Mike West

Soooooo, S What have I ranked about for what seems like Centuries? Take away the QBs options by covering your man instead of looking at the QB. WHAT'S THE RESULT? INTERCEPTION. Even in NW's big pass play, the safety was covering his man ( he bit on a good fake. I'll take that every play for the rest of time- that's what I want to see). That strategy alone will make this defense a 14 points per game juggernaut.

I actually think he destroyed his career this Winter. Looking like another fifth round draft pick. Won't go so far to say deserved, but this guy doesn't have the leadership skills to carry a team. Pride cometh before the fall (I believe almost all of us have been there before-but not so publicly with a few million in the bank).

Looks like Stein was told to put a blanket on the offense. Circa usu2 2024. He opened it up on that last drive just enough to show OBD can score anytime they want. Nothing to be alarmed about. This is a slow roll strategy against a team incapable of doing any harm. I like it. Sweet lullabies to put the audience to sleep. Keeping scouts wondering how lethal the playbook really is.

Coach, It's good to see you're still around! Hope all is well and thanks for the pointing it out. I didn't even notice it until you brought it up.

His injury derailed his ability to perform like he did in high school. He isn't the same player. I do wish him the best. He comes from a very rough neighborhood, and it appears football is the route he chose to escape it. It always pays to have a backup plan. I absolutely hope Jurrion is planning for life after football. I have serious doubts he will play in the NFL.

Well my entertaining friend, you bring up so many astute observations yourself. You're a key part of an ensemble of guys that really help me look at OBD from better perspectives. I do hope 1/1/25 is on everyone's minds every hour on the hour. The time off (three weeks) really hurt, but that sting is ample motivation to make sure that never happens again. And I want some Buckeye blood. I already have a problem with Buckeye fans (I happen to really like Ryan Day, and that fan base is ridiculous about the guy-he's been nothing but stellar. And he is starting to look a lot like Kirby Smart in his own fashion-so their arrogance and distaste for Day miffs me quite a lot). I think Lupoi has improved. I don't like the Mint defense, so that may be more my problem with the issues I see. But I do like that he is moving players more towards their strengths. He absolutely must get his linebackers to take away patterns in the middle of the field. They keep drifting out of coverage responsibilities. Coverage rules in my mind dictate the corners take the short routes outside. That leaves the LBs in seam, slant, digs and post pattern support. But that's just me. Let's see if Lupoi irons those things out. Keep them coming Jon. You add so much to this forum!

Thanks for the article David. Another deep set of observations as usual. Not much to add to this one, as you really hit the nail on the quality performances coming out of so many players.

Last year, I believe Chip kept his best plays close to the vest and waited to unleash his full set of plays in the playoffs. It explains the close games after losing in Eugene in my mind. Penn State, Nebraska, and Michigan had no business staying close in the regular season last year, and I believe Chip just let the defense do its thing, and baited the physical teams into believing they had a shot in the playoffs (Georgia and OBD come to mind). I believe Stein is serving notice he not only has the talent, but he also has multiple offenses that DCs will have to prepare for. It still hinges on a powerful running game, but one thing that stands out in my mind is Stein is getting Moore out of the pocket. That is going to wreck havoc on pressure oriented schemes. Not only does it mean Stein is looking to buy time, but it messes with coverage rules (because now Moore is also a running threat). Getting Moore out of the pocket also disrupts blitz strategy as Stein has already shown multiple ways he will get Moore rolling out (left, right, bootleg looks, and he hasn't had Moore simply roll left or right yet). Stein is also designing plays for his talent. He now has three reliable WRs he can get the ball to in the 8-12 yard range. He is using the TEs more creatively, and he hasn't really shown what he is going to do with Sadiq yet. Moore is a slot receiver, but he can stack Moore behind a blocking WR, or like he has already shown, the WR screens are no longer a feature, they are a foundation for getting the ball downfield. I believe Stein is providing information overload, as now, he is showing looks that don't tip off what they are actually going to do (like they did last year). The best aspect of it is I am not as concerned about WRs having cruise missile speed anymore. WR Moore is enough, because Sadiq is also lightening fast, so Stein can occupy Safeties using either Sadiq or Moore. And he is throwing formation looks that make it difficult to determine what he is up to. That he has simplified the packages to the degree he has with more formations is awesome. Not only am I impressed, I am not even sure what he has pocketed for future use.

FPI is based on raw talent and past results. The SP+ rankings are more accurate. They include current year performance, and expectations based on the current composite of the team. FPI is what the Sports Books use to calculate point spreads, and they are probably more reliable as the season wears on. Texas is high because they were more potent last year against the second tier level of schools (now that we have the Ohio State sample, we now know Texas struggles against elite defenses. Clemson is in the same category as the sample is out there as well -though I am not so sure about LSU yet). I haven't watched the Florida-South Florida game yet-or a number of others, so I don't have a complete feel on the group of teams outside of Ohio State that I feel are OBD's biggest challenges. I will say this about OBD: effort and depth are outstanding. I still have some concerns about the secondary, but the talent and skill level is much better than any time in the Lanning era. I still see the LBs watch the QB too much, and I do believe coverage rules are a problem more than the talent-but the LBs not taking away options (instead of trying to determine where the QB will throw the ball) is a major weakness. Lupoi absolutely needs to keep his edge defenders on the edge, somebody is going to crush it with counter runs if he keeps dragging the DEs to the middle of the box. I believe Stein recognizes he will need to drop forty on everybody, as he is employing a much more aggressive approach to the game. Stein is using some elements of Taggart's Gulf Coast offense. And he is going under center. I love that. He is actually employing elements of other offenses into his scheme. Lanning even referred to it in an interview-they are scouting other CFB teams, and maybe even looking at the NFL. Whatever it is, Stein just signaled he is going to unleash more styles than he has been employing. Somebody mentioned it, not sure who, but the WRs blocking downfield is much better. And the WR screens are now a set up for Sequential/Constraint plays downfield-the screens are a set up for fakes so Moore can throw downfield. So I believe the staff learned its lessons in January. You can't put up enough points against elite teams. You need to think its an NBA scoring fest. Like the Alabama/Clemson title games last decade. Until I see the secondary shut down elite WRs, I will not crown this defense as elite. Georgia and Ohio State have the best pass defenses in the country until proven otherwise. That is the kind of defense OBD need. If we get those kinds of defenses, then we are looking at the rest of the decade as true top shelf, tough to defeat elite teams. Like Nick Saban/Kirby Smart kind of teams. Lanning has the team on the path. I just need to see the defense tighten up some loose ends

A major lack of desire. They didn't look like they were interested in defending their legacy, much less put a foot up FSU's behind for talking smack before the season started. They expected to walk in and dominate, and when FSU was taking it to them, they didn't respond. It took a late fumble for them to get back in the game, and when their defense started putting in effort, it didn't last when FSU responded (FSU wanted that win way more-it was totally evident the entire game).

They were that bad. Saw the whole game, eating massive crow!!!

It is so great to be humbled so emphatically!!! It's definitely Gut Check time for DeBoer. He looked a little dazed. Unlike Ryan Day last year during the Michigan game, DeBoer looks concerned. I watched an ESPN analyst put it all on QB Ty Simpson, and I laughed outright. Bama might have lost its soul when Saban retired, Or perhaps he saw they didn't have the fire in them anymore. Whatever it is, nobody fears Alabama anymore. I loved the QBs today. Wished Novo got more time. DL has a dilemma on his hands. Play Novo and burn a redshirt (or Moga for that matter), or race to 45 and get them both some ample experience against teams like Indiana and Iowa (which it looks like both are possible-no joke. I wasn't impressed by either on the LOS). There is still much to work on, but now we know this team is more focused and seems to have a chip on their shoulders.

I couldn't have said it better Solar! If you're going to get criticized anyway, you might as well do it your way! I do believe the best coaches are flexible however. Think of Nick Saban throwing a Freshman into the fire in the second half of the Natty. That takes guts!. Then imagine the next year, those two players switch again, and defeat the same team-again. In both cases, the playbook expanded according to each players' relative strengths. Against an extremely talented defense both times. In my eyes, that says to me Saban recognizes things happen that require junking your game plan. Of course, that's a tough pill to swallow if you believe in your philosophy (or game plan), Which of course means, how much do you trust yourself and your instincts? How much do you trust your staff? There are so many components to dealing with the intricacies of the game. Which means sometimes it really isn't ego, but just going with what you feel is the best move to make according to what you see and feel about what's happening. Which is why I believe your point is so valid.

Oh I believe we all feel this way. We really want that Natty!

I'm with you on this Drake. Sometimes it just boils down to mano y mano, and your philosophical take on the game won't necessarily work.