Saban's defensive mind... | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Saban's defensive mind...

FrankP

FrankP

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Hello all,

I would like to know if any of you can explain what Saban is doing, defensively, right now, that we can consider 'mastermindly' of him?

I ask this not because I want to bash him, I am ABSOLUTELY thrilled where he has this team right now (make haste slowly!), but I am really wondering, if at this point he is really a mastermind of a schemer or a recruiter?

OR, he's not showing much as of now? OR, it takes alot of time to understand his schemes?

I look at the Pats or defensive teams that have succeded recently and during games, you can clearly see how they schemed vs the team they played with formations and the likes... did you see any of this this season with the 'Phins? I didn't, but maybe I missed it? Do you think Saban will scheme something up vs. the Falcons that will me mastermindly of him?

(I actually am seeing a pretty good defense on the field for the phins, I am just not seeing alot of scheming, though...)

Thanks and remember, I am asking... Not bashing, so please, no bashing in return... I love the phins and where they are going and am quite comfortable with where we are at this point in the season!
 
FrankP said:
Hello all,

I would like to know if any of you can explain what Saban is doing, defensively, right now, that we can consider 'mastermindly' of him?

I ask this not because I want to bash him, I am ABSOLUTELY thrilled where he has this team right now (make haste slowly!), but I am really wondering, if at this point he is really a mastermind of a schemer or a recruiter?

OR, he's not showing much as of now? OR, it takes alot of time to understand his schemes?

I look at the Pats or defensive teams that have succeded recently and during games, you can clearly see how they schemed vs the team they played with formations and the likes... did you see any of this this season with the 'Phins? I didn't, but maybe I missed it? Do you think Saban will scheme something up vs. the Falcons that will me mastermindly of him?

(I actually am seeing a pretty good defense on the field for the phins, I am just not seeing alot of scheming, though...)

Thanks and remember, I am asking... Not bashing, so please, no bashing in return... I love the phins and where they are going and am quite comfortable with where we are at this point in the season!
Click to expand...

I don't think football is quite as complex as we all make it out to be.

In the case of schemes, it would appear they have far less effect on the defense's play when compared to the amount of time they spend on the field.
 
It's hard to scheme really well when your players keep going down too.
 
Well the long and short of it is that this is a completely and I emphasize "completely" new scheme that only one person on this team is qualified to really go out there and play in. That person is Travis Daniels only because he was in Saban's defense at LSU. He understands whats expected of him, and knows more than anyone what Saban wants. But basicly we have alot of players who are use to a 4-3 Cover 2 and nothing else. Sam Madison said it himself. All he had to do was concentrate on his guy. End of story. With Saban, he wants you to pass coverage and be up in run support. Be a more complete team player.

Right now the defense is still learning on-the-fly. They dont have the philosophy down so Saban really isnt going to overload them with stuff. Give Saban a year or two to get in the right personnel to fit his system, and we'll see a totally different machine out there.

As far as scheming goes, Saban did put in a few good wrinkles that really threw the Saints off balance, primarily Aaron Brooks. Brooks likes to roll to his left. So Saban primarily sent blitzes from that end to negate his ability to roll out, and it cost him. He's put his most athletically gifted player, Jason Taylor, as more of a roamer around the whole front 7. He's Saban's version of Willie McGinest, who can line up at LB or DE. And its worked more than half the time IMO.

But this is a work in progress. Give it some time, and we will see how far the players are willing to buy into his philosophy. If and when they do that, we will really have a good time seeing Saban's product on the field.
 
I don't think we have seen too much scheming either so far. Why? I think the main reason is that we don't have the personnel. The Patriots have guys that are very flexible; linebackers can cover, stop the run, etc. They can play in a 3 point stance or as a standup linebacker. Our guys are not there yet. Also, I think before we can start coming up with intricate gameplans every week, first the guys have to be comfortable with the base defense. Our corners are not used to zone coverage, and our LB's are still adjusting to blitzing all the time. Once they get comfortable in their new roles', I think he'll ask more of them.
 
FrankP said:
Hello all,

I would like to know if any of you can explain what Saban is doing, defensively, right now, that we can consider 'mastermindly' of him?

I ask this not because I want to bash him, I am ABSOLUTELY thrilled where he has this team right now (make haste slowly!), but I am really wondering, if at this point he is really a mastermind of a schemer or a recruiter?

OR, he's not showing much as of now? OR, it takes alot of time to understand his schemes?

I look at the Pats or defensive teams that have succeded recently and during games, you can clearly see how they schemed vs the team they played with formations and the likes... did you see any of this this season with the 'Phins? I didn't, but maybe I missed it? Do you think Saban will scheme something up vs. the Falcons that will me mastermindly of him?

(I actually am seeing a pretty good defense on the field for the phins, I am just not seeing alot of scheming, though...)

Thanks and remember, I am asking... Not bashing, so please, no bashing in return... I love the phins and where they are going and am quite comfortable with where we are at this point in the season!
Click to expand...


### Yes I think he has, agains't the Broncos he kept the DE's rushing up the field and kept Plummer in the pocket. As you have seen since that game Jake has been able to get outside the pocket and hurt teams with boots and waggles. I don't remember him being able to do that agains't us. ###
 
I've seen a lot of great calls! I think people who watch the game only watch the ball and not the other 21 players on the field.
One of my favorite plays (and I've seen this happen a few times) is where we have Seau or a linebacker blitz while Vonnie Holliday drops back into coverage. Holliday almost had an interception against Kansas City that way, no one sees him because they all assume he's still the guy rushing the passer up front.
On a somewhat similar play, against Carolina Seau lined up as nose tackle in a 5-2 but then dropped back into coverage. I remember thinking "what the hell?" but when the pass was incomplete, all I could think was "I guess that works."
How about all the blitzing the safeties do? Sometimes near the line of scrimmage, sometimes five yards off, sometimes they cover receivers while the corners blitz. There's some good stuff there if you actually watch.
 
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