Multiple instances of bad defense last night. Perhaps someone with more football knowledge can better explain what's going on here. Please keep in mind there were things we did well, but I feel there were a lot of miscues that can be easily cleaned up with proper coaching. But this is super concerning. I've been accused of being a sunshine pumper, so I hope that lends credibility to the amount of concern there should be over our defensive performance.

Example #1.


Disguised pressure look. Looks like we could be bringing up to 7, you don't know who is coming. Interesting concept, but BG's oline handles it easily and the pocket holds beautifully. But #14 and #1 run into each other in coverage and let their best player, #0, go scot-free on a crosser.

Example #2.


Going to be difficult to stop outside runs when #18 so willingly breaks contain.

Example #3.


The first play out of halftime. #26 and #0 let #0 run a corner route scot-free. They just let him go. This looks like we don't understand zone responsibilities. Honestly we look like Florida's #12 from last week. Lost.

Example #4.


#14 again. Giving way too much cushion in zone and let #0 open yet again. I'm starting to see why Elko was so frustrated after the game.

Example #5.


There were multiple instances of the DLine not reading screen. They run right past the lineman and don't double back. This is high school level stuff.

Example #6. No hustle.


Honestly this reverse is run to perfection. We bite on the lineman blocking down and the QB lays the perfect block. My issue is #8, once he sees the reverse, he jogs after the play and watches #16 score. He takes even a remotely decent angle of pursuit, he could have possibly made the tackle.

Example #7.


We are so lucky this wasn't a touchdown. We all know #0 is the best player on the team, yet we AGAIN let him run by. He was completely forgotten in the endzone. EVERYBODY bit on the run, and didn't see #0. It's like he was a ghost.

Example #8.


Guess who is open again? Yep, #0. With a good throw, he scores here. Don't know what happened with the QB, it's not like we had generated any pressure.

I believe Elko is working on these things and calling them out in film today. Bowling Green is a good football team, and I believe they are better than Florida. But we better come up with some answers in the secondary quickly. Most of the issues seem to be in zone coverage.

Example 1 is almost an illegal pick imo. Our corner was covering him but got blocked by our guys.

Logos Stick said:

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Example 1 is almost an illegal pick imo. Our corner was covering him but got blocked by our guys.

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The other crosser was already covered. Bryce Anderson just stood there and covered no one.

Play 1 we bring 5. Looks like Bryce was a spy and got in the way of Thomas when BG crossed.

Play 2 Scooby broke for the line a filled the gap causing the RB to bounce out. The DE lost contain on an interior spin move. Makes me wonder if he wasn't assigned to contain

Play 3 appears to be a coverage issue. Not sure if Lee was supposed to take the TE or if the outside CB was.

I don't see a major issue with play 4. Thomas could have broken a little earlier but wasn't atrocious.

Play 6 was on Scooby and Lee. Lee went after the blocker and didnt really make a play on the runner

Play 7 was a trick play and Jones recovered quickly and it would have taken a great throw to complete it. Not likely on that kind of play.

Play 8 was a zone play and a mismatch.

Get over it. We won. What a sad use of your time on a Sunday.

On 7, it did trick us but I think we did ok and pressured their back to throw sooner than he wanted.

Johnny Boyziel 2 said:

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Get over it. We won. What a sad use of your time on a Sunday.

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How I choose to spend my time is my prerogative. I enjoy looking at stuff like this. Are we not allowed to have thoughtful football discussions on the Texas A&M Football board?

Johnny Boyziel 2 said:

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Get over it. We won. What a sad use of your time on a Sunday.

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I enjoy a little actual football discussion around here instead of the usual threads with people just complaining and adding no value to this board.

On example 8, we were really fortunate the pass was so overthrown.
I was so happy #3 Radcliff got the INT, but at the same time I was wondering why the heck he was 6-7 yards deep in the end zone, with no Bowling Green player anywhere near him.

Biggest issue I see is we have a DC that doesn't appear to have a great grasp of assignment football. He was a bad hire, and if Elko waits too long to define his tenure, he will eventually define Elko's.

You would think A&M coaches and players would have been ready against #0. Pathetic.

AggieTrainer said:

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Biggest issue I see is we have a DC that doesn't appear to have a great grasp of assignment football. He was a bad hire, and if Elko waits too long to define his tenure, he will eventually define Elko's.

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Not trying to contradict you, but what indicates that this is a Bateman issue and not a player issue?

I see a lot from our players that makes me question whether they are playing their assignments, but maybe there is more that I don't see that indicates that this is in fact a coaching issue.

Anyone in the film room today want to confirm Elko reviewed all seven???

Johnny Boyziel 2 said:

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Get over it. We won. What a sad use of your time on a Sunday.

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Yet if we lose, this Poster says will say they can't understand what happened.

SABUILDERAG said:

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AggieTrainer said:

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Biggest issue I see is we have a DC that doesn't appear to have a great grasp of assignment football. He was a bad hire, and if Elko waits too long to define his tenure, he will eventually define Elko's.

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Not trying to contradict you, but what indicates that this is a Bateman issue and not a player issue?

I see a lot from our players that makes me question whether they are playing their assignments, but maybe there is more that I don't see that indicates that this is in fact a coaching issue.

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Repeatability. If it happens once, I'm fine putting it on the player. This year it's typically happening over and over again. That's a lack of teaching, recognition, awareness, design, preparation, positioning, or evaluation. Whatever it is, it goes back to the DC.

on the reverse TD...

I guess the lone defender...didn't know he was the lone defender

can't take on the blocker when there is no one to tackle the ballcarrier

W said:

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on the reverse TD...

I guess the lone defender...didn't know he was the lone defender

can't take on the blocker when there is no one to tackle the ballcarrier

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I could definitely see that.

I actually enjoy this more than the constant complaining. if you don't like an actual football discussion, don't read it and go back to complaining about the other 10 things on this board.

#8 was the most egregious followed by #7.

Any decent QB should have made that throw, he sailed that by 5 feet over the receiver's head. Why the defensive backs were so far in the endzone and leaving the 5 yard area uncovered is mind boggling. I don't know if this is coaching or players but this is the easiest throw he had all game.

#7 was bad because you can't allow the receiver to have a free run into the corner. If the QB pulled it back and made a simple throw into the corner would have been an easy TD.

Semi rough day for the defense.

At the end of the day, we put a ton of stuff on film that can be exploited. At the same time, we played a disciplined and experienced team and put a lot on film for our coaches to fix that likely wasn't showing up in practices and scrimmages. Not sure why so many are crapping all over the defense. Up until this game, defense has been rather consistent and pretty decent, though against some bad offenses.

My main worries..

1. D-Line not getting pressure. This in an Elko staple. They play run assignments. I don't think Myles Garrett would have had more than 5-6 sacks in an Elko defense. And so far this year, the right edge of the defense is bad at keeping contain when run fitting has been the exclusive focus. Needs to be fixed FAST.

2. Nickel. Losing Chapelle hurt a lot. Not much experience filling in and having to cover what's usually the shiftiest option. Prone to missed assignments. Also needs to get fixed fast as competition is about to ramp up.

I don't understand the sky is falling posts. The D-line is experienced, but the rest is very young / inexperienced outside of WIll Lee who is likely still learning the new system. I don't mind getting some growing pains out of the way against a team like that in a game we win. But I would like to see them be a lot better Saturday. Most important thing is our starting safety not getting ejected.

Medaggie said:

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#8 was the most egregious followed by #7.

Any decent QB should have made that throw, he sailed that by 5 feet over the receiver's head. Why the defensive backs were so far in the endzone and leaving the 5 yard area uncovered is mind boggling. I don't know if this is coaching or players but this is the easiest throw he had all game.

#7 was bad because you can't allow the receiver to have a free run into the corner. If the QB pulled it back and made a simple throw into the corner would have been an easy TD.

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You call that simple, but we had a free runner of the edge barreling down. To get it off that quick, he would have had to throw without getting set.

That was actually one of the few examples of us getting pressure and forcing the play to break down. There was one option of success, and our pressure on the QB forced the play to take too long and that option closed.

Against BG, you can get away with this. Against a better team with a better O-Line and QB, those are easy Tds.

If we did this against a Ga or bama, I would have said the defense played well. But if you have these mistakes against marginal teams, the good teams will have a hayday moving the ball.

vander54 said:

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Play 3 appears to be a coverage issue. Not sure if Lee was supposed to take the TE or if the outside CB was.

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super insightful

It's very concerning that we're having coaching issues on defense after hiring a defensive HC. I wonder if Elko is helping coordinate the defense. He should be.