The defense has regressed

[Gaddabout]

Turns out having smart linebackers who know where they're supposed to be was a luxury you can't just replace with fast guys. Lots of awful tackling and out-of-position play. Burfict is proving to be way overhyped. Guy was almost invisible tonight and he looked totally lost most of the time.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Turns out having smart linebackers who know where they're supposed to be was a luxury you can't just replace with fast guys. Lots of awful tackling and out-of-position play. Burfict is proving to be way overhyped. Guy was almost invisible tonight and he looked totally lost most of the time.

I would have to agree. The defense played extremely lackluster. A TON of missed tackles, at least 15 if I had to guess. That's unacceptable. Bray calls his vanilla defense as usual, and it's frustrating to watch cover 2 practically every single play. Bufict is starting to believe in his own hype; he doesn't try to tackle and wrap up guys, he tries to hit them with his shoulder, resulting in a lot of broken tackles, and he often over-runs the play. This defense has the chance to be really good, but they really need to learn how to tackle and stick to their assignments. Plus, Bray needs to learn a different defensive scheme other than playing cover 2-3. Rushing 4 and dropping everyone is not the way to win...

 

[Gaddabout]

Been watching college football since I was 3. I'm 42 now. I've never seen a bad tackling defense become a good tackling defense in one year. It's usually endemic of coaching, but I'm giving them a pass for now because it hasn't been a glaring issue until right now. But I really don't have a lot of hope this defense will get much better as the year goes along.

The one thing they do have in their favor is they won't face Franklin again. But I believe Illinois has a QB who can run, and we know Oregon and Stanford do. They better figure out how to contain the edge or this season's going to get turned on its head before it gets started.