Timely topic--we just disscussed this over lunch at The Bin in downtown Billings. I told my friend, an avid Griz fan, that we can't keep giving up 400 + yards a game and expect to win and that 9 games into the season, our D should be playing better than it is. Our offense shouldn't have to score 50 + points a game for us to win !!!
I put these suggestions in Brint's post about the statistical improvement year over year of our defense.
1. Rotate Bienemann, Takai, Ginn, and Kidder plus Holmes, Wagenmann, and Crittenden to keep them fresh and to get more push from our front 4. While I believe in well-timed blitzes, if we have to routinely send 5-7 to put pressure on the opposing QB, we are going to get burned !!! We need more sacks, pressures, and pass knock-downs from our front 4 !!!
2. Pull a LB and go to the nickel with another DB and our best, fastest cover safety if the opponent empties his backfield and goes with 4-5 wideouts. I saw from the North End Zone JP's flowing mane as he tried in vain to chase down Eastern's WR during the Eastern game--covering a WR with a LB = a big play or score normally for the opposing team.
3. Our O can help our D by a balanced attack featuring about an even split between the run and pass so that our D doesn't get chewed up and worn down because they are on the field so long. To me, a 5-9 minute drive that results in a score, especially a TD, is great for the offense AND the defense !!! We have this O line that averages 6-6, 315 or something like that--let's use them and expect them to open up holes for our backs .