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I know Army runs a scheme we won't see again, but they did not punt. Not. All. Day.It is still too early to tell. The defense looked good against NMSU, looked decent against Texas, and didn't show up against Army. I don't think Stokers D would have done much better tonight against Army. I think next week will be a good indicator if our defense has improved.
Stoker's defenses were clobbered multiple times each of the last 3 seasons. We expect it now. So far this year the Miner defense has been whipped once and clobbered once.
The Army game should have been more competitive and would have been had the offense done anything. If you can't move the chains at all you are going to get whipped.
Well, I thought Stoker's defense improved in the latter part of last season. Mason is installing a new system, which I imagine takes time (although you throw the system out the window against an option team that requires unique preparation; the Miners were not prepared). It's fair to see if Mason's defense will likewise improve over the course of the season, but I do not like what I've seen so far.I know we're 3 games in with Mason but it seems like we're getting the same results. We're giving up yards in bunches and we're not getting any sacks or turnovers. Maybe it just comes down to a lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball.
Stoker and Mason are completely opposite. Mason was brought in because spread offenses shredded Stoker's defense. Stoker's defense's however dominated power run and pro style offenses. Stoker's defenses would have been torched by NMSU and Texas. However, he would have held Army under 30.
In the preseason interviews Mason always brought up Army and how he was nervous and dreaded Army. I know why now, but in my worst nightmate I didnt picture a debacle like Saturday. Thats was unacceptable. I think we match up pretty well defensively with most of the teams in conference. However, I say that with alot of trepidation, after Saturday its hard to have alot of optimism.
In a perfect world we would have a dc who would be a happy median between Stoker and Mason.
In typical fashion, a la the Buffalo scenario from the Price era, UTEP scheduled Army when they struggled. Now their offense has the athletes to run the flexbone with special forces precision.
The OC needed to change, but I was never really sure about the DC. And now I'm less so.
Well, a little under 33 over his entire tenure, but the worst of those was 2013 when the Miners were undoubtedly rebuilding. 2014 was a little under 23. Over the last six games last season the average was a little under 23, which is why I said there was improvement over the course of the season. There were signs of improvement.UTEP yielded 35 points per game under Stoker, his idea of adjustments was to yell louder at halftime. And who do you think recruited the vast majority of those kids on the current UTEP defense that's given up 107 points the past two weeks?
There were signs of improvement.
It's not an offense you prepare four days for and think you're going to be good at defending it.
What's Osia Lewis doing these days? Need a job?
Well gee, how does anyone EVER beat Army??!?