dattexboy
07-25-2007, 04:12 AM
http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=693674
1. SCHEME
In an effort to not dump the seemingly unexplainable problems with the pass defense on former defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, I recognize what he was able to do in the year before he got to Texas at Auburn and in his two years at Texas. In three years at the defensive helm at Auburn and Texas, his defenses lost three games, won a Big 12 and an SEC Championship, won three bowl games (two BCS Bowls) and won a national championship.
Now for what is really going on.
Chizik's concentration on the run defense and making pass coverage a secondary responsibility constantly made the safeties trail the play on deep throws. Without any sort of umbrella coverage on many downs, it left the defense open to not just passing plays but big passing plays.
The defense did keep opponents under 100 yards rushing in 11 of 13 games in 2006. However, the defense did give up more than 250 yards passing seven times in 2006. With two first rounders and three overall draft picks in the defensive backfield, that just shouldn't happen. A pressure-based, balanced attack on the defensive side of the ball in 2007 should allow the defense to not only be better overall but should be able to force more turnovers.
2. FRONT FOUR
Even with defensive ends Tim Crowder (2nd Round to Denver) and Brian Robison (4th Round to Minnesota) heading to the NFL, Derek Lokey's return from injury and Texas' ability to get pressure on the quarterback with the front four will do great things for the Texas pass defense.
The defensive tackle rotation of Frank Okam, Lokey and Roy Miller, coupled with the defensive end rotation of Aaron Lewis, Brian Orakpo, Lamarr Houston and Eddie Jones makes for the best defensive line in the Big 12 Conference and one of the top two or three in the country.
Lokey playing at 100 percent and Okam playing for an NFL contract should provide a big boost for a defensive line that struggled down the stretch in 2006 and gave up 244 yards on the ground to Texas A&M. The front four being able to apply timely pressure to opposing quarterbacks without consistent assistance from the linebackers should allow the linebackers help in pass coverage and force errant and ill-timed throws that should allow Texas to get more turnovers.
3. LINEBACKER PLAY
The linebacker play at times last year was average, but many times it was below average. That happened for two reasons. The need for the defense to stop the run more than play defense had the linebackers, especially the Mike and the Will, play too close to the line of scrimmage. When you couple that with the fact that Texas essentially had three middle linebackers on the field, the group didn't have the athleticism or the speed to play as a great linebacker group. Having little ability to contain and drop into pass coverage left the defense wanting if it did manage to not get bottled up at the line of scrimmage.
Rashad Bobino, Robert Killebrew and Scott Derry will - okay should - have the fight of their football lives for their position when fall camp opens. Sergio Kindle, Roddrick Muckelroy and Jared Norton have more talent, size and strength but lack in the experience department. If they can break into the lineup, even if the Texas staff decides to use them in certain personnel groupings, they should create an upgrade for the group. In order for this group to experience the kind of play and upgrade that the Texas staff needs from this position, there will have to be some shake-up and these sophomores especially, Kindle and Muckelroy, will have a lot to say about it.
4. MARCUS GRIFFIN
The pre-season All Big 12 pick at safety will not be playing on two bad ankles this year. Marcus Griffin, who will be counted on to quarterback the defensive backfield, played very few healthy games in 2006. He hurt one ankle early in the season and then two weeks later hurt the other one. I talked to a friend of mine who coached in the Big 12 and is now a coach in another BCS conference and he said, "The younger twin will hit you and is actually a better tackler than his brother (Michael). I just get worried about him in pass coverage." With more of a shell look to the defense I expect Griffin to play a style of safety that suits his ability and his smarts. He should thrive in it and shine in this defense.
5. HEALTH AND COMMON SENSE
At some juncture this defensive backfield has to be able to play with a relative amount of good health. In the last two years, everything from ankles to hamstrings to knee injuries to broken toes to off-field issues have cost the Longhorns defensive backs game-time and hindered their ability to play at a high level. The depth is young, as are the projected starters on the corners, but both groups are ultra-talented and by game five, this defensive backfield should be a pretty nasty group.
If the defensive backs can stay healthy, this is a group with great ball skills on the outside and because teams will be forced to throw the ball, could experience success early in the season and grow up really fast. With Oklahoma on the schedule in week six, it needs to grow up as fast as possible.
1. SCHEME
In an effort to not dump the seemingly unexplainable problems with the pass defense on former defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, I recognize what he was able to do in the year before he got to Texas at Auburn and in his two years at Texas. In three years at the defensive helm at Auburn and Texas, his defenses lost three games, won a Big 12 and an SEC Championship, won three bowl games (two BCS Bowls) and won a national championship.
Now for what is really going on.
Chizik's concentration on the run defense and making pass coverage a secondary responsibility constantly made the safeties trail the play on deep throws. Without any sort of umbrella coverage on many downs, it left the defense open to not just passing plays but big passing plays.
The defense did keep opponents under 100 yards rushing in 11 of 13 games in 2006. However, the defense did give up more than 250 yards passing seven times in 2006. With two first rounders and three overall draft picks in the defensive backfield, that just shouldn't happen. A pressure-based, balanced attack on the defensive side of the ball in 2007 should allow the defense to not only be better overall but should be able to force more turnovers.
2. FRONT FOUR
Even with defensive ends Tim Crowder (2nd Round to Denver) and Brian Robison (4th Round to Minnesota) heading to the NFL, Derek Lokey's return from injury and Texas' ability to get pressure on the quarterback with the front four will do great things for the Texas pass defense.
The defensive tackle rotation of Frank Okam, Lokey and Roy Miller, coupled with the defensive end rotation of Aaron Lewis, Brian Orakpo, Lamarr Houston and Eddie Jones makes for the best defensive line in the Big 12 Conference and one of the top two or three in the country.
Lokey playing at 100 percent and Okam playing for an NFL contract should provide a big boost for a defensive line that struggled down the stretch in 2006 and gave up 244 yards on the ground to Texas A&M. The front four being able to apply timely pressure to opposing quarterbacks without consistent assistance from the linebackers should allow the linebackers help in pass coverage and force errant and ill-timed throws that should allow Texas to get more turnovers.
3. LINEBACKER PLAY
The linebacker play at times last year was average, but many times it was below average. That happened for two reasons. The need for the defense to stop the run more than play defense had the linebackers, especially the Mike and the Will, play too close to the line of scrimmage. When you couple that with the fact that Texas essentially had three middle linebackers on the field, the group didn't have the athleticism or the speed to play as a great linebacker group. Having little ability to contain and drop into pass coverage left the defense wanting if it did manage to not get bottled up at the line of scrimmage.
Rashad Bobino, Robert Killebrew and Scott Derry will - okay should - have the fight of their football lives for their position when fall camp opens. Sergio Kindle, Roddrick Muckelroy and Jared Norton have more talent, size and strength but lack in the experience department. If they can break into the lineup, even if the Texas staff decides to use them in certain personnel groupings, they should create an upgrade for the group. In order for this group to experience the kind of play and upgrade that the Texas staff needs from this position, there will have to be some shake-up and these sophomores especially, Kindle and Muckelroy, will have a lot to say about it.
4. MARCUS GRIFFIN
The pre-season All Big 12 pick at safety will not be playing on two bad ankles this year. Marcus Griffin, who will be counted on to quarterback the defensive backfield, played very few healthy games in 2006. He hurt one ankle early in the season and then two weeks later hurt the other one. I talked to a friend of mine who coached in the Big 12 and is now a coach in another BCS conference and he said, "The younger twin will hit you and is actually a better tackler than his brother (Michael). I just get worried about him in pass coverage." With more of a shell look to the defense I expect Griffin to play a style of safety that suits his ability and his smarts. He should thrive in it and shine in this defense.
5. HEALTH AND COMMON SENSE
At some juncture this defensive backfield has to be able to play with a relative amount of good health. In the last two years, everything from ankles to hamstrings to knee injuries to broken toes to off-field issues have cost the Longhorns defensive backs game-time and hindered their ability to play at a high level. The depth is young, as are the projected starters on the corners, but both groups are ultra-talented and by game five, this defensive backfield should be a pretty nasty group.
If the defensive backs can stay healthy, this is a group with great ball skills on the outside and because teams will be forced to throw the ball, could experience success early in the season and grow up really fast. With Oklahoma on the schedule in week six, it needs to grow up as fast as possible.