I have to believe

[earsky]

that the word got out to those defensive replacements that if you tackle, you will play.
Lining up wrong, blowing assignments and miscommunication can all be excused imo.
There's no excuse as a defensive player to not be willing to take on runners or receivers and lay it all out there to stop that guy.
You can almost always rate a defense by how they tackle. There was some tackling going on in that second half 😳

 

[ulcards1]

Ageed!
Defense is about having mean, tough, fast strong athletes busting their ass. It's tactics, not strategy. Our defenses under Strong represented that because I don't think Bedford was any defensive genius. (but I loved him}
The guys got after it last night and attacked a not too special UCF offense. Guys pursued to the ball, (Diaby running down those screens), we pressured the QB and we made some plays on thrown balls.

 

[beantowncard]

Ageed!
Defense is about having mean, tough, fast strong athletes busting their ass. It's tactics, not strategy. Our defenses under Strong represented that because I don't think Bedford was any defensive genius. (but I loved him}
The guys got after it last night and attacked a not too special UCF offense. Guys pursued to the ball, (Diaby running down those screens), we pressured the QB and we made some plays on thrown balls.

You said it - pressure. Whenever CBB has dialed up pressure we always are more effective. One of the problems I have with Brown, as others have stated, is the passive, read and react approach he too often takes. I hope we continue to bring the heat on D. It changes everything.

 

[earsky]

we pressured the QB and we made some plays on thrown balls.

You get to pressure when those guys left on an island can hold their own. Last night they held their own. It was a very refreshing look to see anybody make a play on that side of the ball.
It took one game and a couple of series for the veterans to be nudged out and become spectators by the youngsters.