Time for a new Defensive coach?

[FredCard]

Haven't posted since the KP disaster. Love our teams fight today. However is anyone else worried about our defense? This game reminded me of our bowl game when we were beat over and over with long plays by the other team.
Also, I really disagree with the overturn of the fumble by SMU late in the game. I think that pretty much sealed our fate. Anyway, Go Cards forever!

 

[LeFors4Ever]

We haven’t been happy with a DC since Charlie left. We’ve seen what rotating DCs can do to a program.

 

[FredCard]

Sorry, I meant defensive coach.

 

[SpotHogCard]

Brohm did not sound happy AT ALL with English in the post game interview.

 

[73Card]

Brohm did not sound happy AT ALL with English in the post game interview.

He was pissed that the constant personnel changes more often than not looked like a Chinese fire drill resulting in penalties and burnt time outs. What he didn't say was that, that same confusion was also obvious on offense.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

At Purdue, Brohm struggled with defensive coaching hires until English steadied the ship.

But id point out that Big Ten West offenses aren’t that hard to scheme for, you just have to be ready. Seems like English is good with teams with speed and can do many things

 

[UofLouisville]

Would rather have Ivey leading the D. English has always been a just holdem enough for the offense to win. That ain't gonna cut it.

 

[wreckcard#22]

IDK...seems like we've been pretty good on the D side. Today was tough, not sure we can blame that in us as much as them executing.

 

[2330859]

The defensive performance was not good, but it was more about SMU execution than us, Frankly I am more concerned with our offensive play calling and our inability to protect the pocket.

 

[TheRealVille]

The defensive performance was not good, but it was more about SMU execution than us, Frankly I am more concerned with our offensive play calling and our inability to protect the pocket.

I totally agree. Great offensive performances are just hard to contain even with good defenses.

Just like last week, Louisville would have won despite everything, including replays and double pass interference calls, if not for the absolute ineptitude on one yard plays. I've never seen a good offense struggle so much getting one frigging yard.

I think the OL hasn't been perfect by any means but they have done a good job overall, considering Shough is not very mobile in this age of the dual threat QB.

Shough just wasn't quick enough to avoid the rush in that 4th quarter. On the other side, Jennings was all over the place avoiding defenders keeping the play alive.

So far I've been disappointed and surprised at the lack of misdirection and deception in Brohms playcalling. Maybe it's because Shough isn't a dual threat?

 

[CardsFirst]

We haven’t been happy with a DC since Charlie left. We’ve seen what rotating DCs can do to a program.

English is a horrible DC he was mediocre when he was here last time under Bobby. This was the one hire by Brohm that worried me. Typical Brohm, normally a great O and weak D. English fits that well. Sure rotating DC’s aren’t good, but if they’re bad they gotta go. Ivy can take over. That was as dysfunctional as it gets today.

 

[CardsFirst]

The defensive performance was not good, but it was more about SMU execution than us, Frankly I am more concerned with our offensive play calling and our inability to protect the pocket.

To a point, but English hasn’t been prepared for a running QB for 4 games now. He got lucky with GT as they beat themselves with mistakes. It took English a whole half to figure out how to stop ND, but it was too late. Today he was out coached and our team was clearly unprepared. So no it wasn’t entirely about SMU, they just did what good teams do take advantage of weak play. And they clearly had a good plan and are well coached.

 

[CardsFirst]

I totally agree. Great offensive performances are just hard to contain even with good defenses.

Just like last week, Louisville would have won despite everything, including replays and double pass interference calls, if not for the absolute ineptitude on one yard plays. I've never seen a good offense struggle so much getting one frigging yard.

I think the OL hasn't been perfect by any means but they have done a good job overall, considering Shough is not very mobile in this age of the dual threat QB.

Shough just wasn't quick enough to avoid the rush in that 4th quarter. On the other side, Jennings was all over the place avoiding defenders keeping the play alive.

So far I've been disappointed and surprised at the lack of misdirection and deception in Brohms playcalling. Maybe it's because Shough isn't a dual threat?

Are you guys watching the same game? Our O line isn’t good. Last week ND was coming through going around the ends untouched. This week SMU was getting into Tyler’s face in seconds. Tyler has pretty quick release but he has to have time to find a target. The O line will make a hole for an explosive play and turn around and can’t move it one yard. Erratic play. Sure SMU is really good, but so is every team left on schedule. Continue to play like this and it’s going to be a rough year.
English’s D started failing at the end of last season and continues to look horrible, well other than when we played the two high school teams.
I revised my prediction. Will be lucky to go 7-5. The UVA game will tell us a lot. Hope I’m wrong.

 

[UofLouisville]

English was not prepared, yet again, fot a quarterback that could run. The last 4 qb's have run for 324 yards and 4 td's. And most of those runs are from a 4 man rush and a soft zone defense that will allow a qb to run 10+ yards whenever they want. Same defense pretty much every play. Scared to blitz. Scared to man. Scared to give up a big play but does so over and over again because everyone knows what he will do the next play. English is less than useless, he is a hindrance.

 

[Realville502]

Ron English won’t get us to where we want to go and that’s the next level. He must go

 

[2330859]

We may not see another QB as talented and as effective at reading the defense as what we witnessed from Jennings.

There were numerous instances where Jennings used his athleticism to escape the pocket, and freeze our corners as he ran laterally right up to the LOS before making the correct decision to either throw to his receiver, or run for the first down.

You cannot teach a QB that skill, nor can you expect a CB to defend it without risking the receiver breaking away from the corner. We failed to contain Jennings from getting outside the pocket, something that is highly unlikely when you have large DEs trying to run down a fast QB.

 

[Guardman]

O-Line is BAD.

Whole Defense is BAD.

Cards will go 6-6.

 

[Rollem Cards]

This is not the offense I expected from Brohm.

OTOH, he’s never been known for defense.

With no offense? We’re barely average.

But he’s “home” for life, so we have to hope for better things to come.

But there is a strong possibility that we may live the life of the uk FB fan

I’ve been wishing and hoping too many years to think otherwise

 

[Cardiac Red]

O-Line is BAD.

Whole Defense is BAD.

Cards will go 6-6.

That sounds overly optimistic after what I saw yesterday with the schedule we have remaining.. I don't know which 3 teams we can expect to beat..

So disappointed in this team right now..

 

[AnotherCFD]

I totally agree with the op. Time to clean house on at least 3 coaches. Defensive coordinator, secondary coach and offensive line coach.

 

[Thecycle27]

This is why you can’t take anything from spring or fall practices. Deepest Dline and 3 NFL corners. Can’t cover anyone and can’t get pressure.

The other factor is relying on transfers especially on the Oline and Dline is a crap shoot. The line has to work together. That takes time. Then you if you miss good luck. Skilled players can transition pretty quickly.

The coaching isn’t good. You can’t come out of the Notre Dame game thinking you are going to run over teams. The lack of creativity on those plays was let’s say alarming. The best player on the offense is your QB let him make a play.

Defense is awful, completely trying to win doing nothing creative. Blitz packages all get picked up which means your defense is easy to scout. QB more times than not gets their first read again easy scout plus lack of having a good defensive game plan.

With all that said this is the new college football. Look at the results week to week. Alabama losses to Vandy because they run a really unique system and that QB understands it. Tennessee can’t do anything against Arkansas. Miami somehow finds a way to win at Cal.

I think spreads will become smaller and smaller as we progress in this new era.

 

[CardsFirst]

O-Line is BAD.

Whole Defense is BAD.

Cards will go 6-6.

Sadly you’re probably are closer to right than my 7-5 current prediction. What a mess

 

[MDCardsFan]

If Brohm wants and decides to go get a new DC after the season, I won’t complain in the least.

 

[earsky]

O-Line is BAD.

Whole Defense is BAD.

Cards will go 6-6.

My thoughts exactly. We'll have to outscore opponents going forward and it won't be running it first. We have a gunslinger. Let him sling it..

 

[wreckcard#22]

I got blasted for my preseason prediction of an L against SMU. I also predicted a W against UM and UK. The team that starts the season is not the team that finishes. Let that sink in.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

I got blasted for my preseason prediction of an L against SMU. I also predicted a W against UM and UK. The team that starts the season is not the team that finishes. Let that sink in.

Only worry is motivation. A team of transfers were motivated for a ACC title game and playoff berth. When that becomes out of reach, the motivation feels different to close strong.

 

[rh62531]

Look for more defections as many of those transfers came here or the big bowl games, not the Sun Bol and other small venue sites.

 

[Cardiac Red]

The team that starts the season is not the team that finishes. Let that sink in.

I guess that's supposed to be some words of wisdom. I'll let it sink in maybe it will come to me..

 

[UofLouisville]

Honestly JB needs to divest responsibility of the offense to BB who was a better player anyway, and oversee the whole team instead of just the offense. A general on the front line is not a general, just a captain.

 

[Rollem Cards]

The team that starts the season is not the team that finishes.

Ok

So that strong “finishing” team is going to the Whatever Bowl instead of the PO.

The “slow start, strong finish” scenario is reserved for the B10, sec, and of course…ND. Not us

This slow start thing is setting up at least 4 each for those two conferences.

 

[wreckcard#22]

One acc loss is not season over, motivating one and done players may be an issue with the transfer portal...to be determined. We will get better, because it takes time to build a cohesive team. If the only good season is strong start/strong finish, not sure how you can still be watching any college sport. For old posters, I'd think the wisdom thing would be with youall...guess not. Just be sure to take those BP meds.

 

[the artist FKA zipp]

I'm certainly not withdrawing any support for Brohm, and you can lay all of the blame on the defense if you want.

Someone can check my math, but I believe the offense has posted 68 points the last three games which is under a 23 ppg average. You can win against good teams with that little scoring, but your defense better be lights out.

Vanderbilt just logged 40 points against Alabama's mostly 5-star kids on defense. All teams not named "Bama" have new kids, transfers, injuries, and/or inexperience at the P5 level.

I'm also of the school that your defense looks better when your offense is clicking on all cylinders. Unfortunately, the opposite is true IMO.

This team needs all hands on deck. I'll start to differentiate who and what is responsible if play improves...

 

[Thecycle27]

I really don’t worry about the offense long term under Brohm. He has proven to be a good offensively coach. I agree the offense had opportunities to win both games they failed. To be honest the staff wasn’t good in situations. The issue is Oline it isn’t performing. That leads you to think they missed in the portal plus injuries are getting them.

The defense has major issues in organization or scheme. They aren’t well coached and that was true last year as well. That is a problem. I believe they have been exposed. Schedule matters as well Georgia Tech and SMU are top 50 offenses. Virginia is also in the Top 50. If you look at last year defense GT and Miami were the only 2 offenses ranked in top 30 in total offense. Then at the end of the year UK which was awful on offense scores 30 and USC does the same. FSU was playing their third string QB.

They have a defensive problem.

 

[LeFors4Ever]

I've brought this up now how NIL can help in some areas, but the new SEC and Big Ten TV deals will make this much harder. What I mean is that we may have money for players but we're going to be lagging behind on getting great coordinators. FSU, Clemson, and Miami will have the money for big coaching staffs, but our money situation to find some great DC will be hard.

Ron English makes $700k per year. That's on par with what Oregona State, Illinois, Houston and WVU pays their DCs. We can't pay for some top to bottom great staff. We pay the big money for an offensive guru, so that has to be big. But it's going to be a struggle to find a defensive coordinator.

Let's compare Kentucky's staff. We can go on about Stoops, but he's one guy and Jeff can be better than him but Stoops having a better staff and larger staff can negate

Kentucky
DC $1.6 million
LB $675k
DL $500k
Safety $415k
DBs $400k

Louisville
English $700k
Hagen $700k
Maszolowski $250k
Ellis $300k
Ivey $390k

That's $1.5 million more and those salaries will only get larger as the SEC TV contract goes in. We're having NIL donations take away from direct athletics, it's where we could catch up. Next year, we'll have to start paying out of the athletics budget due to the NCAA

So we could get new coaches, but WHO? Jeff had a revolving door of DC's at Purdue and he's stuck with English-Hagen for a bit, but is that working? Starting over is fine, but who will be the position coaches? Because getting someone good isn't going to be easy and then filling a staff around them.

You could say "Go get a position coach at a bigger program like Georgia!" well Georgia pays their DL coach $1.2 million, would he take a pay cut?

This is the issue, who? Will it work!?

Fire Grantham!
Fire Sirmon! (Who is now a solid DC at Cal)
Fire VanGorder! (well maybe the other two weren't that bad lol)
Fire Bryan Brown!
Fire Ron English!

Idk if it will work or not, but as we've seen just firing one guy isn't solving the issue. People haven't been happy in a long time, but to be fair to Bryan Brown we were way too harsh on him when he was working with crap. The unit in 2022 reached a great level and he left behind a solid group for Ron English to take over. The fact that Kiffin hired him as a DC says a lot.

 

[TheRealVille]

I'm certainly not withdrawing any support for Brohm, and you can lay all of the blame on the defense if you want.

Someone can check my math, but I believe the offense has posted 68 points the last three games which is under a 23 ppg average. You can win against good teams with that little scoring, but your defense better be lights out.

Vanderbilt just logged 40 points against Alabama's mostly 5-star kids on defense. All teams not named "Bama" have new kids, transfers, injuries, and/or inexperience at the P5 level.

I'm also of the school that your defense looks better when your offense is clicking on all cylinders. Unfortunately, the opposite is true IMO.

This team needs all hands on deck. I'll start to differentiate who and what is responsible if play improves...

I don't think overall the offense has been that bad. Shough can sling it and is very accurate. Receivers are talented as is a couple running backs.

The problem has been executing questionable play calls in key situations. I mean how many times have we failed at 4th and 1? Also, getting to the red zone and settling for FG's. The play calls get real conservative the closer we get to the end zone.

I don't see a sense of urgency in these last two games with the play calling. Too many 2nd and long off tackle running plays when the other team has momentum. It's like Brohm is being stubborn trying to instill his offense.

Sometimes you just got to keep doing what is working and against ND it was throwing down the field to Brooks and Lacy, and against SMU, it was getting the ball to Isaac Brown. Instead Brohm goes twice with Chaney on 4th and 1.

I still say this season is a reflection of the way the schedule started. Two cupcakes and then a bye week did the team no good against the better teams. Both losses were by one score and the outcome could have been easily different with a little luck.

We would still have some of the same issues but would be undefeated. But as all Cards fans know, the only luck Louisville has is bad luck.

 

[Thecycle27]

I tend to agree but you can’t pay 1.4 M to have a defense that looks completely disorganized. They had 14 players on the field at one point. They sub an entire line even though SMU didn’t sub. They can’t handle simple WR stacks. It is a mess so far with another running QB and a quick pace offense on deck. This season can end up being a losing one if they don’t fix it.