From Athens-Game Day Friday #3

wlayton wrote: My weekly "thank you" yd1.....

If our D can't show up better in this game, with much improvement, we may be in trouble going forward. I realize there is talent and are young etc etc etc but time is one thing that is no longer on our side.

AM and gang had better keep their machine oiled and finely tuned.

Do believe we will get better but I personally am concerned about the defensive side of the ball.....and not totally convinced with CTG anymore. While I like his attitude, aggressiveness and knowledge, I also feel he may over coach these kids and creates confusion on the field. Seniors should handle it (although the experienced guys looked confused alot last year), but imo, maybe CTG should "dumb it down" a little with a little more "base" D....confusion leads to BIG plays....again just my opinion.

Regardless yd1, will salute you Sat as always!! Have a great weekend everyone.

I don't know if we can gauge improvement against this opponent. If we allow too many yards and points we surely can say we have
big concerns, but if we play really well it may just be the quality of the other team.

I agree completely with the dumb it down idea. Even our experienced players seemed confused at times last year, and we can't have the
younger pups thinking too much. They need to be reacting, as thinking leads to hesitation. If we have the athletes we think we have, then we don't have to get into complex scheming... line 'em up and just beat them. Put these young players in a position to succeed with their
athletic ability. When we play LSU, the bayou boys are probably not going to out trick us... they are just going to line up and try
and mash us physically. If our kids are thinking... that's the split second difference between reacting off your heels instead of attacking off your toes.

Impressive post Wartdawg.

Buc, I too liked CTG coming to Athens and still do, but I have yet to see consistency with the D. Think we all can see now that the "great" defensive effort against UF last year wasn't what we thought it was....UF's offense stinks.

We can't stop the run and out stats don't measure up....yet.

For me, it just looks and feels like the D is confused most of the time and that is creating the big plays. Since the players do have more on their plates than just football like you pointed out, it seems natural to either MAKE SURE the players understand your schemes or to dumb it down to more base schemes.

Guess I just want to see some improvement on our D....haven't seen it yet... imo.

wlayton, on the mark. I started a post and cancelled it. I hope that tomorrow we see some of the young men on our team playing that haven't "really" participated thus far. That of course means getting a lead or something like that.

Thanks wlayton, Buc... y'all are dead on...

The 2 gap 3-4 is pretty complex. In the NFL, CTG had a majority of 4-6+ year veteran football players who had a lot more experience at adapting to different and more complex schemes.

Here he has a lot of players that may be in the first of three total years they will spend in this system, and I'm pretty darn sure very few have ever come from 3-4 defenses, and probably not as complex as what CTG showed up with. I'm sure he has made some adjustments along the way, but the nature of the 3-4 and it's hybrids is an inherent complexity of responsibilities.

So as we look for why many think that CTG has the fire and ability, but agree that the result isn't measuring up... seems plausible a little bit more
simplification may be an answer.

Good topic to bring up, wlayton... thanks Buc for reminding us all these kids are here at best 4 years.

Go Dawgs

Wartdawg said and taken in part from an on point post . . . . I'm pretty darn sure very few have ever come from 3-4 defenses.

If that statement does not tell the story, not sure what does.

Almost every top line player, either starter or player that frequently enters the game has been quoted as saying they were understanding more, however they do no play the game at full speed. Only takes one slip and players like Watkins and others are off to the races, much like Davis from South Carolina.

Grantham makes mention along with the talking heads of the stand on the goal line. Thrilled the hell out of me. My problem with that is what happened the other yards gained prior to the stand. This is not the best defense in the country, but I personally believe it could use some tweaking.

I have been and will continue to be a supporter of Ramik Wilson. Standout in high school football, watched much of that. Last week I/we could see that he was having assignment problems. Could be many things, won't go there. Problem in my way of thinking . . . . Ramik is a junior and believe that he is not yet playing "fast".

At this point in time, having a hard time getting a grip on some memories I have of what I saw in Orlando against Nebraska. Defense had to be called out on the sideline by Jarvis Jones. Problem was, the defense was confused, could not get situated. Grantham was having one of his "times" on the sideline.

Another case last week when Langley caught the attention of everyone . . . . everyone that reports. Langley said that there were plays where he was confused or beaten, also mentioned that there was a time or times that someone in the defensive backfield did not execute properly. Being a stand up young man, refused to call a particular player or players out.

What that says to me is that there was a particular player or players that were not playing "fast" also, if you get my drift. Too easy to nail a player, especially if everyone on his side of the ball is not "up to speed" with the 3/4 and whatever version of the 3/4 is being run, and there are many versions.

Paris Bostick is one heck of a football player. Comes from the same area that Ramik Wilson is from. Here is hoping that he reaches his potential in college. Talented beyond belief and has the confidence that I hope remains there. No need to start comparing him to Ogletree, not fair.

Game today will be very interesting. Believe North Texas will come to play, take chances, do little things that are unexpected by those ranked higher.

Go Dawgs, coach'em up . . . .