QB or defense: what's the bigger problem?

[Gmanc711]

Well.....

I think I have to go defense. QB is a huge huge problem, but if our defense was playing like it had been the past two years, I think we are 4-3 right now at least, with wins over Minnesota and Tenn, even with Brunell playing the quarterback position. So in the grand scheme of things, the defense is a much bigger problem....

But QB is still a pretty damn big problem.

[BDBohnzie]

Doesn't matter much now. Gibbs came out and said he doesn't see fit to make a change yet. So we have to wait for the defense to heal and step it up.

[onlydarksets]

Geez - maybe Gibbs saw the poll results of this thread, and took our suggestion!

[tjmorgan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'd say it's gotta be the D. We can't stop anyone right now. I'm still trying to figure out how Travis Henry nearly ran for a buck eighty on us.

If the D was their usual top 10 self, I think we could be at least 4-3 right now and right in the thick of things.

As it stands right now, even with a change at QB it's not going to matter much as long as we're giving up yardage by the mile. Even if we had someone like Peyton Manning, he would have to win every game in a shootout because right now the D can't be counted on at all.

The D is now ranked near the bottom of the league, it's sad to see really.

You could not be more RIGHT. The offense has problems, but Brunell (QB) has not been the real issue. Play calling is just as much an issue for the offense.

The defense cannot stop anything rightn now. It was the pass at first, but now they are missing tackles and letting 7 yard runs turn into 30 yard runs. The Defense has got to find a way to hold other teams to less points.

Saunders has got to put the ball in Portis' hands more. He was averaging 4 yards per touch before last week. So every three touches, another first down. Joe, please take over play calling !!!!!!!!

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by tjmorgan

You could not be more RIGHT. The offense has problems, but Brunell (QB) has not been the real issue. Play calling is just as much an issue for the offense.

The defense cannot stop anything rightn now. It was the pass at first, but now they are missing tackles and letting 7 yard runs turn into 30 yard runs. The Defense has got to find a way to hold other teams to less points.

Saunders has got to put the ball in Portis' hands more. He was averaging 4 yards per touch before last week. So every three touches, another first down. Joe, please take over play calling !!!!!!!!

How quickly we forget. We saw the playcalling under Gibbs with Brunell at QB toward the end of last season. It was not a dynamic high powered offense. We all piled on Portis's back, and relied on the D to keep the other team off the field.

So, what's changed? We added offensive weapons and a new system. The D has started to suck. You can blame Brunell or you can blame Saunders, but I think it comes down to Brunell not having the tools to do what Saunders wants to do with this offense.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

In the Colts, Giants, Cowboys, and Vikings games, the offense scored a total of 37 points, or about 9 points per game. Against NFC East opponents in two games, our offense has failed to score a touchdown and scored a whopping total of 6 points, or 3 points per game.

The defense is certainly awful and they are in a horrible state, but please don't act like Brunell is leading a good offense or the team would be running away with tons of wins if our defense could just get its act together. I don't care what Brunell's rating is, how many yards per play we are averaging, or any of those other meaningless stats. I care about how many points the defense is allowing and how many points the offense is scoring. The bottom line is that the offense isn't scoring squat and the defense is letting opponents score at will.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

In the Colts, Giants, Cowboys, and Vikings games, the offense scored a total of 37 points, or about 9 points per game. Against NFC East opponents in two games, our offense has failed to score a touchdown and scored a whopping total of 6 points, or 3 points per game.

The defense is certainly awful and they are in a horrible state, but please don't act like Brunell is leading a good offense or the team would be running away with tons of wins if our defense could just get its act together. I don't care what Brunell's rating is, how many yards per play we are averaging, or any of those other meaningless stats. I care about how many points the defense is allowing and how many points the offense is scoring. The bottom line is that the offense isn't scoring squat and the defense is letting opponents score at will.

How many times have we been in the red zone this year? Just curious.

Anyhow, the problems lie across the board. I think the bigger surprise though is the defense. Injuries and underachieving have unraveled that unit.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

In the Colts, Giants, Cowboys, and Vikings games, the offense scored a total of 37 points, or about 9 points per game. Against NFC East opponents in two games, our offense has failed to score a touchdown and scored a whopping total of 6 points, or 3 points per game.

The defense is certainly awful and they are in a horrible state, but please don't act like Brunell is leading a good offense or the team would be running away with tons of wins if our defense could just get its act together. I don't care what Brunell's rating is, how many yards per play we are averaging, or any of those other meaningless stats. I care about how many points the defense is allowing and how many points the offense is scoring. The bottom line is that the offense isn't scoring squat and the defense is letting opponents score at will.

Thank you. Blaming the defense for Brunell's inability to put points on the board is tired. Sure, if the defense hold the Vikings and Titans to one less score each, that'd be two more wins. God forbid Brunell has to lead one more scoring drive in each of those two games for two more wins. That's not his job or anything...

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

How many times have we been in the red zone this year? Just curious.

Anyhow, the problems lie across the board. I think the bigger surprise though is the defense. Injuries and underachieving have unraveled that unit.

The defense's struggles are definately more suprising than the offense's given its performance in years past. The defense's woes, however, are more understandable given the rash of injuries. Moreover, the offense has more playmakers than the defense. Any offense with Portis, Cooley, Moss, ARE, and Lloyd as their weapons should be dynamic and this one simply isn't. Go figure.

[dall-assblows]

i really fell like the d is just having an off year IMO, like the ravens last year (sort of)

go ravens! my 2nd favorite team (sort of)

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Thank you. Blaming the defense for Brunell's inability to put points on the board is tired.

Almost as tired as blaming Brunell for not keeping the defense off the field all game long.

Is it too much to ask the D to come up with a few 3 and outs or maybe a turnover? How about not giving up a score on every opening drive? Or giving up 3 TDs in one quarter?

We can't win with this defense, I don't care if we had McNabb or Manning. Even those guys can't win shootouts week in and week out.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I don't think it's "this" defense. It's the injuries we've had. I bet that once we finally have both starting corners back, Griffin back and a healthy rotation of the rookies with Big Joe, the defense will begin to look dominant again. Add that to the fact that we play Dallas at HOME, where they most likely are starting a rookie QB and that's a recipe for the defense to start playing better.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Is it too much to ask the D to come up with a few 3 and outs or maybe a turnover? How about not giving up a score on every opening drive? Or giving up 3 TDs in one quarter?

Of course it's not too much to ask, but just because they're not holding up their end, it doesn't free Brunell from blame for not holding up his end of the deal.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Of course it's not too much to ask, but just because they're not holding up their end, it doesn't free Brunell from blame for not holding up his end of the deal.

Well as has been said by many repeatedly here, the blame has to go all around.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Of course it's not too much to ask, but just because they're not holding up their end, it doesn't free Brunell from blame for not holding up his end of the deal.

Out of curiosity, which part of his deal hasn't he been holding up? He hasn't been inaccurate, and he moves the ball. So do you want him to start changing Saunders' plays in the huddle or something? Is that why he sucks, he accepts coaching?