Talent improvement or using the talent we have better?

[Cougsocal]

On defense, we have added only three new guys to the primary rotation. Granted, those three are pretty good. But we have rid ourselves of a slow 240# plus run stopping LB, and replaced him with a quasi DB, and made another LB, a rush end/outside contain DL, essentially.

Have you looked at the revamping of our special teams coverage guys since Rutgers? Mostly off the two deep, and the fastest kid on the team is now playing "contain."

Yes, there has been talent improvement, Mata'Afa, Moulton and Luani, are high end talent, but the Grinch "need for speed" realization has a lot to do with what we are seeing, also.

 

[Coug95man2]

On defense, we have added only three new guys to the primary rotation. Granted, those three are pretty good. But we have rid ourselves of a slow 240# plus run stopping LB, and replaced him with a quasi DB, and made another LB, a rush end/outside contain DL, essentially.

Have you looked at the revamping of our special teams coverage guys since Rutgers? Mostly off the two deep, and the fastest kid on the team is now playing "contain."

Yes, there has been talent improvement, Mata'Afa, Moulton and Luani, are high end talent, but the Grinch "need for speed" realization has a lot to do with what we are seeing, also.

I'd probably agree with your assessment, from a reactionary perspective. I'll have to watch that rotation more closely. To you're question, I think you've answered it quite well. I think it's probably a bit of both, increased "talent" but I also agree that Grinch knows what he's doing. He's coaching these boys up, very well. Breske, I didn't have a real problem with but his last year wasn't pretty. Now seeing what Grinch has done in one off-season and not even half a season of games, I'm very impressed and see instant impact from his hire. Antidotally (based solely on half a season) I think we are lucky to have him and it seems like he'll be someone that we'll all be unhappy about when he moves on. Hopefully he won't be moving on any time soon.

I'm truly stoked about Mata'afa.

 

[dgibbons]

On defense, we have added only three new guys to the primary rotation. Granted, those three are pretty good. But we have rid ourselves of a slow 240# plus run stopping LB, and replaced him with a quasi DB, and made another LB, a rush end/outside contain DL, essentially.

Have you looked at the revamping of our special teams coverage guys since Rutgers? Mostly off the two deep, and the fastest kid on the team is now playing "contain."

Yes, there has been talent improvement, Mata'Afa, Moulton and Luani, are high end talent, but the Grinch "need for speed" realization has a lot to do with what we are seeing, also.

We're playing a lot more guys than we did last year- Hercules, Molton, Pippins, Henry/Dotson/Broughton, Luani, and using them more effectively. I particularly like the pass rush package of Paulo, Hercules, Palacio and McClellan on the DL.

So, I guess to answer your question, it's both.

 

[CougPatrol]

So, I guess to answer your question, it's both.

Fence rider.

 

[CougEd]

On defense, we have added only three new guys to the primary rotation. Granted, those three are pretty good. But we have rid ourselves of a slow 240# plus run stopping LB, and replaced him with a quasi DB, and made another LB, a rush end/outside contain DL, essentially.

Have you looked at the revamping of our special teams coverage guys since Rutgers? Mostly off the two deep, and the fastest kid on the team is now playing "contain."

Yes, there has been talent improvement, Mata'Afa, Moulton and Luani, are high end talent, but the Grinch "need for speed" realization has a lot to do with what we are seeing, also.

Sometimes one player can make a huge difference. It sure seems like our problem at corner since 2008 has finally been solved. That alone can make the defense better.

Up front, Hercules is so quick off the ball even if he plays ten snaps he is making a difference. He stays low and is always in the back field.

What is clear is the communication is much better. There will be break downs, but you won't see several TD's a game where the TD is uncontested.

 

[Cougatron]

On defense, we have added only three new guys to the primary rotation. Granted, those three are pretty good. But we have rid ourselves of a slow 240# plus run stopping LB, and replaced him with a quasi DB, and made another LB, a rush end/outside contain DL, essentially.

Have you looked at the revamping of our special teams coverage guys since Rutgers? Mostly off the two deep, and the fastest kid on the team is now playing "contain."

Yes, there has been talent improvement, Mata'Afa, Moulton and Luani, are high end talent, but the Grinch "need for speed" realization has a lot to do with what we are seeing, also.

I think it's a combination of both things, but more so on the talent side.

Remember last year we were starting Teondray Caldwell at safety...This year it's Luani.

We have Allison and Pelleur which I think are big upgrades to Coen / Monroe

Parker Henry/Dotson is much better than Pritchard

Molton is much better than Tracy Clark

Pippins/White have grown up a lot and gotten more experience and are playing better.

On the Defensive line Mata'afa is giving a burst that wasn't there with Cooper/Pole taking all the snaps.

Overall there have been a lot of upgrades, but now you also are seeing guys like Green get on the field with his speed, you are seeing Vaeo being used where he truly belongs, and Henry/Dotson allowed to play the run game fast but also be able to cover better.

All these things add up to where we are a much better overall team in terms of talent AND speed, and that has helped us tremendously.

 

[dgibbons]

Fence rider.

Also known as the correct answer.

 

[CougPatrol]

Also known as the correct answer.

Whatever Hilary.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

On defense, we have added only three new guys to the primary rotation. Granted, those three are pretty good. But we have rid ourselves of a slow 240# plus run stopping LB, and replaced him with a quasi DB, and made another LB, a rush end/outside contain DL, essentially.

Have you looked at the revamping of our special teams coverage guys since Rutgers? Mostly off the two deep, and the fastest kid on the team is now playing "contain."

Yes, there has been talent improvement, Mata'Afa, Moulton and Luani, are high end talent, but the Grinch "need for speed" realization has a lot to do with what we are seeing, also.

Any good answer for just about any question is a little bit of both. The guys that returned are probably slightly stronger and wiser. As others have said, some of the new talent is well suited to Grinch's defensive style and thriving in it.

The biggest change for our defense is in the mentality though. Aggressively pursuing takeaways is the big difference. We have more takeaways in five games than we had in twelve last year. We are on track for 22 takeaways this year compared to 8 last year. Imagine if 14 scoring drives for opponents last year had ended with a takeaway and you can see the potential impact.

I'm disappointed in the rushing defense, but that goes to the idea that our leaner, faster defense isn't as geared to stopping the run. I'm also disappointed in 3rd down conversions overall. We've sucked in that area for a while and the 46% that we are giving up right now is unacceptable, particularly the spectacular gaffes that we've seen in a couple instances. Part of that may be due to guys getting accustomed to their responsibilities in the new system.

 

[wulffui]

I like the number of stops for short gain or loss out of the run D, but too many of what should be 4 or 5 yard runs are going for 40 or 50.

 

[CougEd]

Any good answer for just about any question is a little bit of both. The guys that returned are probably slightly stronger and wiser. As others have said, some of the new talent is well suited to Grinch's defensive style and thriving in it.

The biggest change for our defense is in the mentality though. Aggressively pursuing takeaways is the big difference. We have more takeaways in five games than we had in twelve last year. We are on track for 22 takeaways this year compared to 8 last year. Imagine if 14 scoring drives for opponents last year had ended with a takeaway and you can see the potential impact.

I'm disappointed in the rushing defense, but that goes to the idea that our leaner, faster defense isn't as geared to stopping the run. I'm also disappointed in 3rd down conversions overall. We've sucked in that area for a while and the 46% that we are giving up right now is unacceptable, particularly the spectacular gaffes that we've seen in a couple instances. Part of that may be due to guys getting accustomed to their responsibilities in the new system.

As pointed out earlier in the season the edge is not being set. I was watching the Pac 12 network and they were talking about how Arizona continues to struggle against the run in their 3-3 5 defense. We can call our defense a variety of things but with Barber over the nose it really is a 3-3-5. Having either McClennan or Palacio set the edge it has been a little erratic.

 

[wulffui]

The edge, for the most part, is being set fine as guys become familiar with the system.

You shut down the Cal run game, (except for one tragic play with had nothing to do with holding the edge) which some have held up as a shining example of how our team should incorporate the run into our offense- you'd have thought Vic Enwere was the second coming of Herschel Walker to hear people talk about him on here- and about half of the edge runs that really blew up for Oregon had me wondering how a flag for holding couldn't be called. They've done a really good job penetrating up front. I wish they tackled that well.