Why are defensive backs so bad?

[GP1]

I watch a lot of football. Something the past 2-3 years has really started to bother me. Maybe you guys see the same thing at Akron games. It used to be the first two thoughts that went through a DBs mind when the ball was in the air were these two, in this priority:

1. Intercept the ball

2. Knock the ball down

It seems today that the first instinct for a DB is to commit a pass interference penalty when the ball is in the air. In the game I was at last light, one DB just reached out and grabbed the jersey of a GaTech WR 15 yards downfield (the next play he missed a tackle that gave up 40 yards and set GaTech up for at least a FG with under a minute). These are WRs in an option offense and really aren't that good. It's as if they don't know the rules. Most of them are in a position to make a clean play and don't take advantage of it.

Am I the only one who notices this?

Fans talk a lot about coaching vs. recruiting. Maybe this is what happens when the focus of college football becomes recruiting and not coaching. It is a part of the game I am really starting to dislike.

[ditchrider1]

I watch a lot of football. Something the past 2-3 years has really started to bother me. Maybe you guys see the same thing at Akron games. It used to be the first two thoughts that went through a DBs mind when the ball was in the air were these two, in this priority:

1. Intercept the ball

2. Knock the ball down

It seems today that the first instinct for a DB is to commit a pass interference penalty when the ball is in the air. In the game I was at last light, one DB just reached out and grabbed the jersey of a GaTech WR 15 yards downfield (the next play he missed a tackle that gave up 40 yards and set GaTech up for at least a FG with under a minute). These are WRs in an option offense and really aren't that good. It's as if they don't know the rules. Most of them are in a position to make a clean play and don't take advantage of it.

Am I the only one who notices this?

Fans talk a lot about coaching vs. recruiting. Maybe this is what happens when the focus of college football becomes recruiting and not coaching. It is a part of the game I am really starting to dislike.

I have noticed a lot more back to the ball DB play where they appear to be watching the eyes of the receiver and then sticking a hand up to face guard at the last second. There is very little defense on the ball anymore by the DB's. It seems that the speed of some WR's has the DB's in fear of turning around to look for the ball only to turn back and see the WR gone?

Who knows...another lost art of the game.

[RootforRoo44]

Funny, our defensive backs do these things in this order:

1) get burned

2) continue to be undersized

3) commit pass interference

4) fall down and let the guy run easily into the endzone

[Zipmeister]

Funny, our defensive backs do these things in this order:

1) get burned

2) continue to be undersized

3) commit pass interference

4) fall down and let the guy run easily into the endzone

No, No, No.

They were undersized way before they did the other three.

[Dr Z]

I wonder if they are taught to never look back, because it seems as though they don't? I don't understand that if it is true. It is the most frustrating thing on our team to watch. I wish this group could turn it around, but I am losing hope. I fear we need to bring in some kind of defensive back specialist to help teach.

Top 5?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I miss Dwight Smith. He shut down his side of the field. If the ball was up in the air, he considered it "his." If his man caught the ball, he ripped it out of his arms. I see no DB with that attitude. No anticipation. Our secondary plays on it's heels.

[scottditzen]

I miss Dwight Smith. He shut down his side of the field. If the ball was up in the air, he considered it "his." If his man caught the ball, he ripped it out of his arms. I see no DB with that attitude. No anticipation. Our secondary plays on it's heels.

So does our offense.

[Buckzip]

Our DB's aren't that great of athletes. They may have straight ahead speed but don't play with their hips on a swivel.

They are either looking back for the ball and getting burned or they are playing the receiver and ignoring the ball.

They fail to do both and react with instincts.

Size isn't the biggest thing here. There are quite a few small CB's in the nfl. Yes, there are certain situations that the size will kill you, endzone fades and jump balls, but overall size isn't that big of an issue.

Our DB's are horribly coached. Not a lot of technique in our secondary.

If you look at recruiting rankings,not that they mean a lot, we have actually signed some pretty good CB's over the past few years. Larty, Alexander, Byrd, Waller were all 2-3*. For the MAC that is pretty good.

Again, the ratings don't mean alot, but these aren't all unrated or 1* guys back there.