Over 5 games, he has racked up 17 solo tackles and 1 sack. That's 3.4 solo tackles and .2 sacks per game. No interceptions and no tackles for loss. Its been downhill since the Notre Dame game. http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/3821576 There are serious issues up and down the defense, but when the arguably most talented and explosive defensive stud turns into a dud, we are in for a long year. Some might argue Malik is playing out of position, but that didn't seem to affect his stellar performance last year. And if he is playing out of his natural position, what does that say of the overall coaching scheme that put him there to begin with? Strong and Bedford have run the defense aground. Malik has regressed under Jean-Mary. For the team's and Malik's sake, I hope he shows up soon.
His performance in 2015 was the highlight of a non-performing defense. However, remember all of those holes over the middle in pass defense last season? For the most past that was his area that he could not cover. This year the opponents' OC's have figured him out and know that a run fake will take him of both running and passing plays. So it really isn't that he has regressed, he just has not moved to a higher playing level. It is on his coaches to move him to a position where he can cause havoc not read and react.
I was surprised to see him leave the field on a couple of 3rd down plays. Seems to me you want your fastest LBs in the game on a passing down.
That is because he isn't efficient in the pass defense - he bites on the fake and then fails in the coverage scheme. As I said above someone has got to teach him recognition and reaction as well as how to play the LB position.
Unfortunately, like most of the players on defense, he may simply be over-rated. How do you become clueless over night?
Maybe Charlie isn't such a good evaluator of talent after all...That or his coaches aren't that good at development after all. He got lucky with few players at Louisville ??? WTH ?
I think that the defensive schemes the coaches are calling is diminishing the roll and effectiveness of MJ. That said, if the kid never makes another tackle, he is still our best recruiter, including our coaches.
Even if the scheme were to simply "Tackle the Man with the Ball!", I'm not sure how effective these players would be. They don't seem to know the basics.
i dont mean to be harsh in asking this question but have any of the second year players under strong gotten any better? i really thought that malik, boyd, hill, davis etc would be monsters in year two and it seems like they've regressed. seems totally odd given charlies reputation
I don't think Boyd has regressed, I just don't think he was that good anyway. I'm not so sure about Davis having regressed either. He's gotten beat some sure, but he's also the only guy on the team who seems able to read WR screens and react to them quickly.
MJ isn't used to his full potential. They need to let him look and the set, down and distance, mentally review the O's tendencies, then let him line up - move around to the spot where he can do the most damage. It's not easy, but having him fly to the ball without defined assignments might improve his stats and create a little havoc for the opposition. Just a thought.
Not making excuses just pointing something out. It is very hard to constantly fight off blocks and remain effective. There are far too many O-linemen getting to the second level. The move to a four man front would help, but the depth is not there nor we do not have one fireplug to anchor a 3-4 at nose guard. The linebackers we have are pursuit and close guys, they are not built to shed blocks constantly. Until we get some guys that demand double teams up front, this will continue. This also means that the safeties have to keep run support in their heads and that makes them being burned several times a game that much more likely with the Horns corner play. Good teams are built in the trenches is cliche but very true. Look at your top 5, hell top 20 teams right now and that is what you will find as a strength for each.
With the exception of Wheeler and Omenihu they all seem to have regressed. Davis, Boyd, Hill, Locke, Jefferson. (I hate to see what Brandon Jones will look like next year if this trend continues.) On offense, Burt has regressed, but at least the OLs have progressed or at the very worst plateaued. Gilbert and Maddox might be the only people earning their paycheck this year.
