football identity

[pseudonym]

Our last three football hires have been offensive coaches. With the hiring of Arnett, I think we should embrace our identity as a defensive-minded program. Not only do we put a lot of great defensive players in the NFL, but we have been very good statistically in recent history, behind only Bama, UGA, Florida, and LSU. Pretty impressive considering how teams like Auburn and A&M recruit compared to us. And unlike offense, defense is not dependent on one position hitting. Being good/bad at defense is rarely a fluke.

2012-2022 (11 seasons). SEC-only defensive stats.

Team	G	Rush Yards	Pass Yards	Plays	Total Yards	Yards/Play	Yards/G
ALABAMA	99	10539	20580	6590	31119	4.72	314.3
GEORGIA	97	11555	19892	6326	31447	4.97	324.2
FLORIDA	93	13468	18887	6134	32355	5.27	347.9
LSU	92	13872	21004	6238	34876	5.59	379.1
MISSISSIPPI STATE	90	13981	21089	6058	35070	5.79	389.7
KENTUCKY	90	16008	19609	6016	35617	5.92	395.7
MISSOURI	92	15436	21044	6451	36480	5.65	396.5
SOUTH CAROLINA	90	17048	19391	6301	36439	5.78	404.9
AUBURN	92	15883	21797	6578	37680	5.73	409.6
TEXAS A&M	89	16338	20491	6274	36829	5.87	413.8
TENNESSEE	90	17368	21363	6492	38731	5.97	430.3
VANDERBILT	89	17876	21150	6159	39026	6.34	438.5
MISSISSIPPI	89	17405	22333	6586	39738	6.03	446.5
ARKANSAS	90	17584	22725	6206	40309	6.50	447.9

 

[GloryDawg]

I thought Croom was a RB coach?

 

[Johnnie Come Lately]

If RB stands for "Really Bad", you are correct.

 

[GloryDawg]

If RB stands for "Really Bad", you are correct.

Good one!

 

[Cantdoitsal]

I guess I got spoiled over the years having a Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones or Jeffrey Simmons on the D-Line. Denico Autry and Montez Sweat too on the end. Seems we haven't landed one of those types since NIL.

 

[HRMSU]

Our core recruiting ground is the Sip. The Sip is way behind in high school offensive philosophy. So, there is a legitimate reason why some of our best players have come from the defensive side of the ball.

I see it a little differently in that we need to deviate from the norm offensively in order to take advantage of less resources on that side of the ball. As long as we don't have a worthless D coordinator or recruiter we will always be legit on D.

 

[Puppers]

I guess I got spoiled over the years having a Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones or Jeffrey Simmons on the D-Line. Denico Autry and Montez Sweat too on the end. Seems we haven't landed one of those types since NIL.

Trevion Williams is going to be that guy

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Yes! Been saying this for years. Defense also should be the main focus of NIL.

That said, if you have a great defense and a putrid offense, you’ll go 3-9. Swap that and you bottom out at 6-6. So to pull this off, we need to keep our recrootin in the 20s so that scale is between 6-6 and 9-3. We also need to have an innovative plan for offense.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I personally DGAF what the football identifies as, as long as the one carrying it "cross(es) the goal before [he] fall(s)."

 

[dickiedawg]

I guess I got spoiled over the years having a Fletcher Cox, Chris Jones or Jeffrey Simmons on the D-Line. Denico Autry and Montez Sweat too on the end. Seems we haven't landed one of those types since NIL.

NIL is a year and a half old.

 

[Cantdoitsal]

NIL is a year and a half old.

Thanks for the reminder cuz it seems like 5 years to me already.