Nick Aliotti is a terrible DC, part 11,000,000,000
by Freeing Ray Schafer on Sep 20, 2008 11:37 PM PDT
Email
PrintThe Oregon coaching staff let the Ducks down today.
Don't bother to say anything about the players. We get it. Thomas looked very good for his first collegiate action. Chris Harper still can't throw a ball very well and it's entirely possible his shoulder is still affecting him. Masoli got absolutely rocked on that one hit but was doing OK. The rest of the team turned in a decent overall performance, especially the offensive line, who won the trench battle all game.
I have absolute disdain for everything Chip Kelly, Mike Bellotti and Nick Aliotti did. They took the Ducks out of this game. Oregon kept themselves in this in spite of the coaches' decisions. I might do a second-part of this fanpost for the offensive coaching, but I'll start with the obvious: how bad Nick Aliotti sucks. So here are my grievances against him:
POOR RECOGNITION. Aliotti may be one of the worst defensive coordinators of a BCS team. Boise State was running an offensive clinic out there and was playing within themselves. They executed everything with precision. They ran the ball to set up the pass, even though the Ducks were stout on run defense all day. They protected really well against the pass rush. They spread the field according to Offensive Coaching 101 in the passing game: backs in the flats, TEs down the middle, WRs split wide. Occasionally, they'd mix their routes up and they were all ran well. Boise State is a well-coached team. We knew this going in. Aliotti had no idea what he was in for, as far as I could tell.
STUBBORN REFUSAL TO BREAK FROM THE ZONE. That was THE reason why nearly all of BSU's big plays happened. Vinny Perretta would never have scored his 73-yard touchdown if Aliotti hadn't left Matthews (or was it Paysinger?) out on an island to be burned. Tight ends were constantly left uncovered in the zone because it seemed like we didn't know what to do if they came into the zone. That's just bad preparation, and I lay that blame squarely at Aliotti's feet.
REFUSAL TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. Oregon never got a pass rush going all game. Kellen Moore had plenty of time to throw and he made the most of it. The screen passes were all well executed with seemingly little resistance. Aliotti constantly sent three or four men to get to Moore, stupidly thinking that the Ducks' size and occasional talent advantage would factor in on every play. It didn't. Not once. The few times Aliotti rushed six men, he was only moderately successful because a) he never mixed his blitz packages and b) Boise State is disciplined when it comes to blocking. Aliotti never picked up on this.
KEEPING RECEIVERS IN FRONT OF DEFENSIVE BACKS. This is a stupid strategy and it always fails on third downs. Momentum on some drives was zapped because the Ducks couldn't make that third-and-long stop.
REFUSAL TO GET PHYSICAL. This goes back in part to the zone, but it seems at times like our defensive line is a little afraid of pushing coming to shove. Our linebackers are quick but notoriously poor tacklers (except for Casey Matthews). Our defensive backs don't do bump-and-run coverage; rarely, if ever, does Aliotti give opposing WRs any less than a 10-yard cushion on an obvious passing down.
Aliotti will never step down as long as he has those photos of Mike and Phil Knight engaging in some Holocaust-themed orgy, but the sooner someone offers him an HC job with more pay the better. I'm sick and tired of watching Oregon defenders get burned game after game.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or the Addicted To Quack Moderators. FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable Oregon fans.
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
This coming from an outsider
But the thing I noticed about your defense today was that they were not getting physical with BSU. They almost seemed frightened and unmotivated. I had always thought that Aliotti was the problem with UO. Last year you guys got away with just outscoring teams. This year, you’re going to have to play defense if you’re going to win games. The team will bounce back, but I agree, I think Bellotti needs to find a new DC.
The Artist Formerly Known as OrState GoBeavs
by The VD Special on Sep 21, 2008 12:50 AM PDT reply actions
I have been screaming about the ineptitude of Aliotti for years. I have no idea why he’s not fired, I have no idea what pictures of Belotti he has.
It’s disgusting to hear how great our secondary is, but then time and again this year, they’ve looked like the 3rd best defensive unit behind the D.Line and the LB’s.
Aliotti sucks ass, always has and always will. Oregon will never win a national championship with such a weak link.
The secondary
I agree with your comments about the secondary. I keep waiting for this breakout game by them where they just fly all over the field and make plays. The lasting image in everyones mind right now when they think of Chung HAS TO BE him getting stiff-armed on that first long run against Purdue. Until they step up and DO something, the D-Boyz moniker needs to be retired.
We were outcoached in every facet of the game. I’m to the point where I am scared every time a team has a 3rd and long because I know we’re going to give up the first down. As for the offense, I didn’t want to see DT’s redshirt burned, but if you KNOW your QB can’t even TRY to throw it, you have to get DT in right then.
"Droppin' knowledge like J-Will drops first downs" Dave - Addicted to Quack
by MarineCorpsDuck on Sep 21, 2008 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Geez...
You gonna make me defend Allioti? There were plenty of coaching mistakes, but there were just as many player mistakes. It’s completely asinine to place all of the blame for this one on the coaches.
The long pass to Perretta was a man scheme in which Oregon blitzed, leaving Perretta man-to-man with Casey Matthews. Boyd was unable to get to the QB in time, and Matthews couldn’t guard the WR.
Yes, the zone hurt in the first half (BSU exploited them perfectly), but in fact, adjustments were made. They just didn’t help things. Blitzing started, more man, etc. and nothing helped. The players seemed that they had never heard of play action before, even though BSU couldn’t run the ball all day.
Also, while big 3rd downs were given up a lot, it would be interesting to see if the cushions given by CBs actually did anything. I’m seriously doubting that this post was written by any actual analysis looking at the schemes, but was instead emotion driven.
Also, it really hurt not having Thurmond. Against a scheme that threw so much and so many receivers, the secondary was spread very thin. BSU did an amazing jobs getting great matchups, and they executed them perfectly.
It’s real easy to sit back and say that the coaches should have done any number of things, and there were huge mistakes today for sure. But Boise State did what they needed to perfectly. And really, I’m not sure what could have been done differently. I don’t think the reasons given in the original post would have done anything. The generic suggestions like, “making adjustments” were followed. We broke from zone, and got burned. Would it actually be wise to run bump-and-run much (I also think we have one of the more physical secondaries around)?
The coaches didn’t have good early gameplans, which killed in the first half. The second half adjustments failed, and were exploited just as bad. But BSU played pretty much perfectly on the offensive side of the ball. They protected, they spread the field and got every advantage. We were outcoached and outplayed on this one. Everyone takes the blame.
Also, for a real breakdown of what happened, check out Ken Woody’s recap.
--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Your leading example destroys your argument.
“The long pass to Perretta was a man scheme in which Oregon blitzed, leaving Perretta man-to-man with Casey Matthews. Boyd was unable to get to the QB in time, and Matthews couldn’t guard the WR.”
This is a coaching issue, why would it ever be a good idea to have a middle LB covering a WR? Does that sound like a player’s fault or the fault of the guy calling the play? What MLB should be expected to man up a WR?
As for DB cushions, that’s how Aliotti’s scheme is, play soft and let them complete underneath. That’s all well and good until multiple 3rd and longs are being completed in front of them. Again, that is what’s being taught, from a coach, not what the players just decided on their own.
*sigh*
Let’s look at what actually happened. A man-to-man coverage was called. This happens throughout games MANY MANY TIMES. This was no different that any other time. Vinny Perretta lines up in the backfield, then motions out, throwing our defense for a loop, and somehow he is covered by Casy Matthews, who follows him out. This is basic football 101. If our linebackers and secondary can’t handle a motion out the backfield, we have MASSIVE PROBLEMS. Could a better play have been called…sure. That could be the case 99% of the time. But simple switches should be able to happen as well. Poor job by linebackers and secondary on this one.
Beyond that, let’s look at the 3rd and logns. Here’s a list of all 3rd and more than 5s throughout the game…
3rd and 10 at BSU 32 Kellen Moore pass complete to Vinny Perretta for 11 yards to the BoiSt 43 out-of-bounds for a 1ST down.
3rd and 9 at BSU 36 Kellen Moore pass complete to Chris O’Neill for 8 yards to the BoiSt 44 out-of-bounds.
3rd and 19 at ORE 38 Ian Johnson rush for 4 yards to the Oregn 34.
3rd and 12 at BSU 40 Kellen Moore pass complete to Jeremy Childs for 14 yards to the Oregn 46 out-of-bounds for a 1ST down.
3rd and Goal at ORE 9 Kellen Moore pass incomplete to Vinny Perretta.
3rd and 7 at ORE 17 Kellen Moore pass incomplete to Jeremy Avery.
3rd and 7 at ORE 43 Kellen Moore pass incomplete to Vinny Perretta.
3rd and 8 at BSU 22 Kellen Moore sacked by Nick Reed for a loss of 3 yards to the BoiSt 19.
3rd and 5 at BSU 32 Kellen Moore pass incomplete.
3rd and 9 at ORE 24 Jeremy Avery rush for 3 yards to the Oregn 21.
So, in all 3rd and long situations, the Oregon defense gave up two first downs. And we’re sitting here bitching about cushions on 3rd? Yes, it’s frustrating when 3rd down conversions happen, but most of the time when everyone complains about it, it’s an entirely emotional response based on 1 or 2 memories, that may or may not have actually impacted the game. In these cases, it didn’t. Most of the big play came on first and second down.
Overall, we were outcoached. But we were also out-played and out-executed, which is the bigger issue here. Everyone wants someone to blame, whether or not its justified.
--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Basic football 101? Must you always be condescending to any opinion that differs from yours?
My point is that these things are trademarks of an Aliotti coached defense. It’s not reactionary to one game, there are many examples of what Aliotti does.
I don't have any problem with other opinons
I encourage other opinions, but I prefer them to be backed up with some substance. I really fail to see how the above post was condescending. The football 101 comment wasn’t directed at you. It was directed at our defense, which should be able to be handle these simple issues.
Overall, I feel that a lot of the criticisms of the coaching staff we’ve seen in this thread are not based in analysis, but are based on emotion.
Yes, playing off the receivers is a trademark of an Aliotti defense. But my point is that this does not have a negative impact. We gave up 2 first and longs out of 10! But, when people leave the stadium, they remember those 2 times, and extrapolate that to the entire game. There are plenty of things that Aliotti has done wrong, but I don’t think that this is one of them. I remember this exact same issue coming up, when people were talking about our 3rd down defense, when our 3rd down defense was actually quite good.
Beyond that, what other things are trademarks of an Aliotti defense? I would like to continue this conversation, but it’s tough when people talk in generics and don’t address game situations.
--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
"Beyond that, what other things are trademarks of an Aliotti defense?"
Bend but don’t break
by inroywetrust on Sep 22, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Nope...
Just pointing out another trademark
by inroywetrust on Sep 23, 2008 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions
The worst part...
Boise State had no running game. None. And our LBs were still biting on every fake and letting TEs run free down the middle
Yup...
That was totally sickening…
Where we were watching, we got the feed up during the final BSU drive of the first half…and it was like play actions right down the field, and total incompetence on part of the defense.
--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Discipline
Our DBs didn’t have it and got killed by play action. To jtlight’s point, that’s everyone’s fault, coaches and players. Maybe we’re weak at linebacker and our DBs feel the need to stay glued on the backfield too long?
There’s no way I can point the finger solely at Aliotti. But over the years the criticism of his failed schemes, poor preparation and apparent unwillingness to adjust away from an obvious weakness has been constant and consistent. That cannot be coincidence. He’s the weak link in this program. Do we go after Justin Wilcox at some point?
- Jeremy
Aliotti
It seemed he had his defense in gear for most of last year, and this year. This is his first big flop game in a while.
Go Duckies!
Most of last year...
Yes, but the offense was often good enough to hide some mistakes. People forget that we gave up 31 in the first half to Stanford. People forget that we gave up 31 in 3 quarters to UW. Thing is, the offense put up 55 points in both of those games so they were still blowouts. The offense has taken a step back this year, and consequently, every play the D has to make is magnified
by inroywetrust on Sep 22, 2008 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Good points
The D seemed to be very deflated when the turnovers, etc. started happening. Mistakes are now being magnified without the offense that we had.
Honestly, it’s not an absolute lights out defense, but it should be better than 37 points. The team never rolled over, which is great. But its not top notch across the board. They have weaknesses that can be exposed, and when the offense absolutely shuts down for 2 quarters, and has 3 yard punts, and gives stellar field position away most of the game, the D will struggle.
--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
