Thoughts on the Defense & Tosh
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2025 2:27 pm
I have a hard time coming to grips with how I view Tosh. There’s the 2010 Cal game (he was the scapegoat), the years with Sark at UW, the alleged demotion by Saban from play-calling duties & tbe fact he looks like your typical “meathead.”
But on the other hand, he qualified for Cal academically, he was an All-Conference Academic Award winner, he was highly thought of enough by Saban to be hired, you hear how well-regarded he is in coaching circles and then you read stories about how he lived in the film room even in high school.
When I see the rare interviews with him he seems driven, thoughtful and real and I can see how recruits would gravitate towards someone who is always themselves and no-BS.
Anthony Newman made a comment on The FAN’s postgame show after the B1G Championship that the defense looked way too overprepped and looked like they were way overthinking which played right into Kotelnicki’s preferred gameplan.
We know from having Koetter and Chip as our own OC’s that they thrive on creating pre-snap confusion.
We’ve also heard reports that Tosh’s preferred schemes take 2 years to get fully immersed in. We also know Lanning & Co. like to be prepared for every scenario.
With all of the above to consider and the results when we played BSU, PSU & tOSU I’m wondering if Tosh doesn’t simply throw too much “if you see this / then do that” at the D when we play elite offenses.
Contrast that with Jim Knowles who basically simplified the tOSU D after the 10/12 game vs us. He got them re-aligned to keep everything in front of them, only allowing short gains & allowing the D to make plays. He let Downs just go hunt and play off instinct.
It’s just odd that the communication flowing from Bassa to the other 10 guys and was always so extremely frantic against Penn State and tOSU vs most other teams we played where it seemed like it was a calm “seek and destroy”. If we are communicating that much yet blown assignments and missed overages are still happening then obviously the wrong thing was communicated.
I just don’t want my defense overthinking. I want them to play off proper alignment, technique and instincts.
When you add the recipe of intelligent guys + desire to be prepped for everything + a system that adds more on your plate the longer you are in it + extra time to prepare for OC’s who absolutely want you to think you have them figured out then I can see that being a possible disaster.
Remember Derek Mason famously simplified the Stanford D against Chip in 2012 and it generally worked.
The en vogue thing in the NFL right now is disguise your blitzes and your coverage. Pre-snap you already know your end goal as a defense for the play based on down and distance but you disguise how you get there.
At times we look like we come to the play with a blank slate, then we communicate our way to the end goal based on the look the offense gives. Elite OC’s will eat that for lunch.
But on the other hand, he qualified for Cal academically, he was an All-Conference Academic Award winner, he was highly thought of enough by Saban to be hired, you hear how well-regarded he is in coaching circles and then you read stories about how he lived in the film room even in high school.
When I see the rare interviews with him he seems driven, thoughtful and real and I can see how recruits would gravitate towards someone who is always themselves and no-BS.
Anthony Newman made a comment on The FAN’s postgame show after the B1G Championship that the defense looked way too overprepped and looked like they were way overthinking which played right into Kotelnicki’s preferred gameplan.
We know from having Koetter and Chip as our own OC’s that they thrive on creating pre-snap confusion.
We’ve also heard reports that Tosh’s preferred schemes take 2 years to get fully immersed in. We also know Lanning & Co. like to be prepared for every scenario.
With all of the above to consider and the results when we played BSU, PSU & tOSU I’m wondering if Tosh doesn’t simply throw too much “if you see this / then do that” at the D when we play elite offenses.
Contrast that with Jim Knowles who basically simplified the tOSU D after the 10/12 game vs us. He got them re-aligned to keep everything in front of them, only allowing short gains & allowing the D to make plays. He let Downs just go hunt and play off instinct.
It’s just odd that the communication flowing from Bassa to the other 10 guys and was always so extremely frantic against Penn State and tOSU vs most other teams we played where it seemed like it was a calm “seek and destroy”. If we are communicating that much yet blown assignments and missed overages are still happening then obviously the wrong thing was communicated.
I just don’t want my defense overthinking. I want them to play off proper alignment, technique and instincts.
When you add the recipe of intelligent guys + desire to be prepped for everything + a system that adds more on your plate the longer you are in it + extra time to prepare for OC’s who absolutely want you to think you have them figured out then I can see that being a possible disaster.
Remember Derek Mason famously simplified the Stanford D against Chip in 2012 and it generally worked.
The en vogue thing in the NFL right now is disguise your blitzes and your coverage. Pre-snap you already know your end goal as a defense for the play based on down and distance but you disguise how you get there.
At times we look like we come to the play with a blank slate, then we communicate our way to the end goal based on the look the offense gives. Elite OC’s will eat that for lunch.