Defense: 1 turnover through 5 games

Good points. So many areas to improve on, makes you wonder what is going on.

 

We're saving up for the end of the season!

 

Have to take advantage of opportunities. More than a few bad bounces on free balls vs Utah…and an easy missed pick 6 yesterday. For whatever reason, we do not seem to be creating TOs

 

An easy pick six hit Jason Marshall in the worst place: his breadbasket.

 

That is a real cause for concern, however, stopping the run was far more important to the outcome last night than not getting turnovers.

 

Defense is extremely young, but would like to see some game changing turnovers for sure.

 

When you have players like Marshall Hall dropping an EASY pick six which in my estimation was INEXCUSABLE, you are going to have low turnover numbers.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT PLAY. YOU HAVE TO. You are on the road, you are a top recruit, you have people on the bench playing behind you because you are supposed to be the one to make that play, you want to go to the pros, you have recruits watching the game, you have tough games in front of you that are going to be against higher ranked opponents, you are probably getting NIL money, and the opposing team wants to go to the next level also. Napier needs to start letting these guys know about expectations especially now when you can be compensated even in college.

Anyone can drop a sure interception, but Marshall needs to step his f’n game up. He is colossally underperforming.

They interception was not on Mertz. The TE allowed the ball to carom off of his chest which caused the deflection and easy interception. I bring this up because the Kentucky player who was a lower ranked recruit than Marshall MADE THE PLAY!

I would rather lose with players who are not GUARANTEED starting spots than players who think they can continue to underperform but feel their starting positions are guaranteed.

We have two running backs that are underperforming. Yes our OL could be doing better, but great backs find a way. Davis wasn’t just running through holes. He had vision to see where holes were created irrespective of the play.

Maybe Webb will be that kind of back. We need a tailback who can improvise. Etienne and Johnson have demonstrated this year SEVERE limitations on improvisation.

 

I’m not overly concerned with the defense. Young and inexperienced. New system. New focus Antone Lott was nicknamed “toast” his first year at DB and ended up being pretty good. It takes time.

 

When a running back has over 280 yards I can’t even see anything past that

 

We got stomped with a hobnail boot.

 

True, but what was the reason he got so many yards? College defenses feed off of emotion, and when our offense was struggling, and they were in a hostile environment, they went flat.

They obviously have work to do but I don't think they are as terrible as yesterday showed.

We had thirteen guys on the field and we still couldn't stop him. That tells me that they were done.

 

Plain and simple - no one on our defense wanted anything to do with that UK running back. He was knocking the crap out of people, and our D could not tackle him.

 

we needed 14

 

All this is true but they didnt create any emotion either from the 1st drive forward. AA got caught up in what yuk might/could do not what they were doing until too late.

In hindsight he should have gone to a bear front and made them throw the ball while playing man. We would have had numbers to contain the run and also pressure the QB on throws. Its what the game unfolded into despite our original game plan was

 

I don't think it would have helped.

 

It actually was on him…a dangerous throw to a covered receiver in traffic. If you can hold Marshall accountable for his mistakes then you can hold Mertz accountable for his too.

 

I'm watching the buffalo/Miami game and the Bills DBs have already dropped 2 picks in the first half. It happens to the best of players.
As for Etienne's limitations , the only thing I see is that he is not much of a blocker. . Just need to get him in space and watch him make people miss.

 

If this team had Kearse back they would be able to run the 3 man front, but they don't. In 92 bama ran it with Copeland and Curry, but the next year went to the 4 man front when those two graduated. This defense with these players don't have what it takes to play the 3 man front. Just sayin'

 

They aren't ball hawks like Kentucky. They react rather than attack. 10 yards off the LOS waiting to see if the QB throws in their area leaving the receiver wide open. Kentucky's defense is decades ahead of us. Watch the replay. They aren't giving our receivers even a yard. It's why Mertz had to check down so much.