You Guys Wanted Answers...You Got It

[GP1]

''Defense is still about gap scheme. It is still about having bodies to plug holes no matter how you line up,'' Brookhart said. ''A lot of teams have used it with success. West Virginia and Tulsa have.''Above is a quote from JD about the defense they will use next year from the article in the ABJ. Here is the problem with the logic.1. Yes, defense is about covering gaps properly. The problem is when the players are too small to cover the gaps they are asked to cover, they lose battles with the offense because they are too small.2. A lot of teams have had success with it. Two teams do not constitute "a lot" in my book. In fact, hardly anyone uses the defense which should tell all of us something. WVU loses more big games than they win. I could really care less about what Tulsa does. I also know this....of those "a lot of teams" having success with the 3-3-5, we are not one of them.Unless this is a smoke screen, the Zips are in trouble next year unless they are going to have an offense that can score tons of points week in and week out. They have too much depth on the DL and LB not to use those as many of those players as possible on every play.Thanks to the ABJ and their reporter for doing a story on this issue. It is a major issue facing the Zips.

[lance99]

They still want to run the 3-3-5? why? why? why? It would make more sense to use an 4-3. They used it at times last year and hade mixed sucess with it. There is a reason teams at any level don't use the 3-3-5,.it is almost as bad as the 2-5-4

[Rich28]

I dont know if this means anything but yesterday i was watching the 105 play scrimmage and it looked like the D was running a 3-4. They didnt come out in the 3-3-5 one play.

[Buckzip]

I dont know if this means anything but yesterday i was watching the 105 play scrimmage and it looked like the D was running a 3-4. They didnt come out in the 3-3-5 one play.

actions speak louder than words.

[skip-zip]

Rich...I think you bring up an important point. I see that you observed what you believed were 3-4-4 alignments from the defense. I'm no football expert by any means, but if I look back over the last several years, I see a lot of that as well. The Rover in that 3-3-5 defense (a role that John Mackey almost played to perfection) looks to essentially be a linebacker who has the ability to pick up a pass receiver, when needed....and then you see the two safeties and two corners. This is why I think we all get too hung up on what they are "calling" the defense. I'm much more interested in simply knowing that we have our best defensive players on the field making plays, as opposed to thinking too much about what the coaches are calling the alignment. But if the coaches identify that we have a ton of talent and depth at DL and LB, then I hope they reconsider doing some other things. But right now, there's a long way to go until we put a team of the field this year. Yes, we've seen some 4-down linemen situations too. I think we used that last year when facing teams like Syracuse and OU to fill the assignments needed to stop option plays.

[72 Roo]

Rich...I think you bring up an important point. I see that you observed what you believed were 3-4-4 alignments from the defense. I'm no football expert by any means, but if I look back over the last several years, I see a lot of that as well. The Rover in that 3-3-5 defense (a role that John Mackey almost played to perfection) looks to essentially be a linebacker who has the ability to pick up a pass receiver, when needed....and then you see the two safeties and two corners. This is why I think we all get too hung up on what they are "calling" the defense. I'm much more interested in simply knowing that we have our best defensive players on the field making plays, as opposed to thinking too much about what the coaches are calling the alignment. But if the coaches identify that we have a ton of talent and depth at DL and LB, then I hope they reconsider doing some other things. But right now, there's a long way to go until we put a team of the field this year. Yes, we've seen some 4-down linemen situations too. I think we used that last year when facing teams like Syracuse and OU to fill the assignments needed to stop option plays.

Skip ... I agree. Also I think there are many things we can agree on. First, and foremost, we must play a defense that puts pressure on the QB. I'll let the coaches decide how to do that. The days of letting the QB have all the time in the world while we rush 3 against 5 blockers must be over. That didn't work and caused us to lose leads and the game many times in the fourth quarter. To tell you the truth I am disappointed JD won'rt admit that. He needs to take responsibility for running a defense that was one of the worst in the MAC. The win-loss record proves it. All the other stuff is just crap and coach-speak for it's someone else's fault. Sorry, but it falls on JD's shoulders. Please fix it.I do not share the confidence some of the posters on this board have in our LB's. I regard them as undersized and not capable of plugging holes or taking on pulling linemen/fullbacks. This is a concern of mine. We need big, physical, nasty LB's who can stop a runner dead in his tracks. Several of our best 6 LB's are no bigger than a free safety (6 '0, 205-220). I like a 4-3 because of our depth at D line and size limitations at LB.Regardless, the problem on D has been there for years. It's time to fix it now and become

[UADavid]

In Brookhart's first two seasons as coach, the Zips were second (2005) and fifth (2006) in the Mid-American Conference in total defense. Those rankings dropped considerably the past two years, falling to seventh (2007) and 10th (2008).Skeptics blame the 3-3-5 for the lack of defensive success because of difficulties stopping the run and rushing the passer, but Brookhart prefers to say injuries and inexperience are more relevant factors.''Defense is still about gap scheme. It is still about having bodies to plug holes no matter how you line up,'' Brookhart said. ''A lot of teams have used it with success. West Virginia and Tulsa have.'' Tulsa successhttp://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283200248 http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/team/tulsa-go...ricane-footballWest Virginia successhttp://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/team/west-vir...ineers-footballDefensively they are awful. WVU was successful at not giving up points. If that's Coach Brookhart's idea of success we better be putting up 50 per game.

[Buckzip]

I can't handle the truth

[Lee Adams]

we seem to, every year talk about the same things...my biggest beef with JD is that he has not been able to adjust his thinking to the 'talent' he has available...if he has the players to run a 3-3-5 run it...he hasn't had that the last few years...same thing on the offensive side...he stays too long with players who can't play 'his' schemes with the players he has available...anyway, here's hoping there are enough 'backers to do what the new d-coord wants or is told to do...i still want to see a 'straight' 4-3 with a true safety who can headhunt...nobody is talking about that...Bryan Williams was played out of position all year last year...he can make it at the next level as a true safety...check the workout results...

[johnnyzip84]

we seem to, every year talk about the same things...my biggest beef with JD is that he has not been able to adjust his thinking to the 'talent' he has available...if he has the players to run a 3-3-5 run it...he hasn't had that the last few years...same thing on the offensive side...he stays too long with players who can't play 'his' schemes with the players he has available...anyway, here's hoping there are enough 'backers to do what the new d-coord wants or is told to do...i still want to see a 'straight' 4-3 with a true safety who can headhunt...nobody is talking about that...Bryan Williams was played out of position all year last year...he can make it at the next level as a true safety...check the workout results...

Did I miss something? Fleming's still DC, isn't he?I think the 3-3-5 should be replaced, but I'm not THAT concerned to this point over what JD has stated to the media. Last year, my biggest complaint was in short yardage situations. We never employed a "jumbo package" near the goal line on defense. I still have a vivid image of a Syracuse back waltzing easily towards us Zip faithful in the 2nd half of that game, with a light and overmatched Zip D sprawled about in the endzone. I think we had Doug Williams as a down lineman on that play. If situations like this aren't defended differently (scheme, personel or both), then I don't care what JD and Fleming have to say about "more multiple looks". Because it will be a moot point after another year of samo-samo. I will reserve judgement until I see the product on the field, however. You'd like to think the spring game would offer a glimpse, but who knows.Irrespective of scheme, I'm pretty disheartened by the Bain bad back news. I also wonder why Chris Henderson wasn't mentioned in the article. I assume he'd be on campus? Any info of Chris out there? We NEED at least one of those guys to come through in a big way.Skip.....actually I recall the 4-down linemen set used mostly (and effectively I might add) against Army. It was also the last game the Pendleton saw the field much, but I won't go there

[Dr Z]

I missed the article yesterday. First off, thanks for writing this article Tom, it's the biggest question on my mind as a Zips football fan. I'm going to hold my comments until I watch the practice Saturday. I just can't waste any more typing on the 3-3-5 right now. Bain being hurt is a HUGE disappointment for me. I REALLY wanted to see him play Saturday, and I'm guessing that isn't going to happen. He is going to make ANY defense better no matter what the scheme is.While this is no secret, it's nice to see in print. ''As much as anything, we have to get to the quarterback better,'' Brookhart said. Can't wait to see that happen during an actual game. I just can't take watching last years defense again, shinny new stadium or not.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Irrespective of scheme, I'm pretty disheartened by the Bain bad back news. I also wonder why Chris Henderson wasn't mentioned in the article. I assume he'd be on campus? Any info of Chris out there?

No player from the 2009 recruiting class is on campus. They won't arrive until summer.I'm not worried about Bain. I know they wanted to go easy on him this spring to make sure he'd be fresh come summer camp. I know there was also a concern that he might hurt someone on the offensive side of the ball if he played full-go, which is the only speed he knows.Every spring game the Zips leading rusher is someone that never sees the field the following season. See Frank Berchie or Ben Ruhlin. Generally speaking, I don't expect to see a whole lot of PT from any of the upper-classmen.

[dreal1scout]

Irrespective of scheme, I'm pretty disheartened by the Bain bad back news. I also wonder why Chris Henderson wasn't mentioned in the article. I assume he'd be on campus? Any info of Chris out there?

No player from the 2009 recruiting class is on campus. They won't arrive until summer.I'm not worried about Bain. I know they wanted to go easy on him this spring to make sure he'd be fresh come summer camp. I know there was also a concern that he might hurt someone on the offensive side of the ball if he played full-go, which is the only speed he knows.Every spring game the Zips leading rusher is someone that never sees the field the following season. See Frank Berchie or Ben Ruhlin. Generally speaking, I don't expect to see a whole lot of PT from any of the upper-classmen.

However, at least some of the new recruits will be on campus for the annual Spring Festival this Saturday. I know Phil Tonga will be there. As many of you may know that I am the Tonganator's uncle, I hope that you get a chance to meet Phil and regards my best wishes for him. Just go easy on the grip! We don't need any injury to those Monster Hands! hehe! I wish I could be there.

[skip-zip]

Johnny...you're right!! That Army game was the one I forgot about as far as a game where we played a lot with an extra down lineman to defend the option. Captain...Bain was hurting our offense last year in the spring game. Good point about keeping him out so that we don't risk injury with any offensive players.

[johnnyzip84]

Irrespective of scheme, I'm pretty disheartened by the Bain bad back news. I also wonder why Chris Henderson wasn't mentioned in the article. I assume he'd be on campus? Any info of Chris out there?

No player from the 2009 recruiting class is on campus. They won't arrive until summer.I'm not worried about Bain. I know they wanted to go easy on him this spring to make sure he'd be fresh come summer camp. I know there was also a concern that he might hurt someone on the offensive side of the ball if he played full-go, which is the only speed he knows.Every spring game the Zips leading rusher is someone that never sees the field the following season. See Frank Berchie or Ben Ruhlin. Generally speaking, I don't expect to see a whole lot of PT from any of the upper-classmen.

However, at least some of the new recruits will be on campus for the annual Spring Festival this Saturday. I know Phil Tonga will be there. As many of you may know that I am the Tonganator's uncle, I hope that you get a chance to meet Phil and regards my best wishes for him. Just go easy on the grip! We don't need any injury to those Monster Hands! hehe! I wish I could be there.

I can't wait to see Phil on campus! I'll do my best to ease up on him.....just for his Uncle's sake

[RACER]

we could not put pressure on the other teams qb even when we blitzed our lb's.i think the biggest issue i have is that our defense is so undersized.other teams just beat us up on the line of scrimmage.until we get some bigger players at db,and lb we are going to be in trouble.maybe this year with some bigger dl this will help the problem of playing undersized lb-db though.the only chance we have a good season is if the offense can put up alott of points.we are going to need at least 35-40 points a game for our offense,and hope they don't turn the ball over.i just don't see how the defense is going to stop anybody this year.