With all the injuries we've had this year along with almost no one from the 2010 class left on the team how much blame can we actually put on Buh for our terrible defense?

I actually thought he was ok during the Northwestern game. Yeah they dropped 44 on us, but 14 points came from two pick sixes. He did show the ability to adjust and come out and play better after the 1st half (one thing General P. never seemed to be able to do)

I think it's possible that injuries, horrible terrible nightmareish, injuries are to blame, AND that he is not that great. So instead of simply having a below average or bad defense, we have a historically terrible one.

But it's not just this year, last year we were on the ropes to Southern Utah till the 3rd quarter, and gave up about 30 pts to them as well. Fortunately their defense was awful.

Jeez - what was Portland State averaging per play in 1st half - 10 yards??

Yes, Boo is a big problem.

I have my suspicions that Buh's incompetent but, if I'm in Sonny's position, I have to give Buh 'till the end of next season to decide whether to keep/fire. This season's unfair to judge and I'm not doing a mid season firing next year. I think this is the reality for the defensive coordinator situation.

pierrezo;842193385 said:

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I have my suspicions that Buh's incompetent but, if I'm in Sonny's position, I have to give Buh 'till the end of next season to decide whether to keep/fire. This season's unfair to judge and I'm not doing a mid season firing next year. I think this is the reality for the defensive coordinator situation.

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Yep. I don't think we have much of a choice. Unfortunately even with massive improvements and fewer injuries, I would think that next year's ceiling would be something like 4 or 5 wins (definitely a losing season). Obviously it's still too early to say but Buh is definitely not learning on the job.

would have problems with these injuries !!!!!!

duh ...

quite a bit

Almost zero blame on Buh. I know that's not popular here, but the schemes are sound. Part of it is the amount of plays they have to play because of the style of offense.

kad02002;842193482 said:

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Almost zero blame on Buh. I know that's not popular here, but the schemes are sound. Part of it is the amount of plays they have to play because of the style of offense.

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How does that theory explain the first quarters vs OSU and psu?

ecb;842193493 said:

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How does that theory explain the first quarters vs OSU and psu?

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Touche, good sir. Not my finest argument when the starts have been so poor...

My point is that they are not doing a bunch of wild/unsound things like they were doing last year. There is little to be done schematically when the other team is running past sound coverages and breaking tackles. Football can be a scheme game, but it can also be a "Jim's and Joe's" game. And, like many offenses, a defensive scheme takes time to master. This is as big a change for them as was the offensive change. In order to evaluate him we must see him through the end of last season.

Check out Pat Narduzzi, in my opinion the finest defensive coordinator in the country. It took him years to get Michigan State in gear with a similar scheme. We need patience and to see what Buh can do with a little more talent - I think he will do well.

Sadly we just don't know.

But here is were we CAN evaluate him.....

Can he go out and sign guys that can help (and, of course, do well in the classroom)? No strange injuries there. No hands that will not heal. Straight forward recruiting prowess.

If he can't then it will not matter if he is or isn't a Guru because we have found out that he can not coach walk ons into a BCS level defense.

Thus the alpha and omega of the short term eval on Buh.

So far, it would appear that he is at least adequate in terms of scheme (or so it seems), but there is a question regarding coaching of fundamentals (something that Dykes was said to want to stress). Not wrapping up tackles, failing to seal the edge, biting on fakes and forgetting assignments, etc.

Some here have called for more blitzes, but we can't blitz with a defensive backfield composed almost entirely of walk-on equivalents. Not to mention we don't have enough DB's to go nickel even when the offense has 4 wideouts.

If he can't do better than 121st in total defense then he is no good to Cal. You can say injuries are the issue and that is some of it, but we are giving up 500+ yrds and 44+ points a game. The team has been down by 14 points in the first 10 minutes of game, for how many games? The number of tackles being missed is incredible. The last press conference didn't instill confidence as Buh looked like a beaten man with no answers and that is not what you want to see from your Defensive Coordinator - 5 games into his first season. This is a young and fragile team with some difficult games left to play. If he doesn't show some improvement going forward, he could lose this team on the defensive side by going 1-11. I'm not giving up, but damn, he has got to get this thing headed in the right direction so fans see some glimmer of hope, some type of improvement from game to game.

No. As disheartening as the D has been, it's been a near perfect storm of fail. Belichek couldn't win with these circumstances:

A) new HC/new staff
B) switch from 3-4 to 4-3
C) 50%+ of starting D is out
D) terrible depth / plague of injuries (on top of starters)
E) starting 3rd/4th string DB
F) 50% of Cal's opponents this year are ranked (already played #2 and #4)

Honestly, a few things would have helped, like staying with 3-4 and health, but playing #2 and #4 and bad depth would likely mean the same results. Also while the offense has produced big numbers it also has had high turn-overs and has been inconsistent. One could almost pin the 3-4 to 4-3 on Buh but he didn't hire himself.

Basically Cal's D is up sh*t creek without a paddle and only half of a canoe. That said, Buh still might not be the right guy but you really can't judge him with all this not being up to him. That's the real cluster EF. Just have to wait it out until there's clarity.

If you go watch LB Kings tackle where he hits the guy and the guy runs for 10 more yards after bouncing off and Laptite's try at a tackle by the side line, it is clear that we haven't been taught to tackle yet. This should be recommended learning on all defenses.

It's either Buh, Tedford or George Bush. Gotta blame someone.