The season isn't lost. Yet...

[GridIron26]

Originally Posted by AnonEmouse

I think that was me (49ers) but what I was referring to is that injuries can't be used as an excuse to give up, not that we should be doing as well as the 49ers. Key difference for us is we've lost our top edge rushers and top WR's for a good proportion of the season to date, and our depth has just about kept us going rather than step into the breach.

And agree with Skins; we've had too many drops. Ertz and Moore are 9th and 10th in drop %, McNichols not far behind, and of the top 10, Ertz is 3rd in targets. JD5 isn't the problem, he's still in the top half of the league, by rating, and our offense is in the top half on TD's. He missed (by my count) 3 passes v Dallas before he went out the game, and the INT v Chi was the only other pass I've seen that badly thrown when not under pressure. The Dallas game is still fresh in our minds and clouding the picture. The O isn't really the problem (though it isn't the solution either), its the D that's let us down.

Injuries are a factor, but the standard of play has to improve. And this is where I'm, looking at Whitt. he doesn't seem to have them prepared and playing the right scheme for the opposition. There were at least 3 plays v Dallas I remember when he only rushed 4 and clearly should have blitzed. Without a rusher than could get in Prescott's face, he had all day and he picked us apart. Coverage doesn't help, but at least 2 of his passes were undefendable, and that's because he had the time to make the best throw. The players have to play better, sure, but the DC needs to call better plays to put them in position to perform better.

Gotcha, yeah I agree with you on all points. I admit, I'm still unsure about Whitt. I just find it hard to believe that Whitt is the sole reason why the defense is playing bad since the team did decent last year. Perhaps Whitt struggles to pivot to work around the injuries, he didn't deal with injuries last year. Letting Chinn go might be a mistake on AP's end.