Pass Rush?

[Ronin]

After watching my beloved Panthers for several years. I've noticed a weakness in our defensive coaching. We don't have a pass rush.

Some will say that we need to recruit better rushers, but that will not help us this year.

Our best option is to blitz occasionally and put pressure on the QB. We have good DB's, but they can't hold out forever. The key is pressuring the QB.

In my opinion this cost us the championship and several other games. Think of those games that came down to the final few minutes and we sat back waiting to be taken advantage of. UNI needs to be aggressive in those passing situations and pressure the QB.

Farely's a great coach for UNI, but are the assistant coaches up to the task?

[ubuntuCAT]

I agree Ronin, would have been a huge help in the ISU game as well

[Matt Trump]

Actually in the past few years the pass rush has been excellent. Guys like Jack Mitchell, Matt Mitchell, and John Herman last year have really given the needed push to pressure the qb. Someone needs to step up this year like Herman did last year.

During the ISU game, UNI was blitzing almost every down. Thats part of the reason that the LBs looked a little worn down and were cramping towards the end of the game. Thats one of the risks you take. Especially when they have to leave the game to relieve the cramping.

Blitzing is tough. I remember getting burned on some blitzes plenty of times over the years. You have to have excellent players sitting in the zone or in man to hold the coverage when you bring pressure. If you don't, then its all over. At this level of play, its tough to get a lot of guys to consistently do that. We usually have enough to do it with the starters, but when those guys go down, it gets really tough. It also doesn't help that they have had a ton of injuries to the linebackers.

[Chitown Panther]

I thought James Ruffin #44 a red-shirt Freshman was a getting a good push from the Left Side in the second half.

I'm not looking to next year by any stretch....but we will only lose Dokes and Schratz IMO. Yes there are plently of other Seniors....but those are the only two who logged serious minutes against ISU.....and I think we'll see the ISU line-up the rest of the year......

[Cap'n Cat]

I agree with Ronin. I haven't seen a decent pass rush from DL's, DE's in years. Need to heavily recruit some hardnosed kids who get after it. H3ll, recruit a coupla JUCO monsters!

[JCPanthers]

Look out for Huygens....as I really can see him develop into a great pass rusher!