Bush reveals how the defense will play football this year.

[Roy P]

1. Base defense will have the DBs, particularly the CBs, playing tighter to the line of scrimmage. - This should help Molden and Bennett

2. Coverages will be mixed a lot. They'll play zone, man, and hybrid and attempt to disguise them pre-snap. - This is why they want interchangeable SS/FS.

3. More effort will be put into understanding how opposing offenses are attacking us and making changes in response to it. - Is this a verbal shot at the old Defensive Coordinator?

4. Primary goals of the defense include: getting to the QB and confusing the QB. - This has got to be accomplished by getting a pass-rushing specialist on 3rd down along with LBs who can blitz. Cato June isn't going to be registering too many sacks.

5. Bush is willing to risk giving up some big plays in order to make more plays on defense. - Will he be willing to blitz the FS and SS more often?

6. Bush acknowledges that last year the defense played "not to lose" but will play more aggressively in an effort to "win". His answer was in response to their lack of success on 3rd downs. He attributed it to a lack of agression. - I attribute most of it to piss-poor tackling. It would be nice to have defenders who put people on the ground when they wrap them up. It is infuriating to watch a Texan LB tackle a RB from behind and then get dragged 3 or 4 yards. This is why I am on the Clay Matthews, Chip Vaugh, Scott McKillop band wagon.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Roy P

1. Base defense will have the DBs, particularly the CBs, playing tighter to the line of scrimmage. - This should explain drafting Quin Glover too.

2. Coverages will be mixed a lot. They'll play zone, man, and hybrid and attempt to disguise them pre-snap. - This is why they drafted Troy Nolan.

4. Primary goals of the defense include: getting to the QB and confusing the QB. - This has got to be accomplished by getting a pass-rushing specialist on 3rd down along with LBs who can blitz. Hello to our 1st and 2nd round picks on draft day.

5. Bush is willing to risk giving up some big plays in order to make more plays on defense. - I really hope that Troy Nolan plays like he did in college.

6. Bush acknowledges that last year the defense played "not to lose" but will play more aggressively in an effort to "win". His answer was in response to their lack of success on 3rd downs. He attributed it to a lack of agression. - I attribute most of it to piss-poor tackling. It would be nice to have defenders who put people on the ground when they wrap them up.
Again, Brian Cushing hopefully can contribute in this manner.

Nice to see some changes.

[Keith]

Eric Winston with more insight into the defense this season:

After talking to Frank Bush, our team’s defensive coordinator, I understand exactly what they are thinking as well. ... From Bush’s comments it looks like we will run more “under” defense than we have in the past. That looks like a nose to the strong side, a 5 technique (DE that is just outside the OT) and a Sam on the line of scrimmage. The reason I think this is because Bush made reference to Cushing excelling at jamming TEs at the LOS (line of scrimmage).

Someone sent this link to me apparently by Pete Carroll about the 4-3 under philosophy. Terrific read. Especially interesting when you think that Cushing is a Trojan needed to play the Sam in this defense PLUS the team added another former Trojan in Shaun Cody as well.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Keith

Eric Winston with more insight into the defense this season:


Someone sent this link to me apparently by Pete Carroll about the 4-3 under philosophy. Terrific read. Especially interesting when you think that Cushing is a Trojan needed to play the Sam in this defense PLUS the team added another former Trojan in Shaun Cody as well.

Do you know if Cody played the Nose or 3-Tech at SC?

[Keith]

USC linemen moved around a bit, but unless I'm mistaken, I think Mike Patterson played more nose and Cody more 3-technique in college. In certain blitz packages and passing downs, maybe Cody played nose? Not sure.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

Someone sent this link to me apparently by Pete Carroll about the 4-3 under philosophy. Terrific read.

I noted this little tidbid and the fact that Carroll based his philosophy from Monte Kiffin.

"The Will linebacker can be a smaller player. He is generally protected in the defensive schemes and will not see as many blocks. All you want him to do most plays is flow and chase the football. We want our fastest linebacker at this position."

This makes sense considering Cato June played for Kiffin last year for the Bucs. This may make Xavier Adibi a more valuable asset. While I'm not sure a 4.69 in the 40 is exactly the "fastest linebacker" we could have at the position. I'm willing to to let this be decided on the field. However, I'm still targeting a LB playing at Missouri in next year's draft. He could be "Spoon" fed this defense.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Keith

Someone sent this link to me apparently by Pete Carroll about the 4-3 under philosophy. Terrific read. Especially interesting when you think that Cushing is a Trojan needed to play the Sam in this defense PLUS the team added another former Trojan in Shaun Cody as well.

Great read, thanks for sharing this Keith