Football Articles
Defense – Next Three Weeks
Posted by TexasFootball on November 1st, 2007 under Football
You gotta love the next three weeks of UT football if you like defensive football. We get the opportunity to see how coach Akina plans to stop the option while defending a strong passing attack against the Cowboys in the first week, slow down the air show complete with circus acts against Texas Tech the second week, and finish with the shotgun option featuring a full grown rodeo bull against the Aggies.
We haven’t fared particularly well against the option the last two years playing busy instead of assignment football. Chizik thought his gap control defense should handle the triple option but didn’t exactly count on simple built-in option advantages such as angle blocks, motion, or crackback/seal blocks in the alley. One of the major problems of playing reaction technique against the option is keeping the numbers balanced against each part of the option. You might get two or even three on the QB one play but find nobody on the pitch—assignment football against the option makes sure someone is responsible for each of the second two options (keep-pitch).
The angle a defender takes makes a ton of difference in defending his option responsibility in the two schemes. There is a big difference in the angle taken by the LB/S playing the QB inside out to the pitch (busy) than the angle taken by same if they are assigned only the pitch (assignment). There is also a better opportunity to defeat the block or prevent being outrun to the numbers with a straight-line angle instead of the crooked angle that busy teaches you to take.
The key question this week is whether Akina feels option assignments are necessary to stop the Cowboy option. If he decides to stay with technique in getting the option stopped like Chizik before him, I hope he stays with the young group of LB’s who might overcome disadvantages against the blocking scheme. Otherwise, it could get ugly.
Share This
39 Responses
Leave a Reply
Related Articles
-
14
Defending the Aggie Option Attack
By TexasFootball on November 20th, 2007 -
10
The Impact Of 6 Weeks Off
By Scipio Tex on December 28th, 2008 -
32
Thoughts on the Texas Longhorn Defense vs. Texas Tech
By HenryJames on September 20th, 2009 -
12
Texas Longhorns Defense: YPPA Dominance
By BrickHorn on November 8th, 2009 -
6
Self scouting the pass defense
By ChrisApplewhite on August 31st, 2008
Activity
-
ursa major wrote a new blog post: Baylor v. Sam Houston State Preview 4 hours, 43 minutes ago
If we can get past the statue alive, we have a chance…
(Sorry to Barking Carnival for stealing their meme.)
About the Bearkats
I will not waste your time extolling the various pros and cons of our team. Let’s learn a little bit about Sam Houston State.Seriously, who the #$@ spells Bearkats with a k? According to Wikipedia,
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Place Your Bets, Gentlemens 5 hours, 46 minutes ago
explain…
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Now THAT’S Taking One For The Team 6 hours, 1 minute ago
He played for New Mexico State.
We recruited him briefly, along with Louisville, Pitt and a host of others. Everyone ran when they realized he was a lunatic.
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Now THAT’S Taking One For The Team 6 hours, 1 minute ago
He played for New Mexico State.
-
Jorgrama commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 6 hours, 4 minutes ago
Had some harsh words about Barnes in that podcast, that’s for sure. . . .
-
dick commented on the blog post Now THAT’S Taking One For The Team 6 hours, 7 minutes ago
Didn’t we think we target him at one point?
He’s a good player, imagine UNM with him on their #3 seed roster.
-
dick wrote a new blog post: FLV March Madness First Round Bets 6 hours, 9 minutes ago
Here we are, my favorite weekend of the year. I’ve taken sick days on the first two days of the tourney every year except my first and this year is no different (i’m feverish, which is true). My one goal for the gambling season (August thru first weekend of April) is to have enough money to bet on every
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Now THAT’S Taking One For The Team 6 hours, 39 minutes ago
Pope was a real head case recruit, if I recall correctly.
Shot four times in high school too.
Transferred to the Hall from New Mexico St after all of the Big Schools gave him the cold shoulder for his recruiting antics.
-
Scipio Tex wrote a new blog post: Place Your Bets, Gentlemens 6 hours, 45 minutes ago
First, if you’re not reading Fading Las Vegas or March to March, you’re missing out on the best college basketball prognostication available in the free market. The vast bulk of Kevin Berger’s basketball writing is going to be found there, so click accordingly.
The key delineation to make is that Fading Las Vegas
-
admin commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 7 hours, 38 minutes ago
Baylor scares me. They have no idea what the bright lights feel like.
Huggins also has a horrible history with high seeds from his days at Cincy.
Bingo.
Bingo.
Yet Gary Williams has a ring. Maybe this is Huggy’s year and maybe Scott Drew can get laid in a morgue. Love to see what Huggy could have
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
admin commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 7 hours, 38 minutes ago
Baylor scares me. They have no idea what the bright lights feel like.
Huggins also has a horrible history with high seeds from his days at Cincy.
Bingo.
Bingo.
Yet Gary Williams has a ring. Maybe this is Huggy’s year and maybe Scott Drew can get laid in a morgue.
I have these guys in my bracket. DEEP.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
dick commented on the blog post Early NCAA Tournament Bets 7 hours, 49 minutes ago
Travis,
63-58 on KenPom for 121. That’s still a really low scoring game
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 8 hours, 29 minutes ago
Thanks, dick. Interesting perspective.
-
dick commented on the blog post The Definitive Bracket: 63 Guaranteed Winners! 8 hours, 52 minutes ago
KB,
You are going to be too smart for your own good. A common fault amongst Bracket makers. There’s a reason why the 55 year old admins win 80% of these things every year.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
dick commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 8 hours, 56 minutes ago
“which impresses me since I know he didn’t hear the podcast.”
You shouldn’t be, after reading both guys over the past year, KB knows more about basketball and gambling than Millman does and it’s not even close.
A little warning about Chad Millman. I was pretty excited when I heard that ESPN hired a
-
Luke wrote a new blog post: Some perspective for a generation of Wildcats 8 hours, 56 minutes ago
Kansas State is beginning the NCAA tournament as a #2 seed with legitimate final four hopes (just ask the president) in less than 24 hours.
I’m going to need a moment to admire that sentence…….
OK, I’m good.
As the anticipation has built over the last few days, I’m sure I’m not the only one who has taken
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
whiskey wrote a new blog post: Chalk Talk: The ND 3-4 Transition Part I- Expectations 9 hours, 22 minutes ago
Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many installments of “Chalk Talk” with LB Coach. I am excited to introduce LB Coach as a new contributor to One Foot Down. LB Coach has a significant amount of experience playing football at Notre Dame and on the professional level. He also has a
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
dick commented on the blog post Early NCAA Tournament Bets 9 hours, 38 minutes ago
I’ll post all of my first day games tonight.
-
srr50 wrote a new blog post: Now THAT’S Taking One For The Team 11 hours, 58 minutes ago
Aggie Corp with “Squeeze Army?”
POSERS
Texas Tech forward Darko Cohadarevic doesn’t just talk the talk — he walks the walk.
Tuesday night Tech faced Seton Hall in a first round NIT contest. With the game tied at 10, Seton Hall forward Herb Pope delivered two below-the-belt blows to Cohadarevic.
After Pope was ejected, Tech went on
-
Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 13 hours, 41 minutes ago
Louisville has a great chance if Jerry Smith is healthy.
-
Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 13 hours, 43 minutes ago
Good team that took number 1 seeded Louisville to the wire in last year’s tournament. Start 3 seniors and two juniors, very athletic. Solid pass first point guard. Their leading scorer was player of the year in the conference.
Good club that plays multiple defenses.
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 14 hours, 7 minutes ago
I just took Baylor going to the Elite 8. It’s a crazy mixed up world we live in.
Is it just me, or does it pain anyone else to not be able to determine who is going to beat Duke early? It’s bound to happen, but who will it be?
-
Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 14 hours, 10 minutes ago
By “we” I meant the Horns. Kevin, why should I take Siena over A&M?
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 14 hours, 24 minutes ago
colorado ag, Utah State is as athletic as Nebraska. You’ll be fine as long as they don’t go 16 for 31 from three.
Siena, on the other hand, is going to beat you like you stole something. Maybe not, but the Saints should win.
-
Kevin Berger commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 14 hours, 27 minutes ago
Great article Scipio. Also, thanks for the dime.
Looking at the Tournament futures market, Vegas is telling us what they think about Onuaku’s health. The Orangemen have the easiest region and road to the fianl four, yet they’re +700 to win it all, while UK and Kansas, teams with much tougher roads, are +250
-
Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Final Four Prediction 14 hours, 32 minutes ago
My brackets are pretty much locked down except the South. Can’t get myself to take Baylor, and Duke doesn’t feel right. Nobody seems to be high on Nova. It’s all about the Big East and Big 12 this year.
It’s a crying shame we suck so bad. We are in a good
SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: ””, url: ”” });
-
James commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 14 hours, 43 minutes ago
Scip, like a peaceful Indian in the 1800’s, I never trust a Mormon that can shoot. Utah State has me worried.
If we escape the first weekend, things get very interesting with a potential Sweet 16 match-up with Duke. Ugly up the game and guard like hell on the perimeter in front of a
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 15 hours, 13 minutes ago
CJD -
Possibly. However, I’m telling you – the beauty of these intergame lines is that when you see that all-too-familiar big early game lead that you know will evaporate down the stretch as soon as the team starts regressing to their 3 point shooting mean, there’s some money to be made.
-
Scipio Tex commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 15 hours, 15 minutes ago
uthookem-
I’d say you have your priorities straight.
colorado -
Anytime. How far do you think the Aggies go? A lot of people think Utah State is the most dangerous pure shooting team in the tournament.
-
uthookem commented on the blog post Bracket Breakdown & Gambling Tips 15 hours, 25 minutes ago
Last year in Vegas, Friday morning, stumble to the line at 8:30 to make my bets, put $20 on a four-team parlay on the four 9:00 am games, nailed it! Three of the four games’ spread was determined in the final 0:30. Walked away with $220.
Yeah, so what if that is the only
DBH said:
November 1st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
“If he decides to stay with technique in getting the option stopped like Chizik before him, I hope he stays with the young group of LB’s who might overcome disadvantages against the blocking scheme. Otherwise, it could get ugly.”
Sergio Kindle is out for OSU. So it very likely will get ugly.
HenryJames said:
November 1st, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Well, shit.
DBH said:
November 1st, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Out with a stinger according to the DMN:
Stung
mileslong said:
November 1st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
how come our coordinators never pull groins or anything? i thought davis would have hurt something by now just lifting his playbook…
McLovin said:
November 1st, 2007 at 10:32 pm
They just leave the playbook in the coaches’ box.
It’s not like anyone would want to steal it.
AugieSpiers said:
November 1st, 2007 at 11:35 pm
I am convinced that Bobino and Killebrew could take several 12 gauge rounds to the chest and not miss a series. They are like superman but without the powers that might help in the game of football. Pretty astounding toughness.
Along those lines, they might be able to punt the ball into the stratosphere like the young Clark Kent did after practice in the first movie. It would be worth a look.
South '06 said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:23 am
Here, I’ll help you scheme against us Aggies and our big offensive weapons:
How to stop Goodson – don’t bite on the smoke draw
How to stop Jovorskie – crash the ends
How to stop Martellus – is the TE an eligible receiver in college football?
How to stop McGee – make the arduous journey to Burnett, TX and throw his Aggie Ring into the flaming depths of the oil refinery
HenryJames said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:57 am
We’ll be fine as long as Oklahoma State doesn’t run any option, sweep, off tackle, cutback runs or send more than 2 receivers deep against our cover 2.
EyesOfTX said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:11 am
With Kindle out, OSU will have a field day running cutbacks around Killebrew. If they’re too dumb to do that, then they deserve to lose.
bartoncreek said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:09 am
If you had asked me who the biggest key in the OSU game was, I might have said Kindle. Against that offense, we just couldn’t afford to have our starters in the game for more than a few series. I think we are about to be taken to the woodshed. Hope I am wrong, but without Sergio they will put up 30+ pretty easily.
Gooba said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:54 am
Time for MacAkina to earn that salary and break out the double eagle flex.
Texas_Taps said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 am
Killebrew will be fine. Mack has been starting him for a reason. He reads the offense better than Kindle and doesn’t bust as many assignments.
Coach Akina, and the rest of the staff for that matter, has done a great job this year (look at the defensive ranking) despite bringing in a bunch of new guys and I have complete confidence that he and Mack will develop a winning formula for this weekend, as they always do for OSU.
jimmyjazz said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 am
Let’s play “name the defense”: I propose “double beagle flex” when Killebrew and Bobino are on the field.
DBH said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:37 am
“Coach Akina, and the rest of the staff for that matter, has done a great job this year (look at the defensive ranking) despite bringing in a bunch of new guys and I have complete confidence that he and Mack will develop a winning formula for this weekend, as they always do for OSU.”
I’d like some of whatever it is you’re smoking.
Texas_Taps said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:42 am
what a fanbase!!
kevwun said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 am
Killebrew is great at doing absolutely nothing and then jumping on the pile to get a tackle assist.
BigSatan said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:48 am
“develop a winning formula for this weekend, as they always do for OSU.”
I’m fond of the ones that include bending over for a half and then seeing if Vince Young can single-handedly bail us out. Those are my favorite gameplans from our offensive staff. In that sense, I agree with you absolutely: this weekends gameplan will be no different from any of the others they have developed. The probably haven’t noticed that the personel has changed, however.
e-rock_denver_co said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:59 am
I predict a 120+ yard performance for RB Savage, 300+ yard passing performance by QB Robinson (yes, he is better than Colt. Who isn’t?), and a 100+ yard receiving performance by WR Bowman, and 38+ points scored by OSU.
OSU 38
Texas 27
Keep in mind that OSU has had two weeks to prepare for us, which is the same amount of time KSU had.
DBH said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:43 am
“what a fanbase!!”
Yes, a sizable and growing number of whom are displaying signs of lucidity. DeLoss and Little Bill must be growing uneasy that the spin ain’t selling like it used to. Did you see all the empty seats last weekend?
Nordberg said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:44 am
“Killebrew will be fine. Mack has been starting him for a reason.”
He must be… I just can’t figure out for the life of me what it could possibly be. Breakfast in bed?
Texas_Taps said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 am
I’ll trust Mack’s opinion on personnel decision over the eternally disgruntled within the Texas fanbase.
You can’t question Mack’s record @ Texas and we are heading for another BCS bowl despite it being a rebuilding season.
stillred said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:59 am
BCS bowl? The only BCS bowl Texas is going to see this year will have frosted flakes in it. This is not one of the longhorns better efforts.
Woody Bombay said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 7:59 am
“I’ll trust Mack’s opinion on personnel decision over the eternally disgruntled within the Texas fanbase.”
Why don’t you watch the defense with the first-team LBs and then with the second-team LBs and then trust your own got-damn eyes.
“You can’t question Mack’s record @ Texas and we are heading for another BCS bowl despite it being a rebuilding season.”
I remember when I used to get baked in the A.M. like this. Good times!
DBH said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 am
“I’ll trust Mack’s opinion on personnel decision over the eternally disgruntled within the Texas fanbase.”
Live like you wanna live, brother.
“You can’t question Mack’s record @ Texas and we are heading for another BCS bowl despite it being a rebuilding season.”
I can question one conference championship in ten years and a 3-6 record against Bob Stoops. Your mileage must vary.
mr. sunshine said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:53 am
“I’ll trust Mack’s opinion on personnel decision
I’ve found saying this works best when you’re wearing red sparkly shoes, click them together and say something about Kansas. Because if you say if while watching Killebrew, et al whiff for the umpteenth time, it sounds silly as shit.
Scipio Tex said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:26 am
Coach:
Great post. Thanks for this.
It’s surreal to see a team with Longhorn on its helmet struggle against the triple option. Destroying it is pretty much what used to define Longhorn defense.
It’s more odd that playing against it has become some sort of mystery for college defensive coordinators. You couldn’t call yourself a defensive coordinator 15 years ago if you didn’t know an outside veer load from the load in your pants.
I’m of the opinion that there’s unrealized value in running the triple option right now in college football if you’re not a premier program.
jimmyjazz said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:00 am
When has it been a bad idea for any talent-limited program to run an option attack of one kind or another? Assuming you have a QB who can take a hit and whose IQ is somewhere north of 100, of course.
me said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 am
The Fred Akers teams in the late 1980’s forgot how to defend the option.
Nordberg said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:05 am
At Purdue?
me said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
At Texas
Option Attack said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 am
1986 47-12 loss
HenryJames said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:46 am
That’s not forgetting how to defend the option. That’s having to defend Charles Thompson with the football equivalent of Doperbo.
Doperbo said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Thomas Hardy was right about you.
Facebook User said:
November 2nd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Shut up and write more college football analysis, Tess.
Huckleberry said:
November 4th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
So how did he do?
Ha.
NVHorn said:
November 4th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
“Killebrew will be fine. Mack has been starting him for a reason. He reads the offense better than Kindle and doesn’t bust as many assignments.”
Absolutely clueless fucking idiot.
Trips Right said:
November 7th, 2007 at 8:15 am
Coach, how would you defend Tech given our personnel and assuming Norton and Kindle are healthy? Any idea on why Colorado and Mizzu were so successful stopping Tech? Garcias.
TexasFootball said:
November 7th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Moved here:
Defending Tech
SeeingRed said:
November 7th, 2007 at 10:50 am
This long & too much reading & confuse Kevin. Kevin just tell lineback guys run back 5 step & see what happen. This will work. Trust Kevin. Kevin no quit ever.
Look! Funny orange cow head on Texas helmets. Make Kevin laugh.
Kevin Cosgrove
Defensive Coordinator for Life
U of Nebraska