I couldn't believe how weak our Secondary got, under Durkin. And it was almost like "we should be good with a couple of Linebackers". Thank goodness one of those freshmen LB's stepped up. Elko was recruiting Secondary Players before the bowl game was over. It'll take a few recruiting classes to get back to where he had it pre Durkin.

czar_iv said:

---

I don't think anyone thought Durkin was bad; he just wasn't as good as Elko as the DC.

---

I thought he was bad.

czar_iv said:

---

I don't think anyone thought Durkin was bad; he just wasn't as good as Elko as the DC.

---

If you have 5 *'s who are actually 1st round picks, and your best scheme is to have them on the bench when it matters…

You're an idiot!!! Durkin and his 3 man front was beyond dumb!

DJ Durkin's first season in 2022 was similar to John Chavis' first season in 2015 because both defenses allowed more rushing yards than passing yards per game but managed to finish 28th or betting in scoring defense.

2015: 4th in pass defense (166.3 passing yards allowed per game), 107th in run defense (213.7 rushing yards allowed per game), 51st in total defense (380.0 total yards allowed per game) and 28th in scoring defense (22.00 points allowed per game).

2022: 1st in pass defense (156.2 passing yards allowed per game), 124th in run defense (208.8 rushing yards allowed per game), 54th in total defense (365.0 total yards allowed per game) and 25th in scoring defense (21.17 points allowed per game.

2023: Unlike Chavis, Durkin's run defense improved dramatically from 124th (208.8 rushing yards allowed per game) to 13th (108.8 rushing yards allowed per game) in his second year. His pass defense dropped to 37th (207.4 passing yards allowed per game). The scoring defense slipped from 25th (21.17 points allowed per game) to 34th (22.8 points allowed per game) because we allowed 5 defensive or special teams touchdowns (one each to Miami, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi State), and one safety to Alabama for a combined 37 non-offensive opposing points.

Durkin's defense held Auburn to 3 (7 more from fumble return) points, Arkansas to 15 (7 more from pick-6) points, South Carolina to 17 points, and Mississippi State to 3 (7 more from kickoff return) points. Also, his defense held Alabama to 24 (2 more from safety) points and Tennessee to 13 (7 more from punt return) points to keep us competitive from start to finish in those losses. However, Durkin's defense allowed 41 (7 more from punt return) points to Miami, 38 points to Ole Miss, and 42 points to LSU.

In summary, DJ Durkin refused to adjust his scheme to the talent of our roster that would maximize our defensive strengths. I am glad Jay Bateman's defense has been great so far, allowing just 47 points across 3 SEC games for an average of just 15.67 points allowed per SEC game.

We should gash his 3 man front

It's because he would stop blitzing. It would drive me insane. Especially since the corner position was really bad. Deberry lol

Rushing 3 down linemen when you just picked up 6-10 4/5* d-linemen in your previous recruiting cycle is peak dumbass.

Durkin was terrible to average on his best day.

His Ds at aTm did OK vs. USC and Pig, but against better competition never held up well, could not control a game or close a game, much less in a game.

Couldn't stop App. State. Couldn't stop Ole Miss in Oxford and gave up that 4Q lead on very few plays in very little time. TO #s were down.

Has a unit with a deep and talented DL but thin at LB and he chooses to go 3-2-6.

Overall DB play was poor to abysmal.

Durkin is the DC that gave up FOUR HUNDRED rushing yards to Ole Miss at Kyle Field. That is a fireable offense, he should not have survived that either in-season or after the season. Elko could scheme up a HS team to not give up 400 yards rushing to that Ole Miss team.

AgLA06 said:

---

Yep. "Durkin was bad" is one of tells of a fan that thinks they know football.

---

"3rd and Durkin" didn't make itself up. Tell me you know football while ignoring the leads we blew in every loss due to his chokes.

Bad Poster said:

---

czar_iv said:

---

I don't think anyone thought Durkin was bad; he just wasn't as good as Elko as the DC.

---

I thought he was bad.

---

To be fair you are a bad poster so should we care about your opinion?

I've seen way to many games with Durkin as HC or DC.

His DB's never turn to look for the ball, so it's easy to get PI calls

And as stated earlier never makes in game adjustments

And that smirk/smile is always there. I have friends that call him Smirkin' Durkin lol

Emilio Fantastico said:

---

Onionman said:

---

jr15aggie said:

---

We had an insane amount of 5* talent on the D-line and we were thin at LB... so of course he ran 3 man fronts a majority of the time.

---

He refused to adjust to our roster of talent. Exposing the team to our weakness while not exploiting our strength.

---

We had a lack of talent and depth in the secondary last year and every team with a competent passing attack lit us up but he rarely tried to use our DL talent to crank up the pressure on the QB.

---

This statement is absurd. We led the league in sacks last year. How can you possibly say he didn't send pressure? In fact, after the Miami game, you could say we sent pressure too often which exposed our weak secondary in man-to-man situations (see LSU and Ole Miss games).

I'm no Durkin apologist and didn't like the 3-man front either, but your statement is just false.

Onionman said:

---

People always argued with me on here when I would rip Urkin and beg for a new D coach. They would point to the D not being that bad.

But these people simply don't understand football. Urkin wasted incredible talent here. He made the defense about as bad as it could be, given all the talent.

Still can't get over the fact the people on here don't even think the D was bad against LSU last year and wanted Urkin to stay. LSU scored 6 TDs on 8 possessions (excl end of half and game kneel downs). Are you freakin kidding me?

---

We know you don't understand football.

During the game this weekend when the score was still close it looked like DJ called a 4-1 dime where the safileties were deep and the lb walked up on the line and blitzed. The qb made an easy throw to the TE seem route that went for 20 yards. I just laughed and was glad to be done with that stupidity.

For what the offense left the defense holding week after week, his unit did OK.

Jarrin' Jay said:

---

Durkin was terrible to average on his best day.

Durkin is the DC that gave up FOUR HUNDRED rushing yards to Ole Miss at Kyle Field. That is a fireable offense, he should not have survived that either in-season or after the season. Elko could scheme up a HS team to not give up 400 yards rushing to that Ole Miss team.

---

Conner Weigman's first start 28-44, 338 yds passing, 4 TD's. No turnovers, 480 Total Yards.
Durkins Defense gave up 400 yds Rushing, 530 Total. 28-31 Luogi credits that loss to Weigman.

DJ has moved more than any coach ever. And not always for a promotion/better gig.