Offline
I am a bit torn.
The defense and in particularly the linebacking unit, has far exceed my expectations. I like the vast step-up in complexity compared to recent years past. I like the penetrating style of the line and the down hill play of our backers. Yes I agree that they have not look great the last couple of weeks, but what a difference a year makes. I also think he is getting the most out of our secondary. The loss of Harper hurts in the run game. I agree with most that our corners need to be upgraded, but they look good compared to, again, what we saw in recent years.
Our DT have been making some play, but where are our ends? I am a huge Grant fan and I think he is very good versus the run, but is he that rush end we thought we were drafting? I am really leaning in the direction of addressing a corner in FA and making DE, yet again, our top prority. It is not all his fault though. If Will Smith, who I swore would be one of the top sacking DEs this year, would find the QB Grant could fit in more as a LE and Smith could be a game changing Beast at RE. Smith has not looked impressive so far at all to me. I am not sure if it is them or the scheme, but I think it has to be addressed in the off season.
As far as Gibbs' scheme goes. My biggest complaint ties into what I was trying to convey previously. I think we are solid in most of our positions on defense. I think we lack big plays i.e. key turnovers and I think the problem is two fold. First I think the defense is severly lacking in playmakers. There is no one on defense that IMO is causing teams to scheme around. Our most talented players are not making plays and we have a bunch of guys overachieving. Along with that I do not think Gibbs is effectively setting our players up to make the big plays. I posted this example last week. We had the Steelers pinned back third and long inside their fifteen yard line. Obvious passing down and instead of putting preassure on Ben we rush four and he has all day to throw a twenty yard completition. The same was said when we played the Panthers. We let Jake have way too much time.
I like Gibbs' overall scheme, but I think he gets too conservative in key situations and it has burned us.
So far I would have to give him a B.
Thoughts?
The defense and in particularly the linebacking unit, has far exceed my expectations. I like the vast step-up in complexity compared to recent years past. I like the penetrating style of the line and the down hill play of our backers. Yes I agree that they have not look great the last couple of weeks, but what a difference a year makes. I also think he is getting the most out of our secondary. The loss of Harper hurts in the run game. I agree with most that our corners need to be upgraded, but they look good compared to, again, what we saw in recent years.
Our DT have been making some play, but where are our ends? I am a huge Grant fan and I think he is very good versus the run, but is he that rush end we thought we were drafting? I am really leaning in the direction of addressing a corner in FA and making DE, yet again, our top prority. It is not all his fault though. If Will Smith, who I swore would be one of the top sacking DEs this year, would find the QB Grant could fit in more as a LE and Smith could be a game changing Beast at RE. Smith has not looked impressive so far at all to me. I am not sure if it is them or the scheme, but I think it has to be addressed in the off season.
As far as Gibbs' scheme goes. My biggest complaint ties into what I was trying to convey previously. I think we are solid in most of our positions on defense. I think we lack big plays i.e. key turnovers and I think the problem is two fold. First I think the defense is severly lacking in playmakers. There is no one on defense that IMO is causing teams to scheme around. Our most talented players are not making plays and we have a bunch of guys overachieving. Along with that I do not think Gibbs is effectively setting our players up to make the big plays. I posted this example last week. We had the Steelers pinned back third and long inside their fifteen yard line. Obvious passing down and instead of putting preassure on Ben we rush four and he has all day to throw a twenty yard completition. The same was said when we played the Panthers. We let Jake have way too much time.
I like Gibbs' overall scheme, but I think he gets too conservative in key situations and it has burned us.
So far I would have to give him a B.
Thoughts?