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.

[skinsfan69]

I said this another thread and I'll say again. The defense has been a top ten group the whole year. We're good at points allowed, yardage and 3 and outs. We don't sack the QB because we can't. We don't have pass rushers. The one real playmaker we had was tragically killled. The offense puts them in shitty postions all the time...like today when Santana had to show off after he scored....then our sorry as hell kicker kicks it out of bounds. Blache and his group has held it together considering the circumstances. We're not the most talented defesne but those guys get the job done. For anyone to call out Blache and the defense simply do not know a damn thing about football.

[Ruhskins]

If our offense would have been average (instead of mediocre), we wouldn't be having this discussion. Our defense is good, but it is not as great as let's say Baltimore. In my opinion, the defense has been carrying this team probably since Gibbs came back. And I think we're getting to the point where the defense cannot do that anymore. I mean look at today, the offense did not have a first down until the 2nd Qtr!! Tell me of a defense that can play a whole game without getting tired under these circumstances. A lot of ppl on this thread have been calling for a better pass rush, turnover, and a strong showing in the last few minutes of the game. But if you're playing defense while your team is down, you're not going to have may blitz opportunities. If your defense is constantly on the field, you're going to run out of steam. And we've seen in a couple of games the offense waste opportunities created by the defense with a pick or a fumble recovered. I mean if your offense doesn't creat points of turnover, then you can't fault the defense. I'd be curious to know our total points of turnovers have been this season; which I would bet that it would be low.

[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...

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I said this another thread and I'll say again. The defense has been a top ten group the whole year. We're good at points allowed, yardage and 3 and outs. We don't sack the QB because we can't. We don't have pass rushers. The one real playmaker we had was tragically killled. The offense puts them in shitty postions all the time...like today when Santana had to show off after he scored....then our sorry as hell kicker kicks it out of bounds. Blache and his group has held it together considering the circumstances. We're not the most talented defesne but those guys get the job done. For anyone to call out Blache and the defense simply do not know a damn thing about football.

You took are single best defensive drive of the day, and used it as an argument that Blache never does anything wrong.

We have nothing but pass rushers at defensive end. That's all Chris Wilson, and Jason Taylor can do. Carter is a strong pass rusher. Even Evans is stronger against the pass than he is the run. Yet, they still never get sacks. Gee, it couldn't be because a man who claims that "sacks don't matter" is coaching the defense?

In 2003, Dick Jauron disciple Greg Blache told the media that "sacks don't matter" in the scheme of his defense, and his players backed up his words, finishing with a franchise-low 18.

[GTripp0012]

Just understand that as long as Blache is the coordinator, sack totals aren't going to increase. Low sack totals were a staple in Chicago, and our 21 sacks this year aren't much better.

[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.

[MrJL]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Just understand that as long as Blache is the coordinator, sack totals aren't going to increase. Low sack totals were a staple in Chicago, and our 21 sacks this year aren't much better.

Again, that's what I'm concerned about there.

Looking at the teams that win the Super Bowl, and hell even the ones who just beat us I can't help but think sacks do matter.

[irish]

The Skins have a good D but it doesnt make stops when the game is on the line, doesnt win games, doesnt turn games around. Somehow they need to find a way to take that next step from good to great.