Monte Kiffin says the defense is better than it looks
by Paragon SC on Oct 5, 2011 5:02 AM PDT
in USC Football
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PrintOK, I'll bite on this.
Someone is going to have explain it to me, because I don't know how giving up over 80-points in the past two games makes this defense better than it looks...
USC failed to produce a consistent pass rush against Arizona quarterback Nick Foles, gave up huge chunks of passing yardage in the middle of the field and allowed the Wildcats to double their season rushing average. The Trojans also missed numerous tackles.
"We just have to play better as a group," Kiffin said.
The Trojans' main problem, according to Kiffin, is third-down defense, though Arizona State and Arizona each converted a modest six of 12 third-down situations.
"You can't get off [the field] every time, but when you have the opportunity … and you've got the right call made and the right situation stuff, you have to," he said.
I don't how the fans are supposed to look at those number and think the defense is better than it looks.
It isn't just the last two games either.
USC has been gashed by the screen pass in the flat by numerous teams and gives up chunks of yards with their soft coverage.
Going to be interesting, but I don't expect things to get "better" anytime soon...
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To be fair
It would be impossible for the D to actually be worse than it looks.
But it can get worse....
To take a contrarian point of view, we have the “opportunity” to look a lot worse against Stanford, Oregon AND Washington. Bad scheme coupled with marginal personnel equals bad outcome.
^^This
Niners,Nets,Reds & USC!!!
The Most Interesting Man In The World---->Mikhail Prokhorov!!!
by Kidd2Petrovic on Oct 5, 2011 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I am glad Monte clarified that ...
….. I don’t see clearly from my seats as to what is happening.
How many of those 3 and very long have we seen the opposing team get - that is stat I ’d think is really appalling.
Pull the other leg . . .
and it plays Jingle Bells.
Come on Monte. Really? Give me a break.
This defense sucks because of the scheme – it can’t be implemented successfully with probably 95 percent of college players. It’s not appropriate for college because Incredibly high end athletes are needed to make it work. Even at USC we’ve rarely had the necessary complete collection of such remarkable athletes to be able to implement the Tampa 2, oh excuse me, the Cover 2. In fact, even in the NFL it’s rare for a team to have the athletes to succeed with the Tampa 2.
Fit the scheme to the college level players. There’s a reason why the vast, vast majority of college teams don’t play Monte’s scheme. Because it freaking does not work.
Over the middle – 8 yards, 12 yards, 7 yards, 14 yards . . . teams will do that against us with ease as long as this ridiculously inappropriate scheme is used.
A definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over, but expecting different results. Monte’s defensive scheme is insane.
The defensive line is much better than it looks
But unfortunately when teams adjust to avoid the line, our coverage is exactly as BAD as it looks.
"Ain't no tuition for having no ambition." -Brandon Carswell
I agree.
Few teams have pro-style 7-step drop backs QB’s anymore. That;s what Monte’s defenses are designed to do.
And since USC has played essentially the same defense with the same type of athletes for the last 10 years, the word is out how to beat USC.
The D-Line isn’t that bad. The coverage schemes are garbage.
One thing though, that rarely comes up, our lack of a physical, punishing run game where we can control the time of possession, rest the defense and keep the opposing offense of the field.
that's a good point
Hard to justify not putting the ball in Barkley’s hands though. He’s an incredible talent with a rocket arm, and 2 of the best wide receivers in CFB to work with.
Fight On! Beat everybody but us!
On point analysis, once again
The D-line is not getting quick pressure, and when a QB can sit back, he will pick us apart.
The O-line has been lack luster so far this year and extremely inconsistent in the run game (and somewhat so in pass protection too). We have yet to prove we can grind it out on the ground, wear an opponent down, and rest the defense for long stretches. We also have yet to establish a RB who doesn’t fumble the ball (although Baxter hasn’t been given much of a fair shake this year).
The problem with Perry...
Kid needs to learn how to draw a holding penalty.
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
You're right
I’ve agreed with this point somewhere else on CC recently.
That's not a problem with Perry
It’s a problem with refs in this conference. According to the zebras, USC’s opponents never hold, they just block really really good all game. Maybe Perry should cut around the sleeves and collar before the next game so his jersey will rip off next time a tackle is practically tearing it off (ASU anyone???).
From 2002-2009 USC was last in the conference every season when it came to how many penalties the opposing team was called for in conference games. All the other teams fluctuated from the top, middle and bottom third but USC was 10th every single year. Don’t expect refs to change that now, can’t have postseason-ineligible USC getting any help.
Fight on!
EMAW!
I think we were 9th once
By chance do you have the link to that article?
Fight On! Beat everybody but us!
http://www.cfbstats.com/2011/leader/905/team/defense/split01/category14/sort01.html
That only goes back to 2007, can’t find the one that goes back earlier. In 2008 and 2009 USC was 9th but they only got a whopping one yard more per game than 10th. 2010, USC was back to 10th (2.5 yards lower than 9th). Don’t expect it to be any different this season, expect USC will finish 12th instead of 10th.
Fight on!
EMAW!
In his defense
Arizona has a very potent offense.
And you can’t blame the defense for all of ASU’s scoring.
My biggest concern is that the defense has yet to stop someone after a turnover. That’s a huge concern.
Fight On! Beat everybody but us!
Wow, and we've had quite a few opportunities...
…to get such a stop.
When you think of where some of those TOs occurred, that’s a pretty damning statistic.
WHAT DEFENSE---------Is EL Monte now a stand-up
I used to watch but now I only glance and look only when the other team scores——A Plethora of Scores——EL Monte
Who--What--Slim Shady---Thats the duckies and Kelly maybe they should put their plays up in brail..
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 5, 2011 10:28 AM PDT reply actions
I feel like we are being trolled by Monte saying the defense is better than it looks
And I don’t like that feeling
Fight on!
EMAW!
true....
Kind of like being to lay back and enjoy it….. it is what you want?
or being a trolled under the “bridge to nowhere”?
by trojanarchitect on Oct 5, 2011 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I think he meant to say
It looks better than it is
Excuse me, aren't we 4-1?
Who needs a defense when we have Woods and Lee! I’ll take 9-3 and be happy with it.
A Quick Note for the Quitters
No comment from this thread will be deleted. You will have to own them when we get it turned around and beat Southern Cal. You will never ride the bandwagon when we come back. Not on BN. GO BRUINS.
by Nestor on Sep 4, 2010 9:24 PM CDT
Wait! That’s what I said… What happened with 10-2?
Oh Monte :P
"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." - Joseph Stalin
U feeling Loco?
next it will be 8-4
I think Monte wants to go down in the record books for 84 pts allowed at Oregon
Who--What--Slim Shady---Thats the duckies and Kelly maybe they should put their plays up in brail..
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 5, 2011 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
If we can get to 9-3 with this defense, I will be happy too
The way we have played so far, it doesn’t look like we’ll get there with this level of play.
We have one loss as of now, we still have to face Oregon, ND, the FURD and UW.
This could be the year for payback to UW and ND, unlikely but possible.
UW has played us hard since Sarkisian went north, ND looks like it is starting to come together but injuries could change that overnight, the one game that could be a trap game is WSU. If we can get through this season with a 8-4 we will be lucky.
Honestly, 8-4 is my expectation for the season
So I would consider 9-3 a success, based on what we’ve seen so far. 7-5 isn’t that far fetched either though.
We don't play Washington State this season
The other team we miss is Oregon State. Figures we get to miss the two worst teams in North. I really would have loved stomping on the Beavers while they’re down.
Fight on!
EMAW!
Okay all I will stop with my attack on the EL Monte dee
I really think he will right the ship(well I hope so) but I will say that we will have problems with ND and Oregon. I feel the rest of the teams USC can outscore, I do hope that some other players get a chance to play and grow otherwise I think there will be 8 transfers after this season.
Who--What--Slim Shady---Thats the duckies and Kelly maybe they should put their plays up in brail..
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 5, 2011 5:28 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Okay all I will stop with my attack on the EL Monte dee
I really think he will right the ship(well I hope so) but I will say that we will have problems with ND and Oregon. I feel the rest of the teams USC can outscore, I do hope that some other players get a chance to play and grow otherwise I think there will be 8 transfers after this season.
Who--What--Slim Shady---Thats the duckies and Kelly maybe they should put their plays up in brail..
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 5, 2011 5:28 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I don't know what scale Monte is using to evaluate the defense.
But the scale I use is how many points do they give up, how many yards, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, etc.
Right now, especially in game 4 and 5 the defense looks pretty mediocre. The jury is still out on the Kiffins for me, but I have to say that “The defense is better than it looks” is a lame excuse.
It's like Scott Wolf posting . . .
“I have more hair than it looks.”
Only if I had my eyes poked out. . . .
. . . . will the defense be better than it looks, Monte.
Our secondary is lightning fast (corners and safeties). Galippo is a tank and simply cannot cover. We should bump off the line, always (on- for sure passing downs). Period. End of story.
I say, let the plays develop from there. We’ve got depth at the safety spot, and most all our guys can cover the run.
The college game caught up to the Cover 2/Tampa 2 back in 2007, just saying.
The Pro Game has, as well
ESPN.com has a story on the changing nature of the safety position in the NFL.
It should be subtitled “Why Taylor Mays doesn’t see playing time.”
To be fair....
He wasn’t game planning last week, just yelling at those damned kids to get off his lawn
You're a Bruin for 4 years, but you're a Trojan for life!
by DevilishTrojan21 on Oct 7, 2011 11:50 AM PDT reply actions
"better than it looks"
Last time I heard that one was at a used-car lot. So, I guess Monte’s tellin’ me I need glasses If he can honestly still say that on October 23 then I will buy those glasses. Meanwhile, MY eye chart shows four to five more loses this season… for a variety of reasons but starting with the defense… or lack of it. We’ll see if there’s an optometrist in my future.
trojanWar
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