Ash will use same deep coverage techniques we have been and everyone else does

[Yeah Baby]

I hope this stops the nonsense.

•Deep ball tracking

This actually isn't changing, but fans often complain that defensive backs don't turn and find the ball on deep throws. I asked Wharton about this and he said the technique on deep balls remains the same.

"If you're in phase, you've got to go up and you've got to make a play," Wharton said. "If you're out of phase, you've just got to run and play the hands."

Being "in phase" means running step-for-step with a receiver and being even with him as the ball arrives. Being in phase allows a defensive back to turn to find the ball and attempt to make an interception. While it's ideal to be in phase, it's rarely the case for the average cornerback.

More likely, a cornerback is going to be a step or two behind a receiver on a deep ball, so the defender can't afford to turn to find the ball because that will create even more separation. Instead, defensive backs are taught to continue running and then try to strip the ball when the receiver extends his hands for the catch.

 

[RUwoz]

Wait, everyone here told us that Flood specifically coached kids to not look for the ball and to just let receivers catch it??? Maybe our lower rates recruits just aren't good enough to keep up with 5* Ohio State and Michigan receivers

 

[koleszar]

Yes true, but they will also be lining up in press man not 10 yds. off the receiver. This is a much more aggressive approach along with improved technique should disrupt timing plays. The nonsense which killed our defense for the past 3 years. We were basically a react defense and let the O dictate to us. Which caused our DB's to always be a step behind or not in phase. This was solely done for fear of the quick strike TD. Yet allowed offenses to matriculate down the field at will. By the way this technique of not looking at the QB is widely used in the college game to make up for lack of talent.

 

[Dpgru]

As I understood the article I came away thinking that the individual cornerbacks are being taught to cover deepballs the same way as before but there will be a very different use of the safeties in coverage. So I do not think the overall defensive coverage will be quite the same as last year.

 

[slyker]

I hope this stops the nonsense.

•Deep ball tracking

This actually isn't changing, but fans often complain that defensive backs don't turn and find the ball on deep throws. I asked Wharton about this and he said the technique on deep balls remains the same.

"If you're in phase, you've got to go up and you've got to make a play," Wharton said. "If you're out of phase, you've just got to run and play the hands."

Being "in phase" means running step-for-step with a receiver and being even with him as the ball arrives. Being in phase allows a defensive back to turn to find the ball and attempt to make an interception. While it's ideal to be in phase, it's rarely the case for the average cornerback.

More likely, a cornerback is going to be a step or two behind a receiver on a deep ball, so the defender can't afford to turn to find the ball because that will create even more separation. Instead, defensive backs are taught to continue running and then try to strip the ball when the receiver extends his hands for the catch.

It's just no use. All the coaching experts who sit around me at the stadium... and all the game day thread contributors will still whine and cry every time there is a long completion " why dont we turn around to the ball?" "What are the coaches teaching our guys ?" You can try to post these quotes about what the staff is teaching our kids every time it comes up .... but it is just something there will always be complaints about. Extremely annoying to hear/read this ALL the time. And while last year we were picked apart underneath by most teams...... I know I wont be surprised to see more frequent long TD passes against us next season. Trade-offs

 

[KnightsofChrome]

I hope this stops the nonsense.

•Deep ball tracking

This actually isn't changing, but fans often complain that defensive backs don't turn and find the ball on deep throws. I asked Wharton about this and he said the technique on deep balls remains the same.

"If you're in phase, you've got to go up and you've got to make a play," Wharton said. "If you're out of phase, you've just got to run and play the hands."

Being "in phase" means running step-for-step with a receiver and being even with him as the ball arrives. Being in phase allows a defensive back to turn to find the ball and attempt to make an interception. While it's ideal to be in phase, it's rarely the case for the average cornerback.

More likely, a cornerback is going to be a step or two behind a receiver on a deep ball, so the defender can't afford to turn to find the ball because that will create even more separation. Instead, defensive backs are taught to continue running and then try to strip the ball when the receiver extends his hands for the catch.

Duh! Phase, no phase. Is that anything like getting beat, or staying with your man!? I'm guessing yes!
Of course you don't turn around when you are getting beat deep, you are too busy trying to catch up. (bad DB) You give away 10 yards, and still get beat deep, Very(bad DB)!
If you are within a step of the WR, you always look for the ball when the WR looks for it! When that ball is in the air it belongs to NOONE, and yet everyone. And, if the WR makes the play, or it's an excellent pass, then that's the way it goes. But, at least attempt to make a play, this waving of the arms is, or face guarding is for those who can't cover.
I don't care what anyone say's to the contrar. And, will always state, that any DB that is not that close to the WR on any given deep ball, should not be on the field in Div. I!

 

[KnightsofChrome]

It's just no use. All the coaching experts who sit around me at the stadium... and all the game day thread contributors will still whine and cry every time there is a long completion " why dont we turn around to the ball?" "What are the coaches teaching our guys ?" You can try to post these quotes about what the staff is teaching our kids every time it comes up .... but it is just something there will always be complaints about. Extremely annoying to hear/read this ALL the time. And while last year we were picked apart underneath by most teams...... I know I wont be surprised to see more frequent long TD passes against us next season. Trade-offs

Oh, look who's back Slyker! Talk about "annoying."

 

[RUSK97]

Can we wait for games to be played before passing judgment, please?

 

[JoeRU0304]

Oh, look who's back Slyker! Talk about "annoying."

...wonder what his thoughts are on the new APR news...and slyker, are you actually 'pre-complaining' about possible longball TD's we may let up this year? I hear you, especially with how great our pass coverage has been the last 3 seasons...man, and people say *I* complain...

Joe P.

 

[koleszar]

And while last year we were picked apart underneath by most teams...... I know I wont be surprised to see more frequent long TD passes against us next season. Trade-offs

But is there really a trade-off. Last year resulted in a defensive rank of 112 out of 127 teams. Pass defense ranked 117th. So it took them a little longer to score but the rankings suggest this approach was futile. Give me an aggressive defense that's trying to stop the O and get them off the field. Rather then a passive one designed too slow the O's matriculation down the field in hopes they make a mistake to get them off the field. I'll take the aggressive plan any day of the week. Sure there's going to be some hiccups, but really can the results be any worse.

 

[GSGS]

Yes true, but they will also be lining up in press man not 10 yds. off the receiver. This is a much more aggressive approach along with improved technique should disrupt timing plays. The nonsense which killed our defense for the past 3 years. We were basically a react defense and let the O dictate to us. Which caused our DB's to always be a step behind or not in phase. This was solely done for fear of the quick strike TD. Yet allowed offenses to matriculate down the field at will. By the way this technique of not looking at the QB is widely used in the college game to make up for lack of talent.

Spot on. I'll never forget the Pinstripe Bowl vs. ND where whenever they had a 3 and 10, which happened a lot in the 1st half as we were stopping the run, our CBs would give an 11 yard cushion and ND had an easy 3 and 10 conversion.

 

[Yeah Baby]

They use this technique in the NFL as well. If you are still arguing this you just don't understand Football.

This is about "turning around" and not the silly cushions we have been gave with young CBs in 2013 and 2015. Very different issues.

 

[Knight Shift]

Can we wait for games to be played before passing judgment, please?

At least its a football thread.

 

[miketd1]

Let's be honest: Those long completions last year had just as much to do with a lack of pass rush as it had to do with the DBs playing soft.

Conservative coverages like Cover-3 and Cover-6 require the defense to capitalize on the inevitable mistake by the offense. There were more than enough opportunities to make a game changing plays, but we just didn't make them. The pass rusher would get side-stepped or brushed off. The tackle for a loss becomes a big gain because we didn't wrap up. The errant deep ball isn't picked because the safety bit on play-action.

It's not just Xs and Os; you need the players to make plays too.

I hope folks have the stomach to weather the inevitable growing pains this year. At some point, these pressing corners are going to get beat badly. Those 10 yard gains are going to be TDs. But that doesn't mean Ash's system doesn't work. It just means that unlike last year, we're in a high risk/high reward defensive system when it comes to defending the deep ball.

 

[LotusAggressor]

The execution couldn't possibly be worse than last season. There's nowhere to go but up.

 

[wheezer]

They use this technique in the NFL as well. If you are still arguing this you just don't understand Football.

This is about "turning around" and not the silly cushions we have been gave with young CBs in 2013 and 2015. Very different issues.

-----------
the pro defensive backs look much more aggressive, go for the ball, than we do...and yes, a lot of that is higher skill level achieved in the pros ....but I think there
is a difference.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

It's just no use. All the coaching experts who sit around me at the stadium... and all the game day thread contributors will still whine and cry every time there is a long completion " why dont we turn around to the ball?" "What are the coaches teaching our guys ?" You can try to post these quotes about what the staff is teaching our kids every time it comes up .... but it is just something there will always be complaints about. Extremely annoying to hear/read this ALL the time. And while last year we were picked apart underneath by most teams...... I know I wont be surprised to see more frequent long TD passes against us next season. Trade-offs

Says the "coaching expert" who thinks our #2 QB never should have been given a realistic chance in a 4-8 season.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Sorry, but:

1) Flood went, what, 0-4 on "legacies" last year?

2) let's wait and see what happens. If Ash can spin the kid, fine, but putting this on HIM, right now, (even if you're trying to be funny...), is ludicrous.

 

[RU1977]

Ash's system won a national championship. Gotta be better than what we had - was painful to watch our pass defense.

 

[Yeah Baby]

----------
the pro defensive backs look much more aggressive, go for the ball, than we do...and yes, a lot of that is higher skill level achieved in the pros ....but I think there
is a difference.

Definitely has a lot to do with skill level. Go watch film on Logan Ryan in 2012. He was aggressive so it clearly is skill level and experience. Then he jumped to the NFL and had to adjust to the speed of the game at that level. It took him a couple of years at both levels and he is very good at it.

Any time I watch a WR and CB running stride for stride down the sidelines in the NFL or in college, I pay close attention to how they play the ball. Some are better than others (ie Revis) but for the most part you see the CB raking the arms of the WR without turning to make a play on the ball. The play that drives our fans nuts going back to I think Kent St in 2004 (or Akron around that time frame) is the under thrown pass and our DB's taking a penalty by running through the WR without looking. That is lack of experience and lack of knowledge by our fans to still make that same complaint in 2015. You do not see that in the NFL but you also don't see a lot of under thrown passes either. NFL QB's put the ball where only the WR can make a play.

Again, this is very different than our fans more recent complaints (much more valid IMO) of too much cushion and our FS dropping an extra 5-7 yards at or before the snap. I never liked the bend but don't break, especially in the 2 minute drill.I personally think we beat WSU last year if we play press coverage on the final drive. Those are two completely different issues. We did it to help out our inexperienced players and got shredded.

Last year our guys went for the ball aggressively on the handful of times they were near the WR and the pass. But we left such gaping holes in the middle that nobody was there to make a play on most passes. Also very tough to make a play on a bubble screen. That is more run Defense than pass Defense.

Anyway, the article I copied and pasted above is the correct technique on man to man coverage of deep passes so our fans need to stop yelling "turn around" because of one bad game in 2005. When you do that you might as well put a "kick me" sign on your back.

 

[wheezer]

I noticed Logan played more like a pro would, he was more aggressive ..... My question is, was he going against the teaching at the college level, or was he given permission to play a looking for the ball defense.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

More likely, a cornerback is going to be a step or two behind a receiver on a deep ball, so the defender can't afford to turn to find the ball because that will create even more separation. Instead, defensive backs are taught to continue running and then try to strip the ball when the receiver extends his hands for the catch.

My complaint has been the Safeties not being able to make it to the ball to knock it down. Duron Harmon is the only safety in recent memory that seemed to be able to track balls from the safety spot. The man coverage guys.. turn around or not, they have a technique. My problem is with the help coverage not being helpful enough.

 

[miketd1]

If we played a lot of Cover-6 like the article claims, the field corner isn't getting a whole lot of help by design. The field safety has a myriad of other responsibilities depending on personnel/formation -- helping the corner up top is pretty much the last thing he checks to.

 

[Yeah Baby]

I noticed Logan played more like a pro would, he was more aggressive ..... My question is, was he going against the teaching at the college level, or was he given permission to play a looking for the ball defense.

He played the same technique as everyone else. He just got very good at it by his 4th and 5th years in the program. Same for many of our CB's. Every year they got better and many ended up in the NFL.

Barnwell was getting pretty good at it in 2014. He reminded me a lot of Ryan, especially in run support.