Defensive Failures: Scheme or Players?

[12thMan]

I thought this topic was worthy of it's own thread. Some of us here feel as though our defensive woes this year could be chalked up to lack of talent, others say it's the scheme, and some believe it's a little of both.

I'm of the opinion that more than the players, it was our defensive scheme that failed us this year.

Gregg Williams fielded the third best defense during his first year, ninth ranked his second, and this year we're close to last if not very last. So there has been a regression from a statiscal standpoint. That along with a few key departures and no significant up grades have spelled disaster for the defense.

It seems like offenses have us figured us out little by little over this three year period and they know exactly where to attack, when to run play action, and how to keep us on our heels. It seems their game planning have been better than ours.

Most of the games that we've lost this year, were lost in the second half, after teams make their half-time adjustments. In simple terms, we've been out coached.

Of course the players share in this, they are the one's on the field performing. But if something isn't working, you don't have 5 weeks in the NFL to correct it.

I'm concerned that we'll go in FA and sign Nate Clements or whomever and think that's the end of it. I'm not too sure about that.

Please discuss.