I am not as concerned about the defense as I should be (1 Viewer)

rlemieux

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There is something that just doens't have me as miffed as recent years. Yeah, we gave up 213 yards to a pretty good back, but (and I use this lightly) 148 yards came on two blown plays. Yeah, I know we gave them up, but how many times have we actually seen our players out of position, especially compared to recent years. We have three very smart linebackers, that haven't given up much this year. I also keep hearing people put down Bullocks, but he has played pretty good this year (remember he is a 2nd year starter). I have also liked what I have seen out of Stoutmire for the most part.

Here are the facts....

We allowed 217 yards of rushing on 26 carries (8.35 YPC)
We allowed 148 yards on two of those carries (74 YPC)
on the other 24 carries we allowed 69 yards (2.9 YPC)

Games this year

Cleveland week 1: 3.86
Green Bay week 2: 3.15 YPC
Atlanta week 3: 5.08 YPC
Carolina week 4: 5.76 YPC
Tampa week 5: 5.67 YPC
Philly week 6: 5.21 YPC
Bye week 7:
Baltimore week 8: 3.60 YPC
Tampa week 9: 3.78 YPC
Pittsburgh week 10: 8.35 YPC*

*148 yards allowed on 2 runs
 
I think this is a great point but this means we need to tell MM to stay outside. MM on atleast one of those plays had no WR on his side and just got lost inside and when he realised what happened ran down Parker. We are a smart D not an extremely talented one. Payton will get these guys playing in correct position
 
I think this is a great point but this means we need to tell MM to stay outside. MM on atleast one of those plays had no WR on his side and just got lost inside and when he realised what happened ran down Parker. We are a smart D not an extremely talented one. Payton will get these guys playing in correct position

Thats the point, the onfield intellegence of this unit far out weights recent years. We all knew coming into the season we didn't have the most talent on defense. However, Payton wanted smart players and thats what he got. They are going to get beat because they are not the most physically gifted players, however if you stick to your assignements 9/10 times you are going to make the play.
 
Interesting how our allowed YPC went way up once Harper went down with an injury. Just noticing....

Huh? He played up until week 5 against Tampa. We've allowed less rushing YPC since (with the exception of the Pittsburgh game). Without Harper we held Baltimore and Tampa to under 4.0 YPC, with Harper we gave up over 5 YPC in week 3, 4 and 5 to Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa.

Tampa game with Harper 5.67 YPC
Tampa game without Harper 3.75 YPC

No knock on Harper, thought he was doing great, but the fact's just don't support your statement.
 
Excellent point Rlemieux, I really don't feel that bad if I look at the run D in that context. Thanks.
 
Threads like these are the reason I come to this board!
Nice job, rlemieux.

I must admit that I've been a little uneasy with the play of the defense lately. I mean we're still aggressive, but it seems like the big plays are becoming more and more frequent. Long passes, long runs -- it makes everyone feel like no lead is safe.
That's probably why there's such an outcry against our defense lately.

I think we'll correct some of the problems with schemes. It may not be flashy, but I'm confident in our coaches and the intelligence of our players.
 
Well it's only the first year in the Payton regime so I am more than willing to cut him some slack after a major overhaul of the roster. Haslett's defenses were consistently horrible year after year usually due to the things you point out the current defense doesn't suffer from: lack of sound play and instincts.

They just need a decent influx of talent/speed in free agency and the draft to patch up a few holes.
 
Well it's only the first year in the Payton regime so I am more than willing to cut him some slack after a major overhaul of the roster. Haslett's defenses were consistently horrible year after year usually due to the things you point out the current defense doesn't suffer from: lack of sound play and instincts.

They just need a decent influx of talent/speed in free agency and the draft to patch up a few holes.


Isnt it funny though that they got two LB's just before the season did not add any CB's got Hollis and all of a sudden are worlds better. Honestly they are far from great but they make the stopps when needed and other than Pitt have not had a complete meltdown. With the way they played llast week I think they have to be hungry to prove themselves
 
There is something that just doens't have me as miffed as recent years. Yeah, we gave up 213 yards to a pretty good back, but (and I use this lightly) 148 yards came on two blown plays. Yeah, I know we gave them up, but how many times have we actually seen our players out of position, especially compared to recent years. We have three very smart linebackers, that haven't given up much this year. I also keep hearing people put down Bullocks, but he has played pretty good this year (remember he is a 2nd year starter). I have also liked what I have seen out of Stoutmire for the most part.

Here are the facts....

We allowed 217 yards of rushing on 26 carries (8.35 YPC)
We allowed 148 yards on two of those carries (74 YPC)
on the other 24 carries we allowed 69 yards (2.9 YPC)

Games this year

Cleveland week 1: 3.86
Green Bay week 2: 3.15 YPC
Atlanta week 3: 5.08 YPC
Carolina week 4: 5.76 YPC
Tampa week 5: 5.67 YPC
Philly week 6: 5.21 YPC
Bye week 7:
Baltimore week 8: 3.60 YPC
Tampa week 9: 3.78 YPC
Pittsburgh week 10: 8.35 YPC*

*148 yards allowed on 2 runs


EXCELLENT post, rlemieux!

2 busted running plays does not make this a bad defense. For anyone to expect this defense to win with turnovers, that simply is not who they are.

They are a fundementally sound, well coached unit, that has played within their scheme most of the season... And I don't expect our coaching staff to make any drastic changes to alter that throughout the remainder of 2006.

I can almost guarantee you that the focus will continue to be creating as many "3 and outs" as possible. They do that, and our O plays with minimal errors, and we get back to solid special teams this week with Gleason's return... Then the remainder of this season will be fun to watch.

The best part is, that's not asking too much from this unit becuase they've already proven they can do it on a consistent basis.

More importantly, unlike the AFC where you have perhaps 5 complete teams, that is simply not the case in the NFC this year.

The closest thing to it right now in our conference are the Bears, and they have a weakness: Expose Grossman.

Bottomline: The Road to Miami is far less difficult in the NFC than it is in the AFC right now.

Am I being too optimistic? If we were in the AFC this year, yes....
 
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However that does not explain how Ben threw all over us -- including 2 long td passes
 
The thing that concerns me about our D is guarding the edges, it was only a matter of time before someone really exposed us in that area of the field... Teams have already been taking advantage of that weakness in our D, Parker just exploited it to the max, definately need to correct that, there is no way that a team like Cinci doesn't look at the film and try to expose it even further. I have confidence that Payton will take the actions necessary to shore it up.
 
No Fred Thomas.... And a substitute by the name of Jason Craft.

Jason Craft is truely bad. Fred my not the the most capable corner, but he is worlds better than Craft. I cringe everytime I see Craft matched up one on one with a WR.
 
I really think our coaches and players will come together and fix the problems on defense and I think it will show this week against cincy.
 

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