Actually, that's pretty much what I'm asking. I don't really understand schemes very well, so I was wondering if it was scheme or sucking.
It starts with pressuring the QB. When you're not pressuring the QB, he has all day to pick you apart. Our rushing and or pressuring was non-existent tonight, and I believe it has been like that since Burgess returned to the lineup.
I am really hoping he gets cut this Saturday or is at least supplanted by either Ninko or Murrell (if he makes the roster). Burgess is just disappearing in our system, and I don't believe it's because he has been missing camp.
The second is that most of our players are not at the point where they are seeing plays before they happen (e.g. Rodney Harrison). Especially Mayo who sometimes gets into thinking too much on the field (Bruschi sort of was the same way until the 4th or 5th year of his career). Anticipation is a great factor, and can make all the difference in this "bend but don't break defense" where your first and second steps are the most important of any that you take on a down, especially when you are in zone coverage. You absolutely cannot play flat-footed, or off the back of your feet if you are a DB in the FB type defense.
This is another reason why we are so fortunate that BB has 35 years of experience in coaching, as opposed to McDaniels, out in Denver, who has just a few years. BB has seen and knows that it takes time for players to emerge and flourish, and because of that, is not going to change the system, is not going to give up on Mayo or our young backfield. They can only learn through reps. This new defense is all of one year old. Possibly this season, but definitely within the next two season, they will be a truly vaunted D.
Tonight, I saw a lot of one-gapping reaction. Players were just pulling up once they got blocked, instead of shedding and/or playing through the blocks.
And unlike the past few games, our run-stopping was terrible tonight. We could not contain the edges, and so you saw those bounce out run gains that opened up the passing game, especially on the first drive. That allowed the Giants offense to get into a rhythm. I have a feeling that once Brace is healthy he is going to get the starting nod at some point early in the season at LDE, because IIRC they were targeting the run there.
