10 More Years Of Koenning, Please October 4, 2010
If you’re not a follower of my Twitticisims, here’s my final thought from Saturday:
I’ve come to a decision: Offer Vic Koenning a 5 year contract extension on Monday. I’m totally and completely serious.
Conferences are all defined by something. In the Big Ten, the haves and the have-nots have nearly always been separated by defensive prowess. The Pac 10 has their offensive firepower (sometimes), the SEC builds on speed speed speed (both figuratively and literally), and the Big Ten will smash your mouth. Run game and defense – we don’t need no stinking firepower.
This has been no more evident than the last few years. The teams on top – Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, even Northwestern – got there mostly through their defense. The teams who have struggled – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota – found themselves on the bottom mostly because they haven’t been able to stop anyone. Three offensive mistakes and you’re done – the defense can’t keep you in the game.
So, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve long dreamed of having our own Norm Parker (Iowa) or Jim Heacock (Ohio State) or Tom Bradley (Penn State) – someone who can bring in a system, call that system, recruit to that system, and keep us in every game.
Vic Koenning is that guy.
He had top-25 defenses four consecutive years at Clemson. He improved K-State’s defense from 117th to 39th in one year. And at Illinois, he’s improved our defense from 91st to 37th through four games. What’s that? Scoring defense is what matters? We’ve gone from 96th (30.2 ppg) to 29th (18.0 ppg).
I can keep going. NIU is averaging 29.2 points per game against their other opponents – we held them to 22. Missouri is averaging 42.7 points against their other opponents – we held them to 23. Ohio State was averaging 49.2 points coming into this game – we held them to 24. Oh, and did I mention that in our defensive rotation of 16 or 17 players, there’s only 3 seniors?
Can I give you one more? We’re tied with Northwestern at 29th in the country in scoring defense (18.0 points per game). Tossing out the FCS games, we’ve played the #21, #32, and #45 offenses. Northwestern has played #42, #47, #90, and #104. Takeaway: We’ve already played 3 of the 6 toughest offenses we’ll face this year. And we’re 29th in scoring defense. I’m really excited to see what the second half of this schedule might bring
OK, last one – I promise. This year, we’re giving up 4.91 yards per play through 4 games. Last year, through 4 games, we were giving up 6.23 yards per play. That, my friends, is probably the most stunning stat of them all. It might not seem like much of a difference, but 1.32 yards per play is the difference between, say, 3-9 and the Insight Bowl.
And remember, this was all done A) with Terry Hawthorne yet to play, and B) Supo Sanni out for the season, and C) Walt Aikens dismissed from school, and D) Josh Brent not making grades and leaving for the Supplemental Draft, and E) Garrett Edwards’ early retirement and F) Michael Buchanan suspended for two games and G) Lendell Buckner being kicked off the team and H) Justin Green playing cornerback for the first time in his life. All of that, a schedule with three top-50 offenses in the first 4 games, and we’re only giving up 18 point per game? Are you kiddin’ me?
Here’s what I suggest. A 3-year contract extension that runs through the 2014 season (same length as Zook’s contract). A raise to the Petrino pay level (Petrino makes $475,000 per year, Koenning makes $325,000). And some type of fulfillment bonus that pays at the end of the 5 year contract.
Sound familiar? Yes – I want Vic Koenning on the Jerrance Howard Plan. In the offseason, the vultures will circle over our top assistant – let’s give him a raise, an extension, and a bonus, and tell him we’re committed to him for the long haul.
Need a cautionary tale of what happens when you don’t make this kind of commitment? Look at our friend Tim Brewster in Minnesota. He hires former Duke coach Ted Roof as his defensive coordinator in 2008. Roof turns the defense around, and Minnesota wins their first 7 and goes bowling. After the season, Auburn came calling, and Roof left Minnesota after only one year for a pay raise at Auburn. Minnesota’s defense went south quickly.
Don’t let that happen here. Lock him down now. His wife and kids didn’t follow him to Kansas State, but they did follow him to Illinois. He loves Monticello and the Sangamon River. He’d be happy if his kids graduated from Monticello High (and the youngest is 9 years old).
Let’s give him that opportunity.
totally agree. the difference is amazing. i’ve thought the last few years that these guys are talented athletes, but they lacked discipline, focus, and fundamentals–in general, football IQ. Koenning has them focused, working hard, and playing mostly fundamental ball. it’s amazing the difference between this defense and the 09 d. i’m a believer.
His attention to detail in lining up and tackling is directly seen in the scoring defense statistic. Too many times under Zook we had players not in the proper positions at the snap. In addition, our tackling was pathetic.
Now, the defense is in position at the snap to make the plays they are supposed to make. On Pryor’s two big runs, the players were in position, but one time Bellamy got his feet caught up with his own teamate being blocked and the second time Henry took a bad angle. The scheme should have only allowed about 7 yard runs on those plays.
My issue now is that we need guys to make plays. Make negative plays. The team is making the tackle 3 yards from the LOS, but we are not beating our blockers one on one to blow up the play. That is talent and the lack of talent on the defensive side. We need a huge upgrade to the DE postion. Right now, we can not generate a pass rush. Our DTs (mainly Liguet) have been superb against the run. But we have no depth there at all and the drop off from Liguet to Ballew is tremendous.
Our LBs have been playing compentent football, but we need them to make plays amd to be consistent. One play, TEZ and Bussey look like all Big 10 LBs. Then the next play they look like HS football players. Bussey tackles way to high, but he does bring a high motor. TEZ has been shedding blockers better this year, but he still plays too passive.
Our DBs have been average/solid. But that is a huge upgrade over the prior year. Going into the season, I thought Tavon would be our best DB and be a ball hawk at the FS/SS poisition and that has not materialized. To go from average to above average would be PBUs and jumping routes.
In order to take this defense to the next level, we need playmakers out there. Difference makers. We do not have that on our team right now (see the number of forced turnovers). Guys who can beat their assignment one on one, or shut down a WR… That is Zook’s mission. Get Vic some difference makers.
4th quarter film Review
Starting the 4th: OSU up 14-10 and driving
Defense
*A Wiliams and Mercilous in the game
*Mercilous with a great play (not blocked) and gets called for 15 yard face mask – bad call…He comes out of the game
*Great reaction by entire defense on shovel pass
*Still question the scheme a little – 3rd and 10 and Nurse starts to rush the passer but takes the RB. then Wilson has that delayed blitz and is picked up by the RT. That gives Pryor time to sit in the pocket and wait for Posey to get open on a come back route.
*4th down play – bad spot by the ref., but TEZ Wilson needs to push the ball carrier backwards. he fell forward and first down
*I am seeing signs that the defense can now engage a blocker and still make a tackle, or at least slow them down
*Liguet with a huge TFL.
*Staples and Buchanan can not hold the Point of Attack against big 10 DE’s. *Need to play Whitney
*Green lining up offsides after we stop them on 3rd and 1. No way Tressel was going to go for it.
*Staples in there most of the 4th quarter and he got destroyed
*Bussey with another facemask penalty and in comes Williams. they run right at him. When A Williams comes in, the defense is really a 3-3-5. Not what you want when you know they are going to run the ball with their big back.
*TEZ should have made at least a better effort on the TD run.
Offense
*Cornell playing guard in the 4th quarter
*Running lanes were up the middle and positive yards were obtained
*I hope this is not going to be a habit, but NS takes his eyes off his receivers rather earlier to look at the pass rush. Not good…
*Pulling guard play works for 26 yards. We run it again and we get zero
*First and 10 after big Fayson catch and we run the pulling guard play again. Guard blocks the OL, Tackle blocks down on the DT and that leaves E Wilson to block the DE. Oops, bad scheme there fellas, play is blown up….
*2nd 10 play on the 15 yard line, we had trips to the boundary side and if NS waits one more second, he would have found Ramsey open on the post corner in the endzone. Instead, he quickly dumped the ball to Fayson for 2 yards.
*Scheelhaasse not very comfortable throwing the ball past 10 yards or in the middle of the field
ST
*Stupid Personal foul play on Ramsey
*We need KO return yards
Absolutely. Fans need to get this ball rolling NOW.