Hungover from the loss

Stinger78 was right on the defensive scheme used by Bud Foster - DT's in both A gaps. With the wide split of the guards we like to use it made it too easy to come across and get to Nesbitt quick. This messed up far more plays than just the turnovers.

What should be the solution? If you close the gaps you don't spread the line of scrimmage like CPJ prefers. Instead of O-line blocking in the direction the play is going, shouldn't the guard and center block down? I thought it was a good move by Foster and it did not seem like we adjusted. Maybe our guards are just too slow coming after the tackle.
 
Maybe our guards are just too slow coming after the tackle.

Way to slow coming off the snap. Maybe we need to bring Tenuta back temporarily so he can follow our guards around yelling, "YOU THINK, YOU STINK!!!!!!" non-stop for the next week.
 
Question for you stinger. When a team sells out in the middle like that, they should be easier to beat on the edge, right? But you still have to be able to get the ball away from center to start the play. Even if we don't get any push from the interior line, they have to at least hold their ground, right? That's the biggest concern to me...we seem slow and weak there.

They will be easier to beat somewhere, maybe not the edge. VT started off pursuing the edge hard, too, and was closing that off early - but they couldn't sustain it over the course of the game. We did get almost 300 yards rushing - 150 of it by Nesbitt, though. It may be wide, or it may be the pass that's easier, but it will be somewhere.

You are right on, not only did they shut down the dive, but they also got good penetration, and that rushed the pass. Josh got hauled down from behind a handful of times.

I fully expected PJ to narrow the splits in the 2nd half, because we were just whiffing on DT's and that MLB coming through early on. They don't have to control the A gaps, but they've at least got to slow down the guys coming through. As 77 said, they have to at least be able to block down and plug the middle. DL penetration is the one thing that can shut down an option - blow it up before it gets going.

I agree with you, ncjacket. The interior OL is the big issue right now. If that isn't addressed, MSU, FSU, Miami and UGAG will all be very tough to handle.
 
How weird is it to agree with Bunger Henry after a loss, in multiple threads?

I tell ya, it's pretty weird.
 
I noticed on one option play that Gardner didn't touch the DE on his shoulder and cut inside to dive at the linebacker. The DE penetrated so quickly that Nesbitt had to stop and couldn't make the pitch and was tackled for loss. I guess thats the intent to leave the end unblocked and read on him, but with athletic ends sometimes that won't work. Some of these line techniques might require some contact to slow down defenders, much like DEs are taught to pop TEs to slow them down in their pass pattern.
 
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