Jim Knowles' schemes and results

#77
#77
207 others said:
Heupel is an offensive mastermind with a super unique style, total trickster

Knowles is the heupel of defense, total trickster

This will be a fun ****ing team
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Might want to slow that roll down a tad. There's hope for sure, but until the new DC assembles his staff and gets the players he wants, it's more than a little uncertain. On top of that, let's see how they function week in and week out in the meat grinder we call the SEC. Much deeper waters in this league.
 
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#81
#81
I am little over everyone going to AI for this information. I know there is no harm in it, but what happened to going to watch some of his games and make a choice there instead of AI giving you a **** load of stats.
 
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#82
#82
There are some concerns that his D is complicated and takes time to learn it. Below is a comment from Knowles about that:

Jim Knowles is aware his defense can be complicated to learn​

Knowles doesn’t disagree that his defense can be complicated, which is why he’s made efforts to teach his system in a way that allows players to have success quicker.

“Yes to both,” said Knowles in August when asked if his defense is complicated and takes time to learn. “I think in today’s game of football, it needs to be somewhat complicated because you need to have answers for everything — particularly at this level. Offenses don’t run the same things in college. You better have all different kinds of answers.

“For teaching and installing, I’ve gotten better at it, I’ve had to particularly when you come into a situation like this. Our charge is to be great now. If it’s too complicated, or if I can’t get it installed quickly, that’s my fault. I think I’ve developed a process that help move it along at a more rapid pace.”

If Tennessee finalizes a deal with Knowles, the expectation will be for Tennessee’s defense to show instant improvement next fall. Obviously, the defense should improve the longer Knowles is at Tennessee and the more experience players have in it. But fans won’t be patient next season — they’ll want to see positive results quickly.

Fortunately for the Vols, it sounds like Knowles is actively working to make his defense easier for players to pick up.
 
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#83
#83
Orange_Vol1321 said:
Oh nooooooo. If we lose one game a year because of defense we will be ok.

Instead of typing useless 💩 who did you want for DC?
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Useless? I think it's a pretty significant and telling stat. The defense got worse as the season went on from reports. I think people are expecting 2024 Ohio state defense with this hire, but neglecting the fact of how loaded that team was with NFL talent. I'm sure he'll be an upgrade over Banks, but who wouldn't? The question is, is he the guy to elevate us to the next level?
 
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#84
#84
fossilfiction said:
I am little over everyone going to AI for this information. I know there is no harm in it, but what happened to going to watch some of his games and make a choice there instead of AI giving you a **** load of stats.
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AI is going to turn out to be the camel getting his nose under the tent. It will be far worse than the scourge that is social media.

People are already way too dependent on technology. We're losing the ability to think for ourselves and take care of ourselves. Eventually, that gives control over our lives to someone else. Dark days are coming.
 
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#85
#85
OrangeBeachVol said:
There are some concerns that his D is complicated and takes time to learn it. Below is a comment from Knowles about that:

Jim Knowles is aware his defense can be complicated to learn​

Knowles doesn’t disagree that his defense can be complicated, which is why he’s made efforts to teach his system in a way that allows players to have success quicker.

“Yes to both,” said Knowles in August when asked if his defense is complicated and takes time to learn. “I think in today’s game of football, it needs to be somewhat complicated because you need to have answers for everything — particularly at this level. Offenses don’t run the same things in college. You better have all different kinds of answers.

“For teaching and installing, I’ve gotten better at it, I’ve had to particularly when you come into a situation like this. Our charge is to be great now. If it’s too complicated, or if I can’t get it installed quickly, that’s my fault. I think I’ve developed a process that help move it along at a more rapid pace.”

If Tennessee finalizes a deal with Knowles, the expectation will be for Tennessee’s defense to show instant improvement next fall. Obviously, the defense should improve the longer Knowles is at Tennessee and the more experience players have in it. But fans won’t be patient next season — they’ll want to see positive results quickly.

Fortunately for the Vols, it sounds like Knowles is actively working to make his defense easier for players to pick up.
Click to expand...
Supposedly, he creates a game show like atmosphere with buzzers and everything to drill/teach his guys.
 
#87
#87
Don’t focus on scheme too much, especially with regard to formation. Players are what matters. You can only zone blitz if you have DL who can credibly drop into coverage. If you want to rotate safeties, you need safeties who can cover outside WR and LBs who can handle deep drops. The ability to disguise is directly proportional to the players’ ability to line up one way and then do something unexpected.

To take an extreme example, you can have a blitz where a DL drops to cover a WR downfield. The play will make sense on paper. But in what reality does it work?

Knowles has a great understanding of offensive concepts. He tries to show offenses what they want to see, knowing what they will run, and then doing something unexpected to stop it or cause the QB to hesitate. The exotic pressures and rotations will come later.
 
#88
#88
I just finished watching videos of Knowles defense.

My first few takeaways.

1: we will need corner help faster than safety help. He runs man on corner A LOT.

2: the Jack confusion is real. He ran Mug and double Mug alignments on 3rd down quite a bit.

3: This defense might be easier on our linebackers. It seems they were more conventional as a read and react vs gap integrity.

4: If an offensive lineman OR a pass blocking RB is exposed, Knowles will pick on them ALL GAME LONG.

5: and finally…the thing all Vol fans have been waiting on since 3rd and Chavis…Knowles brings tons of pressure on 3rd down.
 
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#89
#89
At some point the formations become just semantics. He can and does rotate from a 4-3 to a 4-2 to a 3-4 to a 2-4 all the time. When your scheme emphasizes versatility you can show the offense all kinds if loons.
 
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#92
#92
Franklin_Vol09 said:
I could be wrong, but I seem to remember that there was some interpersonal conflict between him and Day
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This is correct. Yes, Knowles left for more money, but Day is the type of coach who will make a change if you’re not fully aligned with the program. After the loss to Oregon last year, Day wanted more blitzing and a more aggressive defense along with better disguises, but Knowles pushed back. It became clear and widely discussed how predictable our coverages and fronts were pre-snap, and our defense improved drastically once adjustments were made. Oregon players even commented on the difference, noting that in the first game we played them straight up and they exploited it, but in the second game we disguised everything and it threw them off. So when the season ended, Day and Knowles mutually agreed to part ways. If Tennessee gives him full control of the defense, he’ll be just fine and a good hire for you guys.
 
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#93
#93
Knowles on what happened at Ohio State


It was 5:06 a.m. Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was calling about Penn State's open DC job.

"To be honest with you," Franklin said, "I didn't know how serious it was, but it went pretty quickly from that point on."

Franklin hasn't claimed many wins over Ohio State, a program that is 12-1 against the Nittany Lions since 2012, but luring Knowles away from Columbus -- not to mention a handful of other blue-blooded programs -- was a big one.

Knowles, 60, is widely regarded as one of the top defensive coordinators in the country. His defense at Ohio State last year ranked No. 1 in points allowed per game (12.9), yards allowed per game (255), yards allowed per play (4.2) and red zone touchdown percentage (42%). Which is why his move is one of the most stunning of the offseason. The veteran coordinator who had just won a national title at one of the nation's wealthiest and most storied programs is moving to a rival Big Ten school.

"First thing I thought was, 'How did we get him?'" Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant said.

Knowles, in a recent interview in his new office, was candid about why he left Ohio State, telling ESPN it boiled down to the timing of Ohio State's contract extension offer. He was hoping to get a deal done before the Buckeyes went to the national championship game. Had Ohio State offered him one before it faced Notre Dame, Knowles said he "would not have explored or considered other options."

"I did not want to put anyone, including myself, in a position to have to deal with it immediately following the national championship game," he said. "And that's the way it happened."

It created a situation, he said, that eventually turned "awkward."

"Season's over, everything coming to a head again quickly," Knowles said. "Ohio State hasn't come forward with a deal, and it's like, OK, if I'm going to act on this or at least explore it, I have got to make the call."

ON JAN. 26, the Ohio State Buckeyes and about 30,000 fans celebrated the first team in the sport's history to win four straight playoff games, culminating in a championship following the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

What created a stir, though, was who wasn't in Ohio Stadium.

"I was asked not to go to the parade, and I respect that," Knowles told ESPN during an April interview in his office at Penn State's Lasch Football Building. "I'm not trying to be a secretive guy. Here's this offer, there were a couple others that were every bit as much money, and then there was Ohio State's offer, which was still great money, but not as much, so then you have to sit with it."

Penn State offered Knowles a $3.1 million annual salary that would make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. He's also from Philadelphia, where he went to St. Joe's Prep, and grew up a Penn State fan forced to watch the Sunday recap show with George Paterno because he couldn't find the games on any of the three channels he got at home. Knowles also had known Franklin for years and spoken to him about the job before. Knowles flew to Oklahoma to see his fiancée for a few days and consider his options.

"Maybe I'll take less because Ohio State's a great place," he said, "but then they asked me not to come to the parade. So then you're like, 'OK, honestly, the writing is on the wall.' Now it becomes something. It's always something on the outside world, but now it's become something here, too. I hadn't made any decisions, but you just kind of feel like -- I wouldn't say I'm not wanted here -- but you just feel like, OK, now it's gotten awkward."

Meanwhile, at the national championship celebration, Ohio State coach Ryan Day was at the podium praising Knowles as "the defensive coordinator of the best defense in the country that was completely dominant in the playoff."

Day declined comment for this story
 
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#95
#95
VolInDayton said:
Knowles new how to shut down tennessee, granted they dominated everyone that year. I think being good against the veer and shoot will be helpful with the rise of HCs and OCs who run that offense in the SEC now.

The scary thing is how everyone says it takes a few years to install his defense and we are very bad at safety right now. We have to hit the portal hard for that position. It would be nice to land some safeties he has coached to help speed up the transition. Jaylen McClain played for him at OSU as a freshman in '24 and King Mac played for him at Penn St in '25. Those are names im going to be looking to see if they hit the portal when it opens.
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Good post. Thanks.
 
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#96
#96
Haven't read all the comments, so apologies if this has already been said, but wouldn't it be logical for Heupel to try to find defenders in the portal that have been in Jim Knowles' defenses? They must be out there. Someone from OSU or PSU? They would have shorter learning curves, or?
 
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