The miscues are just killing us!

[Rollo83]

One simple play that was telling for me was first down from the 1-yard line for EMU after the botched center snap by BG. They are going to run the ball...we know they are going to run the ball...we have 8 or 9 men in the box...they run the ball off tackle...and get three yards on first down!

Our defenders grab guys around the shoulders and try to make tackles. Tehri Rbs and QB were breaking those tackle attempts. Damn, go low on some guys and tie their ankles together...that stops them everytime.

I agree...piss poor tackling fundamentals.

[60yearsofsicsic]

I said this last week and was told I was over critical, but I will say it again this team can not tackle. I seems they were taught to strip the ball and then try and tackle 10 yards done the field. The Haeline injury hurts yes, but it looks like they have never done a tackling drill. I will say the offense could do pretty much whatever it wanted. That being said if this team plays RU and Ray Rice they might give him the ball 40 times and he might set a NCAA record for yard in a Bowl Game and I dont think that it a strech. The "D" better get alot better becuase Turner Gill is going to run the ball down our throats next week.

[Schadenfreude]

I don't think it's technique or fundamentals. Not based on what I saw last night.

I just think we are undersized. Injuries have really ripped apart our front seven. They are playing with heart, but they just aren't that big.

And that Eagle back -- he's small, shifty and low to the ground. He wasn't easy to tackle.

[hammb]

It is technique & fundamentals. It's the same crap we've had for the past 5 years. We don't tackle well because so few of our guys seem to have a clue on how to do it. Mahone looked damn good at it last night, so at least he knows what he's doing.

Most of the time though our guys either lower their shoulders and go for a sportscenter hit, or worse, they are constantly trying to rip at the ball and not trying to tackle the ball carrier.

It's the same old crap all over again. It doesn't matter who is DC, and the players have changed too, obviously. Again & again this team has no clue how to properly tackle and it kills us. Yes, we're undersized, but you can still be a good tackler if you're undersized. You must have the proper technique down pat to overcome that lack of size. We combine being undersized with horrid fundamentals. You cannot coach size, but you can sure as hell coach the fundamentals. We haven't been doing that for the last 5 years. We play undisciplined, poor fundamental football. I expect it from this coaching staff, but it's a shame that we consistently underperform our talent level.

[Schadenfreude]

It is technique & fundamentals. It's the same crap we've had for the past 5 years.

I'm surprised it took so long for that post.

I see third stringers and never-were stringers out there, playing their hearts out.

[hammb]

It is technique & fundamentals. It's the same crap we've had for the past 5 years.

I'm surprised it took so long for that post.

I see third stringers and never-were stringers out there, playing their hearts out.

Playing your heart out is worthless if you cannot even show some semblance of the basics of the game. It doesn't take the talent of a starter to know the proper way to tackle. It's an organizational problem from top to bottom on the depth chart and it's been a problem for a long time. It's absolutely ridiculous to see kids trying to rip the ball out of the hands of the RB while the guy gains an additional 3 yards at the division 1 level. It is painfully clear that we are not running tackling drills, or they're ineffective at getting the point across. Either way it's something that should be addressed in the offseason, and it's something that should've been addressed for the past 3-4 offseasons.

It's pretty much inexcusable as far as I'm concerned.

[bgsufalcon24]

It is technique & fundamentals. It's the same crap we've had for the past 5 years.

I'm surprised it took so long for that post.

I see third stringers and never-were stringers out there, playing their hearts out.

Playing your heart out is worthless if you cannot even show some semblance of the basics of the game. It doesn't take the talent of a starter to know the proper way to tackle. It's an organizational problem from top to bottom on the depth chart and it's been a problem for a long time. It's absolutely ridiculous to see kids trying to rip the ball out of the hands of the RB while the guy gains an additional 3 yards at the division 1 level. It is painfully clear that we are not running tackling drills, or they're ineffective at getting the point across. Either way it's something that should be addressed in the offseason, and it's something that should've been addressed for the past 3-4 offseasons.

It's pretty much inexcusable as far as I'm concerned.

Of course, with the offense we have, who needs defense?

[San Fran Falcon]

Not to sound cliche, well I know I will.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

[bgsufalcon24]

Not to sound cliche, well I know I will.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

Not in the MAC they don't. The team with the best offense in the league generally wins the conference. Just look at Miami in 2003, or Central Michigan last year. If defense was so important, Ohio would've beaten CMU last year.

[San Fran Falcon]

Not to sound cliche, well I know I will.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

Not in the MAC they don't. The team with the best offense in the league generally wins the conference. Just look at Miami in 2003, or Central Michigan last year. If defense was so important, Ohio would've beaten CMU last year.

Good point. I was just being a "tool" with my quote. But, you're correct. Plus, it is fun watching our offense when they're firing on all cylinders. Just wish we didn't have to rely on 30+ points a game.

[hammb]

A good defense still would win championships in the MAC, but there are very rarely any good defenses in the conference. Those that look statistically decent are usually smoke & mirrors covered up by a ball control offense that keeps the defense off the field (like ours last year).

I don't expect a legitimately stout defense in the MAC...it's tough to recruit the type of players to get there. All I ask is for some fundamental tackling...that can make up for the lack of athleticism on that side of the ball.

[Falconfreak90]

I agree on both sides...yes, we've had some big time injuries on the D but the tackling simply needs to improve. And BG isn't the only guilty party out there. Watching games yesterday, I feel tackling is a lost art...nobody seems to be teaching that anymore.

[jpfalcon09]

Last time I checked everyone gets their drive from their legs. Hitting someone high only leaves you open to get drove down or to slip off them. I think the problem lies in most of these players trying to show their strength and what not in trying to throw a guy down from his shoulders. It just simply doesn't work. Lord knows if I was the DC for this team, I'd be sure to drill in this into the heads of all the players at every practice. It shouldn't take 6-7 defenders to bring down one guy, it's just embarrassing. Sooner or later, this problem is going to lead to some big time broken tackles and some long gains against us before the season is over.

[kdog27]

Not to sound cliche, well I know I will.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

Not in the MAC they don't. The team with the best offense in the league generally wins the conference. Just look at Miami in 2003, or Central Michigan last year. If defense was so important, Ohio would've beaten CMU last year.

Miami's defense in 2003 was also pretty good. A major reason why we were not close to beating them in either contest.

[Falconfreak90]

Our defenders grab guys around the shoulders and try to make tackles. Tehri Rbs and QB were breaking those tackle attempts. Damn, go low on some guys and tie their ankles together...that stops them everytime.

AMEN. WRAP THE LEGS & ANKLES! THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN ANYMORE!!!

BEAT BUFFALO