Why Offense Is the Problem --- Not Defense

[DiderotsGhost]

It's clear reading through the comments that half of VN lacks basic reading comprehension skills. No one said the defense didn't suck this season. The defense most certainly did suck during the last three games. That's not really the question.

The argument is thus:

(1) The defense sucked, but it was mostly because of injuries,
(2) When you dig into the numbers, it becomes apparent that the offense sucked really bad without injuries,
(3) The offense's problems were actively hampering the defense,
(4) The defense's problems can be fixed if the team is back in full health. The offense's problems can not.

It's really not complicated people.

There's no excuse for 25 turnovers on offense. If you don't think the offense is a major issue, your head is in the sand. The defense can be fixed if we have healthy players. The offense is a mess even with our roster fully healthy and would've been an even bigger mess without Josh Dobbs' legs.

 

[majic73]

It's clear reading through the comments that half of VN lacks basic reading comprehension skills. No one said the defense didn't suck this season. The defense most certainly did suck during the last three games. That's not really the question.

The argument is thus:

(1) The defense sucked, but it was mostly because of injuries,
(2) When you dig into the numbers, it becomes apparent that the offense sucked really bad without injuries,
(3) The offense's problems were actively hampering the defense,
(4) The defense's problems can be fixed if the team is back in full health. The offense's problems can not.

It's really not complicated people.

There's no excuse for 25 turnovers on offense. If you don't think the offense is a major issue, your head is in the sand. The defense can be fixed if we have healthy players. The offense is a mess even with our roster fully healthy and would've been an even bigger mess without Josh Dobbs' legs.

I agree with what you say . I think on offense , we have tried to hard to re-invent the wheel. This obsession with 'big splash' plays is over the top and it generates turnovers and the boom or bust nature of it put the defense on the field 930 snaps ...almost as bad as Oregons 971. Guess who else has a host of defensive injuries ...The Ducks .

I like the ability to attack and generate fast points ...but you also have to be able to grind it out , manage the clock , and sustain your defense for the season

 

[99gator]

Diderot

I respect the out of the box thinking.

My school can't get a first down. Seriously. Crossing midfield is a problem. And as much as they screw the defense game after game performing their new dance sensation...."the 3 and out", they aren't giving up the points and yards Tennessee is.

Spurrier used to joke that "3 and score" was no different than "3 and out". If you can stop a team after 3 plays and a punt, you can stop them after 3 plays and a score.

Missouri and Vanderbilt had season highs offensively in yardage against Tennessee. More yards than against cupcake opponents. Kentucky had the 2nd most yards all season behind only the yardage total put up on New Mexico State.

I don't care what the offense is doing. When you give up 600 yards+, the main focus of the problem is on the defensive side of the ball.

In addition, a lot of the yards and points are right out of the gate. How many times did an opposing team take the opening drive and score? It's not like they struggled as the game went on because they got worn down. They struggled from the moment the ball was kicked off.

In addition, you are supposed to gain momentum and adrenaline by your offense going out there and getting points.

 

[majic73]

Diderot

I respect the out of the box thinking.

My school can't get a first down. Seriously. Crossing midfield is a problem. And as much as they screw the defense game after game performing their new dance sensation...."the 3 and out", they aren't giving up the points and yards Tennessee is.

Spurrier used to joke that "3 and score" was no different than "3 and out". If you can stop a team after 3 plays and a punt, you can stop them after 3 plays and a score.

Missouri and Vanderbilt had season highs offensively in yardage against Tennessee. More yards than against cupcake opponents. Kentucky had the 2nd most yards all season behind only the yardage total put up on New Mexico State.

I don't care what the offense is doing. When you give up 600 yards+, the main focus of the problem is on the defensive side of the ball.

In addition, a lot of the yards and points are right out of the gate. How many times did an opposing team take the opening drive and score? It's not like they struggled as the game went on because they got worn down. They struggled from the moment the ball was kicked off.

In addition, you are supposed to gain momentum and adrenaline by your offense going out there and getting points.

I what are see what you are saying ...but offense and defense are inseparably joined. Florida has defensive plays 693 as opposed to UTs 930. Compare that to Oregons 971 defensive plays. You would never guess that Oregon also has an insane defensive injury problem ? The more plays there are , the more chance of injuries. So when the injuries occur , which they will statistically , more reps fall to fewer guys. It then becomes a compounding problem. If no one addresses the issue ...you end up like the Vols where you are one or two injuries away from pulling people out of the stands to play.

I think the fast break attack and ability to score fast is awesome ...but I think the old adage about keeping their defense on the field and your defense off the field makes alot of sense when the time is right. It is unknown to me how a team can score 21 points in an explosion but cant make 4 yard plays when needed and can drive the ball

 

[99gator]

I what are see what you are saying ...but offense and defense are inseparably joined. Florida has defensive plays 693 as opposed to UTs 930. Compare that to Oregons 971 defensive plays. You would never guess that Oregon also has an insane defensive injury problem ? The more plays there are , the more chance of injuries. So when the injuries occur , which they will statistically , more reps fall to fewer guys. It then becomes a compounding problem. If no one addresses the issue ...you end up like the Vols where you are one or two injuries away from pulling people out of the stands to play.

I think the fast break attack and ability to score fast is awesome ...but I think the old adage about keeping their defense on the field and your defense off the field makes alot of sense when the time is right. It is unknown to me how a team can score 21 points in an explosion but cant make 4 yard plays when needed and can drive the ball

The amount of plays was very normal through the first 5 games and is not really crazy for the last 7 except for Missouri which completely throws the average off. Missouri ran 110 plays alone. That was 26 more plays run than any other game, including A&M which went to double overtime.

I understand how an offense can hang a defense out to dry......believe me, it's what the Gator offense does every week.

But, if that were the problem, you'd be stopping people before tiring out, losing heart, etc, etc, etc.

Several teams moved the ball and put points up from the 1st quarter on.

 

[ATLVols]

Defense was really bad. Softest defense I've seen other than Sunseri's defense. They were getting pushed around and out of position way too much even before the injuries.

 

[majic73]

The amount of plays was very normal through the first 5 games and is not really crazy for the last 7 except for Missouri which completely throws the average off. Missouri ran 110 plays alone. That was 26 more plays run than any other game, including A&M which went to double overtime.

I understand how an offense can hang a defense out to dry......believe me, it's what the Gator offense does every week.

But, if that were the problem, you'd be stopping people before tiring out, losing heart, etc, etc, etc.

Several teams moved the ball and put points up from the 1st quarter on.

I dont know that I disagree with what you are saying but what I am saying is that the ultra aggressive offenses generate more snaps. When they fail, they throw volume at the problem. They generate more defensive snaps because of it. Snaps per game are inordinate. If you look at other teams with a similar philosophy , the same issue . I think we stink at 'normal' 4 yard plays because we don't practice them. Florida's is just not a good offensive team ...but they are methodical and keep the snap count down.

When you keep the snap count down , you are statistically more likely to get injured. Teams that strive for 100 snaps a game get hurt more. If you are going to run this system , you have to have a mountain of depth especially on defense ...which is where the injuries always show up.

For us, it is as simple as being able to execute drives and use the clock when needed. I think if we do that down the length of the season, most of our injuries dont happen

 

[BanditVol]

@OP...I don't completely agree on the penalties. Defense committed more than the offense, if I am not mistaken.

And on the Bball player scoring forty while shooting 50 times...somehow Kobe got away with doing that his entire career. lol:

 

[BanditVol]

I what are see what you are saying ...but offense and defense are inseparably joined. Florida has defensive plays 693 as opposed to UTs 930. Compare that to Oregons 971 defensive plays. You would never guess that Oregon also has an insane defensive injury problem ? The more plays there are , the more chance of injuries. So when the injuries occur , which they will statistically , more reps fall to fewer guys. It then becomes a compounding problem. If no one addresses the issue ...you end up like the Vols where you are one or two injuries away from pulling people out of the stands to play.

I think the fast break attack and ability to score fast is awesome ...but I think the old adage about keeping their defense on the field and your defense off the field makes alot of sense when the time is right. It is unknown to me how a team can score 21 points in an explosion but cant make 4 yard plays when needed and can drive the ball

Great point, and the best explanation for the injuries I have heard.