This has been bugging me the last couple of games. With all of the returning starters and experience our defense was supposed to be excellent this year. So far they haven't been.
#74 in total yards given up at 388/game
#68 in scoring defense at 27/game
If it wasn't for our advantage in turnover margin (#14 at +.08/game) we'd be in a world of hurt.
For years the narrative was that if we could field an average offense we'd win a ton of games. Now we're doing that (#70 in scoring at 25.5/game) and the defense is falling behind and it's happening at crunch time. Our fourth quarter scoring defense ranks #122 at 10.7 points/game. We've given up important 4th quarter scores in each of the past 5 games.
I'm a fan of how our defense has played during most of Bohl's tenure and I like our approach. It seems like we're breaking more often than in years past. Am I missing something or has this crew been underperforming?
What's up with our defense?
-
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:56 pm
- Has liked: 129 times
- Been liked: 50 times
-
- WyoNation Addict
- Posts: 2282
- Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:08 pm
- Has liked: 15 times
- Been liked: 62 times
I do think it's a good defense....at least it's not losing us games really. Defense in modern college football seems pretty tough to do well. Almost any game I watch now in the fourth quarter has a flurry of points scored. It's not just us that can't stop teams in the fourth. As good as your defense is anymore...the other teams offense generally beats it (at least it seems that way).
It's a depth issue, and it is the single biggest obstacle G5 college teams face when trying to build a national contender.
Due to rest and inevitable injury issues that occur throughout a game, you have to rotate players. Obviously, this rotation of players tends to increase as the game progresses, albeit more at some positions than others. You could make a good argument that our defensive depth has been improved, but there is still a noticeable drop-off in talent when you go to the back-ups and a significant drop-off once you get to the third string. The alternative is to not rotate guys, but this often leads to the starters being so gassed that they don't make plays they usually would make. It's a "pick your poison" type of situation.
Due to rest and inevitable injury issues that occur throughout a game, you have to rotate players. Obviously, this rotation of players tends to increase as the game progresses, albeit more at some positions than others. You could make a good argument that our defensive depth has been improved, but there is still a noticeable drop-off in talent when you go to the back-ups and a significant drop-off once you get to the third string. The alternative is to not rotate guys, but this often leads to the starters being so gassed that they don't make plays they usually would make. It's a "pick your poison" type of situation.
- LanderPoke
- WyoNation Lifer
- Posts: 11217
- Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:47 pm
- Location: Laramie
- Has liked: 618 times
- Been liked: 250 times
It was disgusting how we let AF run it down our throats like that.
- J-Bone
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 331
- Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 3:44 pm
- Location: Sheridan, WY
- Has liked: 16 times
- Been liked: 11 times
Not just AF, but App State was able to easily chip away 3-5 yards at will.LanderPoke wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:11 pm It was disgusting how we let AF run it down our throats like that.
-
- A Real Cowboy
- Posts: 1200
- Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:23 pm
- Has liked: 79 times
- Been liked: 91 times
Two things that will never make sense to me:J-Bone wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:29 pmNot just AF, but App State was able to easily chip away 3-5 yards at will.LanderPoke wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:11 pm It was disgusting how we let AF run it down our throats like that.
1. How far off the line of scrimmage/the opposing WR our Corners play; and
2. Why our OC insists on running laterally against any defense.
-
- A Real Cowboy
- Posts: 1633
- Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:38 pm
- Has liked: 324 times
- Been liked: 138 times
Looking back at the AF game I believe the D played well enough to win that game.
I would blame that loss on STs, missed FGs xtra point and the fake punt, and officiating with the obvious fumble that gave AF the TD.
My concern isn’t with our defense.
I would blame that loss on STs, missed FGs xtra point and the fake punt, and officiating with the obvious fumble that gave AF the TD.
My concern isn’t with our defense.
-
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:56 pm
- Has liked: 129 times
- Been liked: 50 times
We gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.Itsux2beaewe wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:51 pm Looking back at the AF game I believe the D played well enough to win that game.
I would blame that loss on STs, missed FGs xtra point and the fake punt, and officiating with the obvious fumble that gave AF the TD.
My concern isn’t with our defense.
-
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:56 pm
- Has liked: 129 times
- Been liked: 50 times
Fair point. But there are 121 other teams that aren't giving up as many Q4 points as we are. Maybe it's a function of being in more close games?307bball wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 1:41 pm I do think it's a good defense....at least it's not losing us games really. Defense in modern college football seems pretty tough to do well. Almost any game I watch now in the fourth quarter has a flurry of points scored. It's not just us that can't stop teams in the fourth. As good as your defense is anymore...the other teams offense generally beats it (at least it seems that way).
-
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:56 pm
- Has liked: 129 times
- Been liked: 50 times
I guess that makes sense. Being ranked in the 70s for the big defensive statistics puts us in the upper level of G5 teams. Also, we haven't played the weaker teams on the schedule yet. That should create improved stats as the season goes on. In the past few years we've finished in the 20-50 range in scoring defense. Bend but don't break.TheRealUW wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 1:51 pm It's a depth issue, and it is the single biggest obstacle G5 college teams face when trying to build a national contender.
Due to rest and inevitable injury issues that occur throughout a game, you have to rotate players. Obviously, this rotation of players tends to increase as the game progresses, albeit more at some positions than others. You could make a good argument that our defensive depth has been improved, but there is still a noticeable drop-off in talent when you go to the back-ups and a significant drop-off once you get to the third string. The alternative is to not rotate guys, but this often leads to the starters being so gassed that they don't make plays they usually would make. It's a "pick your poison" type of situation.
-
- A Real Cowboy
- Posts: 1633
- Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:38 pm
- Has liked: 324 times
- Been liked: 138 times
I’m more concerned with no second half offense.flyfishwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 1:34 pmWe gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.Itsux2beaewe wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:51 pm Looking back at the AF game I believe the D played well enough to win that game.
I would blame that loss on STs, missed FGs xtra point and the fake punt, and officiating with the obvious fumble that gave AF the TD.
My concern isn’t with our defense.
- Asmodeanreborn
- Bronco-Buster
- Posts: 6929
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:16 pm
- Has liked: 1 time
- Been liked: 23 times
Which is probably partially to blame for poor fourth quarter defense. Those three and outs mean our defense goes right back out there after barely getting any rest.
- laxwyo
- Bronco-Buster
- Posts: 9518
- Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:27 am
- Location: Rock Springs, WY
- Has liked: 144 times
- Been liked: 155 times
Not if our offense hasn’t laid downflyfishwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 1:34 pmWe gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.Itsux2beaewe wrote: ↑Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:51 pm Looking back at the AF game I believe the D played well enough to win that game.
I would blame that loss on STs, missed FGs xtra point and the fake punt, and officiating with the obvious fumble that gave AF the TD.
My concern isn’t with our defense.
W-Y, Until I Die!
-
- WyoNation Addict
- Posts: 2282
- Joined: Wed Dec 23, 2015 12:08 pm
- Has liked: 15 times
- Been liked: 62 times
The deficiency is generally on offense....could the D play better? Sure. Lots of things could have gone better against AFA but a big one was that the team left some points on the field .... and in a game that close...it's a killer.laxwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 11:08 pmNot if our offense hasn’t laid downflyfishwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 1:34 pm
We gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.
-
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 240
- Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:23 pm
- Has liked: 82 times
- Been liked: 15 times
Jeanty is a bowling ball for Boise State. We'll have to tackle and not depend on hitting him to knock him down or he'll average more than 6.7 yards...flyfishwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 1:34 pm We gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.
-
- Ranch Hand
- Posts: 276
- Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2017 8:56 pm
- Has liked: 129 times
- Been liked: 50 times
That's what I'm afraid of.sandiegopoke wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:15 amJeanty is a bowling ball for Boise State. We'll have to tackle and not depend on hitting him to knock him down or he'll average more than 6.7 yards...flyfishwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 1:34 pm We gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.
We give up so many yards after contact. It is frustrating to watch. I'm sure our coaches teach proper tackling technique and wrapping up, but we have a lot of players (especially at the corner position) that try to tackle by just ramming their shoulders into ball carriers. Jeanty is a very good back and will have a field day if we try to tackle him like that.sandiegopoke wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:15 amJeanty is a bowling ball for Boise State. We'll have to tackle and not depend on hitting him to knock him down or he'll average more than 6.7 yards...flyfishwyo wrote: ↑Wed Oct 25, 2023 1:34 pm We gave up 6.7 yards per carry and only forced one punt. If not for the two turnovers we would have gotten trucked. Not good enough.
-
- A Real Cowboy
- Posts: 1633
- Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:38 pm
- Has liked: 324 times
- Been liked: 138 times
This.TheRealUW wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:56 amWe give up so many yards after contact. It is frustrating to watch. I'm sure our coaches teach proper tackling technique and wrapping up, but we have a lot of players (especially at the corner position) that try to tackle by just ramming their shoulders into ball carriers. Jeanty is a very good back and will have a field day if we try to tackle him like that.sandiegopoke wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:15 am
Jeanty is a bowling ball for Boise State. We'll have to tackle and not depend on hitting him to knock him down or he'll average more than 6.7 yards...
The D line and LBs overall are pretty solid, get past them, ufta…..