On a 2nd look, our rush defense was fairly poor last season. We could make up for it with an explosive offense that often scored quickly to make up for other deficiencies. But, until our offense under Howard (and his new WR corps) gets their sea legs, our defense is going to need to get people off of the field. These opponents' stats from 2014 are very telling-------
- Alabama: 49 carries, 288 yards (5.9ypc); Yeldon 126 yds, Henry 113 yds
- Maryland: 27 carries, 163 yards (6 ypc); Brown 161 yds
- OU: 46 carries, 301 yards (6.5 ypc); Perrine 242 yds
- Texas Tech: 38 carries, 217 yards (5 ypc); Washington 132 yds
- OSU: 39 carries, 194 yards (5 ypc)
- TCU: 42 carries, 223 yards (5.3 ypc); Catalon 105 yds
- Texas: 39 carries, 227 yards (5.8 ypc); Gray 101 yds
- Texas A&M: 48 carries, 235 yards (4.9 ypc); Carson 133 yds
Amazingly, we held Baylor to 95 yards on 42 carries (2.3 ypc) & we held Kansas State to one yard on 29 carries ---- so the potential is there. (I should add that Jake Waters from KSU torched us for 400 yards through the air)
We are heaping praise upon Tony Gibson and this defense for our upcoming season because of all of the great individual talents we possess - Karl Joseph, KJ Dillon, Drayvon Henry, Daryl Worley, Nick Kwaitkowski, etc. And, the Defense did have its moments in 2014 - Baylor being chief among them - but also several great 2nd half performances.
That being said, those numbers shown above need to change for 2015. Jared Barber, Nick Kwiatkowski, Shaq Petteway, Ed Muldrow and our other LBs are going to need to tackle crisply, and make stops at first contact. We cannot live on the edge this year...we're going to need to get teams off of the field.
We're gonna learn about this ability to stop the run (or lack thereof) very, very quickly vs. Georgia Southern in Game Uno.
- Alabama: 49 carries, 288 yards (5.9ypc); Yeldon 126 yds, Henry 113 yds
- Maryland: 27 carries, 163 yards (6 ypc); Brown 161 yds
- OU: 46 carries, 301 yards (6.5 ypc); Perrine 242 yds
- Texas Tech: 38 carries, 217 yards (5 ypc); Washington 132 yds
- OSU: 39 carries, 194 yards (5 ypc)
- TCU: 42 carries, 223 yards (5.3 ypc); Catalon 105 yds
- Texas: 39 carries, 227 yards (5.8 ypc); Gray 101 yds
- Texas A&M: 48 carries, 235 yards (4.9 ypc); Carson 133 yds
Amazingly, we held Baylor to 95 yards on 42 carries (2.3 ypc) & we held Kansas State to one yard on 29 carries ---- so the potential is there. (I should add that Jake Waters from KSU torched us for 400 yards through the air)
We are heaping praise upon Tony Gibson and this defense for our upcoming season because of all of the great individual talents we possess - Karl Joseph, KJ Dillon, Drayvon Henry, Daryl Worley, Nick Kwaitkowski, etc. And, the Defense did have its moments in 2014 - Baylor being chief among them - but also several great 2nd half performances.
That being said, those numbers shown above need to change for 2015. Jared Barber, Nick Kwiatkowski, Shaq Petteway, Ed Muldrow and our other LBs are going to need to tackle crisply, and make stops at first contact. We cannot live on the edge this year...we're going to need to get teams off of the field.
We're gonna learn about this ability to stop the run (or lack thereof) very, very quickly vs. Georgia Southern in Game Uno.
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