The CheckerBoard

I will be shocked if they have this down without quite a bit of breakdowns the first half of the season. Perhaps the entire season. Having all 11 guys executing their assignments correctly is difficult under normal circumstances without at least one bust. While learning a complete new system, it will take awhile.. I asked the DC in June if it was a myth that it is difficult to go from 4-3 to 3-4 and he said it was no myth. its tough transition. But he believes in the 3-4 and believes it also keeps the opposing QB confused as well,

Why we can't afford many injuries in fron tline guys. they will execute better than those behind him. They expect to play the 11 that KNOW best what to do.

That's what I meant by my 'get it' comment above. The 'get it' factor may offer some surprises in who plays.

I don't really know that and I think the comments on Herm are more in tune with how hard he has studied tape this summer. I don't staff has determined at all who gets it and who doesn't. No one was getting it comnig out of spring IMO no matter what anyone says. Players are not going to get it down in 15 days. Staff will need to shuffle through in the next 2 weeks or so and decide who understands the most and then play them

I doubt the coaches will even be confident in their top 11 by the NC State game. They have to go up to 3 deep on the line to keep them fresh so surely they make it simple as they can for those guys. I would guess at LB and DB, front line guys will play a LOT early on.

they just haven't had enough time in pads on the practice field for many to "get it". That is still to come. Hopefully, by 8/31 a lot get it.

Good post. I believe the defense is practicing against a very good offense which I think helps in prepping for the season. Also the coaching staff is talented and experienced such that it will game plan to put the team in the best position to win. I believe that when you're installing a new scheme you add something each week to the base defense. So we should see improvement during the season. I believe the pieces are there. And yes I maybe wearing orange colored glasses. Can't help it!

This year's defense success is going to rely on the ability to get pressure on the qb. if we can force the qb to have to decide a lot quicker we will have the opportunity to capitalize on more mistakes. it will put us in a situation to make those "big plays" Dooley wants out of this D. i am cautiously optomistic which basically means im itching for the start of the season.

sal will take some knocks this year just to get the system in I believe. Besides, if they are poor on defense, flipping back and forth won't help them get better IMO

Curious question comes to mind.

The reports are obviously saying that our recruiting is improving. If our offense goes out and plays great! but our defense struggles to adjust to the new system even with the talent we have... Does coach Sals credibility mean that Hart would be confident in keeping this staff together even with just say 6 wins and a bowl game this year if it is obvious that it is due to the change in defensive philosophy and with a second year under Sal our team would be tremendously better?

Because if we are lost on d this is a possibility. But I'd like to think our offense will be able to pull out some games and still win 7 or 8 even with a confused defense

I think the absolute minimum is 7 wins. 6 wins means we lost to Bama, Georgia, Florida, USC, MSU, and either NC State or Missouri. That'd be a terrible season and Dooley would be out.

I agree that our offense should be good enough to get 7. We should get 8 if we can beat MSU, NC State, and Missouri. Doable with a crappy defense but it's gonna be tough. I think MSUs D is gonna surprise some folks

I'm gonna throw out the intangible card. With all of the team unity activities this off season, the sense of a good comraderie among players, the getaway to Milligan for a week, and the emergence of some leadership, will the defense be able to overcome a few x's and o's just by playing as a team and having each others' backs? I think there's something to be said for team chemistry that can sometimes mask execution blips just by sheer determination and commitment to your teammates.Relevant or just?

It's nice to see that our fanbase is so excited about the season that we all overread into miscommunications on the first day of practice. Every team has mistakes and missed assignments on day 1, even the offense that returns everyone ran like day 10 and not mid-season.

Yes, there will be some bumps. But I guarantee that when the team comes back from Milligan, many more light bulbs on D will go on, and by the time we play NC State the package installed will be good enough for us to win.

Very true, former D-Coordinator Doug Matthews has said the same thing on the radio in Nashville. Switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is very difficult and we should expect a lot of growing pains in defense this season.

I think UGA's first year struggles with the 3-4 are a little overrated. Sure they were 5th in the nation last year and 30th or so their first year, but the schedule had a great deal to do with that. Cam Newton ran up and down the field on them the first year and they played a very weak schedule last year. I think most of their imporvement was illusory.