Posted by: Josh Kendall on January 21, 2013

North Carolina associate head coach for defense / inside linebackers coach Vic Koenning hopes the scores from the NFL playoffs, particularly the divisional rounds, helped fans understand what's happening throughout football.

"Look at the NFL scores from last week's playoff games," Koenning said on the InsideCarolina.com radio show. "That will wake everybody up to what us college defensive coaches have been facing for the last few years now."

Koenning echoed comments earlier from a new rival, N.C. State defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable, who said it's not an easy time to be a defensive coordinator thanks to the evolution of offenses.

"If (offensive coordinators) know what you are in, they have answers to stuff," Koenning said. "The old days of lining up in the I formation and saying our Jimmys are better than your Joeys, and we want to beat you into submission, nobody wants to do that anymore. Everything is about space. If you have guys that can't compete in space then you're going to be struggling."

As defensive coordinators adjust to keep up, Koenning thinks we'll see more 3-4 defensive alignments.

"I am not saying that teams that play a traditional 4-3 can't be successful, but I will tell you that it puts stresses on a lot of different positions with what today's college football offensively has become," he said. "I kind of think it forces you to look at what you have personnel-wise and scheme-wise."

Koenning joined the show despite a cold, which is one of the facts of life for college coaches during recruiting season, he said.

"When you're running as hard as you can run and in and out of airports and in and out of schools and shaking hands, you do get a few germs. It's just part of the deal. We'll overcome," he said.

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Josh Kendall is a staff writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered the SEC for more than 15 years for papers such as the Athens Banner-Herald, Macon Telegraph, and The State. He’s the father of two boys who he’s hoping don’t inherit his wide receiver frame and offensive guard feet. Follow @EyeOnCoaches on twitter and send your feedback to josh@coachingsearch.com