Pruitt insistent on man coverage

[livefaith]

I have zero, none, absolutely no clue what happened to our defense once shoop took over. He was effective everywhere he had been, is effective at Miss state, but our defense was garbage with him here. Just unbelievable.

Did Butch get involved or get in the way of shoop? I just don't know. I do know that our defense was bad once jancek left or was fired or whatever happened there

It's honestly one of the most bewildering things about the entire BJ tenure. When we brought him in this place was as high as I've ever seen. Injuries we're certainly a part in 16 & 17. But, even that wouldn't turn us to that level of trash. Maybe one day we'll hear what went on.

 

[livefaith]

Cover 2 has kind of fallen by the wayside against the spread and RPO offenses over the years.

Teams get gashed too easy in the rush game with the safeties back nowadays.

Montes defense got shredded in Kiffins one season against Ole Miss playing cover 2 as an example.

I have no idea if what you say is true @ T2 defense. But, one thing is for sure, every team with "spread / running QB" tore our defense a new one in every game that season. Every "pro style" offense got locked down like a boss. UGA never crossed our 40 and undefeated NC Bama scored 1 TD and nearly got beat by us at home. So, I'm leaning your way with that as a backdrop.

 

[DVols33]

Man is the better option in the long run against teams like Bama. You have to play man to have any shot at outmanning their front and getting pressure, sacks, etc.

He understands that in the present we don’t have the talent to go man and beat them. He also understands that in the long run, to beat them, our guys must get as much experience as they can playing the right way.

We lost and got reps and players with more experience playing the right defense to beat them.

The only other option was playing zone and being less prepared the next time they roll around on the schedule.

Good job Coach.

First, is there a team in the SEC that can go man to man coverage against this Bama team? And second, if the coach knows we can't go man then he apparently didn't even try and compete much less win against Bama. There is a thing call "upset" and it happens a lot but in order to accomplish such you have to try and if what you say is true, that coach put practicing over trying to win.

 

[Go Vols 5]

First, is there a team in the SEC that can go man to man coverage against this Bama team? And second, if the coach knows we can't go man then he apparently didn't even try and compete much less win against Bama. There is a thing call "upset" and it happens a lot but in order to accomplish such you have to try and if what you say is true, that coach put practicing over trying to win.

Pretty much every Bama run has an RPO attached to it. Play zone vs that and eventually you get shredded because someone will be in major conflict in terms of run/pass responsibility. Man to man and Man-matches are better options.

These coaches are basically geniuses (IMO of course) when it comes to football. I will trust that they try to win every game and put the players in the best positions to be successful.

 

[LittleVol]

Pruitt is and has been considered one of the best defensive minds in football.

Will have to go w his game plans over yours at the moment.

Everybody understands this already.
The man is just making a comment about HIMSELF being confused.

Guess what? He's NOT Jeremy Pruitt.
That's one explanation for his confusion right??

See how that works?

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

I have no idea if what you say is true @ T2 defense. But, one thing is for sure, every team with "spread / running QB" tore our defense a new one in every game that season. Every "pro style" offense got locked down like a boss. UGA never crossed our 40 and undefeated NC Bama scored 1 TD and nearly got beat by us at home. So, I'm leaning your way with that as a backdrop.

Most definitely shut down the pro styles in '09 with Bama being the most impressive.

Problem trying to use that cover 2 today is that even the "pro style" offenses in the NFL aren't pro style offenses anymore in the traditional sense.

Most NFL teams are incorporating some RPO and the best QB in the league so far in Mahomes came from a spread offense.

My theory is man is the only way to go on defense for the most part ( sprinkle some zone in along the goal line and to keep offenses honest occasionally) and the team should put a premium in recruiting on premier athletes for defense. Recruiting projects or character guys like Jumper is a luxury most teams can't afford anymore.

 

[Kelley_VFL]

If you are going to play man press coverage you have to be able to get pressure on QB. Thats the only way it works. Eventually the receivers will come open. We couldn't get pressure so they got some big plays. The short passes that they had were on coverage breakdowns where players were either uncovered or nobody picked the back up coming out of the backfield. Tua had ALL day to find someone open. Just my $0.07.

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Like I referenced above, Dungys Tampa 2 zone was very effective at containing some great passing games and offenses. Didn't shut them down, but contained them enough. The man is a hall of fame coach and a brilliant defensive mind

I believe Monte Kiffin was the DC in that defense. Seems like that guy spent a year here and I bet Monte would not run the Tampa 2 with this group of athletes.

 

[volsportsfan]

I believe Monte Kiffin was the DC in that defense. Seems like that guy spent a year here and I bet Monte would not run the Tampa 2 with this group of athletes.

It's what @Go Vols 5 referenced above. Against rpo, the threat of the qb rpo will give a zone based defense nightmares. Stay in your zone, and the qb takes off. Play the qb run and collapse down, he throws it over your head to the zone area you left. I think there are other things you could do to help stop the rpo from a zone base, but the offense would quickly recognize that you are taking from coverage elsewhere to help with the rpo of the qb, and they would take advantage of your defense in that area.

I think spread read option alone, a zone based defense could hold their own against that. But, with the added rpo that has caught fire in both college and pro ball in the last few years, it does seem that man has to be the predominant way to defend it.

 

[WeeohdeeWood]

If you are going to play man press coverage you have to be able to get pressure on QB. Thats the only way it works. Eventually the receivers will come open. We couldn't get pressure so they got some big plays. The short passes that they had were on coverage breakdowns where players were either uncovered or nobody picked the back up coming out of the backfield. Tua had ALL day to find someone open. Just my $0.07.

You made too much cents.

 

[johnrlansford]

Against bama, Pruitt was adamant about stopping/containing bamas offense with man instead of using more zone type coverages.

With tua ( probably the most NFL QB ability of any QB in the country ) at the helm as opposed to all other QBs saban has ever had, I don't get this strategy. This guy can fire the ball in there, on any route, with NFL type precision. Your coverage on the back end has to be amazing to keep a QB like this from carving you up. Obviously bama has the talented blocking and rec's, like always, and this game was no different. The difference is/was the QB position.

The only thing I can think of is that Pruitt felt like our defense couldn't contain bamas run game and therefore play action, specially against defenders in the box, and that would eat us alive. I'm guessing he thought that by using too much zone our defenders in the box would suck in on play action giving tua wide open throws, and allowing those rec's and tes too much space to catch and run and break tackles. To me, it's easier to stay disciplined against play action running man defense, so the play action game is what maybe Pruitt was worried about.

Looking back though, I think I would rather take my chances making those open field tackles, hopefully with gang tackling/everybody breaking their zone and flying to the ball carrier, than to allow tua to pick apart our man coverage for huge and easy chunks.

Some people will say our problem was getting pressure, but whether you play zone or man, you have to get pressure. So, this point is invalid pertaining to this question. This question is more geared to why we didn't use more zone coverage. Zone allows for opportunities at catches and immediate hits for drops or fumbles. Zone also allows for more gang tackling and therefore more strip opportunities. I'm saying that using more zone against this guy might have allowed for us to turn them over a couple times while he was in the game instead of getting efficiently picked apart for score after score.

Maybe someone can help me understand why Pruitt was so convinced man coverage was the only way to contain this offense with tua at the helm.

How about Pruitt is a defensive coach and knows what he is doing and you.....AREN'T!

It isn't about blind loyalty to Pruitt, But you have to understand there isn't a DC in the country that knows the Tua lead Alabama's offense Better than Pruitt!

 

[volroadwarrior]

Against bama, Pruitt was adamant about stopping/containing bamas offense with man instead of using more zone type coverages.

With tua ( probably the most NFL QB ability of any QB in the country ) at the helm as opposed to all other QBs saban has ever had, I don't get this strategy. This guy can fire the ball in there, on any route, with NFL type precision. Your coverage on the back end has to be amazing to keep a QB like this from carving you up. Obviously bama has the talented blocking and rec's, like always, and this game was no different. The difference is/was the QB position.

The only thing I can think of is that Pruitt felt like our defense couldn't contain bamas run game and therefore play action, specially against defenders in the box, and that would eat us alive. I'm guessing he thought that by using too much zone our defenders in the box would suck in on play action giving tua wide open throws, and allowing those rec's and tes too much space to catch and run and break tackles. To me, it's easier to stay disciplined against play action running man defense, so the play action game is what maybe Pruitt was worried about.

Looking back though, I think I would rather take my chances making those open field tackles, hopefully with gang tackling/everybody breaking their zone and flying to the ball carrier, than to allow tua to pick apart our man coverage for huge and easy chunks.

Some people will say our problem was getting pressure, but whether you play zone or man, you have to get pressure. So, this point is invalid pertaining to this question. This question is more geared to why we didn't use more zone coverage. Zone allows for opportunities at catches and immediate hits for drops or fumbles. Zone also allows for more gang tackling and therefore more strip opportunities. I'm saying that using more zone against this guy might have allowed for us to turn them over a couple times while he was in the game instead of getting efficiently picked apart for score after score.

Maybe someone can help me understand why Pruitt was so convinced man coverage was the only way to contain this offense with tua at the helm.

I believe Pruitt's thinking is that playing zone or man against Bama would not make a difference in winning or losing. He wants to build us into a man to man team and the DBs got needed reps in that system.

 

[PapaGeorgio]

I was using Tampa 2 as an example of a zone based defense that gets it done. The Steelers have for years run a zone based defense that was pretty effective, and ran it from a 34. Dungy came from this and tweaked it into the Tampa 2. But, there are other ways to play zone besides Tampa 2 as evidenced by the Steelers.

Haven't really watched the Steelers recently so they may have changed, but that old Chuck knoll zone based defense was their defense for years iirc

You have obviously paid more attention to professionals than underclassmen college players. Perhaps later with more experience and/or athletes...
You are on the right track though, Alabama would be a challenge for many professional teams this year.

 

[ftsandersvol]

Man-to-man is the simplest defense to run. When you are starting freshmen you don’t want blown coverages because of zone confusions. Seen it way too many times.

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

I'm sure that you're aware that nearly every defensive call Pruitt makes has elements of zone coverage in it. Pruitt is highly regarded on that side of the ball, he's not going to change what has worked for him and seemingly every other great defense from the past. When you can guard them in man it shrinks the field and funnels everything to your strength in the middle. Our problem is that we've not become that dominant anywhere on the field, YET.

 

[OneVolNation]

I believe it was the last practice update it was reported that the LBs and DBs were working on pattern match reads and coverages. Y'all already know that gives the defense the opportunity to adjust better and take more of the offense's cards off the table than just running either strictly man or zone. We've seen some good D this season already (enough for me to enjoy and feel confident about future games) and I'm excited about this game against South Carolina. I honestly believe that Tennessee will be the better prepared team even though currently listed as the underdog by a touchdown.

I listened to one of South Carolina's recent podcasts (red and black something or another or something like that and the episode had the words "Volunteering" and "Tribute" in it if you want to look for it) and the hosts of the show said, "Tennessee doesn't have a good defense. Their defense is bad." Even though it's obvious since they were South Carolina homers, I instantly thought they must have only watched a few select clips or came to that conclusion based on Alabama's points production. If the defense continues to build on all the good things they made happen against Auburn and focuses on playing the best game of the season so far, I really believe our defense can surprise them. If we even attempt to bring pressure to Jake Bentley they will get to him and shut down SC's plans for any kind of rhythm all night long. That's when the killer instinct comes into play. When you have your foot on a poisonous snake's head and a sharp knife in your hand, it's not the time to lift up your foot or relieve any pressure at all. UT coaches are supplying the extra sharp blades and the players will just need to keep slicing until they force that breakthrough to happen. It should be big orange and glorious.

 

[RollerVol]

Coach Pruitt don't back down from anybody...that's why...

GO VOLS...BEAT GAMECOCKS!

 

[orangelo]

In three years of running exclusively man with Bryce Thompson, Alontae Taylor and Baylen Buchanan at the Nickel... let that sink in. #noflyzone

 

[82_VOL_83]

You got to be kidding me...You can't let someone as good as Tua stand back there and he is saying "let me see ZONE! They are playing me in a ZONE coverage...will the scoreboard hold a Hundred Points"...Pick us apart I guess...Have to play right in the receivers Jock Strap to stop them from catching the ball. Zone, you got to be kidding...where is the blue font???

We actually made several good defensive plays in the secondary too. There was just so much offense to stop that the plays we did make kinda disappear.

 

[savannahfan]

Pro style defense, played by pros, that's how you stop Bama....

 

[MikeVol44]

Against bama, Pruitt was adamant about stopping/containing bamas offense with man instead of using more zone type coverages.

With tua ( probably the most NFL QB ability of any QB in the country ) at the helm as opposed to all other QBs saban has ever had, I don't get this strategy. This guy can fire the ball in there, on any route, with NFL type precision. Your coverage on the back end has to be amazing to keep a QB like this from carving you up. Obviously bama has the talented blocking and rec's, like always, and this game was no different. The difference is/was the QB position.

The only thing I can think of is that Pruitt felt like our defense couldn't contain bamas run game and therefore play action, specially against defenders in the box, and that would eat us alive. I'm guessing he thought that by using too much zone our defenders in the box would suck in on play action giving tua wide open throws, and allowing those rec's and tes too much space to catch and run and break tackles. To me, it's easier to stay disciplined against play action running man defense, so the play action game is what maybe Pruitt was worried about.

Looking back though, I think I would rather take my chances making those open field tackles, hopefully with gang tackling/everybody breaking their zone and flying to the ball carrier, than to allow tua to pick apart our man coverage for huge and easy chunks.

Some people will say our problem was getting pressure, but whether you play zone or man, you have to get pressure. So, this point is invalid pertaining to this question. This question is more geared to why we didn't use more zone coverage. Zone allows for opportunities at catches and immediate hits for drops or fumbles. Zone also allows for more gang tackling and therefore more strip opportunities. I'm saying that using more zone against this guy might have allowed for us to turn them over a couple times while he was in the game instead of getting efficiently picked apart for score after score.

Maybe someone can help me understand why Pruitt was so convinced man coverage was the only way to contain this offense with tua at the helm.

NO one has had any success stopping that Bama offense....they've attempted zone and man defenses....

CJP's defense requires man coverage....His team is going to have to learn to play defense his way. Nothing does that better than allowing them to play and see their own deficiencies. I know that this answer won't satisfy you, but I fail to see how playing zone would've been able to slow that Bama team down? You still have to be able to run with receivers when they come into your zone. So, are you gonna sit back in Cover 3 and watch Bama's receivers run by your DBs down the hashes on verticals? wear out the hashes? You gonna run quarters and watch them run 2 receivers behind the LBs to exploit the middle of the field? Not to mention that Jeudy took a simple little mesh route to the house.

Playing man shrinks the windows the QB has to throw the ball through to get completions. Tua made some perfect throws during the game in man....he would've wore out any zone scheme.

 

[rjd970]

Would have loved to see how good Alontae Taylor was against those receivers in man coverage, but alas, Bama officials wanted no part of it.

 

[volsportsfan]

@Go Vols 5 what you got for me man? SC game?

They run RPO and read option but didn't seem to be as much as bama. Still, they moved the ball very effectively with read option, zone read, and RPO. Seems that just the threat of read option and RPO put Pruitt defensively into a struggle mentally. Also, Bentley's arm talent and scramble ability hurt us.

Just seems like the ability to make the QBs legs a threat within your offense gives us nightmares. Honestly, it gives every defense nightmares.

Seems to be more a talent issue with us, but sc moving up and down the field over and over from the last possession of first half to the end of the game is alarming. They don't have bama talent. Bentley is a poor mans Tua, their oline is a poor mans bama oline, and their recs are maybe equal with bama.

What do you think man?

 

[volsportsfan]

I've put a lot more thought into RPO since you pointed it out to me. That extra blocking advantage the read portion gives, forcing the defender being read to collapse on the rb thus leaving his zone uncovered ( if he has zone responsibility ) for the easy throw ( specially if defense is in zone coverage. I see why you need man ), plus if his primary is covered well he ( the QB ) can take off. Such a tough thing to defend.

 

[Go Vols 5]

I will have to watch the All 22 in my off season to give an accurate response and even then I don’t know all of our calls for sure. I felt like they didn’t run a ton of RPOs (ran more early in the game). Looked like we just lost the LOS and did see us bust some assignments which I still think is our biggest problem. It’s a very complex defense. 28 edge blitzes once and is responsible for the QB but takes the dive and Bentley pulls and gets an easy first down. I think this happens a lot for us in terms of mixed assignments especially in the secondary where they are running a ton of different coverages and zone matching and man matching (does not mean man to man). I expect us to be much better next year with a full year to learn.