If you want to get mad at someone, get mad at what is probably the most idiotic thing I've seen from the defense this season. Rob Ryan has got to fix this now.
If anyone is still wondering if we are playing a different defense than last season, here is all you need to know.
In 2013- Junior dropped into coverage 42 times in 16 games.
In 2014- Junior has dropped into coverage 57 times in 4 games.
To take your best pass rusher and drop him into coverage 57 times while rushing the passer 89 times is simply idiotic at best. This is also why it seems like our pass rush has suffered. Junior is getting a pressure every 8.9 pass rush attempts. Last season Junior got a pressure every 14.18 pass rush attempts. He is actually having more success this season rushing the passer, he is simply getting far less pass rush attempts. When defenses don't have to account for Junior as a pass rusher it allows teams to focus even more on Cam.
Rob Ryan has been so hell bent on running a 34 defense, trying to play zone coverage and implement zone blitzing schemes he has completely lost what he did last season by putting the best players on the field and playing to their strengths.
I am willing to bet Payton has a part in this as well. Zone defense and zone blitzing produces a lot of turnovers. Problem is we aren't built for it. I love seeing it occasionally and the play design where KV got a sack was phenominal but this defense isn't built for it on a consistent basis.
Play a 4 man front, press at the line and let the players do what they do best. The communication issues will improve, the "lack of fire" will turn around because players are reacting instead of thinking, the pass rush will improve and we will see an instant impact.
Did we learn nothing from Spags and his zone blitz defense?