Masking A Weakness: Defensive Tackle edition
by ChrisApplewhite on Apr 12, 2009 9:40 AM CDT
in Texas Longhorns and Other Football
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PrintRoy Miller was the best henchman in the world, the Oddjob of Will Muschamp's operation. Short, tough, and deadly, his best asset was keeping his boss from having to do any dirty work himself. Have a scotch, give an order, and sit back.
Well, Oddjob died and Miller graduated. Goldfinger had to fight his own battle and got sucked out of a plane. Muschamp probably stays up until 3am, weeping quietly to himself. He's going to have to work this year.
The DT position isn't a place where you need a fleet of Sherman tanks. A simple base defense is fine. The fatalist in us wants to worry about what the tackles can't do then drink poison and die, leaving a sassy and self-loathing suicide note. We are a dramatic bunch. But football isn't always about weaknesses, in fact it's much more important to know your strengths. Arizona made it to a Super Bowl on the backs of two guys and a great coaching staff that knew what they could do and didn't bother with anything else.
So what can they do? Lamaar Houston is of the Tommie Harris mold; cat quick and devastating if he can beat the OL to a spot. But not the kind of player that's going to shuck off blockers and make plays, meaning you have to make sure you keep him away from double teams and either in a gap or stunting towards one.
Ben Alexander is passable as someone who can squat in a general area and hold it down as long as there is only one blocker on him. He's shown the ability to get his shoulder down and keep enough of his body free to protect his gap.
Kheeston Randall is mighty and quick, but entirely unknown. He can do anything you'd want a DT to do, but not reliably.
Since Jarvis Humphrey is teetering on the edge of life and death, and Michael Wilcoxin's upside is a reliable paperweight, those first three are probably the realistic rotation this year, assuming none of the freshman show up ready to go. None of them can handle a double team, so we're going to see a lot of situations where the offense doubles the playside and only tries to hold off the other DT long enough for the RB to run away. You can see that play out here:
We're going to see this early and often. Alexander did what he does, but of what use? The play isn't going to him and he most certainly won't make it to the play. Houston was hit with two bodies and turned around completely, unable to even keep the second blocker from getting to the next level. This was the first play of the game. Early and often.
(notice, also, Blake Gideon getting flatted by Brandon Collins)
It just so happened that the second play of the game illustrates what we'll likely see from Muschamp as a first line of defense -- quick stunts from the linebackers to keep double teams off the tackles. Yes, it's the same concept as mugging, but Muschamp, from some reason, didn't line up some LB with no rushing skills right in the face of a blocker. We hid it:
Run stunts are not unlike the 46 defense, which is not unlike our three man line from last year. Instead of lining three men up across the middle of the OL, one of them is a LB sprinting into position late. What he lacks in size he makes up for in force and surprise.
Notice how Norton's blitz prevented Michael Huey from engaging Alexander. Notice then how Alexander is able to fight across the face of Chris Hall and get to the playside, because he can handle one blocker. (You may also choose to notice Alex Okafor's outstanding play, but this isn't about him).
Football is much easier when you can reduce it to one on one match ups that you can win. Putting either one of our starters against two blockers because 'gal durnit, that's how we do things' will lead to a lot of hair pulling and blog whining. Nobody wants that. There were a lot of run stunts in the spring game, so it looks like Muschamp knows what he's up against this year.
The last clip also featured a nice appearance by Good Lamaar Houston, slicing past his man and closing down on the runner from the backside. This is what he can do better than anything else, but no offense in its right mind would give him a chance. You run at speed and away from strength.
We can combat this by reinforcing the immediate area around Houston with additional personnel, shifting the bulk of the line one way or another. This is called either an over or under front, depending on which way you move your guys:
That's an over front. The line has shifted it's strength to the strong side of the formation. From another play and a better angle:
There are 4 blockers from the center to the TE, and 4 defenders over them. There is no opportunity for a strong double team here. It they do, the LB will be free and the DE will be left with a tight end, which is generally a win for the defense.
This is was our base defense last year so it's not exclusively for Houston's benefit. He's pretty awful at the point of attack if he's faced up to someone, so we'll see a lot of defense simply align the strong side of their formation to Houston's side. The tight end blocking the DE is sub-optimal, but the alternative is having two blockers for two linemen, leaving Houston alone to do Good Lamaar Houston things.
Muschamp didn't do it in the spring game, nor did he do it last year, but should offenses insist on pressing the issue, we may see the line, or at least the tackles, line up according to strength instead of left/right. Having Houston away from double team possibilities would play to his strengths and make him a better football player. This would put us in an under front. The downside is that Ben Alexander would be the one getting doubled, but we could run blitz occasionally to help him out.
How do you rush the passer, then, if neither of your guys can get off of blocks? The blitzing helps, but we can't always rush 5 or 6. This is where Muschamp will earn his paycheck this season. We did a couple different things in the spring game.
Stunts like that will let us create matchups and angles for the linemen that will get them in a little more favorable position. This one works about as well as you can hope for, which may say more about our OL than DL, but that's just the fun of the spring game. We can also combine that with blitzes to create penetration:
To help out with double teams from the center, we used a split front, meaning both DTs played 3 techniques:
This removes the immediate threat of a double team from the center. We went to this front in almost every 3rd and long and 2 minute situation. We could substitute a bigger DE for Ben Alexander -- Russell Carter, or a healthy Eddie Jones being my choice -- since there isn't a big need to fight through two blockers with this front.
We did a lot of this stuff last year, so it may just be that we have a very DT-friendly defense regardless. The one difference I expect to see is more blitzes from a single LB, giving us a 5 on 5 situation on the line. We can cover man to man, so the trade off between blitzing and risk on the back end will be some what mitigated.
While I'm here and watching the spring game in more detail:
- Alex Okafor won't be a dominant pass rusher this year because he has no moves at all. If he gets around the guy, great, but if the OT is on top of him they'll just lock up. He's going to be a superstar eventually, but we need to teach the kid some tricks. It took Brian Orakpo 3 years to learn his little dip, if that means anything.
- Christian Scott is for real. He's faster to the line than Gideon, and had more hard hits in the spring game than any other safety did all of last year. I am fully on board with him now.
- I was wrong about Wells, he got some meaningful time on Sunday.
Happy Easter, folks.
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I hope Freshmen DTs Calvin Howell and Derek Johnson come ready to play.
by Petey on Apr 13, 2009 12:59 AM CDT reply actions
"notice, also, Blake Gideon getting flatted (sic) by Brandon Collins"
Gideon didn’t get flattened by Collins on that first play. He drove Collins back into the play and got taken out by another offensive player rolling through his legs.
Anyone who watches that play objectively will see that’s the case.
by TKO on Apr 13, 2009 7:19 AM CDT reply actions
You broke down tape of a scrimmage in which the coaches really haven’t game planned, really aren’t scheming, and are more concerned with individual effort, technique, and ability?
Texas faces at challenge in finding a trio of solid defensive tackles for next season, but being this is in April and not August and two of the possible answers aren’t even on campus it might be a bit early. Texas has had young defensive tackles step forward and contribute (Marcus Tubbs, Rod Wright, and Frank Okam to name 3 off the top of my head in the past 8-10 years).
I don’t know if Johnson, Howell, or Randall will be the answer next fall, but considering they have 4 full months to get themselves physically ready and things don’t become reall until 5 months from now all this is subject to change a few times over the next few months.
by justaguy on Apr 13, 2009 8:30 AM CDT reply actions
“You broke down tape of a scrimmage in which the coaches really haven’t game planned, really aren’t scheming, and are more concerned with individual effort, technique, and ability?”
Hey, it’s April.
by Nordberg on Apr 13, 2009 8:40 AM CDT reply actions
He didn’t overanalyze a scrimmage. He wrote a post about a problem Texas has to solve next year- the lack of a dominant plugging DT. The scrimmage was the only source of footage showing the Texas defense without Roy Miller. His choices were to use the scrimmage footage to illustrate, or not have any graphics at all.
by TaylorTRoom on Apr 13, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions
“Texas faces at challenge in finding a trio of solid defensive tackles for next season, but being this is in April and not August and two of the possible answers aren’t even on campus it might be a bit early.”
I’m willing to bet that Muschamp is preparing for both the worst case and best case scenarios. And the prep for the worst case scenario definitely occurred during the spring.
by HenryJames on Apr 13, 2009 9:03 AM CDT reply actions
thank you for posting actual info backed by examples chris
by wisconsinhornybadger on Apr 13, 2009 10:06 AM CDT reply actions
yeah, the graphics really helped me visualize.
thanks for the illustrated posts you’ve generated to explain issues, ca. your work is a big part of why i think this is the best brass nuts information source around for longhorn sports.
though i really like burnt orange network, too. (don’t tell me it’s ‘b. o. nation’. i refuse to limit longhorn sports to one country. we’re the wide, wide, world of longhorns!)
by glenn on Apr 13, 2009 10:52 AM CDT reply actions
Please…this is the best, Chris!!! I couldn’t get this write up out of my mind-it interfered with the easter egg hunt I went to at Headhouse Square (lol). I could not concentrate.
by Croatian red-haired Guinea Pig on Apr 13, 2009 11:40 AM CDT reply actions
TKO: Really appreciate your study of the game film.
Thanks so much for your objective observations.
Until someone plays safety in the real, no one knows how difficult it is at this level. After watching the replay in total,it made me really glad BOOM has the know how to get 3 safties on the field at once. Heck, Im a big proponent FOR USING 3-5-3 with the 4-2 multiple front and all hard man coverage. We got the horses to drive opponent offenses into oblivion as long as we line up correctly and flying to the ball/tackling with abandon…wooooooooh! thanks to the players and coaches for their great progression this spring.
by Austintacious 'Horn on Apr 13, 2009 12:29 PM CDT reply actions
Coach Boom will have to do a lot of this. (borrowed but no link) Modern warfare played by guerrilla rules. Always go to undefended targets and targets that do not yet have countermeasure same with situations that do not have defensive countermeasures. Never, never attack your adversary’s strength on his terms.
by 8straight on Apr 13, 2009 12:45 PM CDT reply actions
Great post, Chris.
We are definitely going to do a lot more with our fronts this year to get pressure and avoid unfavorable match-ups inside. The important thing is that we are able to play clean-up well.
Teams that do their homework are going to hit us with pulling lineman while we run blitz a linebacker out of the play and they could end up with a two man advantage. That’s why having a guy like Scott at safety would be great… we need guys who are confident making open field tackles in that situation. The only matchups that really concern me are OSU, OU, and KU… OSU because their offense is well suited to make us pay up front… OU and KU because they will install the offensive plays to specifically exploit.
Against everyone else I think we are going to suffocate and force them into one dimensional passing offense early. The speed we have in our fronts combined with the coverage flexibility Muschamp has this year should make for some damn entertaining defense in that situation this year.
by LonghornScott on Apr 13, 2009 1:13 PM CDT reply actions
the graphics really helped me visualize
ChrisApplewhite is the poor man’s rpongett.
Wait, did I say “poor?” I meant to say “reasonable, sane and intelligent.”
by BrickHorn on Apr 13, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions
We needed pictures to know that Texas currently doesn’t have anyone close to Roy Miller on the roster?
by justaguy on Apr 13, 2009 8:32 PM CDT reply actions
justaguy,
This is going to blow your mind: the post was about how our defense may attempt to address not having a Roy Miller.
by LonghornScott on Apr 13, 2009 9:34 PM CDT reply actions
Scott, Oh, damn really? I never would have guessed it. Yes, it is April and yes there is nothing wrong with Chris spending his time doing it. What I love is how it is taken as gospel by some.
The theoretical exercise was fine if the purpose was indeed filling time, but it is purely an academic exercise when you consider that two of the players who will get a chance to fill that role aren’t even on campus and we have 3-4 months before Fall camp. Spring games are shows for alums and fans. The coaches can learn a few things, but by the time the game comes around Mack, Muschamp, and Tolly already knew the situation and Muschamp has already said he expects the freshmen dt’s to come to camp ready in the Fall to contribute.
by justaguy on Apr 13, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions
I really liked the piece until I read justaguy’s comments, and now I’ve realized that I was tricked into wasting my time.
And yet, I can’t wholly repress this feeling of having been informed … I will have to ponder this further. Unless I shouldn’t – I will await another justaguy post to tell me what to think.
by BEHorn on Apr 13, 2009 10:43 PM CDT reply actions
“The theoretical exercise was fine if the purpose was indeed filling time, but it is purely an academic exercise when you consider that two of the players who will get a chance to fill that role aren’t even on campus and we have 3-4 months before Fall camp.”
Wait is it a theoretical exercise or an academic exercise or is it a filling time exercise? What exactly sort of purpose would you normally assign to a sports blog post, justaguy?
“Spring games are shows for alums and fans.”
Muschamp doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who wastes opportunities to teach and learn.
Who is reaching more: Chris speculating on how our defense will probably cope without having a viable 1 Tech DT (with the best sample of data available at this point), or you speculating that one of the freshman DTs will be able to step in and demand double teams?
Your reaction to this thread is bizarre at best.
by LonghornScott on Apr 13, 2009 11:03 PM CDT reply actions
Tough crowd.
“Muschamp doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who wastes opportunities to teach and learn.”
This is exactly right. We actually learned an awful lot from last year. Spring football is like any observational science — you can learn an awful lot if you know what to look for.
by ChrisApplewhite on Apr 13, 2009 11:43 PM CDT reply actions
Chris,
I haven’t had a chance to really do your analysis justice but I really appreciate that you are posting again.
An interesting topic might be the correct scheme/strategy for using these young frosh DTs that are coming in. Do you think any of them might contribute next year?
by Kafka on Apr 14, 2009 12:12 AM CDT reply actions
“I haven’t had a chance to really do your analysis justice but I really appreciate that you are posting again.”
Thank my new keyboard. Last one crapped out after about 10 months of struggling with a spilled soda or something.
“An interesting topic might be the correct scheme/strategy for using these young frosh DTs that are coming in. Do you think any of them might contribute next year?”
Probably not. Defensive linemen have very technically demanding jobs, DTs in particular. Watch Alex Okafor play, he has 0 moves. The only reason he’s going to play is because he’s an unreal athlete with monster potential. I don’t see that in the interior, at least not right away.
I think we’ve got 3 options next year, unless Humphrey gets healthy. He’s got game.
by ChrisApplewhite on Apr 14, 2009 1:02 AM CDT reply actions
On the uptick when looking at the RRS, UT’s most significant weakness, the d-line, will be mitigated by OU’s most significant weakness: the o-line. That should be interesting.
by NateHeupel on Apr 14, 2009 1:41 AM CDT reply actions
Leach just suspended McKinner Dixon. I’m numb. Enjoyed it while it lasted, though.
by Ag in Tex on Apr 14, 2009 7:36 AM CDT reply actions
Hell ded, y’all didn’t have room for another desk on the 50?
by Higher Ed on Apr 14, 2009 7:57 AM CDT reply actions
Probably, just not a permanent study hall facility, which seems to be the requirement for Dixon. I’ve never seen a guy with such a high football IQ, and corresponding classroom ineptitude.
by dedfischer on Apr 14, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions
Scott, Hey I try my best so if it is bizarre at best I outdid myself.
I find it truly amazing that some one here had to watch clips from a scrimmage to see that Texas doesn’t have a defensive tackle near the level of Roy Miller.
I guess it is time for me to leave this inner circle of football knowledge and let you continue this video circle jerk.
Bottom line is that Chris is right. There isn’t an immediate answer to this question and all I have said is you don’t have to have the fucking answer in April. Okam and Wright were true freshmen that stepped on campus and made major impacts. Tubbs was a red-shirted freshman who did the same. Can any of Johnson, Howell, or Randall make the same type of contribution in 2009? Only time will tell, but the key in each of those situations was that they played along side a older defensive tackle who had the ability to physically dominate.
Texas not only doesn’t have that in Houston they are basically reworking their defensive front. Kindle was a great pass rusher from linebacker, but do we know how he will hold up at the point of attack against the rush? The same can be said for Acho, Carter, Jones, and Okafor. Only time will tell won’t it.
Muschamp is from the Saban school and I agree that any moment on the field is a time to learn. As I mentioned above, he and Tolly knew what they had before the Spring game. They knew Alexander’s limitations, Randall’s inconsistency, and in the same vane I don’t think Muschamp meant his comments about Johnson and Howell to be directed solely at Johnson and Howell.
BEHorn,
Sorry to ruin the article for you. True same I some how slowed your path to enlightenment. How else would we have known the shortcomings of Alexander (aside from not playing for three years) or the fact a young defensive linemen is inconsistent.
Guess I just fucked up my chance to be a member of the secret society.
by justaguy on Apr 14, 2009 8:20 AM CDT reply actions
“I find it truly amazing that some one here had to watch clips from a scrimmage to see that Texas doesn’t have a defensive tackle near the level of Roy Miller.”
If that were the purpose of the clips, it would be amazing.
You are a weird dude. You actually go on to make a salient point about having an experienced, physical DT to accompany a young DT who contributes early (debunking the only actual point you made earlier in the thread).
“Muschamp is from the Saban school and I agree that any moment on the field is a time to learn. As I mentioned above, he and Tolly knew what they had before the Spring game.”
Put those two things together and you will see why it is perfectly valid to consider the fronts in the spring game as a viable sample of tactics we will likely see this year.
Chris makes a football post designed to discuss possible adjustments we may see this year to not having a dominant interior presence and you take a big ole dump on the thread. Talk football and no one will have a problem with you. Act like a dick and you’re going to take a lot of shit.
by LonghornScott on Apr 14, 2009 8:42 AM CDT reply actions
“Defensive linemen have very technically demanding jobs, DTs in particular.”
I did not play played organized football until my junior year in high school (my first high school had banned football because of a tragic accident a player suffered). When I transferred to another high school as a junior(and was finally able to play organized football), I started out at nose tackle and defensive tackle, then moved to defensive end, and finally ended up at middle linebacker my senior year.
My opinion is that (technically) DT is simpler than DE which is simpler than LB. DT is also simpler than OL. The hard part of DT is being sufficiently big and strong and fast that you can compete against the OL monsters. The simplest instructions for a DT (i.e. what they told me when I started) are just line up on somebody and knock them backwards until a runner comes close enough to tackle or the QB goes back to pass.
Are any of these frosh DTs big and strong and athletic enough that they can compete now (assuming the DC is able to simplify their assignments enough)?
by Kafka on Apr 14, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions
“I find it truly amazing that some one here had to watch clips from a scrimmage to see that Texas doesn’t have a defensive tackle near the level of Roy Miller.”
Wow, I find it truly amazing that an intelligent person could read the original entry and come to the conclusion expressed in the above statement. Impossible even.
by Compton on Apr 14, 2009 10:20 AM CDT reply actions
I rather think the Texas DT’s responsibilities are more complicated than those of your high school D.
by RolloTamasi on Apr 14, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions
Chris:
Great piece. I would hate to play Florida running their QB draw series against our current personnel. You definitely would hate to play your DTs in twin 3’s against that.
A lot of the big plays in the passing game against our defense will likely come from play action where they force us to outnumber the box to stop the running game and then throw over the top of us. Fortunately, there won’t be many teams on our schedule capable of executing that on us. (OSU/OU)
Rollo –
DT is the easiest position on the football field in terms of responsibilities. Nothing even comes close. That said, from a skill and maturity standpoint, there are very few young guys that are physically ready for college ball.
by Scipio Tex on Apr 14, 2009 11:49 AM CDT reply actions
Easier than punter? Ok, I guess if you are a righty kicking lefty or something.
by Nth Handle on Apr 14, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions
Watch the NFL sometime. There aren’t 32 quality punters in the league. Punting ain’t easy.
DT requires many physical assets, but few mental ones. The only ‘reads’ a dt has are to read the pressure of his blockers and fight it. Occasionally they need to read the backside of a trap or counter.
So, if they are ornery, confrontational, and willing to chase down someone who is running away, then they can make all their reads instinctually.
by The General on Apr 14, 2009 12:27 PM CDT reply actions
You are all supposed to be weeping for me, not nitpicking the effectiveness of 3 deep blue chips.
by dedfischer on Apr 14, 2009 12:53 PM CDT reply actions
Completely worthless anecdote:
In high school, there were a few area SE Texas teams that played the double 3 technique defense. We killed these guys with out one and only audible to a FB Quick Trap. We would kill teams with this. Like, the fb would have 150 on 12 carries and a couple of touchdowns.
Now 3A East Texas does not equal D1 football, but double threes cede leverage inside and it requires outstanding downhill LB play to counteract this. We have not shown that type of LB play as of yet.
by The General on Apr 14, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions
Loved Rathman. I also remember Schlesinger tearing up Miami and Warren Sapp for Osborne’s first MNC.
by Scipio Tex on Apr 14, 2009 5:31 PM CDT reply actions
I bet Muschamp is staying awake at night figuring out how to stop all the fullbacks we’ll see next year in the Big 12.
by HenryJames on Apr 14, 2009 5:41 PM CDT reply actions
Scip, That was supposed to be a Youtube of Schlesinger’ second touchdown in the 95 Orange Bowl against Miami.
HJ,
Yuk it up all you want, right until some fat white guy from Plano gouges us for a long run on a trap up the middle that would give Don Shula a hard on.
by BatesHorn on Apr 14, 2009 8:29 PM CDT reply actions
That was a great writeup and very insightful.
I think we will see a lot of stunts and blitz next season. SPEED will be the key.
I want to see Norton step his game up and have a HUGE year.
Kindle is a destructive force.
I trust Muschamp to get these guys ready.
D-LINE play is going to be really really important.
by Petey on Apr 15, 2009 2:03 AM CDT reply actions
General:
I don’t think you will see us use the double 3 tech alignment unless it is third and long and we are looking at 10 personnel or no backs.
That being said if a team can trap us with one back on third and long multiple times and successfully convert we probably are getting embarrassed and don’t deserve to win (at least from a defensive perspective)
Chris:
When you are discussing the over front, I feel that the play side end (strong side end) should play the 9tech while your DTs are in the 3tech and nose. Put your backside DE in a 7tech
Since I cannot see the receivers in said picture I am going to assume that we are looking at 11 personnel in a pro/twin gun weak set. Depending on how alignment of the nickel is determined, i.e. does he go to the passing strength via the secondary call for the run strength via the LBs, will cause two variations in alignment. Since, in this example I am assuming we have a pro/twin set, 1 WR and TE to strong side and two WRs to the weak side, I am going to assume the passing and run strength are both to the TE side.
If the above scenario is the case, then you would have your nickel in the box in the bubble between strong side end and tackle. MLB would be in the backside bubble between the NT and backside end. The WLB would be splitting the difference between end man on the LOS and the #2 WR to his side.
Let your strong side safety cheat down a little giving you 7 in the box since, assuming a basic quarters coverage here, he would be able to play closer to the line, at 8 yards or so due to lining up over a TE not a WR.
The safety also gives you numbers on the strong side, while allowing you Nickel to flow fast is the play goes weak due to the Safety being in the box and having the ability to play cut back.
If the offense runs counter to the weak side you still have 1 on 1s unless they pull in which case they would be playing in to Houston strength of speed at chasing the play down backside while running the heel line.
IF the formation we are looking at is 11 personnel Tryps Gun weak, the nickel would be out of the box and the backside backer would be in, and the MLB would be in the bubble between play side end and tackle. The backside safety could cheat down since he has to either bracket number #1 to his side on an inside route or carry the vertical of 3 which again is a TE allowing him some flexibility and recovery time.
The principles are the same, but I believe our ability and faith in the secondary will allow us to bring a safety in the box and play both the run and pass comfortably…. The extra man will relieve much of the pressure on our DTs and LBs.
My 2 cents.
by Fico on Apr 17, 2009 9:01 AM CDT reply actions
Yeah I saw you post on the shag, FICO, and I don’t feel I need to add anything. I did intend to include safety help (the foreshadowing was the Gideon comment), but ultimately forgot. Nice catch.
by ChrisApplewhite on Apr 17, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions
I haven’t mentioned lately out loud how perfect the Muschamp hire was….for all the right reasons.
by TTomTerrific on Apr 20, 2009 12:28 AM CDT reply actions
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