Don't look now, but our defense

gtowndawg

Senior
Jan 23, 2007
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is in real danger of being just as bad as last year. We are now sitting at #90 in the country of 134 teams with Mizzou and Ole Miss still coming up. I'd be shocking if we don't end up in triple digits.

Offense is #61 in the country and Missouri has a top 10 defense so I would expect us to drop there as well.

Link for defense
 

3407Dewey

Senior
Jun 4, 2014
321
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is in real danger of being just as bad as last year. We are now sitting at #90 in the country of 134 teams with Mizzou and Ole Miss still coming up. I'd be shocking if we don't end up in triple digits.

Offense is #61 in the country and Missouri has a top 10 defense so I would expect us to drop there as well.

Link for defense
Last year our defense looked bad, poorly coached, out of position, bad technique, poor tackling, and just bad.
This year, we have been beaten on some plays, but I haven’t seen the kind of ineptitude that was rampant last year. The main thing that stands out to me is lack of depth. I think coaching has been solid.
 

T-TownDawgg

All-Conference
Nov 4, 2015
4,591
4,367
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Meh. I thought the defense is night and day from last year. I always feel they at least have the capability to get a critical stop in every game this year.

Shapen, along with persistent shittty coaching and play calls, leads to quickly stalled offensive possessions. Short turnarounds late in games are exhausting for defenses.
 

gtowndawg

Senior
Jan 23, 2007
2,225
604
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Last year our defense looked bad, poorly coached, out of position, bad technique, poor tackling, and just bad.
This year, we have been beaten on some plays, but I haven’t seen the kind of ineptitude that was rampant last year. The main thing that stands out to me is lack of depth. I think coaching has been solid.
Honestly, I've thought the same thing all year (how much we've improved). But the numbers don't lie, we're going to end up as one of the worst defenses in the country. Maybe not as bad as last year...hard to be THAT bad, but still really bad.
 

IBleedMaroonDawg

All-American
Nov 12, 2007
25,524
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Conor Mcgregor Sport GIF by UFC
 
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gtowndawg

Senior
Jan 23, 2007
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Lebby’s fast pace three and out offense hurts his own defense. The biggest problem is the offensive scheme. But most people can’t understand this on the surface. All they see are numbers.
Good point. He definitely puts the defense in bad situations that's hard to overcome after while.
 
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Podgy

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2022
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Don't tell me we extended Hutzler and gave him a raise after the 4-0 start.
 

ezsoil

Junior
May 26, 2013
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Honestly, I've thought the same thing all year (how much we've improved). But the numbers don't lie, we're going to end up as one of the worst defenses in the country. Maybe not as bad as last year...hard to be THAT bad, but still really bad.
I think nobody is accounting for the schedule we play ....if we had the OM schedule we would be 8-1 and our defense statistics would be much better but hey people are going to gripe about all things MSU ... sooo I guess we can cue up all the fire all coaches threads
 

Bullldawg78

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2018
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I think nobody is accounting for the schedule we play ....if we had the OM schedule we would be 8-1 and our defense statistics would be much better but hey people are going to gripe about all things MSU ... sooo I guess we can cue up all the fire all coaches threads
Does the quality of opponent change boneheaded coaching game management decisions?
 
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ezsoil

Junior
May 26, 2013
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Does the quality of opponent change boneheaded coaching game management decisions?
Yes it does actually.....against an inferior opponent they won't put in MSU in a position where every coaching decision is magnified. A weak schedule can cover up a lot poor play and poor coaching decisions .
 

Bullldawg78

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2018
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Yes it does actually.....against an inferior opponent they won't put in MSU in a position where every coaching decision is magnified. A weak schedule can cover up a lot poor play and poor coaching decisions .
So does that make our coaching situation better?
 

The Cooterpoot

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
6,850
11,950
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David Turner and Phil Loadholt are the weak links to this staff. We have Sunbelt Level Talent on the OL and DL. You can give Loadholt a pass as he didn’t get here until December. Turner hasnt done squat in the last 6 years.
Loadholt is probably the best recruiter on staff and you'll see it come signing day. Turner needs to retire yesterday
 
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The Cooterpoot

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
6,850
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Last year the defense was 16th in the sec. They were 75 yds from 15th. This year we are 14th. And 75 yds from 5th. This year we are giving up 22.8 points per game in regulation.
We're giving up 36 per game in SEC play, very little difference in last year and our OOC schedule was easier this year. Our improvement has been minimal and we've got the top CB in college football, who we sat last season like fools. Clutzler got most of the portal money for that side and our OL shows it. We lost our best DL is the only defense to this **** show
 
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ababyatemydingo

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2008
3,738
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Loadholt is probably the best recruiter on staff and you'll see it come signing day. Turner needs to retire yesterday
Then he needs to just recruit and get off the field, because his OL has the worst technique I've ever seen (other than Kennedy's last year).
 

8dog

All-American
Feb 23, 2008
13,965
5,860
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We're giving up 36 per game in SEC play, very little difference in last year and our OOC schedule was easier this year. Our improvement has been minimal and we've got the top CB in college football, who we sat last season like fools. Clutzler got most of the portal money for that side and our OL shows it. We lost our best DL is the only defense to this **** show
It’s hard to compare sec only stats bc no one keeps them. But we also are being charged with 35 points given up
Eithe by ST, the offense or in OT. So it’s more like 30 ppg. We have also played 4 of the top 6 scoring offenses and 1 of the bottom 6. It hasn’t been great. I don’t care about Hutz one way or the other. But we would be better off spending $3 million to buy some talent than to fire him
 
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tcdog70

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Sep 24, 2012
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Saturday we need to load the box--put Kelly on Coleman man to man. and stop the run. Please leave Shapen;s *** on the bench.
 

Ace-Leroy

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2012
334
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Good point. He definitely puts the defense in bad situations that's hard to overcome after while.
I despise Lenny’s fast pace offense. You slow the pace down and use as much of the clock as possible if you have no depth. There may be a time to play fast but it is not always, like when you have a 3 score lead in the 4th quarter.
 

57stratdawg

Heisman
Dec 1, 2004
148,390
24,168
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Our defense is much improved. They need to keep adding talent, especially on the DL. But, we’ve got some NFL guys in our secondary now.

We’re alot better in things like:

> Total Takeaways (2025: #32 | 2024: #113)

> Opponent’s 3rd down conversion rate (2025: #69, 2024: #123)

> Opponent’s 4th down conversion rate (2025: #47, 2024: #130)

> Red Zone scoring allowed (2025: #62, 2024: #91)
 
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QuaoarsKing

All-Conference
Mar 11, 2008
5,871
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I think nobody is accounting for the schedule we play ....if we had the OM schedule we would be 8-1 and our defense statistics would be much better but hey people are going to gripe about all things MSU ... sooo I guess we can cue up all the fire all coaches threads
We would probably be 7-3 at best on Ole Miss's schedule - LSU, @ Georgia, and @ Oklahoma all very likely losses. @ Kentucky is a maybe. After all, we lost to a team that Kentucky blew out.
 
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BigWorm.sixpack

Redshirt
Mar 1, 2019
51
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It is really pointless to compare our stats (offensive or defensive) against any other teams besides other SEC teams. I’m sure USMs defensive stats look better than ours which we all know that ain’t the case.
 
Aug 22, 2012
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While not stellar our defense has had us in position to win in every game we played except GA. We were in the ATM game until they finally gave out. We are playing top shelf offenses week in and out in conf play. The offense for the most part is doing its part to win games as well. Bad clock management has cost us and cost us dearly. Playing fast in fourth quarter with double digit leads is plain stupid. We averaged leaving 23 second on play clock in fourth quarter in those three we should have won. And passing when we should be running in same situations isn’t helping either. Our defense, while average at best, ain’t the problem this post is making it out to be
 

Darryl Steight

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
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is in real danger of being just as bad as last year. We are now sitting at #90 in the country of 134 teams with Mizzou and Ole Miss still coming up. I'd be shocking if we don't end up in triple digits.

Offense is #61 in the country and Missouri has a top 10 defense so I would expect us to drop there as well.

Link for defense

This made me feel better, thank you very much, Mr. Helper**

mr helper.jpeg
 

ETK99

Heisman
Jul 30, 2019
9,318
13,088
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While not stellar our defense has had us in position to win in every game we played except GA. We were in the ATM game until they finally gave out. We are playing top shelf offenses week in and out in conf play. The offense for the most part is doing its part to win games as well. Bad clock management has cost us and cost us dearly. Playing fast in fourth quarter with double digit leads is plain stupid. We averaged leaving 23 second on play clock in fourth quarter in those three we should have won. And passing when we should be running in same situations isn’t helping either. Our defense, while average at best, ain’t the problem this post is making it out to be
Giving up 36 a game in SEC play isn't a problem? Sure it is!
 
Aug 22, 2012
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Giving up 36 a game in SEC play isn't a problem? Sure it is!
Re-read the post. This thread makes it sound like defense is the only problem we have. While I like Lebby and the improvement we’ve seen, you simply cannot subject your defense to the positions he’s been putting them in. We will all agree to disagree on this but a coaches job is to put ALL of his players in a position to win games. His defenses have done that in all but the two games I mentioned. 4th quarter play calling and clock management have been as much of a problem as the defense. Look at the 4th quarter points given up side by side of time of possession, then look at the number of three and outs where the clock stopped on at least one play. There is our biggest problem.