Directing this to a few folks that seem to know what they are talking about. @ShortSideOption @Middle-aged_Ball_Coach @Red Reign and any others that have been coaches and or [played at a high level.
One of the most frustrating things for me to watch this year was the constant reliance on zone coverage and or playing off of WR. Let me start with a few times I understood this.
1. When we played OSU we were playing to slow them down rather than stop them. We did not have the horses to play their WRs man up.
2. This may even be true with individual players like Illini kid Materbaebae. Probably spelled that last one wrong.
I actually believe this led to a few of our losses. Minnesota and North western in particular come to mind. Where us playing soft coverage allowed them to get a few 1st downs at key moments in the game. I realize our O did not perform well in these games either. However we always left our self with long fields.
One of the most frustrating things for me to watch this year was the constant reliance on zone coverage and or playing off of WR. Let me start with a few times I understood this.
1. When we played OSU we were playing to slow them down rather than stop them. We did not have the horses to play their WRs man up.
2. This may even be true with individual players like Illini kid Materbaebae. Probably spelled that last one wrong.
I actually believe this led to a few of our losses. Minnesota and North western in particular come to mind. Where us playing soft coverage allowed them to get a few 1st downs at key moments in the game. I realize our O did not perform well in these games either. However we always left our self with long fields.