How do you mend a broken defense?

[Harry]

It is abundantly clear that our defense is not what it was last year. But almost halfway through the season how do you fix that? Will the C-USA level of play leave them less exposed?

I am starting to think the bend don't break mentality won't work until we get the offense running on all cylinders. The cushion we are giving receivers is a problem. An even bigger problem is we can't stop the run.

Are there any scheme adjustments that we can make to help offset the key personnel losses of Orr, Trice Abbe etc?

[Ben Gooding]

At this point it's still unclear if it's level of competition beating down the defense or just bad defense. It's obviously leaning towards just bad defense. There is not a lot of disguise in Skladany's defense. They usually front what they are doing and rarely blitz anyhow as it is. IMO, Kenny buyers is about ready to be benched. He's usually a sure fire tackler, but his coverage is a concerning liability. The edge must be set, regardless of how it happens. We also have to absolutely commit to taking away the run from this point on. Again, doesn't matter how it happens (a lot of ways to schematically be effective), but it must happen. Lastly, in today's offenses they drill defenses with tunnels and bubbles; we have to start to press.

On a side note, I love what Chad Polk brings to the table in terms of rushing the passer. With that said he is not an every down defensive end and in my mind shouldn't be used as such.

[Harry]

At this point it's still unclear if it's level of competition beating down the defense or just bad defense. It's obviously leaning towards just bad defense. There is not a lot of disguise in Skladany's defense. They usually front what they are doing and rarely blitz anyhow as it is. IMO, Kenny buyers is about ready to be benched. He's usually a sure fire tackler, but his coverage is a concerning liability. The edge must be set, regardless of how it happens. We also have to absolutely commit to taking away the run from this point on. Again, doesn't matter how it happens (a lot of ways to schematically be effective), but it must happen. Lastly, in today's offenses they drill defenses with tunnels and bubbles; we have to start to press.

On a side note, I love what Chad Polk brings to the table in terms of rushing the passer. With that said he is not an every down defensive end and in my mind shouldn't be used as such.

I wondered on the IU passing touchdowns if it was a scheme issue or just our issues in the front 7. It sure looked like to me that our secondary was having to play a lot against the run.

[techdawg88]

hiring Manny Diaz helped out Tech's D

[Ben Gooding]

I wondered on the IU passing touchdowns if it was a scheme issue or just our issues in the front 7. It sure looked like to me that our secondary was having to play a lot against the run.

Not really IMO. The secondary was chasing their tails. And when they weren't chasing their tails the corners were playing too far back asking to be tunneled and bubbled to death. Our 2 most sure tacklers (Lee & Buyers) in the secondary missed a tackle on the same play on the 50 yd td run that kind of broke the game open in the 2nd half. Defensive aggression collectively as a unit is seriously lacking as well. It's a gaggle F right now on other words. Skladany has to realize what he has and come up with a better prepared game plan. Bend, not break is not going to work with this unit this year and that has to be accepted and adjusted schematically.

[Texas Stranger]

hiring Manny Diaz helped out Tech's D

Northwestern State disagrees

[techdawg88]

Northwestern State disagrees

that loss was all on the offense and special teams

[Ben Gooding]

Northwestern State disagrees

haha

[Got5onIt]

DLine didn't get much push today. The thing that really stuck out to me today was the underwhelming play from our LBers....

[817Fan]

Our front 7 is too small. Our entire D line rotation is too small. We have a national champion D-line coach on staff here & we can't sign any larger defensive prospects. Incredibly disappointing.

[Green P1]

Recruit Dline. The one thing Mac can't seem to do.

[IslandEagle]

Recruit Dline. The one thing Mac can't seem to do.

Well, then they need to pull a Richard Abbe and find a OL or two, who can be converted to defense. It worked for us last year. Surely out of all the OL recruits with size (some of whom played two ways in high school) we can find someone who can play in the defensive line and add a little size to our mixture.