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Above all other things, I believe that the complete inability of our defensive backfield to turn the ball over via interception is hurting this team the most. A defensive scheme which relies heavily on player discipline is Gibbs' way of disguising the lack of talent he has behind the defensive line. We have a defense which is disciplined, that plays hard, and is capable of having good stretchs of play during a given game, but the completely lack of playmaking ability in the linebacking core and in the secondary is KILLING us!!
I don't think we have a player behind the line who can actually "force" a turnover via good play; what I mean is that the ball must be thrown right into our team's hands for us to get an INT and even the majority of those are dropped. The only exception that I could possibly see is Fujita, but I haven't seen "evidance" from him in recent games.
Without a lot of talent, our defense is top 15 and has through most of our 9 games this year, minus the Pittsburgh game, done good enough to keep the other team's offense from scoring more points than our offense has the ability to score; hence the 6-3 record. We will lose most games in which our offense turns the ball over multiple times, because the defense simply lacks the talent to make plays which can offset the offense's mistakes. They are solid enough not to lose us the game by themselves, but when our offense starts helping the other team we are in trouble.
The offseason should be the furthest thing from our minds right now during what has truly been a magical season this year, but it is a MUST for Loomis to go out and find a defensive playmaker or two behind the line of scrimmage after the season. Beyond the most obvious need for a playmaker at the middle linebacker position, upgrading the free safety position would be next on my list. Bullocks is a kid who was drafted on reputation of being a ballhawk and he has not panned out at all in that respect. He still makes rookie mistakes and is not outstanding in any aspect. He is depth calibur in this league. Adding another starting calibur corner next to McKenzie (w/ Fred at nickle), getting Harper back playing at SS, and acquiring a playmaking FS would be a nice shot in the arm for the secondary.
On a more positive note, we have a young offense which can outscore most any team in the league. With Payton calling the plays and a young offensive core, we will be a hard team to beat for a long time, even with a defense that is only "capable of solid play." There isn't a team in the league outside of Indianapolis that overmatches us; we will win most every game in which we take care of the ball; and we have as good an A game as anyone in the NFC.
We are contenders this year, lack of interceptions be damned. GEAUX SAINTS!!
I don't think we have a player behind the line who can actually "force" a turnover via good play; what I mean is that the ball must be thrown right into our team's hands for us to get an INT and even the majority of those are dropped. The only exception that I could possibly see is Fujita, but I haven't seen "evidance" from him in recent games.
Without a lot of talent, our defense is top 15 and has through most of our 9 games this year, minus the Pittsburgh game, done good enough to keep the other team's offense from scoring more points than our offense has the ability to score; hence the 6-3 record. We will lose most games in which our offense turns the ball over multiple times, because the defense simply lacks the talent to make plays which can offset the offense's mistakes. They are solid enough not to lose us the game by themselves, but when our offense starts helping the other team we are in trouble.
The offseason should be the furthest thing from our minds right now during what has truly been a magical season this year, but it is a MUST for Loomis to go out and find a defensive playmaker or two behind the line of scrimmage after the season. Beyond the most obvious need for a playmaker at the middle linebacker position, upgrading the free safety position would be next on my list. Bullocks is a kid who was drafted on reputation of being a ballhawk and he has not panned out at all in that respect. He still makes rookie mistakes and is not outstanding in any aspect. He is depth calibur in this league. Adding another starting calibur corner next to McKenzie (w/ Fred at nickle), getting Harper back playing at SS, and acquiring a playmaking FS would be a nice shot in the arm for the secondary.
On a more positive note, we have a young offense which can outscore most any team in the league. With Payton calling the plays and a young offensive core, we will be a hard team to beat for a long time, even with a defense that is only "capable of solid play." There isn't a team in the league outside of Indianapolis that overmatches us; we will win most every game in which we take care of the ball; and we have as good an A game as anyone in the NFC.
We are contenders this year, lack of interceptions be damned. GEAUX SAINTS!!
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