On Blache

[MrJL]

I'm a bit disappointed that when we've got all these threads talking about firing Zorn or that Campbell shouldn't be our QB that one thread talking about the defensive coordinator gets locked before the OP gets a chance to respond.

From what I've seen and heard Blache follows a similar attitude as Williams did when he was here. Which is the defensive backfield and linebackers are more important than the line.

Granted he's only been in charge of theD one off season, but in that period we didn't try to build up ther line until we got two ends hurt in the same practice.

The way I figure as Defensive Coordinator there's only three people ahead of Blache in importance. Snyder, Cerrato, Zorn. None of them are D people. That means, if he says "the defense needs this player" he's the guy they're going to listen to.

On the idea of firing Zorn, I happen to think that when a team has struggled offensive for numerous years consecutively that constantly changing the O so there's no consistency is bad for the team.

The D has been good, but mostly unspectacular for years. Few sacks. Few turnovers. Some nice hits, but most of the time the offensive players are still getting something positive before those big hits. So I think it's time for a new philosophy.

And I'd be willing to say they must just get tired around 10-12 minutes left, except I've seen them come out the last drive or two playing with their old intensity.

[Skins fan 44]

Marvin Lewis might be available next year.

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by Skins fan 44

Marvin Lewis might be available next year.

I've heard the Bengals owners accept that as many injuries as they had this year makes it hard to win games.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Marvin Lewis has 2 years to go on his contract in Cincy.


The Bengals are notorious for not paying coaches to "not coach" their team. If history is any guide, Marvin Lewis will be back in Cincy next year...

[Joe Kidd]

I'm not sure Blache is a big issue. The D was disappointing today but at the end of the day they gave up 17 points, a good offense should have been able to drop at least 28 on the Bengals today. Our offense has been slacking for years now and the D is the only thing that has kept us from being a total disaster.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Joe Kidd

I'm not sure Blache is a big issue. The D was disappointing today but at the end of the day they gave up 17 points, a good offense should have been able to drop at least 28 on the Bengals today. Our offense has been slacking for years now and the D is the only thing that has kept us from being a total disaster.

When you think about it, we haven't had a consistently above average offense around here since Norv was coach. I'm with you on Blache - his D has kept us in every game this season. My only complaint, his guys absolutely cannot catch INTs - it seems that D. Hall is the only defensive player with decent hands.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

When you think about it, we haven't had a consistently above average offense around here since Norv was coach. I'm with you on Blache - his D has kept us in every game this season. My only complaint, his guys absolutely cannot catch INTs - it seems that D. Hall is the only defensive player with decent hands.

Sadly when our DBs have caught an INT, the offense has not been able to capitalize.

[sportscurmudgeon]

skinsfan69:

I don't know anything about football.

So please review the plays for me in the fourth quarters of the Cowboys, Ravens and Bengals games when the Skins needed a defensive stop to get the ball back with a chance to win or tie the game. Tell me how the "Top 10" defense produced when it mattered.

I'll hang up now and wait for my answer...

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

skinsfan69:

I don't know anything about football.

So please review the plays for me in the fourth quarters of the Cowboys, Ravens and Bengals games when the Skins needed a defensive stop to get the ball back with a chance to win or tie the game. Tell me how the "Top 10" defense produced when it mattered.

I'll hang up now and wait for my answer...

that's pretty much what I'm talking about there.

[Joe Kidd]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Sadly when our DBs have caught an INT, the offense has not been able to capitalize.

That's a good point but it doesn't let the D completely off the hook. They've dropped too many INTs, it's just not acceptable.

I do agree the offense is a big problem. When you're scoring 10 points a game you're just not going to beat many teams in this league no matter how good your defense is.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by Joe Kidd

I'm not sure Blache is a big issue. The D was disappointing today but at the end of the day they gave up 17 points, a good offense should have been able to drop at least 28 on the Bengals today. Our offense has been slacking for years now and the D is the only thing that has kept us from being a total disaster.

I have seen this phenomena before(defense starting to breakdown late in the season due to lack of an offense). It was 1987 and my uncle's last stint as the Buckeye HC in Columbus. He lost Nate Harris, his starting flanker to flunking out, and was compelled to kick Chris Carter off the team for taking that agent's money and continuously lying about it to both my uncle and OSU AD Rick Bay. The defense lead by Chris Spielman was stellar, keeping the anemic Buckeye offense in game after game til they played Lorenzo White and MSU. The Spartans kicked their ass, and the D fell apart after that for the next few games giving up lots of points to the likes of Wisconsin and Iowa. Sad thing was the offense finally got their act together, but the D gave up more points than they could score. Thing is our D is very good, but it is not a killer D like the Ravens or Pittsburgh. You put enough pressure on a D that is only very good and they will break eventually if they are the ones keeping the team afloat. In short, I don't think you can heap too much blame on Blache for what he has to work with.

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

I have seen this phenomena before(defense starting to breakdown late in the season due to lack of an offense). It was 1987 and my uncle's last stint as the Buckeye HC in Columbus. He lost Nate Harris, his starting flanker to flunking out, and was compelled to kick Chris Carter off the team for taking that agent's money and continuously lying about it to both my uncle and OSU AD Rick Bay. The defense lead by Chris Spielman was stellar, keeping the anemic Buckeye offense in game after game til they played Lorenzo White and MSU. The Spartans kicked their ass, and the D fell apart after that for the next few games giving up lots of points to the likes of Wisconsin and Iowa. Sad thing was the offense finally got their act together, but the D gave up more points than they could score. Thing is our D is very good, but it is not a killer D like the Ravens or Pittsburgh. You put enough pressure on a D that is only very good and they will break eventually if they are the ones keeping the team afloat. In short, I don't think you can heap too much blame on Blache for what he has to work with.

Thing is, I don't think you need to assign a lot of blame to Blache to feel it's time for a change.

With the offense struggling we need to switch from a D philosophy where they keep the O in the game, to where they try to win the game.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by MrJL

Thing is, I don't think you need to assign a lot of blame to Blache to feel it's time for a change.

With the offense struggling we need to switch from a D philosophy where they keep the O in the game, to where they try to win the game.

How can the D keep the O in the game if the O cannot put points on the board or convert third downs?

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by firstdown

How can the D keep the O in the game if the O cannot put points on the board or convert third downs?

Personally, I've thought the O's come together a couple of times late in the game. Such as the fourth down TD against the Ravens and the 80-some yard drive that didn't get anything against the Bengals but still got them to the half yard line. That suggests something was coming together on the O. Then the D gives up another score and the O has to abandon what finally started working because a one score game is now a two score game.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

How can the D keep the O in the game if the O cannot put points on the board or convert third downs?

What a catch 22?