Random Poll Question. Are we a better tackling team this year?

Joe had game. Just not always on the football field.

 

YW, I appreciate Your takes, and I’m glad that you joined the Premier Texas Football Board…

I love metrics and the ones you share are always insightful. In the case of tackling prowess, as you and others have mentioned, the metrics may not tell the whole story.

There is no doubt in my mind that this D has turned a corner. While they have played fairly well all season, the performance seemed to have ratcheted up starting with the 4th quarter at Manhattan. Since, they seem to be playing at an elite level.

I judge tackling efficiency by both metrics and the eyeball test. Populating the ball makes a massive difference, and perhaps thanks in large part to the D-Line play, this teams is populating the ball like no other in recent — and not so recent — memory. Something like 8 TFLs in the first 18 plays against TCU? That’s elite. Unprecedented.

So while tackles are still being missed — and it’s annoying — in many cases it hardly matters because the reinforcements seem to almost always be just a step away.

What we really don’t know is how this unit will hold up against an elite passing offense. Or perhaps we do. Bama was no slouch, and Duggan wasn’t either.

Tackling metrics, whatever, the last 9 quarters have been beyond impressive. Too bad — with elite players available on the other side of the ball — we cannot consistently put points on the board.

 

I agree with you. It is just a stat to put your hands around, but there’s subjectivity because if you define what constitutes a missed tackle, different people will apply it differently. A TD is a TD to everyone. Not the same here. And I’ve always hated “yards after contact.” So if Hodges Mitchell goes for 50 after he makes you miss completely, does that count? Or what if Jamaal takes it 90 cause an engaged tackler has a hand slide off him?

There is really no doubt or shouldn’t be in anyones mind the defense is better. I’m perfectly fine with missed tackles if it means a more aggressive approach to getting there. There also are times when that mentality needs to be measured. There is no missed tackle if you don’t get there to miss.

Consistency and continuity matter. Our dline has been great this year. Taking that back to recruiting I prefer taking freshmen to portal guys so we went that way last year. That’s how you develop depth and that pipeline for next years starters.

As to players specifically, I generally lean towards the positives until I get fired up about others being overly critical or overly hyped. We have a lot of solid players on defense. I’m not sure we have superstars although Barron would be my top choice. He is extraordinary in the screen game. From the slot. From the outside.

I expect more improvement next year. Same system (largely) and same instruction again. It matters.