Fencer
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 14,293
- Reaction score
- 3,986
when the coaches stopped showing their schemes the players slacked off.
That is something that needs to be fixed.
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.when the coaches stopped showing their schemes the players slacked off.
I'm so confused.
We're talking about a great HOF defensive genius here, and we're using a game in which (as someone already said) his defense gave up 24 points and over 400 yards as an example of his greatness?
In the first half, the defense rushed the passer, they stuffed the run. They were communicating well, and they seemed to shift around like I haven't seen since 2004.
In the second half, nobody rushed the passer. No one did much to stop the run, I didn't see much shifting. This defense showed why they can be good, and why people think they suck. They looked so bad because of Butler in the 2nd half it was literally becoming Duane Starks bad. The Bengals seriously tortured Butler I think the dude is not gonna wanna see Cincinnatti for awhile. McCourty seemed excellent (considering this was his FIRST game) covering TO or Ocho, Butler on the other hand just looked pathetic.
I realize it's growing pains, but it's the pains that teams know about and can exploit. I hope to see a full 60 minute effort from the defense next week, and please, if one of our CBs is getting annihilated again lets give him some help?
I'm not not trying to be negative although I sound that way. One thing is for damn sure. This defense is more comfotable and communicating better than they were in week 17 last year. We're gonna experience growing pains, but growing nonetheless.
Rule 1 when up big in the second half with a young defense facing a very capable veteran offense: do not allow quick TDs to happen. Yes, Cincy drove down the field often in the second half. They also chewed up a lot of time doing it. Though I can't say this for sure without watching the tape, I would hope the coaches were preaching a "whatever you do, keep everything in front of you".....and hopefully this is one of the reasons Cincy had more freedom to make those 7 and 8 yard gains (as they repeatedly did). The other explanation is Cincy was its own worst enemy in the first half and our D just sucks. I'm going with the first explanation.
I suspect we will see a lot of teams with sustained drives against our D due to the 'no huge gains-no quick scores' mentality. This is, likely, just how it has to be with this young untested defense (hopefully just for the time being). A combination of our offense's scoring capabilities, not allowing the opposing team quick scores, well thought out game plans, throw in a helping of not beating ourselves with things like stupid penalties -- this should be the path to winning more often than losing. Then, hopefully, as the season goes on the defense gets better and better.
I'm so confused.
We're talking about a great HOF defensive genius here, and we're using a game in which (as someone already said) his defense gave up 24 points and over 400 yards as an example of his greatness? [
Very simple, dude. They got the win secured, took the foot off of the pedal and scaled back their scheme. It comes from the coaches first, and when the coaches stopped showing their schemes the players slacked off. That simple.