And it appears this group can and probably will improve. The confidence boost alone from last game should take us to another level. Just have to figure out how to handle some good QBs we'll face.
The way our WRs are playing technique football is refreshing. Wilson and Jackson toeing the edges, while catching with all hands, as they should. Sigh! J. Smith wanted to see improvement and what was to come. I don’t think anyone can deny that the WRs are being coached up, and the team is improving. So, now will it be just about the $? Hmm.
Despite a slip in some teams in the SEC early on, there are some formidable qb in the conference that we will face: Rattler, Daniels, Jefferson, and Cook and potentially Leary and Beck since we haven't seen them face anybody yet. Then we have to be ready for Jordan Travis scrambling around (but at least we will have seen a lot of running qb by then). We will have to make a lot of adjustments this year. The db will be tested a lot, but so will James and Scooby for passing situations and spying the qb.
Milton was big but Travis is slippery. We had no problem with Milton. Let’s see how we do with smaller and quicker qb containment. It’s a new set of guys doing the containing.
Daniels from LSU gave us hell too. Same may happen with KJ Jefferson at Arkansas if we don’t display fundamental tackling
Tackling and pkaying your gaps and keeping them contained. Too many guys trying to be on espn instead of working as a unit.
luckily AA has the defense playing assignment and fundamental football. Granted they aren't PERFECT, but they've been as sound as we've seen in quite some time. But once conference play starts and emotions run high, we'll see how discipline they remain
Absolutely. He and Shemar took their lumps last year and are flourishing this year and on a separate note, I LOVE how we're building experience defensively for 2024 too playing all these young guys who've EARNED playing time. I think we lose 23 (may be eligible for another year I believe) and 20 to graduation, 5 to the portal, and 1 99 and 3 to the NFL draft (don't know why 3 would entertain the draft, but yea) but return EVERYONE else. Keep the staff in tact and we're ROLLING next year. Speaking of 3...I think 8 and 28 has outperformed him so far this year
I keep flashing on Scooby lowering the boom as the QB spy all season long. I like his physicality and mobility a lot.
Scooby was looking like a portal candidate last year and now he’s positioning himself for post season all conference honors should he stay healthy and keep it up. Amazing what a scheme change can do
The young linebackers have played in space well so far. I'd also like to point out how often 2023 #1 plays his position versus the 2022 #1. Sometimes it isn't about the big play in the backfield, it's just about setting the edge and patience.
I noticed that too with #1. The numbers aren't going to be eye popping with him but he's made himself some money this year with how he's played with both his hand in the dirt and when he has to play in pass coverage. Glad he's taken a liking to it as well