (14 to 16), but they are also LISTED at better heights and weights than ours. UTSA has some absolute mammoths, so even if they're lying straight out, they'd be much bigger than ours. You will find the same for almost everyone on our schedule. Our DL are too freaking small, by any measure. You can also see it on the field.

And that's an issue with what our coaches brought in. We should've been all hands on deck to get some experienced big DL in until the last possible moment.

I don't get your point.  I just stated that most schools inflate their heights.  This is not just guesswork, it's been years ago; but I actually compared listed heights on universities' rosters with measurements from pro recruiting data.  The average difference was the college roster heights were 1.5 over the pro numbers. 

I don't have the magic eyes that some apparently do, that can determine heights from up in the stands.   

You also put too much emphasis on height.  Every heard of Booger Kennedy, Walter Chapman and a multitude of sub-6' great linemen.

NT's problem thus far is not size but rather performance   

[Monkeypox]

16 minutes ago, GrandGreen said:

I don't get your point.  I just stated that most schools inflate their heights.  This is not just guesswork, it's been years ago; but I actually compared listed heights on universities' rosters with measurements from pro recruiting data.  The average difference was the college roster heights were 1.5 over the pro numbers. 

I don't have the magic eyes that some apparently do, that can determine heights from up in the stands.   

You also put too much emphasis on height.  Every heard of Booger Kennedy, Walter Chapman and a multitude of sub-6' great linemen.

NT's problem thus far is not size but rather performance   

The point is that if everyone is inflating their numbers, then it's not like we're comparing apples to moon cheese. It would only matter if we were somehow the ONE school not doing it. If all or most schools are doing it, then our inflated heights and weights are still well below that of most of our competition. So either they're all colluding to make our players look smaller, or they're actually smaller.

Yes, there are very good linemen at 6'0" and under, but they are the exception. There's a reason scouts have their preferences, so if you think height doesn't matter, take it up with them. Yes, if a guy is an elite talent and outside of the ideal size range, they can absolutely overcome their size deficiencies. But that's like saying having a roster of 5'8" QBs isn't an issue because Kyler Murray was awesome.

Of all the DL drafted in last year's NFL draft, there were TWO DT below 6'2", and ZERO DE. 

Our defensive players are tiny. Almost half our DL have linebacker size.

But also, I noticed you left out weights... why is that? I focused on both height AND weight, as one or the other alone doesn't tell the whole story. Our players are shorter and lighter than most squads.