Defense: Why were we running cover two for much of the 2nd half?

[Scrunge68]

I was in that end zone (he ran directly way from us). What happened? Looked to me like there was no 2nd level at all. Was that the start of them realizing they could block our safety with lineman because they could single everyone else with H backs and fullbacks?

Wasn't much of a second level. Besides a couple of lineman getting owned. I think it was Weber (not positive) took the wrong gap coverage and got caught. I was a few beers in but what I remember.

 

[dinglefritz]

Wasn't much of a second level. Besides a couple of lineman getting owned. I think it was Weber (not positive) took the wrong gap coverage and got caught. I was a few beers in but what I remember.

It was more than just Weber that took or tried to take the wrong gaps. On 2 straight plays in the 4th our backer on their right side (Gifford I think) basically ran in to the pile and allowed an OT already engaged with our DE to get just enough of the backer (grab his jersey) for Taylor to get the corner. I was at a dinner party (and several drinks on board) so I wasn't able to discern exactly who it was but it struck me that on 2 plays in a row our backer just took himself out of the play.

 

[little a]

Can you post the screen shot of the d-lineman that was in a 3 point stance 6 freaking yards off the LOS in the NIU game? Solid d-line coaching going on this year.

I noticed that too and mentioned it... it was 97 and the only logical explanation is he was the undersized true Frosh and by playing the "frog" it allows him to use quickness (my high school did the same thing) to see what's coming rather than being swallowed by larger lineman who can get their hands on you. It didn't work much in high school and didn't work Saturday either.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

You are the one who looks at the alignment and talks about them playing three deep. That's incredibly stupid at this point in the game. When you get gashed that badly you need to go to cover zero or at best one high man underneath. They averaged over seven yards a carry.

You mention running off our corners. Who give s a rip. I would rather have my safety up trying to make tackles instead of our corners.

By not adjusting we allowed their receivers to go after our safeties. It was Chryst's gameplan and worked to perfection. They essentially left our corners unblocked...put their receivers on our safeties...and bet their back could beat our corners. It worked.

Their lineman and fullback blocked our safeties a bunch of times. I Don't care how you line up. That is a joke and it happened because the front played horrid.

 

[MOhusker12]

What is this look? We are down two scores at this point in the game. They are trying to pour salt in the wound. What does this look like to you when one safety is ten yards off the ball and the other is twelve?

This is D-1 football, by alignment you have to respect the fact that they have three eligible receivers to the field. If you walk the safety to the field side down they will simply run a combo route putting the corner in a 1 on 2 situation and they will score. Better to give a two high look and roll the safety down for run support if he reads run rather than just give up a touchdown pass.

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

Their lineman and fullback blocked our safeties a bunch of times. I Don't care how you line up. That is a joke and it happened because the front played horrid.

I think this is correct. While at the game I could not tell. But I have watched the game now twice and the sad fact is that our line was just destroyed, which allowed their lineman to get to the second level. It doesn't help that our safeties are all banged up.

 

[huskerfan1414]

Oh TT I never said what I thought we should have been in. Learn to read.
You also don't understand the possibilities cover two can provide a defense against the run.
Again, go head and say you wishes our corners were walked up. This does in fact make it much easier on our 3 or 4 LBs and d lineman to play between the tackles whether you want to admit it or not.
Cover 2 in itself was not our issue the other day. Perhaps the way we ran it.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

Oh TT I never said what I thought we should have been in. Learn to read.
You also don't understand the possibilities cover two can provide a defense against the run.
Again, go head and say you wishes our corners were walked up. This does in fact make it much easier on our 3 or 4 LBs and d lineman to play between the tackles whether you want to admit it or not.
Cover 2 in itself was not our issue the other day. Perhaps the way we ran it.

Right or wrong alignment, they did not play a "2 high". The safeties did not back up to deep zones. That is a fact

 

[Pennsyhusker_rivals246774]

No gimmicky defense was going to work so long as our line was on it's back sucking wind