We have a high tempo offense that scores often and does so quickly. We don't need a smashmouth defense a la Mich State, Michigan, Stanford and Alabama.
We need a defense just like the one Alliotti built for the Ducks during Kelly's tenure. What does that mean?
Premium on speed and quickness everywhere. Smaller, but a gang tackling bunch that made up in numbers for what it lacked in size. Not a big blitzing team. It's vogue to want an all out attacking style defense if you've got a high flying audience. The logic is you force TOs and make big plays happen to get the ball back to your offense and if you give up 35 a game because of the risks you took, that's okay because your offense will score 40.
Alliotti put a premium on press coverage CBs and ball hawking safeties so he could play 8 in the box. He also made the pass rush a priority. He loved converted TEs as DEs, longer, athletic kids. He wanted his LBs to be 220-230lbs and run like the wind, be able to cover RBs and go sideline to sideline.
I want that defense.
The challenge is that Oregon could recruit kids who aren't going to get it done in the classroom at Cal. That said, we've been able to get quality athletes in the secondary. It's the DE pass rushing types that have avoided us and then you have the unicorn DTs who are big time players and students. Have to land at least one of those guys in every class and to do so you will need to beat out UCLA, Stanford and Notre Dame.
We need a defense just like the one Alliotti built for the Ducks during Kelly's tenure. What does that mean?
Premium on speed and quickness everywhere. Smaller, but a gang tackling bunch that made up in numbers for what it lacked in size. Not a big blitzing team. It's vogue to want an all out attacking style defense if you've got a high flying audience. The logic is you force TOs and make big plays happen to get the ball back to your offense and if you give up 35 a game because of the risks you took, that's okay because your offense will score 40.
Alliotti put a premium on press coverage CBs and ball hawking safeties so he could play 8 in the box. He also made the pass rush a priority. He loved converted TEs as DEs, longer, athletic kids. He wanted his LBs to be 220-230lbs and run like the wind, be able to cover RBs and go sideline to sideline.
I want that defense.
The challenge is that Oregon could recruit kids who aren't going to get it done in the classroom at Cal. That said, we've been able to get quality athletes in the secondary. It's the DE pass rushing types that have avoided us and then you have the unicorn DTs who are big time players and students. Have to land at least one of those guys in every class and to do so you will need to beat out UCLA, Stanford and Notre Dame.
