Twoo new Offensive packages for the Falcons

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:26 pm

sbrown wrote:I don't know that much about defensive schemes, but it seems to me that one of the big things BG lacks is the maniacal ball hawking Chris Haneline linebacker that has a nose for the ball and plays sideline to sideline. I thought TP was going to be that guy but I feel like he really tailed off last year. The DB's seem to be excllent tacklers, but you still need that LB or DE playmaker. If we had 'that guy' I think the rest of the team would rally around him and pick their game up. Place kicking and defensive front 7 will determine how far this team goes this year.

The Fabulous Teddy P has been slowed by an injury since early in the Wisky game. His return to health will certainly help. I have very high hopes for White and Winovich, but neither has distinguished himself to this point.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:27 pm

sbrown wrote:Place kicking and defensive front 7 will determine how far this team goes this year.

Man I hope this isn't the case. I fear you may be right though. Here's to seeing marked improvement in both facets against Boise

sbrown · Post by **sbrown** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:38 pm

What do the players think of Lovett? What is he doing different from Beckman? I have trouble believing the whole problem is the players - we returned a lot of DL and LB's from last year. Seems like these are experienced guys and NONE of them have improved their game from last year. That says poor coaching to me.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:43 pm

FalconFanKM wrote:I would like to know what they are so when I finally see them I won't freak out....

Overall, I would recommend relaxing...

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 1:54 pm

sbrown wrote:What do the players think of Lovett? What is he doing different from Beckman? I have trouble believing the whole problem is the players - we returned a lot of DL and LB's from last year. Seems like these are experienced guys and NONE of them have improved their game from last year. That says poor coaching to me.

Well to tell you the truth , I'm not sure on Lovett yet. What he schemed for the D vs Wisky was pitiful beyond belief. Even the tv commentors were wondering why we were playing Wisky's O-line straight up like OSU or Michigan would. We did no stunting on the d-line to my knowlege and that was a small part of our horrid run defense woes. The simplification of the defense seemed to do little to nothing against Wisky. Ball St. was not much better. You have stunt with your d-line when you have guys that are 275lbs going up against 320lb guys. We tried to play straight up like we were a typical B10 defense and we got creamed. That won't work at this juncture. We'll see how our defense looks the first series or two vs Boise St to see if Lovett has made any logical defensive scheme changes.

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:10 pm

falconboy wrote:Ball St. was not much better.

Were you there FB? I mean that's the only way you could really know if the defense played better. I wish I knew you were in Muncie, I would have loved to have met you. Oh well, Temple game maybe.

tbrow · Post by **tbrow** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:11 pm

Hypothetical question...

Who is the undisputed star of our defense?

Answer...

We don't have one, and that hurts. After two games, the only real standout player I've seen has been a freshman CB (with a pair of interceptions).

Its true, we need a ball-hawking LB or DE. Where is our "impact player"? Where is the Burkes, Newson, Crossley, Haneline of years' past? In my opinion, our defense doesn't have a single player who will cause opposing offensive cordinators to adjust their game plans.[/i]

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:17 pm

tbrow wrote:Its true, we need a ball-hawking LB or DE.

I expected that to be Piepkow, and it still may be, but getting hurt in the Wisky game is a tough way to "hit the ground running". Not to pin anything on him unnecessarily, but as a senior and the anchor of the LB corps, I'd like to see him pick that group up and make those around him better, while raising his own game, too.

(Come to think of it, I don't remember hearing exactly what his injury at Wisky was, and, since I'm too lazy to look up the participation chart, did he play at Ball State?)

BGSUFootballFan · Post by **BGSUFootballFan** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:18 pm

Antonio Smith might become our playmaker on D, but he only has 1int not 2. I think he could be something great, but we may never find out b/c even Ball St can gash us with runs up the middle. When i was at the game and the BSU RB got a big gain up the middle i heard a BG fan say "now all of the sudden this kid is Calhoun" he said it sarcastically. kind of like we can make any decent RB look like a star. no more excuses run D has to get profoundly better, no matter what it takes to do that (other than completely compromising the pass D).

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:36 pm

UK Peregrine wrote:
falconboy wrote:Ball St. was not much better.
Were you there FB? I mean that's the only way you could really know if the defense played better. I wish I knew you were in Muncie, I would have loved to have met you. Oh well, Temple game maybe.

Not from what I could gather listening to the radio broadcast. I sure wish I could've seen the game live to really gage whate our defense did. But from what I heard from radio, we had major breakdowns on run D and passing D. We were just able to muster up defensive stops at the very end. Needless to say I nearly choked from holding my breathe the whole 2nd half.

sbrown · Post by **sbrown** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:41 pm

One of the many things I love about Greg Brandon is that he is a no BS - call'em as I see'im kind of guy. Somebody isn't giving 100% and GB will say so in the press. He passes out criticism as well as praise. I haven't heard either criticism or a vote of confidence or even a request for patience for the D from him. Is Lovett his boy or not? Would he be ballsy enough to switch around some coaching responsibilities on the defensive side in mid-season? Will he continue to let the D flounder as it is now? Wisconsin rolled up huge rushing numbers week one and Joey Lynch had what the Ball State head coach is calling 'his break out game as a QB' last week. I will almost always like BG's chances in a high scoring game but it puts pressure on the O if they feel like they HAVE to score 40 points a game to win. Piepkow has not shown me a lot since the beginning of last season so I don't buy the playing with injuries excuse.

BelieveNBG · Post by **BelieveNBG** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:56 pm

and Joey Lynch had what the Ball State head coach is calling 'his break out game as a QB' last week.

...and all those breakout numbers came against the true freshman. These are the types of things that you have to expect from a guy in his first 2 games of collegiate experiance and that's the bad news. The good news is that he will get better and so will the defense. As one poster said, this is similar to the debacle at UT last year and they were worse, giving up 63 points in the first two games. In the end, they won the MAC. The defense will be o.k. It was quite a task for our team with all of the changes, not to mention coaching changes, to start out against a B10 foe. They didn't get a chance to grow and learn before being thrown in the fire. Against Ball State, they were banged up mentally and physically, while having to defend 4 turnovers. They will be better, but I then again, I AM A BELIEVER!!!

GO BG!!!

sbrown · Post by **sbrown** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:19 pm

I am not blaming the DB's at all for Ball State's passing prowess. My point was that Lynch had all the time he needed in the pocket to work the vertical passing game. He also had a successful running game to mix things up. You can't rely on safety blitzes as your staple pass rushing and expect to win and you can't rely on your safeties to stop the run. I know that the smurfs have started slow this year but look at Tuesday's game from their perspective. Your first home game - great field position on all kickoffs (as long as Timchenko continues to kickoff) - a defense that can't stop either run or pass - the opportunity for huge momentum swings when you hold on 4th down because your opponent can't kick field goals. I think the key to the game will be who steps up - Zabransky or the BGSU front 7.

BelieveNBG · Post by **BelieveNBG** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:28 pm

AGREED!!! I believe you are dead on...

I am not blaming the DB's at all for Ball State's passing prowess. My point was that Lynch had all the time he needed in the pocket to work the vertical passing game. He also had a successful running game to mix things up. You can't rely on safety blitzes as your staple pass rushing and expect to win and you can't rely on your safeties to stop the run. I know that the smurfs have started slow this year but look at Tuesday's game from their perspective. Your first home game - great field position on all kickoffs (as long as Timchenko continues to kickoff) - a defense that can't stop either run or pass - the opportunity for huge momentum swings when you hold on 4th down because your opponent can't kick field goals. I think the key to the game will be who steps up - Zabransky or the BGSU front 7.

sbrown · Post by **sbrown** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:44 pm

I am a believer too. I think Brandon is too good to sit back and let things continue as they are. I have faith in his coaching ability, his ability to motivate, and the character of his players. I think he will start to take a more active role in the defense and I think they will step up on the road and find a way to win. Smith and Perry are all-MAC DB's in the making - Mayberry is terrific. Loud stadiums don't phase this team. Pope is getting healthier every day. Someone like Thaler or Brad Williams or Burkes is going to get fired up and start smackin people around. If the defense can just get some swagger....