Let's talk defense

[D'BOYZ]

Originally Posted by Hog's Breath

This is the problem I have with way we build a team. We give up draft picks to get these free agents and they don't pan out like we hoped they would. So now our obvious need is the D-line and no draft picks to pick up some young stud.

Thankyou

smart man here

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Hog's Breath

Our defense is no way near as aggresive as they were last year. I don't remember us blitzing with any DBs last night. Could be wrong, though. Also, with all those three and outs the defense was just worn down which could explain our shitty tackling later in the game.

This is the problem I have with way we build a team. We give up draft picks to get these free agents and they don't pan out like we hoped they would. So now our obvious need is the D-line and no draft picks to pick up some young stud.

Merriman, and Wolfork two young studs we could have gotten in the draft, but oh! I forgot DC's are like the Spinach in your fridge. We're not done yet, still trading our draft choices for FA's with injury history, has been players that at one time may have been good players but injuries have mared their careers, therefore we get them cheap.

[FRPLG]

You know what's funny? Our team played this bad last year for the first couple of games but somehow came up winners. Now we're 0-2 and I can't figure how the hell we beat anybody playing like this last year.

Oh and I thought the D was not great last night but wasn't nearly as bad as last week. Getting Springs back would help but we need to put some front 4 pressure on QBs to win.

[#56fanatic]

I just dont understand the lack of pressure. Last two years we have made our name on pressuring the QB. Now, Springs being out probably contributes to how many people we can bring on a blitz, but come on. I would try moving Carter to left side and let Daniels go back to his original RE spot. Generally team put their best pass blocker on the QB's blind side. Maybe moving him to the LE spot, he would go up a RT that isn't quite as good at pass blocking. I speak in overall terms when saying the LT is usually your best pass blocker. Holdman looks better than last year, but I think he still get taken out of the play too much. Teams have run against that side of the D pretty effectively. I think when springs gets back on the field, we will be able to bring some more people on the blitz and create a little more pressure.
I think, this all goes on the offense's shoulders. If they continue to go 3 and out, the D is getting worn out. we need those guys to stay fresh and play with a lead. GW is very good at playing with a lead, when teams have to throw the ball more.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

I just dont understand the lack of pressure. Last two years we have made our name on pressuring the QB. Now, Springs being out probably contributes to how many people we can bring on a blitz, but come on. I would try moving Carter to left side and let Daniels go back to his original RE spot. Generally team put their best pass blocker on the QB's blind side. Maybe moving him to the LE spot, he would go up a RT that isn't quite as good at pass blocking. I speak in overall terms when saying the LT is usually your best pass blocker. Holdman looks better than last year, but I think he still get taken out of the play too much. Teams have run against that side of the D pretty effectively. I think when springs gets back on the field, we will be able to bring some more people on the blitz and create a little more pressure.
I think, this all goes on the offense's shoulders. If they continue to go 3 and out, the D is getting worn out. we need those guys to stay fresh and play with a lead. GW is very good at playing with a lead, when teams have to throw the ball more.

The defense sucks because of Brunell. It's his fault!

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

The defense sucks because of Brunell. It's his fault!

The funny thing is, this comment sounds ridiculous, but when the offense is 6 for 27 on third downs over the course of two games, the defense is on the field for far too long. And since all but a couple of those third down tries were passes, it IS Brunell's fault.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

The funny thing is, this comment sounds ridiculous, but when the offense is 6 for 27 on third downs over the course of two games, the defense is on the field for far too long. And since all but a couple of those third down tries were passes, it IS Brunell's fault.

I think our defense isn't in terrible shape....

Springs returns soon.... we can take the texans, I'm not petrified.

Offense is worse than '04. Which is sad. That scares me.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

Offense is worse than '04. Which is sad. That scares me.

Not even close...yet.

[Schneed10]

I notice more than a few things wrong with the D:

The CBs are horrible in run support. The LBs and the line tends to stretch plays out, occupying blockers. But where the hell are Rogers and Wright to seal the corner?

No pass rush. Duh.

Kenny Wright is downright awful. Just awful. Penalties all over the damn place.

We can't blitz because Rogers is average in coverage and Wright sucks.

Archuleta is always out of position.

No big plays. Only one turnover. Only one or two sacks.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I notice more than a few things wrong with the D:

The CBs are horrible in run support. The LBs and the line tends to stretch plays out, occupying blockers. But where the hell are Rogers and Wright to seal the corner?

No pass rush. Duh.

Kenny Wright is downright awful. Just awful. Penalties all over the damn place.

We can't blitz because Rogers is average in coverage and Wright sucks.

Archuleta is always out of position.

No big plays. Only one turnover. Only one or two sacks.

We truly need Springs back in action. Speaking of Springs, does ANYONE know when he is expected back??

[Schneed10]

I wonder if Griffin is healthy from his knee issue? I wonder if Daniels is healthy too.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I wonder if Griffin is healthy from his knee issue? I wonder if Daniels is healthy too.

My thoughts exactly.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I wonder if Griffin is healthy from his knee issue? I wonder if Daniels is healthy too.

i kind of hope they aren't healthy (and close to recovery) to at least explain why they've been as anonymous as Carter.

[jermus22]

Here's my assessment of the defense:

1. We had some tremendous hitting early on. Sean Taylor especially beat the stew out of Cowboys receivers and Mike Rumph really laid out Terry Glenn on a hit.

2. What happened to our run defense? We used to control the line of scrimmage, but we're now forcing the linebackers and safeties to come up and make plays. We seem especially weak on the left side, and also somewhat up the middle.

3. Without Shawn Springs, our secondary is average at best. Carlos Rogers played better last night, but Wright, Rumph, and Archuleta were weak, and the injuries to Springs and Pierson Prioleau have only hurt us more.

4. Why in the world did we let Ryan Clark go for Adam Archuleta? I said it earlier in the year and got heavily criticized, but I'll say it again: is Archuleta really worth the big contract when Clark could get the job done for less money? In fact, I would go so far as to say that Archuleta ISN'T as good as Clark (for our style of defense).

[jermus22]

Here's are some possible solutions to our defensive problems:

1. Move Philip Daniels back to RDE and Renaldo Wynn back to LDE. It would probably fix some of our problems against the run on the left side. Warrick Holdman isn't playing too bad, but Andre Carter seems like a liability in run defense.

2. Use Carter and Demetric Evans as pass rushing specialists. Carter would be a valuable asset in those situations and Evans has probably provided more pass rush than any of our other lineman.

3. Send Archuleta on more blitzes and use any one of our LBs to cover the TE. Archuleta should be far more effective on the move instead of working out in space.

4. Continue to use Sean Taylor in support of Kenny Wright and/or Mike Rumph in coverage. Taylor was a beast last night when it came to making hits over the middle and in the flat. Have Carlos Rogers play man-to-man on the opponents' #2 receiver, leaving the #1 guy covered by Wright and Taylor. Occasionally drop a LB (probably Lemar Marshall) into a deep zone away from Taylor and use the other LBs and Archuleta on occasional blitzes to help the DL.

More than anything, I'm frustrated at the defense's inability to stop the run last night. Sure, they didn't give up a bunch of big plays, but they didn't do enough to force Bledsoe into 3rd and long situations--where he is especially weak. We need to fix our pash rush problems and get Shawn Springs back.