How does our defense work?

[jermus22]

Two personal impressions of our defensive scheme:

1. Despite all the talk about how G. Williams likes to bring the blitz, I tend to think that he doesn't employ it enough. I especially remember it being a big problem in the first half of 2005 when we were not getting a pass rush (actually, last year may have been worse although I didn't see as many games). The lack of a pass rush has consequently resulted in a lack of turnovers.

2. We seem to employ our linebackers and safeties in a lot of zone coverage. Our Mike in particular takes a lot of deep drops. I've heard it mentioned that we employ a cover two, but it seems like our safeties have struggled particularly in coverage (we have been especially vulnerable to the deep pass). Our reliance on the front four to generate a pass rush strongly suggests a cover two scheme, which relies heavily on the d-line to put pressure while the LBs and secondary sit back in zone. However, a scheme like that is supposed to be solid against the deep pass since both safeties are used to cover that area.

Overall, are tendency to go after physical, hard-hitting safeties instead of cover guys seems to buck against the cover 2 defense, even though John Lynch certainly flourished in that defense and happens to be an awesome hitter. Additionally, our lack of attention to defensive line needs combined with an emphasis on getting guys for the secondary (we drafted high for Rogers, Taylor, and Landry and are still trying to keep Springs) could signal a reliance more on the secondary while LBs are sent after the QB. I personally would like to see more blitzes using Washington, Fletcher, Marshall, and McIntosh.