Film Study - Jim Knowles Coverage Schemes

[CaliLION79]

JIM KNOWLES FILM STUDY

See link above. Warning: it's a lot to digest but really is fascinating how complex and well-orchestrated/camouflaged Knowles' second and third level looks are to opposing OCs and QBs. We will do a pressure package video later in the spring, but this coordinated chaos in the secondary is really Knowles' bread and butter...night and day different than what we saw Diaz do in 2022 and 2023, and fairly different than what Tom Allen was allowed to do last year.

 

[b&w1987]

Hopefully he knows how to beat OSU.

 

[PSUALREADYKNOW]

I have heard that his schemes are very complex-overly? The rumor is that it can take over a year for it to sink in? Can anyone with knowledge of his career, style, and then our upcoming expectations give more detail on his schemes. I saw some celebrating that the his secondary layers are very nuanced....but is it worth the time to install? How much better can the defense get at this point? If 100 was perfect what was our defense THIS season and what number grade do we expect it to be next season. We know Knowles has the skills but really, is he head and shoulders above guys like Manny Diaz and Tom Allen? Or is he more like an inch or two? Where should the current fan bases' expectations shake out? Thanks!

 

[RickinDayton]

I have heard that his schemes are very complex-overly? The rumor is that it can take over a year for it to sink in? Can anyone with knowledge of his career, style, and then our upcoming expectations give more detail on his schemes. I saw some celebrating that the his secondary layers are very nuanced....but is it worth the time to install? How much better can the defense get at this point? If 100 was perfect what was our defense THIS season and what number grade do we expect it to be next season. We know Knowles has the skills but really, is he head and shoulders above guys like Manny Diaz and Tom Allen? Or is he more like an inch or two? Where should the current fan bases' expectations shake out? Thanks!

Personal opinion. Hope I'm wrong but money would have been better spent on a younger experienced/successful DC and attracting a much better WR coach than Hagans. It is true his system doesn't click in year one and next year is PSU's best shot at the Natty fir a few years. After 2025 the veteran core is gone.

 

[manilion]

If he can’t scheme a passing offense, this hire does nothing to make the team better. Defense wasn’t the problem.

 

[bvillebaron]

I have heard that his schemes are very complex-overly? The rumor is that it can take over a year for it to sink in? Can anyone with knowledge of his career, style, and then our upcoming expectations give more detail on his schemes. I saw some celebrating that the his secondary layers are very nuanced....but is it worth the time to install? How much better can the defense get at this point? If 100 was perfect what was our defense THIS season and what number grade do we expect it to be next season. We know Knowles has the skills but really, is he head and shoulders above guys like Manny Diaz and Tom Allen? Or is he more like an inch or two? Where should the current fan bases' expectations shake out? Thanks!

I find it to be extremely interesting that so many of those who initially said there was no way that Penn State could convince the DC regarded by many as the best in the country to come on board and after they do are now proclaiming that maybe he really isn’t that good or that his schemes are “too complex”. The fact is they needed a new DC when Allen left and by any measure Knowles is a good one. I agree that he won’t fix the offensive problems, especially at WR. However, there were a number of defensive collapses especially in the 4th quarter under both Diaz and Allen and OSU did lead the nation in defensive stop rates so let’s see what happens.

 

[Obliviax]

I find it to be extremely interesting that so many of those who initially said there was no way that Penn State could convince the DC regarded by many as the best in the country to come on board and after they do are now proclaiming that maybe he really isn’t that good or that his schemes are “too complex”. The fact is they needed a new DC when Allen left and by any measure Knowles is a good one. I agree that he won’t fix the offensive problems, especially at WR. However, there were a number of defensive collapses especially in the 4th quarter under both Diaz and Allen and OSU did lead the nation in defensive stop rates so let’s see what happens.

how do you know they are the same people?

For me, I was very skeptical of the initial reports of Knowles becoming our DC. It reminded me of the reports of Rick Nueheisel having dinner at the Happy Valley Hooters (or whatever). What I find funny is that Knowles was repeatedly held up as one of the best DCs in the nation by tOSU and sports media only to be told that the tOSU D was so bad vs Oregon in the regular season that Day (an offensive coach historically) had to intervene to get it straightened out.

tOSU is now trying to say "meh, no biggie". This is exactly what we say when we have a good player portal out or select another team out of high school. it is just part of fan psychology.

The reality is the PSU will be a different paradigm for Coach Knowles. The talent level will be a bit different and the culture will be different. His schemes are complex and it will be interesting to see how our players digest that complexity. And it isn't like tOSU's defense hasn't gotten touched from time to time (UM game in 23 and Oregon regular season game last year). Honestly, I hope he is as good as Manny Diaz. I thought Allen was fine but a half step back from Diaz.

 

[lazydave841]

Knowles immediately improved the OSU defense. They improved every year he was there. Downs showed up and understood the defense in 1 season and with as much as they moved him around, it didn't show.

The games people refer to as the defense not being installed and understood are playoff Michigan '22/'23, national champion '22 UGA, and Big 10 champion Oregon '24. People need to understand that in modern football, even the best DC isn't going to contain every opponent to 10 points every single game. Particularly top 5, playoff bound teams.

 

[LMTLION]

Knowles immediately improved the OSU defense. They improved every year he was there. Downs showed up and understood the defense in 1 season and with as much as they moved him around, it didn't show.

The games people refer to as the defense not being installed and understood are playoff Michigan '22/'23, national champion '22 UGA, and Big 10 champion Oregon '24. People need to understand that in modern football, even the best DC isn't going to contain every opponent to 10 points every single game. Particularly top 5, playoff bound teams.

Well, you can easily say that about Tom Allen and Manny Diaz. They probably had the same number of stinkers as Knowles.

 

[lazydave841]

Well, you can easily say that about Tom Allen and Manny Diaz. They probably had the same number of stinkers as Knowles.

Exactly. It's just fluff from fans of the most consistent top 3 team for the past 15 years. Boo hoo, you didn't perfectly stop eventual national champ Georgia. Wah wah, Michigan has had your number for 4 years.

They have essentially run roughshod over the other 98% of teams they've played in this window. Winning the national title is hard. Less than 5 games where your defense didn't dominate isn't a sign that Knowles defense "takes 3 years to learn". It's just a sign that absolute perfection is near impossible.

The best, most loaded roster still lost 2 games this year.

Some should let that sink in.

 

[dailybuck777]

I have heard that his schemes are very complex-overly? The rumor is that it can take over a year for it to sink in? Can anyone with knowledge of his career, style, and then our upcoming expectations give more detail on his schemes. I saw some celebrating that the his secondary layers are very nuanced....but is it worth the time to install? How much better can the defense get at this point? If 100 was perfect what was our defense THIS season and what number grade do we expect it to be next season. We know Knowles has the skills but really, is he head and shoulders above guys like Manny Diaz and Tom Allen? Or is he more like an inch or two? Where should the current fan bases' expectations shake out? Thanks!

Took a year to install after he took over a very poor Ohio State defense. Maybe it won't take so long with your good defense. On the other hand, it is very aggressive and his scheme in being overly aggressive lost the 2022 Michigan game for Ohio State

 

[dailybuck777]

The best, most loaded roster still lost 2 games this year.

So what. Ohio State one impressively when it counted and had a great run. The offensive line was the weak link as the season started and even though it's two best players were hurt, somehow Ryan day and Chip Kelly patch together an offensive line which was not very good last year.

Ohio State was very good but it was not thoroughly and supremely talented. Not like the Nebraska team from the '90s that beat Florida something like 50 to nothing in the national championship game. Also, the corners were just somewhat above average.

 

[lazydave841]

So what

I'm thinking you missed the point in fear of my writing being a put down.

The best roster of 2024 STILL lost 2 games. The PSU 2025 roster will NOT return as much talent as 2024 OSU did. The 2025 PSU roster will not have portal players of the same caliber as the 2024 OSU roster.

The luck and timing it takes to win a title is huge.

 

[dailybuck777]

I'm thinking you missed the point in fear of my writing being a put down.

The best roster of 2024 STILL lost 2 games. The PSU 2025 roster will NOT return as much talent as 2024 OSU did. The 2025 PSU roster will not have portal players of the same caliber as the 2024 OSU roster.

The luck and timing it takes to win a title is huge.

For sure whatever the returning roster is, it is better than what returned from the horrible OSU defense that preceded Knowles.

 

[LMTLION]

https://247sports.com/article/jim-knowles-discloses-recruiting-strategy-at-penn-state-how-nittany-lions-will-reach-ultimate-top-level--245123398/amp/

He is certainly a confident outgoing guy. I look forward to see how he meshes with Franklin as they are very different personalities. Interesting remarks in this story, including how this is already a good defense, not the total rebuild that he has experienced in the past.

 

[Hotshoe]

Personal opinion. Hope I'm wrong but money would have been better spent on a younger experienced/successful DC and attracting a much better WR coach than Hagans. It is true his system doesn't click in year one and next year is PSU's best shot at the Natty fir a few years. After 2025 the veteran core is gone.

Or, you can do both, hire the best DC and players. Money is not an issue for players, and Penn State isn't done.

 

[LionDeNittany]

JIM KNOWLES FILM STUDY

See link above. Warning: it's a lot to digest but really is fascinating how complex and well-orchestrated/camouflaged Knowles' second and third level looks are to opposing OCs and QBs. We will do a pressure package video later in the spring, but this coordinated chaos in the secondary is really Knowles' bread and butter...night and day different than what we saw Diaz do in 2022 and 2023, and fairly different than what Tom Allen was allowed to do last year.

Scheme 1: have by far the best talent
Scheme 2: if not goto Scheme 1

 

[bvillebaron]

Took a year to install after he took over a very poor Ohio State defense. Maybe it won't take so long with your good defense. On the other hand, it is very aggressive and his scheme in being overly aggressive lost the 2022 Michigan game for Ohio State

I actually think the lack of discipline in that the OSU defenders failed to maintain gap control rather than Knowles’ aggressive schemes was the problem in that game. But that’s just my opinion.

 

[dailybuck777]

I actually think the lack of discipline in that the OSU defenders failed to maintain gap control rather than Knowles’ aggressive schemes was the problem in that game. But that’s just my opinion.

Both gap control and lack of safeties to back up anybody who got beaten. I remember one of the long touchdowns by Michigan the Ohio State defender fell and there was nobody to help. Easy TouchDown for a mediocre receiver.

 

[tboyer]

Both gap control and lack of safeties to back up anybody who got beaten. I remember one of the long touchdowns by Michigan the Ohio State defender fell and there was nobody to help. Easy TouchDown for a mediocre receiver.

Against Oregon, two TDs were simply tOSU corner Denzel Burke miscalculating how fast Tez Johnson is. TWICE Burke let Johnson get behind him for long TDs. Especially the 2nd time was inexecusable, but that wasn't scheme, that was one player having a bad day. If Burke had been better prepared/less arrogant, Ohio State would have won that game.

 

[dailybuck777]

Against Oregon, two TDs were simply tOSU corner Denzel Burke miscalculating how fast Tez Johnson is. TWICE Burke let Johnson get behind him for long TDs. Especially the 2nd time was inexecusable, but that wasn't scheme, that was one player having a bad day. If Burke had been better prepared/less arrogant, Ohio State would have won that game.

Denzel Burke was an average player all year long. Never lived up to the potential that he showed in his freshman year when he started. Apparently, Ryan Day thought that too much pressure was being put on the corners and after the Oregon game, the Ohio State defense put more emphasis on avoiding big plays

 

[LongJakk]

I'd love to see his review of PSU WR passing game. I wonder how much of it is Allar not reading the break and throwing the WR open? I also wonder if our route design is too predictable? It seemed like DBs were inside our WR breaks way too often, which is a sign of my first question.

 

[WaffleShopper]

I'd love to see his review of PSU WR passing game. I wonder how much of it is Allar not reading the break and throwing the WR open? I also wonder if our route design is too predictable? It seemed like DBs were inside our WR breaks way too often, which is a sign of my first question.

The last film study he did before this one was on the passing game right after Notre Dame. There were route running issues, route concept issues, and Allar mechanics issues. He also did one in the beginning of the year that had some overlap talking about Drew's inconsistencies and problems with his mechanics.

 

[bvillebaron]

Denzel Burke was an average player all year long. Never lived up to the potential that he showed in his freshman year when he started. Apparently, Ryan Day thought that too much pressure was being put on the corners and after the Oregon game, the Ohio State defense put more emphasis on avoiding big plays

Man that Ryan Day’s a genius.