The Bulls pass rush has not been very effective so far this season. After the Pitt game, the defense has a lot of work to do and it starts with the big guys up front.
Defensive end Ryne Giddins is suppose to be the big pass rushing threat for the Bulls, but with just 13 tackles, (2.5 tackles for loss) and one sack, the production is just not there right now. Teams are double teaming him, so that means the other end position has to step up.
Patrick Hampton, the other end, has only 9 tackles, no tackles for loss either. Hampton has not been able to help on the other edge of the line to get pressure and make plays, meaning teams can double team Giddins.
Is there a solution to this problem? Julius Forte has 9 tackles this season, including 4 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, so he could possibly see more playing time starting with the UCONN game. Anthony Hill has 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and one sack so he could get more snaps as well as long as he keeps producing. Claude Davis, 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, is being used as a situational pass rusher due to his size and speed, so expect to see a few more plays for him if Hampton continues to struggle.
What about the tackle position? This is another area that has to produce more. Elkino Watson is doing it all right now. He has 26 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Keith McCaskill has 10 tackles including 3 tackles for loss and one sack, so the need for the senior to step up is growing (shouldn't have a true freshman leading the way in tackles). Luke Sager has 8 tackles including 2 tackles for loss and one sack. Cory Grissom has 11 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss but has no sacks on the season. The interior of the line has to get more pressure on the quarterback, cause more disruption, and make plays in the backfield.
So while a few players are producing right now, the pass rush is not that solid. The Bulls feasted on FAMU, UTEP, and Ball State, padding stats and feeling good about themselves. But now as they face bigger and tougher teams, the production has to step up and the Bulls have to start making plays or the defense will continue to give up yardage.
Umm, ya, last year Terrell McClain - our DT who is starting in the NFL this year - has 24 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and 3.0 sacks on the season (13 games). He never really deviated from those numbers in his entire career either.
ReplyDeleteTo massage those numbers that means, ~10 tackles, ~2 TFL, ~1 sack at this point of the season for McClain.
What's my point? I don't like you singling out the DT's above. Porkchop (Grissom) is having a good year compared to McClain last year, so are McCaskill and Sager.
You can be disruptive without recording stats. DT is a position which is a prime example of such behavior.
I'll agree with you about the DE's, but then, you're far from the only one making that novel argument.
Just by watching tape from Pitt, tackles didn't get much done, not as much pressure as they needed. I will agree, stats are not everything, but multiple times they were able to run right through us and got no pressure on Sunseri. Watson is getting a lot of stats, but others have to be more consistent.
ReplyDelete