Film Room: Breaking down the defensive front adjustments

Spent some time rewatching the front seven alignment from Saturday. When we walked the boundary safety down into the box against heavy personnel, we kept getting caught in bad gap control on inside zone. Too many arm tackles at the second level instead of striking through the breastplate and setting a hard edge. Coaches need to simplify the reads for the linebackers this week so they aren't hesitating at the snap. If we stay disciplined in our run fits, Tempe is gonna have a much harder time establishing the ground game.

Spot on breakdown. I was standing right by the tunnel at LES and you could just see the hesitation from the linebackers on those early read options. They were taking a false step inside and letting the tackle seal the edge.

If we don't fix the gap discipline before conference play gets rolling, teams are gonna keep pounding us right up the middle. Hopefully the staff simplifies the reads this week so the boys can just fly around and hit people.

Spot on breakdown. You see guys hesitating because they're overthinking instead of just flying around. That is why having guys like Fred Warner in the NFL is so huge for recruiting. When recruits see Fred diagnosing plays instantly and laying the boom on Sundays, they want to play in a system that teaches gap discipline. Kalani and the staff just need our linebackers to trust their keys and attack downhill.