Thursday Afternoon Five Questions
by Seth C on Jan 21, 2010 12:00 PM CST
in Texas Tech Football
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PrintI've made it two weeks in a row with Five Questions, today we focus on the defense a bit. Leave your answers in the comments.
- New defensive coordinator James Willis and Tommy Tuberville have both said that Texas Tech will be switching to a 3-4 defense. Anything in particular that excites you about the switch to the 3-4? Ed. I'd also like for you to consider reading Big Red Network's Steve Hanway's thoughts on why a college team would run the 3-4 versus the 4-3.
- I'm a tad bit concerned about personnel, in particular, having enough linebackers to make a smooth conversion to the 3-4. Any guesses on the four starters next year? Right now, the linebackers are Bront Bird, Dion Chidozie, Brian Duncan, Sam Fehoko, Brandon Mahoney, and Tyrone Sonier with the pre-bowl game talk about how S Daniel Cobb might convert to linebacker during the spring.
- This is the second year in a row that the Red Raiders lose their two starting defensive ends, and Ruffin McNeill was able to get tremendous production from the defensive end position, despite what you may think about his short-comings as far as a play-caller. Any guesses as to who picks up at defensive end? The defensive ends are Aundrey Barr, Ryan Haliburton, Kerry Hyder, and Christopher Knighton and there's always been talk that defensive tackle Pearlie Graves makes the move to end, but he's put on so much weight since he committed, it seems that he might be suited to play the defensive tackle position. Also committed, but apparently not enrolled is DE Scott Smith (I'm not counting on him at all) and freshman Jackson Richards will enter in the fall.
- I've always thought that defense isn't necessarily about scheme as much as it is about having enough athletes to compete on a high level. Agree or disagree and how close do you think Texas Tech is to having enough athletes to compete on that high level?
- The defense last year was middle of the road (6th in the Big 12 in Total Defense) as far as the Big 12 conference is concerned. Do you think the defense improves or regresses from 2009 to 2010 and why?
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5 Answers
1. There is a much smaller pool of big, dominant defensive linemen than there is of smaller, faster, tweener types who can thrive at linebacker in a 3-4. Unless you are OU or Alabama and can consistently recruit one of the 2 or 3 dominant defensive tackles who are available each year, the 3-4 seems very smart. Tech has a much better shot at finding the athletes who can play a 3-4, which will also help them with chasing scrambling quarterbacks, than they do finding the big, dominant defensive linemen. The downside is that offenses will adjust and become more “smash-mouth”, at which point defenses will probably revert to 4-3s. And the cycle goes on…
2. Duncan is no-brainer at one inside slot and Bird is probably a no-brainer at an outside slot. Would like to see a converted safety, such as Cobb, at the other outside slot, and someone like Sam Fehoko at the other inside slot.
3. Leave Graves inside if at all possible, rotating him with Whitlock. If Smith is here, put him at one end and Barr or Haliburton at the other. If Smith washes out, have the ends be Barr and Haliburton. Wouldn’t mind trying Bird at one of the ends if we can find enough linebackers.
4. Agree. This was certainly McNeill’s approach. On a more polished level, I think it is ultimately Tuberville’s approach as well. “Players make plays”. I have always felt that Tech was held back by losing out to the haves, such as UT, OU, and A & M, on the big, dominant, defensive linemen. This favors the 3-4, in my view. If Tech could find that one, big run stopper in the middle of the line, they would move to the next level.
5. Improves. The talent on the field will be equal to, or better than, previous years. They return a decent number of players who got quality minutes last year. Tuberville and Willis will teach better fundamentals on pad level and tackling than McNeill did. McNeill seem to rely more on emotion. Willis looks like he can also extract this emotion, plus get the players playing at a higher level.
by Oklahoma Red Raider on Jan 21, 2010 1:05 PM CST reply actions
Anwering # 1- 5
The real problem is do you the coaches T Tubs and J. Willis have a no drop off in performance from the 2 x deep rotation. More specifically no drop off on the field at 3 x positions (Defensive end) Tackle, Nose Tackle (Nose Guard) and Linebacker. Consider this Al Groh former VA head coach used this style of front 7 pretty effectively against Tech in the 08 Gator Bowl. At first blush using Graves, Whitlock, D. Neill, Briton Barbee and Perry at Nosegard (in the middle) and Haliburton, A. Barr, Hyder, Knighton play the two tackle (end) positions. Seems to be a decent rotation for the down linemen. On the linebacker front Bront Bird, Dion Chidozie, Brian Duncan, Sam Fehoko, these guys start, Brandon Mahoney, and Tyrone Sonier back them up. Ruffin replicated this 3- 4 capability by leaving a relatively fast (and smart) defensive end on the field with the "Joker" position. I am suspicious that we have enough linebackers without converting a Safety – at least for 2010 season. When you put 4 x linebackers on the field you can expect 2 x things 1. One of them is rushing the passer. Nearly every play. 2. The strong side of the offensive formation is getting a dose of gap rushing from one of the outside line backers. I liked what Ruff was doing but I am not wedded to any particular style or defensive scheme. I just want his defense to be # 3 or better in the Big 12. My vote is like this – people do what the boss checks – Tubs is a defensive mined guy I expect the defense to make similar type quantum improvement that Nebraska made in 2009 ( I know we don’t have Mr. Suh on the roster) So today we have pretty good defensive players – in 2 x years we will have great players. If the 2011 -12 recruiting goes well.
"do routine things routinely"
Number 4
Defense doesn’t need to have great schemes if you have great players. Unfortunately, Tech has not had the athletes at each position to be successful with a poor (or shall we say) straight-forward scheme. 1995 was probably the last team with more than 3-4 really talented players and that scheme hid the weak points. This is the basis of my logic. A good scheme is necessary when you have a few talented players and a few not so great players. Hide the weak links and make plays with the strength.
- = I’ve never been a big scheme guy for defense. With the exception of size of the players and what gap they line up in, most people couldn’t tell the difference in a 4-3 or a 3-4. Defense to me is and will always be about desire, heart and motivation.
The only exception to that being at CB where I believe you have to coach and play technically sound to be great.
- = It better be equal or improve. Look at it this way, we just replaced the top 3 coaching positions in our program. Of those 3 top spots, 2 of them are Defensive Coaches. Damn right it better improve. I can’t wait!
Wreck ’em!
IMWTx
sorry, i'm an idiot apparently
those were answers to number 4 & 5
IMWTx
by imisswesttexas on Jan 21, 2010 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
I hope defense improves
Somebody on Mike & Mike this morning was talking about how much harder 60 minutes of football was on a defensive player rather than an offensive player. They spend the whole day reacting & it wears you down. Offenses finally get to break the big play late in a game. I think that is Tech’s biggest disadvantage against Oklahoma & Texas. They have enough talent on the bench to keep fresh legs. Tech gets a big first half lead on them but they chip away & in the 4th quarter the defense gets worn out & the evil stae U’s make up the deficit. The only answer is more & better players on the defensive side of the ball. Just do it Tuber.
Big Red Network....
I read his post. Our outside LB’s in a 3-4 are not there to stuff the run ,and in my opinion to blitz that often. They are there to be smaller and faster to be able to match up with the slot receivers and be able to move in space. What Big Red Network apparently does not realize is that they are the only team in the big 12 that uses the power run game (and i am pretty sure they were either last or second to last in total offense is the big 12). Defenses in the big 12 are not meant to be run stuffing (minus Texas and OU who just have the talent on the line to be, and NU cause well Suh).
In regards to #5
Dont forget the Navarro Junior College DT recruit. I have seen alot on him, guy can play! If we go to a 3-4 it wouldn’t surprise me a bit for him to move to the end. He could do big things for us.
My head is so full of all the bars in Lubbock (thanks ImissWtexas)
At this point, I can just work on a great happy hour for tomorrow. Having said that, I am not worried about the defense not improving at all….and yes, the 3-4 is the way to do that. I really do think Tubbs has a defensive identity, and knows how to put that together very well. My apprehension comes on the offensive side.
The best thing he can do for his Defense next year is to continue to put pressure on the opponent’s defense and be more unconventional than he is comfortable with offensively.
" I crammed 4 years of Tech into 5"- me
by oldschoolraider on Jan 21, 2010 4:15 PM CST reply actions
The only thing...
I would like to see more than 3-4 is 4-2-5. 4-2-5’s the best way to stop the spread in my opinion plus you can do just about anything out of it.
by TheScarletandTheBlack on Jan 21, 2010 4:35 PM CST reply actions
This is why TT wants to run a little more. We have to control the clock with some ground game in the second half. When we score in 90 seconds our defense has no down time and we get killed in the 4th quarter (ie Houston game). I believe everyone is expecting improvement with this group of coaches.
exactly
I’m still scratching my head over the defense used in the a&m game. It looked like a 4-0.
Quarterback draws all nite long for 25 or so yards. No one behind the DL. No adjustments
made at all. You could tell that a&m had studied our houston film.
"uh, uh, well, uh yeah, I think the guys, uh played, uh pretty well in the second
half." The captains words, after uh, the insight bowl. You're the best Mike!
that's when I started having some questions in regards to ruff.
"uh, uh, well, uh yeah, I think the guys, uh played, uh pretty well in the second
half." The captains words, after uh, the insight bowl. You're the best Mike!
1. Anything in particular that excites you about the switch to the 3-4? The first comment I have is that coach T speaks to the 3-4 as a defense that he plans to recruit to. I think that is more in the future than next season. He has to play the players that he has…I also think that is not far from the direction that Coach Ruff was going anyway…we have seen more 3-4 last season and this than in the past…I see it as a continuation of an already established direction.
2. This follows 1. above, the personnel are in the wings…you might add Julius Howard who played alot of minutes as a lb in the last couple of games.
3. Yes !! The defensive ends: Aundrey Barr, Ryan Haliburton, Kerry Hyder, Christopher Knighton, and Jackson Richards. DE Scott Smith was recruited to bolster the depth and provide experience…without him the likelyhood of Bird moving is greater…he can play that position…Lawrence Rumph is a JC coming in who has both size and speed, he could be considered as a big DE…Graves is a DT, no DE for him—that opportunity is passed and he is needed in the middle.
4. TTU has competed on a high level the past three years on defense starting with Coach Ruff’s tenure. There are enough athletes this year’s class included.
5. I expressed a concern about the defense with a new DC and staff around terminology…if they do not mentally burden this group of players with a bunch of foreign wording and concepts this team has a very good chance to be better…there will be a lot more speed over-all on the field…primarily in the secondary and nickel and dime packages.
Sometimes a river boat can out run a pirate ship.
replies
1. After reading that article, I am convinced Steve Hanway doesn’t know the first damn thing about the 3-4 defense. His reasons for why NFL teams run the 3-4 is incorrect, and his understanding of how the 3-4 is run is inaccurate. He questions the effectiveness of the 3-4 against the run, when the defense was designed to stop the run. My honest response after reading that article was: This author is an idiot.
He really should learn more about the 3-4 defense before he tries to comment on it. That article was one of those ones that makes you go from “This guy has no idea what he is talking about” to “We are all dumber after having read this.” I think there are kindergartners who have never seen a football who have a better understanding of the 3-4 than he does.
The only intelligent thing Hanway points out is that it would make sense for Tech to run a different scheme than other schools in the conference, because it would make teams prepare for something they don’t see every week. However, texas, while being fairly multiple, runs a lot of odd fronts, and A&M is converting back to the 3-4 with the hiring of Tim DeRuyter. There won’t be a schematic advantage for Tech simply b/c they are running the 3-4.
2. No idea who your starters will be. I do know that Tuberville will want speed on the field, so don’t be surprised to see a safety become an OLB. Don’t be surprised to see Tuberville recruiting athletes (HS QBs, RBs, WRs, etc.) and moving them to defense, either.
3. Haven’t watched you guys enough to choose the DEs, but think Graves would make a good NG or stongside DE in a 3-4. He can plug the A or B gaps.
4. It is both; you can have great athletes and a poor scheme, and you will get killed. Check out the results of teams with superior athletic talent playing against Tech’s Air Raid in Leach’s first few years; that is superior talent failing due to inferior scheme. Check out Air Force vs. Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl; inferior talent used superior scheme to shut down superior talent.
5. I think you will see a regression as they learn a new scheme and become comfortable with it, and that is to be expected. What you are looking for is steady improvement as the season goes on.
the reason for 3-4...
One of Tubberville’s mentors and someone he frequently talks to… RC Slocum who used the 3-4 with great success @ A&M..
A few side notes..
Tubberville is big on teams having tremendous conditioning..
The O Line will be on a diet and those big line splits will be gone… they will have to be athletic enough to pull and block in space in the run game. What you get next fall may not be what you see in spring.. He will move people around on offense and defense until he gets what he thinks is the best position for that player according to their skills.The TE will reappear at TT, along with H back in formation to go with RB.
Tuberville likes to make slower big LB’s into DT’s safety’s into LB he will sacrifice size for speed.
It will be different than what you are used to ( scoring 70 points a game) but you guys will be fine, defensively I think you will be much better.
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