So what really happened to our defense?

[kired]

Our 2011 defense was statistically as good if not better than the 2010 defense (Diaz, KJ, Chris White, McPhee). Scoring and ypg average was basically the same, yard per play was actually better in 2011. We gave up fewer passing yards in 2011 vs 2010 but more rushing yards. 3rd down and rezone percentages, sacks, tackles for loss, and INTs were all basically the same. So statistically in 2011 under Wilson we were as good as 2010 under Diaz.

You could even say in 2011 our offense put Wilson in worse situations than Diaz with all the 3 & outs (time of possession was way down in 2011 vs 2010 --- 26:10 in 2011 compared to 31:30 in 2010). Also consider the fact that we lost 3 starters to the NFL and both 2nd string DTs (Howie quit, Carmon moved to offense).

In my opinion Wilson did an incredible job in 2011 - how did it fall apart so quickly?


This year we returned 6 healthy starters that you assume should have been better, stronger, more experienced. We had a seventh starter returning from injury. We obviously downgraded at DT with the loss of Cox. DE should have been better - same group as 2011 except swap Autry in for Ferguson. LB should have been better except swap McKinney in for Wilson. CB should have been better. Safety was worse - an injured Whitley and no one to replace Mitchell. Overall the second string guys should have all been a step up over what we had in 2011. So overall from a personnel standpoint I would consider us at least equal to 2011.

If Wilson is not fired, can he fix this defense? Should we give him the chance based on what he did in 2011 - or have teams figured him out?

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

You lose an edge in mentality when you play zone and rush 3 or 4 linemen....
the aggression that comes with creative blitzes makes for a defense that is much more mentally engaged, IMO. You see better form tackling, more swarming, just a more conditioned mindset that that BS Coach Wilson has us playing. Good SEC defenses bring the heat regularly.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

uhh, fletcher cox. our DL is young and will get better. that's the short answer.

 

[Mjoelner]

Torbush, Manny, Wilson....etc.... Here is what bothers me. A couple of years ago Mullen made the comment of how hard it is for a team to execute 10 to 12 plays in a row ending in a score and that is what our 'bend but don't break' defense was forcing them to do. Well, if we let a team drive 60 yards doing the 'bend but don't break' and they miss a FG at the end in the red zone or punt for a touchback, now we have to go 80 yards. But, our own coach has just said that its damn near impossible to maintain a scoring drive like that. That is especially true if you don't have any game breakers at WR or RB. That being said, to me, the most important defensive stat (obviously besides points allowed) is the number of 3-and-outs caused and I think that's where we're severly lacking with our current defensive scheme.

 

[BoomBoom.sixpack]

We didn't adjust tactics to suit our new personnel. Wilson is parroting what he has seen work in the past, but isn't a good enough coach to apply it correctly. We blitz with Banks, and almost never with Cam. We run stunts with a 3 man rush. Huge tells that our coach doesn't understand the purpose behind defensive tactics. Thus, when our holes are exploited (undersized LB, poor safeties, predictable rush), he can't adjust.