First, not trying to get granular on the x's and o's. I like to keep it elementary and just talk a little ball... Not trying to be Nick Saban Jr or anything...
I have been pretty dialed into things this season. There's a lot to like.
First, Byron Young is coming. He is playing real football, understands leveraging the football on the LOS and is showing that he wants to do more than just "see ball - get ball." Very good sign from him, shows he's taking coaching. It won't be an over night transition but when it starts to click he's going to impact games.
I think all 3 of our edge guys could be a lot more active this week and next vs a far less mobile QB than what we have seen from the two P5 opponents thus far. Roman Harrison played pretty well against UF and he could be pretty important this week with Baron banged up.
I agree with most who think our safety play is leaving a bit to be desired from a playmaking standpoint, but they're solid tacklers and aren't making busts. I like the match up against Mizzou and SC. I don't see a ton of ability to take the top off the defense and think we can run with their WR's, especially at CB and N where we are playing really well right now.
Against mizzou it is all about containing Tyler Badie. Drinkwitz will try to scheme him up against safeties and linebackers in the passing game... I'm not sure what the answer is there. I like the idea of playing more man, being more aggressive to take away a lot of their quick game because that's where Bazelak plays his best football, but that also leaves Badie 1v1.
Winning 1st and 2nd down, getting into obvious passing situations, and getting into dime would be very helpful. Getting that extra DB on the field to run with Badie and man-to-man situations would be nice.
I like this match up, sans covering Badie down the field, for the safeties and linebackers. They're not going to be at an athletic disadvantage in many instances.
Our run defense SHOULD have another good day. Mizzou is 73rd in the country in rushing offense. For reference, Pitt is 65th and Florida is 3rd. I do not think Bazelak can make the plays that Pickett or Jones were able to make with their legs to bail them out either...
Offensively, run the ball and run the ball some more. This Mizzou defenses is BAD at stopping the run. 129th out of 130.
I really don't care who the QB is, don't care who the center is, don't care how many RB's are healthy, run the ball and make them like it. I started a thread yesterday about getting Callaway or Holiday in the wildcat, and I understand that Hooker and Milton are mobile, but its just another way to run it at a bad Mizzou defense and take hits off your QB.
I do think we can win with Milton, just not as confident in it as I am with Hooker. Hookers legs would be huge in this match up.
But Milton does run the offense well and works the underneath stuff well too... He can definitely play well enough to win.
I am very curious to how good Mizzou's pass defense really is. They haven't played anyone who throws the ball particularly well, and their run defense is so bad, why would your throw it?
I have been pretty dialed into things this season. There's a lot to like.
First, Byron Young is coming. He is playing real football, understands leveraging the football on the LOS and is showing that he wants to do more than just "see ball - get ball." Very good sign from him, shows he's taking coaching. It won't be an over night transition but when it starts to click he's going to impact games.
I think all 3 of our edge guys could be a lot more active this week and next vs a far less mobile QB than what we have seen from the two P5 opponents thus far. Roman Harrison played pretty well against UF and he could be pretty important this week with Baron banged up.
I agree with most who think our safety play is leaving a bit to be desired from a playmaking standpoint, but they're solid tacklers and aren't making busts. I like the match up against Mizzou and SC. I don't see a ton of ability to take the top off the defense and think we can run with their WR's, especially at CB and N where we are playing really well right now.
Against mizzou it is all about containing Tyler Badie. Drinkwitz will try to scheme him up against safeties and linebackers in the passing game... I'm not sure what the answer is there. I like the idea of playing more man, being more aggressive to take away a lot of their quick game because that's where Bazelak plays his best football, but that also leaves Badie 1v1.
Winning 1st and 2nd down, getting into obvious passing situations, and getting into dime would be very helpful. Getting that extra DB on the field to run with Badie and man-to-man situations would be nice.
I like this match up, sans covering Badie down the field, for the safeties and linebackers. They're not going to be at an athletic disadvantage in many instances.
Our run defense SHOULD have another good day. Mizzou is 73rd in the country in rushing offense. For reference, Pitt is 65th and Florida is 3rd. I do not think Bazelak can make the plays that Pickett or Jones were able to make with their legs to bail them out either...
Offensively, run the ball and run the ball some more. This Mizzou defenses is BAD at stopping the run. 129th out of 130.
I really don't care who the QB is, don't care who the center is, don't care how many RB's are healthy, run the ball and make them like it. I started a thread yesterday about getting Callaway or Holiday in the wildcat, and I understand that Hooker and Milton are mobile, but its just another way to run it at a bad Mizzou defense and take hits off your QB.
I do think we can win with Milton, just not as confident in it as I am with Hooker. Hookers legs would be huge in this match up.
But Milton does run the offense well and works the underneath stuff well too... He can definitely play well enough to win.
I am very curious to how good Mizzou's pass defense really is. They haven't played anyone who throws the ball particularly well, and their run defense is so bad, why would your throw it?
