Knott is the difference on defense

**Cyclonepride** · 10-22-2011, 08:02 PM

He's a warrior, and he's hurt, and I think it's affecting his strength (to get off blocks) and his ability to wrap up, not to mention his ability to practice.

I think a healthy Jake Knott is the difference between a very good defense and an average defense. It would be nice to have a bye week to help his shoulder heal, but I'm not sure one week would do it.

Beyond that, the offense obviously has to step up and score, and also give the defense a breather.

**RedBlooded** · 10-22-2011, 08:37 PM

defense did better this week, yet the linebackers missed a lot of tackles.

**IcSyU** · 10-22-2011, 08:40 PM

Our defense isn't average. A healthy Jake Knott might get it there, but our defense is undoubtedly below average if not poor. The front four aren't very good and Reeves isn't good enough to hold down a side of the field.

**3TrueFans** · 10-22-2011, 08:42 PM

Knott is playing lights out while Klein is fading away.

**ChickenWing** · 10-22-2011, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

He's a warrior, and he's hurt, and I think it's affecting his strength (to get off blocks) and his ability to wrap up, not to mention his ability to practice.

I think a healthy Jake Knott is the difference between a very good defense and an average defense. It would be nice to have a bye week to help his shoulder heal, but I'm not sure one week would do it.

Beyond that, the offense obviously has to step up and score, and also give the defense a breather.

I don't think people want to say it cause they like him and respect that he's playing hurt but I think you make some good points. It is tough to watch him now. He is not playing well. At least there is a reason for it, but it still has to be really tough for him to watch film after the game.

**Cyclophile1** · 10-22-2011, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by RedBlooded

defense did better this week, yet the linebackers missed a lot of tackles.

We were better but it's just about impossible when you give up 260+ yards rushing. We were awful against the run AGAIN with a lot of missed tackles, overpursuit and being out of position. We're really bad against the rush and the outcome is the same as the previous 3 games.

**ChickenWing** · 10-22-2011, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

Knott is playing lights out while Klein is fading away.

Watch him during the game, don't just look at the tackle count.

**Tre4ISU** · 10-22-2011, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Our defense isn't average. A healthy Jake Knott might get it there, but our defense is undoubtedly below average if not poor. The front four aren't very good and Reeves isn't good enough to hold down a side of the field.

The front four was fantastic today

**Tre4ISU** · 10-22-2011, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by ChickenWing

Watch him during the game, don't just look at the tackle count.

No. I want to make uneducated statements based off stats and stats only

**IcSyU** · 10-22-2011, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

The front four was fantastic today

Your idea of fantastic and mine are TOTALLY different things.

With the exception of a couple plays, Tannehill could sit in the pocket all month and not face any pressure.

The tackling was absolutely dreadful.

They still gave up 100 yards rushing to TWO backs.

Where is the fantastic part of that?

It doesn't matter if they have Michael or Gray surrounded in the backfield when they can't finish the play. I tend to think something is wrong when we give the opposition 2-3 free plays per game jumping offsides.

**DrClone** · 10-22-2011, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

The front four was fantastic today

You can't be serious - I'm no expert but TAM had holes to run through most of the day. Overall at times our D played decent but our offense has to score and help out our D.

**demoncore1031** · 10-22-2011, 09:42 PM

knott makes a ton of tackles. klein makes alot of tackles. washington has alot of tackles. givens has a good amount. some other guys have a good number of tackles... yet we miss so many tackles!! makes no sense. out rush d sucks bad! we got a bit of pressure on a QB today who hasnt taken much pressure this season.

**Tre4ISU** · 10-22-2011, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

Your idea of fantastic and mine are TOTALLY different things.

With the exception of a couple plays, Tannehill could sit in the pocket all month and not face any pressure.

The tackling was absolutely dreadful.

They still gave up 100 yards rushing to TWO backs.

Where is the fantastic part of that?

It doesn't matter if they have Michael or Gray surrounded in the backfield when they can't finish the play. I tend to think something is wrong when we give the opposition 2-3 free plays per game jumping offsides.

Tannehil was under pressure plenty today. The defensive should not be judged on how many tackles they make in the running game. The linebackers were the ones making the tackles. The rushing game isn't all on them, in fact very little of it is.

The offsides are getting ridiculous.

**ISUAgronomist** · 10-22-2011, 09:43 PM

My take on the Defense comes directly from CPR after the game:

"A&M had WR's that could have started on our D-line today"

Not sure if he was going for hyperbole but that's what he said.

**Tre4ISU** · 10-22-2011, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by DrClone

You can't be serious - I'm no expert but TAM had holes to run through most of the day. Overall at times our D played decent but our offense has to score and help out our D.

Not really, they didn't. We missed tackles and those two backs made plays. I believe it was Bruns who said it after the game that those two made a lot of plays when nothing was there. Perhaps fantastic wasn't the right word but they weren't the major liability in terms of stopping the running game.