Tackling

[LDopaPDX]

Holy shit, our tackling is bad.

I can't understand how we can be so piss-poor on defense all the time. We gave up 50 or more 4 times last season and I figured we couldn't possibly get any worse. Now, we've given up 50 or more twice in our first three games this year.

Fortunately, we get an inept offense in Sac State next week. If we give up 30 or more points next week, yikes.

The scary part of this game was that our D coaches seemed to try a little of everything... 4-2, 3-4, blitz packages, etc. Many times, our players were in position to make plays and get off the field, but they completely whiff on the tackle and Montana State (or UNI, or Oregon) would get a first down. It looked like both teams got the ball and just jumped on a freeway toward the endzone.

I guess if we're getting to the places were supposed to be, eventually we could improve and make some of these plays. But, man oh man, we need to toughen up and break down and make some plays!

 

[joemon]

I think the biggest problem with our tackling is 2 fold:

Some of these guys are too young to be out there, we're playing a lot of Freshman and true sophomores who have not developed enough physically. I remember playing as a freshman and it can be intimidating out there when you are going against 21 and 22 olds and you are 18. There is a big difference physically.

That brings up weight training. I remember an article Jim wrote a couple weeks back about a player who only gained 1 pound from last year and it seemed like it wasn't a big deal to the player he was interviewing. For those of you who have lifted, gaining 1 pound means this player did not have the dedication or we do not have a very good weight program. I think it was a lack of dedication. With the exception of Monike Sarte some those guys on the DL may need to hit the weights a bit harder in the off season, same goes for the LB's.

 

[HannahO]

I think the biggest problem with our tackling is 2 fold:

Some of these guys are too young to be out there, we're playing a lot of Freshman and true sophomores who have not developed enough physically. I remember playing as a freshman and it can be intimidating out there when you are going against 21 and 22 olds and you are 18. There is a big difference physically.

That brings up weight training. I remember an article Jim wrote a couple weeks back about a player who only gained 1 pound from last year and it seemed like it wasn't a big deal to the player he was interviewing. For those of you who have lifted, gaining 1 pound means this player did not have the dedication or we do not have a very good weight program. I think it was a lack of dedication. With the exception of Monike Sarte some those guys on the DL may need to hit the weights a bit harder in the off season, same goes for the LB's.

I agree with your first point wholeheartedly. When your rotation includes a freshman middle linebacker it's going to be a learning curve.

I can't speak to the second since my son is no longer there and things change (especially when they rotate the strength and conditioning staff between teams), but I'd be surprised if there was a lack of motivation. I do think a major consideration is the lack of resources. No budget for training table and supplements etc. and, let's face it, some of these guys are living hand to mouth especially by the time the end of the month rolls around.

 

[EWUeag]

Bring back Lovat!

 

[allweatherfan2]

I believe not having a training table is huge, but I understand why. More giving from boosters would help (I think I do my share.)

 

[LDopaPDX]

Hopefully, we'll look a lot better on D this week against a pretty bad Sac State offense. Of course, our D looked solid at times last year against bad offenses, but it never really developed the confidence or proper skillset to handle good offenses.

I'll say this... if I were an opposing coach, I'd make Eastern play against a read option all day long. I realize not every team has a Prukop or VA, but we never seem to stop read offenses.