Film Room: FIU

Yes, We Discuss the Defense

Editor’s note: This was supposed to be out earlier this week. We mentioned on Twitter/X that we were in Las Vegas this past weekend and travelled back on Monday. That threw off our posting schedule and the compressed week meant a lot of catchup at the day-job.

Head coach Eric Morris talked this week at his press conference about things that need to improve. They included being mentally tough, having the right energy, tackling, keeping the ball better, and finding the right players to handle the challenges, and also forgetting about last year.

Morris is really funny and his press meetings can seem flippant and even light-hearted but I get it. “If anyone knows any better way to tackle than to tackle I’m happy to hear it.” He was very clear about the problems (tackling, playing better) and the potential solutions (improving alignment or technique and coaching). The Denton-Record Chronicle was asking if the scheme is right for the personnel, and Morris admitted that the defensive lineman are light for any scheme and “have we recruited for this scheme for the last 3-4 years? We have not.” That’s also true and something we have to keep in mind when doing the criticism.

All that said, the defense is the worst in the nation. The tackling is atrocious and the opposition haven’t been all that strong. It is a major concern and at least from the press conference, we can see that Morris is concerned about it and is working on it. The fact does remain that there isn’t much to do. There is no transfer window, or trade deadline to save the defense. There is only the coaching of this current group. Defensive coordinator Caponi has been “challenged” to find a solution. Is that changing the scheme some? Is that bringing in different personnel? Is that a different way of teaching or calling things? All of those are on the table, he says.

Beyond that, the offense looks okay. Stone Earle is still listed as the starter, even though Chandler Rogers came in in the second half and looked great. Earle “cramped up” and Rogers got a lot of praise for executing and staying calm. Morris did not commit to a starter this week or going forward but he says he doesn’t believe in a platoon system, even if that is the status this week. Then later at his coaches show he said that Chandler is the guy this week.