Fwd: [Husker] Defensive Scheme and Speed

[Andy Knipp]

>This discussion implies that there is an either-or method of playing defense - playing either zone or man >to man. Cornerbacks could play man to man at the on the same play the safeties would be in zone coverage >over the top of them. Next play they all might play zone, the next play they may switch to man to man. 

True,  but that is most often in the pros when you have guys who have played together more.  There is no reason a team cannot switch from zone to man during a game. Actually no team plays zone all the time, since a zone gets killed in the red zone. There you play tight man (because you do not worry about being beaten deep). 

>
>I'm curious whether you actually went back and looked at the defensive coverage during the games to >determine what types of coverage they were playing, and how you determined it. I'm not trying to be >obnoxious here, nor argumentative, I'm just asking. 

There are a couple ways to tell.  Passing teams use motion to determine what D they are playing. When a WR moves across the field before the snap,  if a DB follows it is man,  if not zone.  If you know the WRs on the O,  you can also tell by the matchups.  

>
>With all due respect, Andy, I don't think of any of us has the expertise to know what they were supposed >to be doing, but only that they didn't do it. 

Hey,  what good is being a Monday morning QB ?  OK Wednesday morning QB.

Seriously,  if guys are uncovered at the snap of the ball, something is wrong.  Now I do not think the coaches drew up defenses that consistantly left guys uncovered. But when that happens the D coaches have to be pounding on the players to make the correct reads.  I saw that happen against KSU,  way too late in the season for a mistake that bad to be made, that was not the 1st one I saw this season either.

OT but related.  I read a story (in 79) about Jimmy Cephalo (WR at PSU and then for Miami Dolphins). His FR year, 1st game,  he went in and lined up wrong (ended up 3 WR to the right). He ran a fly, uncovered, TD. Of course Joe PA, chewed him out big time for running the wrong play.

Andy


Andy Knipp
andy at knipp.com
(480) 818-1026 (M)