Needs for improvement

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I agree 99%. Our offense looked good, save its inability to score TDs instead of FGs in the redzone. Similarly, the defense looked good except on 3rd down.

I also think, however, that the special teams coverage needs to improve.

It wasn't just on 3rd downs that the defense looked bad. Many of those third down conversions were due to big gains on 1st and 2nd down. The defense looked bad across the board.

Defensive line grade: D+ (Evans got pressure, run stopping was OK at times, but the Vikings were able to run when they needed to. Zero contribution from Andre Carter, Daniels got banged up, Griffin and Salave'a were 50/50 -- they held their own here and there, but got pushed around in crucial spots.)

Linebackers: C- (Not a bad outing, but nothing special came out of this group.)

Secondary: F (Carlos Rogers, I'm officially worried about this guy; Wright, Rumph, and Arch all got torched by a largely unknown and untested group of wideouts.)

[EXoffender]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Secondary: F (Carlos Rogers, I'm officially worried about this guy; Wright, Rumph, and Arch all got torched by a largely unknown and untested group of wideouts.)

We should've re-signed Ryan Clark, saved some money by not signing Archuleta and used free agency to find Hall's replacement. I am happy to see that our draftees are playing.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

It wasn't just on 3rd downs that the defense looked bad. Many of those third down conversions were due to big gains on 1st and 2nd down. The defense looked bad across the board.

The defense allowed just 2.5 yards per rush. I'm cool with that. While I'd like to see them allow between 10-15 points per game, 19 points is decent. I can't say they looked bad across the board.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

The defense allowed just 2.5 yards per rush. I'm cool with that. While I'd like to see them allow between 10-15 points per game, 19 points is decent. I can't say they looked bad across the board.

We got very lucky it wasn't a lot more than 19 points. Carlos Rogers was burned a couple times by Troy Williamson, who then dropped the ball.

On third downs, we didn't pressure Brad either. I'd say it was really disappointing, especially when you consider that this was Saunders' first game. You can't expect the offense to do much so early in the season with a new coordinator in tow. It takes time to learn, and while they're learning, the defense has to carry us. It didn't.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

We got very lucky it wasn't a lot more than 19 points. Carlos Rogers was burned a couple times by Troy Williamson, who then dropped the ball.

On third downs, we didn't pressure Brad either. I'd say it was really disappointing, especially when you consider that this was Saunders' first game. You can't expect the offense to do much so early in the season with a new coordinator in tow. It takes time to learn, and while they're learning, the defense has to carry us. It didn't.

If you expected the defense to "carry us," then they were certainly a disappointment and there is room for big improvement. If you expected them to do a decent job, they met what was expected of them.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

If you expected the defense to "carry us," then they were certainly a disappointment and there is room for big improvement. If you expected them to do a decent job, they met what was expected of them.

I'm sorry, I just don't know how anyone could characterize the defense's performance as "decent".

Yeah, Minnesota's stats didn't knock anybody's socks off, but the 86 yards rushing, combined with precision passing at all the crucial times was enough to win the game.

Holding Cincinnati, Indianapolis, or any other high powered offense to 19 points might be 'decent'. But not at home against the Vikings, and especially not when you're offense scored less.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

I'm sorry, I just don't know how anyone could characterize the defense's performance as "decent".

Yeah, Minnesota's stats didn't knock anybody's socks off, but the 86 yards rushing, combined with precision passing at all the crucial times was enough to win the game.

Holding Cincinnati, Indianapolis, or any other high powered offense to 19 points might be 'decent'. But not at home against the Vikings, and especially not when you're offense scored less.

How can you say the defense was not even decent, yet say (albeit in other posts) that the offense was okay?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

How can you say the defense was not even decent, yet say (albeit in other posts) that the offense was okay?

Okay, I've scanned all my posts since the loss last night and I can't find where I have said anything, good or bad, about the offense. Maybe you can.

For the record, the offense deserves as much blame as does the defense. I simply haven't gotten around to my critique of the O just yet.