We didn't generate a single defensive stop on Saturday, it was probably the worst performance I've ever seen including the 2018 Pitt/GT games because this time we were able to score and still couldn't stop them.

It was abundantly apparent how the lack of practice time and 4th string safeties made it almost impossible for us to win a battle. However the schematic changes Hamilton has made seem to be really doing our guys a disservice.

The run defense was bad in the first 2 games, and horrid against UNC but that shouldn't be a surprise. We're no longer running a 1 gap defense and instead are asking our undersized DTs to eat space and our linebackers to flow sideline to sideline. While this is great for NFL talent, it's pretty awful for this season's results.

Dax is too slow and not physical enough to fight off blockers. Ashby is slow, but when he blitzes he looks like last years player, only problem is he never blitzes anymore. Pollard is a really good pass rusher but is getting eaten alive by double teams on running plays because he's not shooting gaps. The DE's have been decent, but Conner is basically having to play 3 positions (nickel, linebacker, SS) because the backup safeties aren't ready. Jenkins/Matheny are basically playing on instinct, and we desperately need Deablo to stop the run.

The other aspect of his D is the abundance of zone coverage. That's great against running QBs, but so far we haven't had to deal with that because offenses are able to do whatever they want. I don't think the corners are bad, Waller looked good and Taylor/Murray are serviceable. However we can't play 1 high because the safeties are too slow so that eliminates the ability for us to play press man outside of Waller which is why UNC was able to run 5 yard outs at will.

IMO the book is out on this defense, and unless we somehow can do conditioning while getting all our safeties back it will be a long season of shoot-outs. One thing that might help is if we dialed up a lot more zone blitzes during 1st and 2nd down. We need to create chaos for the offensive line and play to our LBs strengths, Tisdale is the only guy who can flow but his tackling has been bad (lack of practice). We have guys on the team that we know for a fact are very talented, Conner/Ashby/Reed/Waller/Deablo are all-ACC caliber players when playing to their strengths.
[Post edited by soflahokie at 10/12/2020 12:28PM]