How do the Clones get better at Defense?

[MontyBurns]

Steel OU's players.

Let's steal USC's instead. It will be less obvious since they can keep the same uniforms.

[CyinCo]

Ah, sanity.



Bingo. Cornerback saw a complete revolution last offseason, safety should see a similar influx of talent.

To get better?

1. Better safety play
I can't say how many times I saw a safety out of position, or simply sidestepped/circled by a receiver for a big gainer, usually a touchdown. Some of our safeties don't have the agility/quickness needed, perhaps simply having bulked up too much. They struggle with change of direction.

Then there's the fact that without an injured Chris Brown, the defense went from fifth in the conference in pass defense (254 ypg) in '07 to dead last, 276 ypg (before K-State), in '08.

Wrap up with the fact that the safety is the last line of defense, and we need to contain those long touchdowns, no matter who the offensive player got past in the first place.

2. Consistency
Lots of young players, and while they might make big plays, they also make mistakes. Blown coverages, anyone?

3. Strength
Lots of complaints about poor tackling, but many of those young players haven't yet spent an off season in the weight room. It won't solve all of the tackling problems, but it'll help. Of course, another year of coaching and technique work will help as well.

4. More speed at middle linebacker
I'm not sure how this will work, since Jesse Smith will be a senior. He is scrappy, but has his limitations, which the rest of the defense is stretching to cover on passing downs. Derec Schmidgall helps, and it's not as if, with two seniors, you rush out and grab a juco player. Or is it? To me, a player like Mike Marry might offer the best solution, a youngster who can see a lot of action while learning the position.

5. Defensive line play
Some of you think this is the primary problem, but when the quarterback is making completions on a two- or three-step drop, the rush just isn't going to have a chance to get there, even if Jared Allen were at end. First step is to disrupt the wideouts and have some effective downfield coverage, so that you have the quarterback standing in the pocket long enough to sack him.

Frankly, I like Chris Lyle, and he and Rashawn Parker should make an effective senior duo at rush end. Nate Frere is a senior anchor to build around at tackle, Ruempolhamer got valuable experience, and it will help to have Bailey Johnson, Austin Alburtis and Jerrod Black fully healthy. I'm a little worried about the strongside end spot, but I trust that Chizik will take care of it.

If anything, it's encouraging to me that time and again the defense managed to get offenses into third and long. They just couldn't close the deal. Well, guess what the next step in improvement is?

Now, a lot of my optimism about the defense is pending the completion of recruiting, but right now it looks like we have a good start. At least for immediate help, I'd like to see Marry, a couple of defensive ends, a tackle, and another safety or two. But it's happening. Chizik is doing a nice job.

And as an aside, the offense? We finish with 626 total yards, and people are complaining about the offense? That's another place where the young guys will be better. Especially on the offensive line. Which means keeping the ball out of the opposing offense's hands.

I completely agree offense isn't the problem. It is redzone efficiency. We were last in the Big XII (might be second last). We had plenty of opportunities in the redzone but we often walked away without points. We can move the ball well. We just can't finish. I think that is mental, not physical. These guys need to believe they can score on anyone at anytime from the redzone and I really think nerves or something causes them to stop moving the ball in the redzone. We just can't continue to move the ball 80-90 yards and walk away with 3 points or 0 points because we didn't stay focused.

I don't know what to do with the D. I just can't see it getting better next year. I hope they surprise me.

[hoosman]

The most important stage in problem solving is the problem statement. Has Chizik offered an explanation of what is wrong?

The reason I'm wondering is that I don't know if I have access to his media coverage.

[stepha4]

We are automatically better next year because Chris Singleton and Brandon Hunley won't be able there.

[Melvin]

Try This:
Establish an ISU Extension Campus in Texas. Play one game per year in Texas as ISU being the HOME Team.

The Goal is to improve recruiting and clean up the North. I doubt that we could compete with Texas or Oklahoma, but who from the North can.

I think it is going to take this kind of "out of the box" thinking to get the ISU defense up to speed.

[cyclonez7]

Bring back Ellis Hobbs to work out with the secondary, Tim Dobbins to work with the linebackers, and Reggie Hayward to work with the D-Line. These guys need examples to follow.

[MontyBurns]

I think Ellis Hobbs has a better job already. Good idea though.

[Wesley]

How? Practice more on the tackling dummy in the off season.

[ericlambi]

There's a ton of things that could be done and need to be done. One that we actually have a chance at doing is tackling better. We were horrible this year, and it really cost us.

[Aclone]

The most important stage in problem solving is the problem statement. Has Chizik offered an explanation of what is wrong?

In response to the question "How do you get the defense to where you want it to be?", in midseason Chizik said that it would take several successive recruiting classes. Interpret that however you please.

To me, that doesn't mean "respectable", but where he "wants it to be". However, it still suggests (to me) that talent and athleticism is the base issue.