[NU Sports] beating a dead horse

[Roy Lamberton]

Had a chance to talk with one of the defensive coaches Monday - mainly about my
youth team's antics in D-Linemen learning how to run stunts, but we agreed that
what is now different about the NU D is that we're reacting to situations
instead of think through them.

To put it in the frame of reference with 12 year olds, we have to teach them how
to read certain plays and then react to them. The kids who have to do this,
mainly our 3 D-Backs and middle linebacker, are still learning two or three
reads a play, facing a known offense, a variation of the Wing-T.

In any more complex defense, the kids behind the line have to pick up the WR's
coming out and watch for sweeps, runs up the middle, essentially 4 or 5 [or more
things] that they personally have to do to shut down another team's offense. The
more things the offense does, the harder it is for the defense, and the main
thing that lets you stop most of today's multi faceted offenses is a fast read
and reaction by the folks down field.

If there's one thing that our defensive backs are doing differently right now is
that instead of trying to remember all the different reads, they're just
reacting to what is thrown at them.

The one second difference in reaction time is why we're making the picks and
getting what the pros call coverage sacks and keeping teams out of the end zone.

Yes, I'd like to see NU ranked higher in yards given up, but our points allowed
number is heading down, and if we're going to win a few more games, that trend
will have to continue. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
Computer Applications & Support Associates
and Publisher of Purple Reign, 
The Scout.com Northwestern University Site
(http://www.purplewildcats.com)
AIM Handle: CoachRoy74

=============== Go Cats ====================
Every time I think I've got this Computer 
Biz handled 
            -- There's another upgrade.
============ Beat 'em All ================== 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com 
> [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Abrahamson, Alan
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 10:05 PM
> To: 'Jim Bendat'
> Cc: 'nwu-sports at tssi.com'
> Subject: [NU Sports] beating a dead horse
> 
> 
>  Hey, Lloyd Carr has it right! Our offense is indeed incredible. 
>  The current NCAA stats show us at fourth in the country in 
> team offense -- behind only USC, Texas Tech and Michigan State. 
>  It's our defense that it is also incredible. As in, 'Uh-oh, 
> it is incredible that Northwestern could be 5-2 with that 
> defense.' We are now ranked dead last in the country -- 117th 
> out of 117, giving up a magnanimous 504.43 yards per game. We 
> give up a generous 6.55 yards per play.