How do the Clones get better at Defense?

**Shinyhappyclone** · 11-22-2008, 10:13 PM

Correction: we need big, strong dbacks, preferably over 6' tall, but we need to COACH THEM TO COVER. We could have Deion Sanders Clones at every position, and about the only difference we would have with our current scheme is we might tackle the reciever with a few less YAC's.
It is like coaching O-line men nuances....the DB's HAVE to knock recievers off their routes and muscle them as much as the referees will let them depending on the game and the particular referreeing crew. Smash them up under the chin at the line of scrimmage....its football, not volleyball. I get so sick of watching other teams like OU and NU do this to us year after year.....of course, they get the advantage of subliminal referee bias's.

Nate at Noseguard gave an admirable effort, but I watched him at the end of too many games not even be able to raise his arms up. He could have won the Colorado game with just an ounce more juice and energy...he was in position to make sacks and plays, just couldn't.
I refuse to believe it is all talent though....yes maybe against Mizzou(presently) and Okie state, but all those other teams could have been certainly played more solidly against by our men. We all know that.
After one year as head coach, you knew what Stoops was. I can't remember Ferentz's second year, but you knew things were changing. Lord, I think I have typed this exact same bulletin board message about 4 times during MacCarney's tenure.

**kingcy** · 11-22-2008, 10:18 PM

Steel OU's players.

**4429 mcc** · 11-22-2008, 10:31 PM

I'm glad this season is over but I dont see next years D players/coaching being any better. We better have a no fail offense b/c I dont see this d changing much.

**Wesley** · 11-22-2008, 11:06 PM

Sieves R Us. I think the play in the red zone by the defense was normally pretty pathetic. They always scored touchdowns.

**ISUAlum2002** · 11-22-2008, 11:10 PM

Bigger and faster d-linemen. Faster and higher football IQ safeties.

Recruit, recruit, recruit.....and then recruit some more.

**CycloneWarrior** · 11-22-2008, 11:46 PM

we clone Leonard Johnson 10 times and there's the amazing defense. Hahaha

**Wesley** · 11-22-2008, 11:51 PM

Looks like we go juco to find some serious defensive end talent that is ready to play tough.

**Tank** · 11-22-2008, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

The answer is the same as it's been for the last 30 years: talent on the D-Line

Exactly! Bud Ryan's belief that a defense must have a strong D-Line and that is where it all begins. The D-Line must get penetration on passing plays and must plug holes on running plays. If this doesn't happen, then they only way to counter the lack of a D-Line is to blitz more and to bring the safeties up to help with the run. When either of those happen, that's when the opposing team hits you with a big play.

A team's leading tackler should never be a safety and that is where ISU in the past has been.

**Wesley** · 11-23-2008, 12:07 AM

Last year our leading tackler was a linebacker instead of James Smith. Bowens in 07 and 06; Dobbins linebacker in 05, and Nik Moser in 04 and Billups in 03.

**Clonefan94** · 11-23-2008, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

I think they need enough speed to play tighter on the receivers. Playing so far off, the receiver has the catch, has turned upfield, and gained a full head of steam by the time our guys enter the picture on the screen; i.e. we're not close to them.

It'll come up. Let's get it in there early. The DL doesn't get any pressure, so our secondary is exposed far too easily. They have to cover too long, especially for their ability.

The safeties have no idea where to be.

Sorry, I read this and replied. Do you guys watch our games? Our corners were up, right on the line on almost every play I saw tonight. Well within 4 or 5 yards. I'm not saying playing back is the answer, but please, watch a game before you decide what our defense is doing wrong.

**CycloneErik** · 11-23-2008, 05:02 AM

Originally Posted by Clonefan94

Sorry, I read this and replied. Do you guys watch our games? Our corners were up, right on the line on almost every play I saw tonight. Well within 4 or 5 yards. I'm not saying playing back is the answer, but please, watch a game before you decide what our defense is doing wrong.

That's fair. I did miss a bunch this year.
From the last two weeks, I've been seeing a huge cushion out there for hook/out routes that our corners are leaving, and the infamous hole in the middle of the field.

**erikbj** · 11-23-2008, 06:39 AM

How about not playing a 4-3 defense all game against a spread offense? I know ISU needs better players - but also when you have LB's matched up against receivers - they are going to get burned everytime.

Since the big 12 is 90% spread offenses - the scheme needs to be looked at.

**isuforlife** · 11-23-2008, 07:25 AM

get speed more speed

**isucy86** · 11-23-2008, 07:26 AM

IMO it next years defense is going to improve 2 things need to happen:

1) We need to learn to cover the pass. I would agree most people that pass coverage starts with a pass rush- but our d-backs aren't close to the opponents receivers in most cases. Especially short or over the middle. I agree with a prior poster that maybe we should adjust our scheme. With all the passing as a result of spread offenses, why not go to a 4-2-5?

2) There better be a bunch of new starters on next years defense. The scary thing is this defense was loaded with junior/senior starters: Taylor(sr), Frere, Tate, Parker, Je. Smith, Garrin, Singleton (sr), Ja. Smith, Hundley (sr). That's 9 of 11 starters this year were juniors & seniors and that doesn't include Bibbs who may have been our best defender until he got hurt.

IMO there are 2 returning starters that played well enough this year that should start next year if they work hard in the off season - that is Frere & L. Johnson.

I think we have the DB's on campus in Johnson, Benton, McDowell, Banks and Bell. Maybe the last couple guys from that list could be converted to safety. I like to see what guys like Land, Linder, Matthews & Z. Sandvig can add.

DL is hard to figure. As a group I thought they underachieved, but I am HOPEFUL the talent is on campus among: Alburtis, Black, Ba. Johnson, Ruempolhamer and McDonough at DT. At DE people have spoke highly of Laing & Maggitt's potential- but we need more bodies at DE and I hope we bring in a couple more JUCO DE's.

I didn't inlcude Jesse Smith with Frere & Leonard above, although he might be the heart & soul of this years defense. He's probably our starting MLB next year- but I do think the staff needs to get him off the field in passing situations. I don't see a strong pipeline at LB & that is why the staff has recruited that position hard. Ferguson might be a solid LB in the future. Bell is a hard guy to figure out. He looked lost in pass coverage and didn't seem to be a good tackler. Not sure if he should be a MLB or can bulk up to be a DE.

IMO the way for ISU to differentiate its program in the Big 12 North is to develop a solid defense.

**CyBobby** · 11-23-2008, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by cyfreddy

I believe it needs to start up front on the line, if we can't get pressure on the quarterback, it does not matter what kind of secondary we have.

You musta watched the Oklahoma game last nite...did ya see Graham Harrell running for his life all nite?

That my boys is how you defeat the spread-offence-passing-only-offence!!

Oklahoma just laid down the blueprint...have a good enough defense line to pressure the opposing quarterback into make a ton of mistakes...

If you want to get better on defence you need a good mobile defence line!!

Gene Chizik needs to bring in some juco defensive linemen...quoting Jack Whitver on kxno radio

Yeah Jack I Agree...quoting cybob