Defense the topic now for all the right reasons

[bg1984]

I added up the total points this defense surrendered from the first 4 FBS opponents they faced which was 211. Then I added up the last 4 they faced and it was 84!

I think it's safe to say we all want to see that kind of improvement as the season progresses. Given the rash of injuries, the new coaching staff and the new system, I'm ecstatic to be one win away from returning to Detroit. For the first time this season I'm feeling confident, because I now have confidence in this defense. Hats off to the coaching staff and the players!

Here is a great take from John Wagner that sums up this season up to this point.

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/44 ... _id=878183" target="_blank

We all expected the Falcons to be where they are at this point in the season, but none of us could have predicted HOW this team has gotten here.

One thing is for sure: It has NOT been boring!

[jpfalcon09]

It's also helped that the team is playing within the conference where some offenses have a lot to be desired. Three of the four out of conference games were against good offenses that took advantage of some talent disparities and size differences. The biggest improvements have come in pass coverages and open field tackling though which were the biggest holes early on. Getting healthy has helped a lot too.

[Rollo83]

Don't get me wrong, I think the defense has improved from the beginning of the year. Good for them. They took some big time hits early.

However, we also have been playing lately against teams with very weak offenses. Akron, Ohio, Buffalo...and even Western Michigan aren't exactly offensive juggernauts. I think Toledo and Ball State will be better tests of where this defense is at. Kent State had a back-up QB come in against the Rockets and throw the ball effectively.
Of course the weather in November can be a friend of defenses. We saw that this week. MAC championship game and bowl game on a clean field will also be a test for this defense.

I also wonder what this defense will be like next year without the likes of Martin, Lynch, Ward, Sutton, Jude, Senn, Thomas, Walker, and Montgomery? Yikes!

[Flipper]

WMU has a better offense right now than anyone left on the schedule....of course they hung 26 on us.

Nothing against Nate Locke...I think he's going to be a good player for us inside the next few years, but the key to the defensive improvement has largely been the return of Lynch and the decision to move Maritin inside while giving more playing time to James Sanford at OLB. Our LB's are making a lot of plays right now.

Getting Ward back and the quick maturation of Johnson has helped solidify the secondary, but I think the play of the LB's has been the key.

[kdog27]

Weak offenses or not they are playing much better. They were historically bad the first month. They have come along way and deserve some credit for it.

Toledo has come out and got big leads on us the last 2 years, can't remember back further than that. Would be nice to hold them in check and have a lead on them in the first half. But first BEAT KENT.

[MarkL]

Here's the way I evaluate the Akron game. I pointed out in my preview page that in Pohl's 6 starts, Akron turned the ball over 7 times (4 of which were against Marshall). Pohl returned against us and we forced 5 turnovers. That means of Pohl's 7 starts, nearly half of the team's turnovers were against us.

They have a word for that kind of performance. Dominance.

[MarkL]

After the UMass game I had the following to say about the defense ...

Scheme is definitely changed. I couldn't for the life of me tell what our scheme was week one. If I could chart it out when WKU was on offense and we were on defense ...


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Today, there was significant improvement to more like ...



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So yeah ... improvement ... but you can see where the problem remains clearly in my chart up here. Need more and I believe you'll see a whole lot more in the future instead of

OK, I've had my fun for the day

After the Akron game, I really have to compliment our D. They have improved tremendously as conference play has gone on, and we are seeing a young star in Nick Johnson. So I think I now need to rechart our defense:



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Now keep up the improvement and let's go take care of Kent!