I have watched every game intently as well as last year, most specifically the Defensive line
I read these guys get clobbered on here and wanted to offer my opinion, for whatever its worth
- I would love to know the percentage of times the opponent runs to their right, USC left side, why is this?
-It's because you have an undersized 4 technique(head up on tackle) who is a very good player, but he is playing out of scheme. He is a 43 DE who is best working in space vs a tackle and his size allows him to control the TE. He is athletic and is the DL best pure pass rusher. However, he gets swallowed up by larger tackles and struggles to hold the point at 275 in a 4. There is little movement to help accommodate, there is no kicking the front to alleviate, there is no front adjustment knowing this player is having a hard time, players fault?
-Antuwan Woods has struggled at times and not made many plays. Fact is he is not a zero technique! He is a one gap 43 A gap player who is best getting off the football and disrupting. He is asked to do something completely different, he is asked to play flat along the line, play through the chest to control the Center and require the Guard to help, not his game or style, because he can get based blocked, in a 34 the LB's are exposed and are getting blocked at the snap, is it the LB's fault or Woods or the scheme?
-Delvon Simmons has put together a good season and does not get much credit, 3rd on the team in tackles and rarely gets frontside action, he is consistently chasing from the backside as teams run at Townsend. He has the ability to play in both schemes due to length and size but he too is a 43 one gap disruptor. He along with woods do not get opportunities on 3rd down to rush the passer, the one time they line up in a shade and can do what they know best. Instead they bring in a much smaller unit with Gustin, Felix, Townsend inside who should be outside, and 91, how does this make sense? Would be discouraging as well. You got a one gap disruptor in Woods who never rushes and a 6-5 one gap player with an excellent get off who come out on 3rd down and only play two down and is 4 point stance and asked to go lateral.
On top of this Pass rush is not taught at SC and it shows across the board, when the chance at having the correct pieces in place on 3rd down it does not happen. Part of coaching at any level is assessing your strengths and playing to it, not fitting a square peg into a round hole. I have watched this now for 18 games and nothing has changed. You can say when BLW did ok? He is an elite player who too was handcuffed in that scheme, he also was kept in on 3rd down allowing for a handful of sacks. Put LW in Clancy's scheme last year and he doubles that number.
Also SC went to a dime last night at times, what did they do up front, put 275 lb Townsend at the nose, did they expect him to push the pocket?
I'm not looking for arguments, this is my take on specifically what is happening, I read guys clobber the DL personnel and shake my head because reality is, they are not to blame and have to be frustrated. Playing this style is like asking Cody Kessler to run the zone option! Would you blame Cody?
Someone can say Alabama does well with the 34, they do but those style of players are much different up front, they are 330-340 lb immovable objects who eat space and let backers run, does this sound like the 3 guys we have?
I read these guys get clobbered on here and wanted to offer my opinion, for whatever its worth
- I would love to know the percentage of times the opponent runs to their right, USC left side, why is this?
-It's because you have an undersized 4 technique(head up on tackle) who is a very good player, but he is playing out of scheme. He is a 43 DE who is best working in space vs a tackle and his size allows him to control the TE. He is athletic and is the DL best pure pass rusher. However, he gets swallowed up by larger tackles and struggles to hold the point at 275 in a 4. There is little movement to help accommodate, there is no kicking the front to alleviate, there is no front adjustment knowing this player is having a hard time, players fault?
-Antuwan Woods has struggled at times and not made many plays. Fact is he is not a zero technique! He is a one gap 43 A gap player who is best getting off the football and disrupting. He is asked to do something completely different, he is asked to play flat along the line, play through the chest to control the Center and require the Guard to help, not his game or style, because he can get based blocked, in a 34 the LB's are exposed and are getting blocked at the snap, is it the LB's fault or Woods or the scheme?
-Delvon Simmons has put together a good season and does not get much credit, 3rd on the team in tackles and rarely gets frontside action, he is consistently chasing from the backside as teams run at Townsend. He has the ability to play in both schemes due to length and size but he too is a 43 one gap disruptor. He along with woods do not get opportunities on 3rd down to rush the passer, the one time they line up in a shade and can do what they know best. Instead they bring in a much smaller unit with Gustin, Felix, Townsend inside who should be outside, and 91, how does this make sense? Would be discouraging as well. You got a one gap disruptor in Woods who never rushes and a 6-5 one gap player with an excellent get off who come out on 3rd down and only play two down and is 4 point stance and asked to go lateral.
On top of this Pass rush is not taught at SC and it shows across the board, when the chance at having the correct pieces in place on 3rd down it does not happen. Part of coaching at any level is assessing your strengths and playing to it, not fitting a square peg into a round hole. I have watched this now for 18 games and nothing has changed. You can say when BLW did ok? He is an elite player who too was handcuffed in that scheme, he also was kept in on 3rd down allowing for a handful of sacks. Put LW in Clancy's scheme last year and he doubles that number.
Also SC went to a dime last night at times, what did they do up front, put 275 lb Townsend at the nose, did they expect him to push the pocket?
I'm not looking for arguments, this is my take on specifically what is happening, I read guys clobber the DL personnel and shake my head because reality is, they are not to blame and have to be frustrated. Playing this style is like asking Cody Kessler to run the zone option! Would you blame Cody?
Someone can say Alabama does well with the 34, they do but those style of players are much different up front, they are 330-340 lb immovable objects who eat space and let backers run, does this sound like the 3 guys we have?
