Pursuit Angles

[LoneStarsGhost]

I see horrible pursuit angles on special teams and at times on defense. Yes, Grant was very fast, but it wasn't just the RU game. And it isn't just the Cougs. My question is simply that I get high school kids doing it, but why is it so prevalent in the Pac-12/P5? If you watch film, you should know how fast someone is and how to react.

 

[Cougsocal]

Sorry, but pursuit angles only go so far. If you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles, or that angle has to be so precise. The slower you are, the smaller the window you have. John Rushing was the master of the pursuit angle. He allowed us to put 8-9 in the box, and blitz. You couldn't get out side the guy on run plays. But if you look at video, Rushing was very, very fast too.

We have a few fast kids on this team, but the key word is "few." Leach has had 4 recruiting classes, but only 2015 can be consider quality on the speed front. We will continue to struggle with the big play on defense and special teams until we get a couple more classes like 2015. The only short term fix is to put more 1s on special teams. We just don't have the depth to do otherwise. Why Green or Priester aren't playing safety on kick/punt coverage, beats me.

Before you Pollyanna's start the, "we have good team speed" non-sense, start by listing the "fast kids" from the 2012-14 classes. I'll start for you ... Green.

 

[95coug]

Sorry, but pursuit angles only go so far. If you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles, or that angle has to be so precise. The slower you are, the smaller the window you have. John Rushing was the master of the pursuit angle. He allowed us to put 8-9 in the box, and blitz. You couldn't get out side the guy on run plays. But if you look at video, Rushing was very, very fast too.

We have a few fast kids on this team, but the key word is "few." Leach has had 4 recruiting classes, but only 2015 can be consider quality on the speed front. We will continue to struggle with the big play on defense and special teams until we get a couple more classes like 2015. The only short term fix is to put more 1s on special teams. We just don't have the depth to do otherwise. Why Green or Priester aren't playing safety on kick/punt coverage, beats me.

Before you Pollyanna's start the, "we have good team speed" non-sense, start by listing the "fast kids" from the 2012-14 classes. I'll start for you ... Green.

Angles are still an issue. Watch Grant's returns, and even some of the long runs and catch/runs. You'll see several of our guys coming into frame on an angle, then realizing they're behind and changing direction (too late). Being able to identify the right angle early in a pursuit is an important skill...and it looks like most of our D needs more work on it. Unfortunately, a lot of it is instinct, and if you don't have it, you might never get it.

I have to disagree with the "if you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles". If a kid can read angles right, a slower player can chase down a faster one. Of course he has to be positioned right too...the backside defensive end isn't going to chase down a wide receiver on the far side, but a safety or other corner could. It's actually pretty simple geometry.

 

[CougEd]

Sorry, but pursuit angles only go so far. If you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles, or that angle has to be so precise. The slower you are, the smaller the window you have. John Rushing was the master of the pursuit angle. He allowed us to put 8-9 in the box, and blitz. You couldn't get out side the guy on run plays. But if you look at video, Rushing was very, very fast too.

We have a few fast kids on this team, but the key word is "few." Leach has had 4 recruiting classes, but only 2015 can be consider quality on the speed front. We will continue to struggle with the big play on defense and special teams until we get a couple more classes like 2015. The only short term fix is to put more 1s on special teams. We just don't have the depth to do otherwise. Why Green or Priester aren't playing safety on kick/punt coverage, beats me.

Before you Pollyanna's start the, "we have good team speed" non-sense, start by listing the "fast kids" from the 2012-14 classes. I'll start for you ... Green.

Well there is track speed. The is upper end speed, and there is quickness in a 15 yard space.

I tend to agree with you. The kids I saw on St's didn't seem to be all that fast. Without naming a kid, I believe it was on the last return he clearly was the safety and he didn't stand a chance. He reacted slowly, but what was evident is his straight line speed wasn't what I would think it would be for a DB.

Until they can show they take the correct angles on every return, and they are perfect, I agree they need to get more speed out there on the coverage teams. The question becomes who?

 

[LoneStarsGhost]

Sorry, but pursuit angles only go so far. If you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles, or that angle has to be so precise. The slower you are, the smaller the window you have. John Rushing was the master of the pursuit angle. He allowed us to put 8-9 in the box, and blitz. You couldn't get out side the guy on run plays. But if you look at video, Rushing was very, very fast too.

We have a few fast kids on this team, but the key word is "few." Leach has had 4 recruiting classes, but only 2015 can be consider quality on the speed front. We will continue to struggle with the big play on defense and special teams until we get a couple more classes like 2015. The only short term fix is to put more 1s on special teams. We just don't have the depth to do otherwise. Why Green or Priester aren't playing safety on kick/punt coverage, beats me.

Before you Pollyanna's start the, "we have good team speed" non-sense, start by listing the "fast kids" from the 2012-14 classes. I'll start for you ... Green.

"If you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles, or that angle has to be so precise. "

That is exactly my point. We need to play smarter if we don't have the speed.

 

[ATACFD]

Sorry, but pursuit angles only go so far. If you don't have wheels you don't have pursuit angles, or that angle has to be so precise. The slower you are, the smaller the window you have. John Rushing was the master of the pursuit angle. He allowed us to put 8-9 in the box, and blitz. You couldn't get out side the guy on run plays. But if you look at video, Rushing was very, very fast too.

We have a few fast kids on this team, but the key word is "few." Leach has had 4 recruiting classes, but only 2015 can be consider quality on the speed front. We will continue to struggle with the big play on defense and special teams until we get a couple more classes like 2015. The only short term fix is to put more 1s on special teams. We just don't have the depth to do otherwise. Why Green or Priester aren't playing safety on kick/punt coverage, beats me.

Before you Pollyanna's start the, "we have good team speed" non-sense, start by listing the "fast kids" from the 2012-14 classes. I'll start for you ... Green.

It's not either/or. Pursuit angles are not the only factor but are still very important. They increase the odds of getting to a ball carrier in good position to make a tackle. Thus, it's important to learn and to practice. Speed is important but I'm not buying that as the main explanation for our failures especially on ST coverage. We were one of the worst coverage teams in the entire country last year. Were we one of the slowest in the entire country? Not at all. There were many many teams who had slower athletes who were better at defending the return than us. They were more disciplined and made fewer mental mistakes. Perhaps more experienced.

When I played in HS, my speed didn't increase from year one to year 2 but my ability to get to the ball carrier in time, in good position increased dramatically. I knew more what I was doing and the game "slowed".

Also, related to this, our coverage team has had this tendency to leave their lane assignments too early. Especially those with outside contain responsibilities. For example, in the kick off return for a TD by Rutgers, number 10 for the cougs got sucked inside too soon and it allowed Grant to break left and get outside. Then the pursuit is made much more difficult.

 

[chipdouglas]

Pursuit angles are one thing. But how about the fact that when we do get to someone behind the LoS, we can't get him to the ground? I recorded the game for my other alma mater (Georgia) and I'm watching them throw around Gamecocks like ragdolls for TFL. Then I see us get to Wyoming players and all we can do is slow them down until help arrives. Pathetic.