Crimson Red Sports

Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart answered with a few numbers off the top of his head. In the 800 or so plays that 2011 defense faced, there were five run-pass options. Last fall, he counted 120 so called pop passes.

"So obviously the game has changed, the teams we're playing have changed, and we've had to evolve with it," Smart said. "That (2011) team was a big, physical presence team that was good at stopping the run, had two first-round corners on it. And both played well. In recent years, the run-pass option has evolved to make offensive football a little bit better, and we've had to change with that."

 :popcorn2: :popcorn2: :popcorn2:

It will be very interesting to see how well our defense can defend against those type of plays this year.  I'm expecting a lot of our boys so they better shut em down...

Me too.  We've had 2 years of designing a quick, elite D-line... now it's time to see how well it works.

Unless Wisconsin morphed during the off season, expect them to use a power offense.  That won't test our new design.

But Wisconsin will lose badly if they use old-school power against us.  After being shut down 59-0 by OSU last year, SURELY they'll try something else on offense.  But I think our D can play against power or finesse this year.  It'll be interesting.

 :popcorn2:

The game goes in cycles.  New offensive style emerges that defenses aren't equipped or trained to stop.  Defensive masterminds like Saban and Smart figure out how to stop it, recruit players to stop it, and after a few years, stop it.  Offensive masterminds develop new style that defenses aren't equipped or trained to stop...

Wisconsin lost a lot of players last year and will change both their offensive and defensive philosophies, according to what I heard on ESPN radio the other day. Looks like Stave, their QB, has improved over last year and is expected to pass more. They won't be as run heavy. Apparently, their defense will be more of a question.

At the risk of stating the obvious... DL speed will be critical vs. the HUNH offenses.  If DL can get to the QB a little quicker -- say 1-sec faster -- that's less time for the QB to make a run/pass decision.  Don't have to hit the QB -- just affect his decision.

Maybe that's why all of our QBs look average!   ???

The problem with defending this type of option is that the OL are allowed 3 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, and the refs haven't even been enforcing that.  Hopefully they'll keep a better eye on it this year.

Hopefully the added Ref this year will make a difference in how some of those plays have been called or not called in the past.

Hopefully they will be so focused on that three yard rule that they won't see our OL false start as much as they do...  :-X

:lol:

That's just the refs trying to level the playing field!

(http://touchdownalabama.net/tdawp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bigger.jpg)

No worries. Leon's gone.  :D

^^^This^^^ The run option pass has not hurt us as much as the designed run where the QB aborts the run once the DB releases the receiver. The DB key to release into run protection is OL blocking downfield. We do not need new rules, we just need the refs to enforce the rules already on the books.

Is that one in the very back Bill Curry?  ???

Prolly.
And we need bigger helmets!