Bob Diaco: The Thread

[Buster Bluth]

Buster, go look at the stats--Shembo had 1 sack.

They aren't registering the sack w/forced fumble then, as it was recovered by Pittsburgh.

And you say miliseconds from getting to the qb---but still didn't get there consistantly with an inferior Oline.

He got there twice. That's perfectly fine. Your expectations are too high.

And he would have had 4 sacks if Tuitt in there. Well didn't he have 3 sacks coming into this game? Where has been all those sacks while Tuitt has been here all season?

If Tuitt is in there he's drawing a double team and his 6'6 frame and his push causes Savage to pause for a millisecond or two, and those 3-4 near misses become hits/sacks.

Stale, play to the whistle, passion. Well, we don't force turnovers. I believe we have 6 ints and 4 fumble recoveries. Heck, Tommy has more than that.

I would fully agree on the turnovers. I don't think they're aggressive enough.

15ish sacks in 10 games. Sorry, that is stale. Very stale in my opinion.

Not playing to the whistle---did you watch Day at all on the bonehead play on the fumble (yes, created by Shembo).

Stale is a weird adjective. One play by Day doesn't give you nearly enough to criticize the game, let alone season.

How about Bennetts Ole' defense on the goal line?

Eh.

 

[anarin]

Really didn't play bad on defense. Just lack some playmakers. Specifically in the inside linebacker and secondary groups.

We should be doing better though, but without playmakers in those areas, we are hurting.

Fox and Calabrese are killing them. Farley isn't helping the cause.

 

[Buster Bluth]

TD #3 refer to the first comment TD #4 we'll leave that to the Tommy Rees thread. Yes we played a bad game but with the exception of maybe 2 games we've played bad all year.

As a team or as a defense? Defense played pretty well against Michigan State, Arizona State, Southern Cal, Air Force, Temple.

We can blame the players for lack of discipline but who's coaching then you can say there just not that good. Who the hell recruited them.

You think it was Kelly and Diaco's plan to have a converted soccer player--who was recruited as a WR--start safety? You think they'd want to play Jaylon so much instead of Spond?

Which one is it no discipline or no talent?

Why does it have to be so definite?

 

[Ndaccountant]

Here is the thing for me.

This year, we are on pace to have the least amount of TO forced in the BK era. Not surprisingly, we are also on pace for the least amount of sacks. The two do usually go hand in had. We do have the worst safety play in the BK era, but coming into the year we were supposed to have a great DL and very good CB groups.

Looking backwards, Harrison Smith thrived and so did Bobby D's defense. Last year's TO's were somewhat of a fluke, considering all the breaks that went Manti's way. He was in the right place at the right time, but I doubt we have a MLB duplicate that any time soon.

So, what does this mean? I think it means that we have both a scheme problem as well as a personnel problem. We need our safety play to improve and there is really no reason to think that next year we will not be better, albeit the amount of improvement is debatable, but we should expect a decent amount getting us closer to the 2010 and 2011 safety play. However, there really is no line of sight to improvement on the sack side. You could argue one year of healthy Tuitt would do the trick, but we need more than him. I personally think our scheme on pass rushing isn't working and we are vacating the middle of the field to boot which is opening up QB runs. I don't know if we are doing anything different than the last three years, but something isn't working. Either it is the scheme or the players, but I would argue you need to fit your scheme to your players.

For us to be great in 2014, I think we all anticipate the offense leading the way. For the D, I think we will need to measure them in terms of sacks and TO's, which will give the O more possessions. If the 3-4 gets us there, then fine, but I think the 4-3 will be better.

 

[EddytoNow]

Bend Don't Break is broken. Enough said.

 

[connor_in]

Bend Don't Break is broken. Enough said.

87 guys out with injuries in front 7 kinds hurts

 

[ryno 24]

LSU is also having a bad year defensively. This happens. Our 3-4 is there for a reason. Unfortunately a lot of our players have been injured. Our bend dont break is annoying but it is not a bad philosophy. Stanford also runs a similar defense. They are also large up front.

Let's not get carried away here. We all should have known that this was going to be an 8-4 year once Golson was gone and the year should still end up like that.

 

[anarin]

87 guys out with injuries in front 7 kinds hurts

87??? They must be getting kids from the stands.

 

[Irish To The Core]

Definitely Diaco's fault that Nix, Spond, Day, Schwenke, Springman, Ishaq, Grace and Hounshel have had significant injuries which have crippled the defense. Damn that Diaco. What was Diaco thinking when he taught Day et al to ignore a live fumble? That is bad coaching because it is not as if every kid in pop Warner ball knows to play to the whistle. I would spend 15 minutes every practice teaching that one. Damn him forcing Tommy to throw two bad picks which killed us! Damn him for blinding the instant replay officials! Damn him for having no better option at free safety than Farley!

You armchair quarterbacks have about as much clue about defensive schemes as you have about rocket science. Sometimes a perfect storm happens and EVERYTHING goes against you. This game was that perfect storm and our guys couldn't survive all of the momentum killing mistakes. Diaco is not at fault.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Diaco Diaco Diaco.

First and foremost - I will say I didnt like his gameplan for Navy. Having DL stand up in LB stance essentially is playing scared. You attack the LOS and you attack a smaller/weaker team. Yes, chop blocks do happen, but theres a greater possibility of someone getting hurt when they are going 80% instead of 100% as well. Stanford/Bama/FSU would have their DL attack not sitting back shoving someone to the ground and then try to attack or make the tackle 4 yards downfield.

Pitt- He did what he had to do. Nix is far from healthy and that showed last night. He lost his best defensive player to a bogus call. Sheldon limped off the field about 6xs. But lets look at something here..

Diaco was without: Tuitt, Ishaq, Councell, Grace, Kona, Springmann,Hounshell, Baratti..Day is clearly hurt, Nix is hurt, Fox might fall apart with his injuries, and Collinsworth is hurt. No team is 100% but you would be hard pressed to have so many impact players not playing last week. I mean thats hell of defense that we were without last night. I mean Carlo was playing DE/NG last night for Christ sake.

Diaco may not be the best DC in the world but hes a little limited in what he can do right now. Everyone complains about Bennett/Farley not being able to cover/tackle. So if he blitzes the hell out of a teams then you are playing right into 1-on-1 matchups everywhere. If he protects Bennett/Farley with zones/cover 2, then he doesnt get pressure. Teams double Nix, rub on Shembo with the RB, and that leaves Utupo 1-on-1/Day 1-on-1. That isnt a great setup for a pass rush. Add Tuitt...then that presents a problem. Add Ishaq thats presents a problem.

I cant blame the guy for trying to pick his spots, and he does need to improve there. But hes very limited in what he can do. Yes, the MLBs are bad, but who is going to be a better option? They are working a rotation at Safety, and outside of the long TD, the safeties played well last night.

It comes down to the little things. A true freshman showed the ability to turn his head and avoid a PI call. The next play the senior captain didnt turn his head and got called for PI. The fumble, who knows what happened. The one time in the history of college football neither team picks up the loose ball its a fumble. Sheldon/Schmidt should have picked it up, but keep in mind no Pitt player went after it either. Just an odd play.

Also, keep this in mind. In Diacos first year, they got hit with the injury bug when Ian Williams went down. Sean Cwynar came in as his replacement for the final stretch. ND went 4-0. He has to do his job well the last two games and get these kids coached up and playing with a chip on their shoulder. Even with the injuries they have the talent to win out. Its just the players have to do the little things right, shoot the right gaps, hold the point of attack, hold contain, and its Diaco's job to make sure they know them. He can do it, he proved that all of last year.

With all that said. He needs to start having ND attack like I mentioned earlier. They have the personnel to do that. They have just as much talent when they blitzed the living hell out of FSU for the first half of the Champs Bowl. Let the players make plays, and play conservative when you need too. Stanford beats Oregon back to back years, why? Bc they attacked Oregon. Watch Oregons games. Most defensives play similiar to what ND does, they try to keep everything infront of them and make Oregon dink and dunk. Oregon loves to do that and they do it. Stanford shoots gaps, jumps the snap, blitzes the hell out of them and puts the pressure on them to make big plays. If ND is healthy again this year Id LOVE to see that. As of right now, they just dont really have the ability to play that way. In 3 weeks when we play Stanford, and we are healthy, I think we can. It all depends on the good ol power of healing.

And move to a 4-3....once again ND isnt close to having the personnel to do that, much less next year they will not have the personnel to play a 4-3. Just give it time. There have been many things out of control of the staff and players hands that have happened this year. It sucks, but its just the way the chips have fallen.

 

[irishpat183]

We don't force turnovers, can't tackle, give up too many yards, and and can't get off the field on 3rd downs.


That is the problem. And cut the injury (and playing surface and refs) crap. That's a chumps excuse. Every team has injuries and even with our injuries, according to IE's recruiting experts, we shoudl still be WAYYY more talented than the sub-par teams we're playing.

 

[RDU Irish]

TP, we haven't attacked all year - why should we expect to do it against Stanford?

Healthy or not, next man in and ATTACK.

 

[NDohio]

TP, we haven't attacked all year - why should we expect to do it against Stanford?

Healthy or not, next man in and ATTACK.

Early in the year - especially Michigan - we were blitzing like crazy. I thought too much. Michigan took advantage and ever since then we have backed off on the blitzing and attack mode.

 

[Damion704]

We don't force turnovers, can't tackle, give up too many yards, and and can't get off the field on 3rd downs.


That is the problem. And cut the injury (and playing surface and refs) crap. That's a chumps excuse. Every team has injuries and even with our injuries, according to IE's recruiting experts, we shoudl still be WAYYY more talented than the sub-par teams we're playing.

Love it.. lol

 

[RDU Irish]

Early in the year - especially Michigan - we were blitzing like crazy. I thought too much. Michigan took advantage and ever since then we have backed off on the blitzing and attack mode.

It is something that should be dialed up and down against every team, not tried once all season and abandoned. On top of that, I don't see the killer instinct on D. Stripping the ball, fighting for every inch. They are just happy making the tackle and stopping the big play. Just like DB/S want to get in the way instead of dream about pick-6s. I was really hoping that attitude would be built on last year's success.

End of the USC game, our defense was frothing at the mouth. Other than that where has it been?

 

[Pachuco]

We don't force turnovers, can't tackle, give up too many yards, and and can't get off the field on 3rd downs.


That is the problem. And cut the injury (and playing surface and refs) crap. That's a chumps excuse. Every team has injuries and even with our injuries, according to IE's recruiting experts, we shoudl still be WAYYY more talented than the sub-par teams we're playing.

Yeah, injuries to key starters are meaningless. Just have to sack up, right? I actually agree with your first paragraph, but the second exposes the real reason why it's difficult to take you seriously. It's NOT that you are always right. It's that you have a real knack for saying stupid **** along with the meaningful.

 

[Ndaccountant]

It is something that should be dialed up and down against every team, not tried once all season and abandoned. On top of that, I don't see the killer instinct on D. Stripping the ball, fighting for every inch. They are just happy making the tackle and stopping the big play. Just like DB/S want to get in the way instead of dream about pick-6s. I was really hoping that attitude would be built on last year's success.

End of the USC game, our defense was frothing at the mouth. Other than that where has it been?

I agree and it makes you wonder if there is a severe lack of leadership on that side of the ball. It was obvious that last years team had great chemistry and I don't think we can overlook that point.

 

[RDU Irish]

I agree and it makes you wonder if there is a severe lack of leadership on that side of the ball. It was obvious that last years team had great chemistry and I don't think we can overlook that point.

Nix was being abused and I think the rest of the defense got PISSED, Shembo for sure. It shouldn't take dirty play from the opposition to light that fire.

 

[NDohio]

I agree and it makes you wonder if there is a severe lack of leadership on that side of the ball. It was obvious that last years team had great chemistry and I don't think we can overlook that point.

Tuitt was that on-field leader at the end of the USC game. His second half in that game was dominant. I felt that was a big moment for this defense as a whole.

Then we play two teams that run a non-traditional offense and the momentum is crushed.

Tuitt gets thrown out of the game and Pitt drives right down the field and scores. Tough way to try and get momentum back when the guy that can take over games is in the locker room.

 

[returnofthemack]

Early in the year - especially Michigan - we were blitzing like crazy. I thought too much. Michigan took advantage and ever since then we have backed off on the blitzing and attack mode.

That has to be one of my main criticisms of the staff. They seem to be far too reactionary. Runs get stuffed a few times, better give up and rely on the pass. Blitz didn't get there in time? Let's sit back and wait for them to come to us. I understand gap-assignment football, but you can't play it when your D-line isn't taking care of business (this time due to lack of depth) and when your MLBs are as astoundingly mediocre as ours are. Obviously, he changed it up in the second half and blitzed more, the problem was that the corners were still playing the deep ball!

 

[MJ12666]

Can I get some elaborated criticisms of the defense last night? Or are we just going to take cowardly and uninformed jabs?

Buster are you by chance watching the Clemson-GT game? If not let's just say that Clemson's defense is not having any problems with stopping GT's running attack. GT has less about 70 rushing yards in the first half. The same running attack that is employed by Navy. What is not surprising is that the Clemson defensive lineman are playing in three-point stances right up on the LOS and the outside linebackers are also up on the line. Both the lineman and linebackers are penetrating on the snap of the ball. Compare this to ND's philosophy against Navy. D-line standing up and one yard off the ball playing passive. Linebackers off the ball nowhere near the LOS and out in space defending I guess their assigned space? The result, Navy running up and down the field and ND players suffering injuries (I have not seen a Clemson player leave the field in the first half with a leg injury). Don't know how you can't attribute ND's defensive results other than to the DC.

 

[PANDFAN]

Buster are you by chance watching the Clemson-GT game? If not let's just say that Clemson's defense is not having any problems with stopping GT's running attack. GT has less about 70 rushing yards in the first half. The same running attack that is employed by Navy. What is not surprising is that the Clemson defensive lineman are playing in three-point stances right up on the LOS and the outside linebackers are also up on the line. Both the lineman and linebackers are penetrating on the snap of the ball. Compare this to ND's philosophy against Navy. D-line standing up and one yard off the ball playing passive. Linebackers off the ball nowhere near the LOS and out in space defending I guess their assigned space? The result, Navy running up and down the field and ND players suffering injuries (I have not seen a Clemson player leave the field in the first half with a leg injury). Don't know how you can't attribute ND's defensive results other than to the DC.

While I agree 100% and feel diaco is way overrated. .. the huge difference is that navy use cutblocks which Georgia tech have 300lbs lineman so they don't utilize them

 

[MJ12666]

While I agree 100% and feel diaco is way overrated. .. the huge difference is that navy use cutblocks which Georgia tech have 300lbs lineman so they don't utilize them

I remember Johnson addressing this a couple of years ago this when Spurrier was complaining GT's cut blocking scheme and Johnson said that statistics do not confirm that there are more injuries from cut blocks vs convention blocking. Now I must admit I didn't watch the line play that closely tonight so it is possible that Johnson changed his blocking philosophy. If I watch the second half I will look for this out of curiosity.

 

[kmoose]

How does this Diaco shmuck still have a job? My blind grandmother could do a better job of putting together a defensive game plan than this jerk!

 

[phork]

I wish Diaco could hold Navy to 150 yards like Clemson is doing to GTech..

 

[D-BOE34]

.

 

[MJ12666]

I really don't want to bash Diaco I just think the credit he gets can be way over the top by not only fans but even the commentators covering the games. Just because when he speaks and no one has any clue what he is talking about does not make him some kind of genius. He calls someone a werewolf and fans pee in there pants. Then you see the kid play and you think that he is okay but nothing special. Finally, and this is my last rant on this subject, he is the LB coach and our LB play (excluding Smith) has been spotty at best. I am going to watch the end of the Clemson. Somehow the Clemson back-up QB had no problem coming in cold and leading Clemson to a TD.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Diaco Diaco Diaco.

First and foremost - I will say I didnt like his gameplan for Navy. Having DL stand up in LB stance essentially is playing scared. You attack the LOS and you attack a smaller/weaker team. Yes, chop blocks do happen, but theres a greater possibility of someone getting hurt when they are going 80% instead of 100% as well. Stanford/Bama/FSU would have their DL attack not sitting back shoving someone to the ground and then try to attack or make the tackle 4 yards downfield.

Pitt- He did what he had to do. Nix is far from healthy and that showed last night. He lost his best defensive player to a bogus call. Sheldon limped off the field about 6xs. But lets look at something here..

Diaco was without: Tuitt, Ishaq, Councell, Grace, Kona, Springmann,Hounshell, Baratti..Day is clearly hurt, Nix is hurt, Fox might fall apart with his injuries, and Collinsworth is hurt. No team is 100% but you would be hard pressed to have so many impact players not playing last week. I mean thats hell of defense that we were without last night. I mean Carlo was playing DE/NG last night for Christ sake.

Diaco may not be the best DC in the world but hes a little limited in what he can do right now. Everyone complains about Bennett/Farley not being able to cover/tackle. So if he blitzes the hell out of a teams then you are playing right into 1-on-1 matchups everywhere. If he protects Bennett/Farley with zones/cover 2, then he doesnt get pressure. Teams double Nix, rub on Shembo with the RB, and that leaves Utupo 1-on-1/Day 1-on-1. That isnt a great setup for a pass rush. Add Tuitt...then that presents a problem. Add Ishaq thats presents a problem.

I cant blame the guy for trying to pick his spots, and he does need to improve there. But hes very limited in what he can do. Yes, the MLBs are bad, but who is going to be a better option? They are working a rotation at Safety, and outside of the long TD, the safeties played well last night.

It comes down to the little things. A true freshman showed the ability to turn his head and avoid a PI call. The next play the senior captain didnt turn his head and got called for PI. The fumble, who knows what happened. The one time in the history of college football neither team picks up the loose ball its a fumble. Sheldon/Schmidt should have picked it up, but keep in mind no Pitt player went after it either. Just an odd play.

Also, keep this in mind. In Diacos first year, they got hit with the injury bug when Ian Williams went down. Sean Cwynar came in as his replacement for the final stretch. ND went 4-0. He has to do his job well the last two games and get these kids coached up and playing with a chip on their shoulder. Even with the injuries they have the talent to win out. Its just the players have to do the little things right, shoot the right gaps, hold the point of attack, hold contain, and its Diaco's job to make sure they know them. He can do it, he proved that all of last year.

With all that said. He needs to start having ND attack like I mentioned earlier. They have the personnel to do that. They have just as much talent when they blitzed the living hell out of FSU for the first half of the Champs Bowl. Let the players make plays, and play conservative when you need too. Stanford beats Oregon back to back years, why? Bc they attacked Oregon. Watch Oregons games. Most defensives play similiar to what ND does, they try to keep everything infront of them and make Oregon dink and dunk. Oregon loves to do that and they do it. Stanford shoots gaps, jumps the snap, blitzes the hell out of them and puts the pressure on them to make big plays. If ND is healthy again this year Id LOVE to see that. As of right now, they just dont really have the ability to play that way. In 3 weeks when we play Stanford, and we are healthy, I think we can. It all depends on the good ol power of healing.

And move to a 4-3....once again ND isnt close to having the personnel to do that, much less next year they will not have the personnel to play a 4-3. Just give it time. There have been many things out of control of the staff and players hands that have happened this year. It sucks, but its just the way the chips have fallen.

Particularly like the highlighted part. Liked more but I am not going to parse what you say to take it out of context and server my needs.

Tuitt was that on-field leader at the end of the USC game. His second half in that game was dominant. I felt that was a big moment for this defense as a whole.

Then we play two teams that run a non-traditional offense and the momentum is crushed.

Tuitt gets thrown out of the game and Pitt drives right down the field and scores. Tough way to try and get momentum back when the guy that can take over games is in the locker room.

Brilliant!

 

[woolybug25]

I would add to this:

Stanford shoots gaps, jumps the snap, blitzes the hell out of them and puts the pressure on them to make big plays. If ND is healthy again this year Id LOVE to see that. As of right now, they just dont really have the ability to play that way. In 3 weeks when we play Stanford, and we are healthy, I think we can. It all depends on the good ol power of healing.

If we aren't healthy or don't start attacking, we are going to get smashed in this game. We cannot simply let a team like Stanford "stay in front of us" and "prevent the big play", because that plays right into what Stanford does. We will simply never have the ball on offense and Stanford will slowly and methodically pound us into the ground.

 

[GATTACA!]

While I agree 100% and feel diaco is way overrated. .. the huge difference is that navy use cutblocks which Georgia tech have 300lbs lineman so they don't utilize them

Wouldn't It make more sense to be right on the LOS against a team that's cut blocking? If you can engage as soon as the ball is snapped there is no way the lineman can go for your knees. Once your engaged another lineman could chop you but that's actually something they can get penalized for. Standing up away from the lineman seems like it would allow them to anticipate you and time up a cutblock.