This play was doomed from the start

[PirateVOL]

A lesson for those (1%) amongst us who really have no clue how the game is played
Just a really nice play by the defense

https://twitter.com/BussinWTB/status/1586516539594768384?s=20&t=bblH2ltO-hSVYF6HKG6s7g

Three receivers, 3 defenders matched up in Man

Inside receiver has JuJu on him - not that evident pre snap (we often have the strong safety come down to cover him and blitz the backer -especially if the backer is Banks), T-Mac has the slot and Slaughter has the outside guy
T-Mac and Slaughter are playing off , anticipating a switch/pick route (what Hyatt scored on twice last night) though I would have expected them to not be at the same level

At the snap JuJu is immediately on his man, T-Mac knows the slot is coming to him and in position to undercut the route.  Slaughter is off the receiver (ball half way there he is 5 yards off but closing fast, as he should be (something we haven't done well in the past 1.5 years) and arrives more or less within a half second of the ball and arrives angry.

Beautiful hit, helmet knocks the ball out.  JuJu with his eyes out sees the pass, breaks off his guy to help and is in the perfect position for the pick

Well played by all three!
For this series Walker was in a SS for Tank and hustles down field to help block


As an aside, something I noticed last night is that for passes beyond the LOS KY is very much a left handed team but for passes behind the LOS they are right handed

KY often ran a very tight bunch (usually with 2 TEs) on one side and a single WR on the opposite side.  Often the bunch was to Turnage's side
Had to be for blocking because they rarely did anything with it and often we seemingly ignored it
On one play we had Turnage go into and engage the bunch and had Flowers go outside the bunch to make a play in the backfield

Banks and co had the defense well prepared last night.  Yes we occasionally had bad moments including way too many missed tackles by the secondary, but we were in position to make plays all night
IMO the best defensive performance by us all year, by far

 

[Coupe De VOL]

I think the D played their best game of the year so far, but yeah, we had some pretty bad tackling at times.  It was as if that Rodriquez feller had some kind grease or lard all over him  

[Tnphil]

I said at the time that IMO if not for having to jump over the WR that got de-cleated he would have been gone to the end zone.

As far as our bad tackling several times...sometimes being a step or two slow doesn't get you in good position to make tackles....And we have a slow problem. Much like late in games when your defense is tired and start missing tackles....When you lose your legs it is a lot like being slow to the ball...Creates missed tackles. We need speed help on the back end bad...We are using our front 7....stunts...blitzes etc to make up for our bad DB play.

Most tackling is 'Want to'....IMO our players want to...Just are lacking in the ability department to.

[BanditVol]

In addition to the int, Mitchell was our leading tackler last night. I guess he finally got it together.  Good to see, and perfect timing also. 

[PirateVOL]

In addition to the int, Mitchell was our leading tackler last night. I guess he finally got it together.  Good to see, and perfect timing also. 

Interestingly, he did NOT get the start, Beasley did