MSU runs a 34 front base defense. I doubt we see their base defense much, but if we do we really need to pick the tempo up. AU caught them in it and went down the field quickly and their bigs were gassed. However AU could not finish it and let them off the mat by subbing. If we get that look, we need to take advantage of it. What I expect us to see a majority of the time is a nickel look, if they stay in a 3 down look, they will walk a LB up on the LOS, if they go 4 down, they like to line up in a 4i look which crowds the middle and allows the LB to have one gap responsibility. Here is an exaggerated look at the nickel package.
In the picture above, the first thing you notice is they play an off coverage scheme much like Arky. They almost always will keep 2 deep. Where Arky likes the quarters coverage, MSU is a predominant 2 read scheme. However, they will switch to a quarters, robber, man, squat and solo or combination of any of the above. In the picture above, they are in a 2 read, the read side being the boundary denoted by the down safety. AU has put the back in motion to the field and IMO this exposes the defense a bit as the WLB has the back to the flat and that's a long run. The WLB makes the play and AU was stopped. The WLB for MSU looked to me to be their best defender, he's really solid. He was the SEC defensive player of the week this week.
Diaz likes to be known as an aggressive pressuring DC. Although he will send pressure, he rarely is willing to expose the backend without deep help. Therefore most of his pressure will come from LB or the edge. I caught one of their blitzes twice, the first one:
This is a 3rd and long. The AU QB should have got them out of this play, I don't know if he didn't see it or if he didn't have that option but it was an awful play for AU and resulted in a sack or turnover, I can't remember. If you look at the picture, the LB standing up at the LOS and drops out. The pressure comes from the LB and down safety at the bottom. The guy standing at about the 24 is a D Lineman and of course he comes, this isn't the NFL, D Lineman especially interior lineman are not going to be in coverage. The LB standing will drop out and move to his left to cover the drag route by the receiver standing on the 20.
Here's the same look and blitz later in the game and AU has adjusted.
Here AU adjusted by going with a tight 2x2 set with a single back. The LB on the LOS and down safety are coming, the interior LB drops out and comes to cover the drag or dig, the guy behind him blitzes the A gap. AU runs inside power in the vacated spot by the interior LB and gets about a 10-12 yard gain.
There are some basics. If you guys want me to explain coverage responsibilities by position, I will but be warned they will be long post!
In the picture above, the first thing you notice is they play an off coverage scheme much like Arky. They almost always will keep 2 deep. Where Arky likes the quarters coverage, MSU is a predominant 2 read scheme. However, they will switch to a quarters, robber, man, squat and solo or combination of any of the above. In the picture above, they are in a 2 read, the read side being the boundary denoted by the down safety. AU has put the back in motion to the field and IMO this exposes the defense a bit as the WLB has the back to the flat and that's a long run. The WLB makes the play and AU was stopped. The WLB for MSU looked to me to be their best defender, he's really solid. He was the SEC defensive player of the week this week.
Diaz likes to be known as an aggressive pressuring DC. Although he will send pressure, he rarely is willing to expose the backend without deep help. Therefore most of his pressure will come from LB or the edge. I caught one of their blitzes twice, the first one:
This is a 3rd and long. The AU QB should have got them out of this play, I don't know if he didn't see it or if he didn't have that option but it was an awful play for AU and resulted in a sack or turnover, I can't remember. If you look at the picture, the LB standing up at the LOS and drops out. The pressure comes from the LB and down safety at the bottom. The guy standing at about the 24 is a D Lineman and of course he comes, this isn't the NFL, D Lineman especially interior lineman are not going to be in coverage. The LB standing will drop out and move to his left to cover the drag route by the receiver standing on the 20.
Here's the same look and blitz later in the game and AU has adjusted.
Here AU adjusted by going with a tight 2x2 set with a single back. The LB on the LOS and down safety are coming, the interior LB drops out and comes to cover the drag or dig, the guy behind him blitzes the A gap. AU runs inside power in the vacated spot by the interior LB and gets about a 10-12 yard gain.
There are some basics. If you guys want me to explain coverage responsibilities by position, I will but be warned they will be long post!
