Worried about defense?

It is apparent that the defense has struggled, in large part due to injuries to key players, and somehow forgetting how to tackle the last couple of games. The first two games showed some great defense, and I don't believe the last couple of games are a predictor of how the defense will play in future years. For one, Kalani runs a lot of 4-3, and we don't have the personnel for it right now. We took a DE from the basketball team and another DE that was a linebacker. What will the defense look like when we can actually exert pressure on the QB with just four rushers due to honest-to-goodness 4-3 type defensive ends? Also, I believe Kalani will improve the depth of the defense, so that when injuries do occur, there will not be as steep of a drop off. In short, though we are struggling the last couple of games on defense, I don't believe that means we will always struggle on defense. The defense will need time to get the right kind of players here.

We're probably not deep enough to not struggle when there are significant injuries.

I have a hard time accepting the fact that because there are 3 or 4 injuries to key players, BYU should be excused from being able to make extremely basic defensive plays, like tackling or covering the flat. I think even a team of walk-ons should be expected to make tackles. Sure, our injuries may mean that our tackles are now tackles for a 2 yard gain instead of a 3 yard loss, but giving up 8-9 yards per play is inexcusable defense by any standard.

It looks worse than it is--we just played the two best offenses we will face all season, so it's not surprising the defense struggled more than they did against AZ, Utah, and UCLA. Toledo was going at Pau'u's and T. Warner's replacements all night long to exploit the steep dropoffs at those points on the field.



Room to improve? Absolutely. Harbinger of things to come? Absolutely not.

silver lining the last 2 games. WVU and Toledo are statistically great teams that were matchup nightmares for the more powerful but slower BYU defense. WVU and Toledo both had players who were fast and great at making open field plays. That, along with the injuries contributed to the offensive fireworks from WVU and Toledo. BYU should have won both games handily if the defense made a few more stops/plays.

I think it is a combination of what everyone has said. Coaching needs to improve this week and get the defense back to basics. There is a lot to clean up, talent drop off aside. I am hopeful that the coaches will get the mistakes cleaned up and we start seeing some good defense again because it appears the offense is coming around.