Defense was crap

[LawPoke]

Any offense that produces 35 points is pulling its weight. I loved the up-tempo pace (but really, what good is it if the opposition's defense can rest while our swiss cheese defense allows what we saw last night). Sure, it would have been nice to have more, but frankly, you shouldn't need more than 5 touchdowns to win a game. This time we didn't - but I fear 56 may not be enough in most games with our defense.

My read is that we have no size up front. We were manhandled. Reading the two-deep, we have no one really even close to 300 along the front. Add a pretty accurate passer (when he has time) for WSU and some fairly good receivers and it was a cocktail for the mess we saw last night. Unfortunately, save Texas State, I don't know a team that can't bring those very things to every game we play going forward...and with D-1 talent to boot.

Is it only size though? I was horrified to watch our safety (or d-back) backpeddling near the goal line after a long pass, instead of attacking. I was beyond pi$$ed to watch as our defense was not ready before the snap - looking at the sideline, while WSU was lining it up and snapping it. It looked like our guys were disoriented all night. I understand the offense doing that...but the defense? Sluggish. Tentative. Confused. Lackadaisical. I expected those four words to describe our offense...not our defense.

The only positive was that we stopped them when we absolutely had to, but we had better do something...and quick. Unfortunately, adding 50 lbs to each d-lineman is not in the cards.

 

[Adv8RU12]

The defense was deliberately looking bad to give future opponents false hope. Right? Please say it's so, Mr. English. Please say it.

 

[WyoBrandX]

The defense seemed to lack play recognition or just didn't care. Hell maybe the coach beat them enough times that they just don't care. Only seemed like they wanted to play towards the end when the crowd was in it, but they couldn't figure out play action from a run.

 

[WYCowboy]

I'm not buying the size argument or even putting all the blame on the players. When you have 3/4ths of the defense incorrectly reading what the offense is doing, receivers who are constantly open by 5 to 10 yards, and their QB with time to find them and throw - I'm looking somewhere else. This is something we have been seeing for at least a couple of years.

 

[WyoBrandX]

I'm not buying the size argument or even putting all the blame on the players. When you have 3/4ths of the defense incorrectly reading what the offense is doing, receivers who are constantly open by 5 to 10 yards, and their QB with time to find them and throw - I'm looking somewhere else. This is something we have been seeing for at least a couple of years.

It is hard to argue with that. It might be time for a defensive coaching change. We've fielded some terrible offenses over the last decade but the defense kept us in the games and often scored a td or two for us. We probably have more overall speed on defense than we have had in quite some time as well.

It is really tough to watch us give up 500+ yards. Brutal.

 

[seattlecowboy]

Ever since Breske left and English took over the defense it has gotten progressively worse each year and even though we have more speed this year it is looking like our defense is going to take another step back. I hope they prove me wrong.

 

[djm19]

Do we not have any hogs on the Offensive side of the ball who can be converted over? We need a run stopper fat guy in the middle.

 

[kansasCowboy]

It couldn't be that it was the first college football game for about what? 11 freshman defenders on our team last night?

 

[ELKMT]

I'm not buying the size argument or even putting all the blame on the players.

I'm not buying the size argument either. We are not that undersized, I think our playing calling is bad (or scheme).

Here is LSU's two deep for defensive line for a comparison( obviously they have more talent but the sizes are similar).

DE
Adams 255
Mingo 237
DE
Montgomery 245
Edwards 365
DT
Brockers 300
Logan 280
DT
Johnson 294
Downs 278

No linebacker on the squad is over 227 and two starters are under 215.

There linebackers are the same size as ours, and their DEs are probably smaller. They have a couple 300 pound interior lineman compared with our 286, 273 and 279 (I know Knapton is listed at DT but he still plays quite a bit at DE, and Jones still plays considerable amount at LB). I would like to see Strong moved back over to D though if he isn't going to start.

The good news is that I doubt we can really get much worse than giving up 500yds to an FCS team( I guess that is kinda good news). I am sure we will see some adjustments this week.

 

[Cowboy Junky]

We're small. There's no way around that.

I just got back from the game and our dline got trucked all day long by a 1aa team. We gave up 600 yards to Weber and we didn't start giving up passing yards until we started to sell out on the run to stop the run.

228 is our biggest linebacker. That's small. MOST schools have at least one or two linebackers in the 230-250 pound range. That's common.

Our defensive line is small. We don't have any 300 pound interior linemen. Basically, we have defensive ends(converted linebackers) on the interior of the line. They've always got a body on them and they get blown off the line consistently.

Yes, we have multiple sets. All of those multitude of sets are small.

The secondary wasn't getting beat by much, but it's obvious that the loss of Browder has brought the quality of that group down as well.

Our offense looks improved, but it's going to be extremely difficult to get 5 wins over 1a programs on our remaining schedule if we can't figure out a way to stop the run without blitzing half of our linebackers. Our secondary will get shredded if we can't stop the run without blitzing.

I'm usually a sunshine pumper but I didn't see one thing about our defense that gave me any confidence at all. We gave up 35 f'ing points to a team that finished .500 in the damn Big Sky. We gave up 600 yards of offense to that same team and we're dominated in time of possession. We didn't even turn the ball over that much, and barely won.

I know it was the first game but our defense looks like a damn joke. If we can't figure out some better schemes to equalize our SMALL defense were going to get stomped by anyone that can run the ball. That's the truth.

Smith gave me confidence. The receivers look improved. The offensive looks better at blocking but still looks lost when teams blitz us.

I'm not giving up on this team. I've been to every home game for the last three years, but if we can't figure out a way to stop the run, it's going to be a long damn season.

Compare and contrast to all the rosters you want. Our defense is small and they don't look any bigger at Village Inn then they do on the field. They're even small in plain clothes.

 

[fromolwyoming]

Knew I should have gone into football in highschool. Would have been a linemen on either side. I'm bigger than most of these linemen that we have, and back in martial arts competitions (included judo and jujitsu) I was not pushed around by people bigger than me. Who knows, might have saved my knees a bit.

 

[A_name-plz]

From my view in the student section our secondary looked completely over matched. We were leaving receivers wide open and whenever a weber state player had the ball in his hands we were almost afraid to tackle them. I am sure it can be cured and hopefully we can get the secondary looking better next week.

 

[WILDCATS]

You guys need to give us a little more credit, If you would have read anything on Weber State leading up to this game, you would know that Weber's offense is the strength of this team, our offensive line was the best in the Big SKy last year, and is projected to be one of the best in all the FCS this year.

Im in no way saying Weber is the better team, but we are NOT a bad team. we finished 5-3 in the big sky last year tied for 3rd, 6-5 overall. We lost to Boston College, Texas Tech, Oregon State beating Sacramento State, Co Big Sky Champ Montana State and Co Big Sky champ and eventual National Champion Eastern Washington. None of those are bad losses.

The Big Sky is one of if not the Strongest FCS conference this year, (-UNC). Just because Weber is picked to finish 5th behind E.Wash, Montana State, Montana and Sacramento does not make them a bad team, and are in no way a pastie. Under McBride, Weber has gotten the reputation as being one of the most physical teams on the lines.

All in all it was a good game, and I wish you guys well on the rest of your season.

 

[LawPoke]

WILDCATS - I give great credit to WSU, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. I think that offense could score on most FBS teams. They were balanced and very disciplined. The offensive pace was great and we looked off kilter all night. I, frankly, think that WSU makes a little better showing that 5th in the Big Sky.

This said, if we are going to have a snowball's chance in h-e-double l of doing anything this season, our D has got to play much, much better. I think most of what you are hearing, WILDCATS, is astonishment that it was the D that peed down its leg - we were all expecting a different set of issues. Thankfully for us, our young QB came to play - or WSU would have had its FBS win and our streak of beating lower divisional teams would have been out the window.

I sure hope that the much ballyhooed defensive players only meeting results in a better product on the field this Saturday...

 

[cheypoke]

"I was horrified to watch our safety (or d-back) backpeddling near the goal line after a long pass, instead of attacking."

I saw that too LawPokes. It was right in front of us. I was furious. He was standing on the 1 yard line and started back peddling! I think it was Anderson. He looked very confused at first, so I assume he thought he had help. But the hesitation and backpeddling was inexcusable. If he can't be more agressive t han that in his tackling, he shouldnt be on the field.

I think the secondary looked confused on quite a few plays. And I guess that is not unexpected entirely considering the personal problems from the suspensions.

 

[WILDCATS]

WILDCATS - I give great credit to WSU, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. I think that offense could score on most FBS teams. They were balanced and very disciplined. The offensive pace was great and we looked off kilter all night. I, frankly, think that WSU makes a little better showing that 5th in the Big Sky.

This said, if we are going to have a snowball's chance in h-e-double l of doing anything this season, our D has got to play much, much better. I think most of what you are hearing, WILDCATS, is astonishment that it was the D that peed down its leg - we were all expecting a different set of issues. Thankfully for us, our young QB came to play - or WSU would have had its FBS win and our streak of beating lower divisional teams would have been out the window.

I sure hope that the much ballyhooed defensive players only meeting results in a better product on the field this Saturday...

Maybe the reason Wyo's D had problems was because Weber's offense is really good? Who's to say?

Anyway you cant judge a season or a team on one game, Wyoming will rebound, And I think Weber will have a successful season and thier 4th winning season in a row.

Also, I saw a topic on Gowyo about Weber being your new rivals........Why not? I've quite enjoyed the last 2 games and would love to see Wyoming back on Weber's schedule. Although it wont happen for a few years.
2012 @ BYU and @ Fresno State
2013 @ Utah and @ Utah State
2014 @ Arizona State and Im sure another Utah FBS team.

And I hope you guys beat the Aggies, I dont think we will, anyday the aggies lose is a good day in my book

 

[LawPoke]

My dad and the other sitting around us were going nuts...and I think you are right, it was Anderson. He probably could have stopped him at the 6 yard line, at least, if only by pushing him out of bounds, as he was right along the sideline.

I imagine this play will be one of those that are discussed this week...