BYU defensive play

[USUC]

Over the years there has been one thing that is consistent about BYU's defense: Inconsistency. There have been brilliant games but I haven't seen a "great" defensive year yet. So what needs to happen for this to change? I know I should be happy about so many 10 win seasons, but BYU will never be able to desperate themselves from all the other good teams out there until something is done with the defense. Maybe BYU can't recruit speed or 4 or 5 star players, but if thats the reality then a defensive system needs to be put into place to get consistency out of what they have. I don't know what needs to happen, but BYU will continue to be just a "good" program until defense is consistently ... well, consistent.

[cougjunkie]

Over the years there has been one thing that is consistent about BYU's defense: Inconsistency. There have been brilliant games but I haven't seen a "great" defensive year yet. So what needs to happen for this to change? I know I should be happy about so many 10 win seasons, but BYU will never be able to desperate themselves from all the other good teams out there until something is done with the defense. Maybe BYU can't recruit speed or 4 or 5 star players, but if thats the reality then a defensive system needs to be put into place to get consistency out of what they have. I don't know what needs to happen, but BYU will continue to be just a "good" program until defense is consistently ... well, consistent.

You must have missed the 2006 season.

[USUC]

You must have missed the 2006 season.

Good, but not great.

[cougjunkie]

Good, but not great.

You will never be satisfied then.

10th in the country in scoring defense is not great? Your expectations are way to high.

[Hot Lunch]

You must have missed the 2006 season.

2007 was pretty good as well.

[cougjunkie]

2007 was pretty good as well.

I agree. 9th in scoring defense and 10th in total defense.

[USUC]

I agree. 9th in scoring defense and 10th in total defense.

That Tulsa game was embarrassing. 2006 and 2007 were good overall. Play definitely got better as time went on. But some glaring blemishes there. High expectations, maybe, unreasonable, no.

[cougjunkie]

That Tulsa game was embarrassing. 2006 and 2007 were good overall. Play definitely got better as time went on. But some glaring blemishes there. High expectations, maybe, unreasonable, no.

That shows how good they were then, they gave up 50 points to Tulsa and still finished top 10. Sometimes its the scheme and playcalling by the coaches not the defensive players.

[USUC]

That shows how good they were then, they gave up 50 points to Tulsa and still finished top 10. Sometimes its the scheme and playcalling by the coaches not the defensive players.

I totally agree that a lot of it is the scheme and play calling. That is something I'm questioning here. There are some programs out there that don't have top talent but their defenses produce. That leads me to believe that coaching has a fair amount to do with it. The biggest problem I've seen (the last three years at least) is when they get punched in the mouth and get down early, they don't dig their heels in. It just gets further out of control. The defense steps up in close games. I have confidence in the offensive production of this team. But my standard of greatness is to at least be in the games we lose.

[Surfah]

I totally agree that a lot of it is the scheme and play calling. That is something I'm questioning here. There are some programs out there that don't have top talent but their defenses produce. That leads me to believe that coaching has a fair amount to do with it. The biggest problem I've seen (the last three years at least) is when they get punched in the mouth and get down early, they don't dig their heels in. It just gets further out of control. The defense steps up in close games. I have confidence in the offensive production of this team. But my standard of greatness is to at least be in the games we lose.

The biggest issue with our defense in regards to scheme is that we never run any nickel. How many effing 3rd and longs do our opponents convert when our LBs are running around chasing after WRs? I swear it happens all the damn time. It drives me absolutely batty that we don't ever do this.

[pellegrino]

The biggest issue with our defense in regards to scheme is that we never run any nickel. How many effing 3rd and longs do our opponents convert when our LBs are running around chasing after WRs? I swear it happens all the damn time. It drives me absolutely batty that we don't ever do this.

I thought it was interesting (and looking back kind of funny) that on certain situations we only played three defensive backs (two corners and a safety) and five linebackers. I guess that's the closest thing to a nickel you're going to get.

[cougjunkie]

I thought it was interesting (and looking back kind of funny) that on certain situations we only played three defensive backs (two corners and a safety) and five linebackers. I guess that's the closest thing to a nickel you're going to get.

Yeah once Thomas went out we decided to go with a 3-5-3, good idea against one of the fastest teams we will play all year.

[Surfah]

Yeah once Thomas went out we decided to go with a 3-5-3, good idea against one of the fastest teams we will play all year.

I was wondering what the hell was going on. I am going to have to rewatch that.