That first game against GT has me a bit concerned but then I realized that Coach Warren practiced against that type offense for 4 years at Air Force. With the high praise about how DB improvement I am beginning to feel a bit better. He will be an invaluable asset when game planning begins.
We are probably going to over-react to whatever we see defensively in the first game. We are facing a great tactician in Paul Johnson with all summer to prepare a game plan and a lot of talent returning from a very good team. They are going to put up a lot of yards on us. We need to limit them to field goals.
I will be more worried if our offense is stagnant, especially if OL play is still subpar. We need to see great blocking and protection from our front 5 and tight ends. If that doesn't happen, nothing our defense does this year will get us to Atlanta.
New QB jinx also is a good head start on excusing a loss. :lolabove:
I think we win, but it won't be pretty.
Great point, OP, hope you are right!
GA Tech averaged 12 passes per game last year, 6 completions per game and their passing game averaged them 5.4 yards per attempt. So, for every completed pass they only gained 10 yards...
I hope our DB's will be ready to play close to the line of scrimmage and make some plays. I almost wonder what the chances of ditching the Nickelback in favor of an additional OLB are for this game. 4-2-5 is good against the spread, but I worry about how it will hold up against the flexbone.
Man I hope so . . . our DB's were out of position last year and refused to look for the ball! With Warren and Hoke coaching D along with Shoop, we should have a pretty darn good unit, loosing Sutton and Barnett left some big shoes to fill but I think with a healthy interior and better DB play we should be fine.
Fall camp can't get here soon enough!!!
GBO
Unfortunately our DBs have refused to TURN AROUND for the most part of the last 25 years! Hope that changes. Hard to defend against something when you don't know where it is!!!
what's the use in turning around and looking for the ball? You are already beat and running at top speed to catch up to the receiver. It's hard to run at top speed when your head is turned around at 180 degrees. It seems our backs wait till the receiver gets to them, then they turn and start to chase. Too late....:no:
I get you're sentiment.
Reality is though our opponents 50/50 balls were more like 80/20 or 70/30 in their favor sometimes when our DB's were in position and simply didn't locate the ball.