Defense is the biggest disappointment in 2024...

[JohnJH]

That means there will be a scheme change. That's the dilemma Mayo has if he's still around.

There also needs to be a serious infusion of talent!

 

[stinkypete]

This season even with all the changes on the coaching staff, rookie QB most of us thought the defense would be sound.

Trading judon, Barmore's health ,peppers legal situation, and Dugger underperforming all have effects. However even with 3rd string guys this defense should still be at least middling. What is Covington asking these guys to do? The Rams game made me realize that coaching, and match ups have been a problem all season. Can it get better? sure but not this season! However this defense has been the biggest disappointment to me this season. Save for gonzo and Barmore feels like the defense needs injection of talent on all levels.

what do you fellow posters think?

I'm not sure we can really view the defense as a disappointment.

The unit has lost Judon, Barmore, Peppers and Bentley. That is three out of our top four defenders, four of our top six or seven, our two best pass rushers, our best overall player from 2023. Of course the rest of the guys are sucking wind.

Honestly, the defense's performance on the whole has been thoroughly ok. The only games that they straight up screwed the pooch were Houston and Jacksonville. The rest of the results were entirely reasonable given the opponents, at least in terms of points. If we look at yards, the team has a clear issue with stopping the run, which is partially attributable to the losses of Peppers and Bentley, with insufficient depth to back them up.

I agree that the defense needs an impact player at all three levels, but not a wholesale overhaul.

 

[sportnik]

I'm not sure we can really view the defense as a disappointment.

The unit has lost Judon, Barmore, Peppers and Bentley. That is three out of our top four defenders, four of our top six or seven, our two best pass rushers, our best overall player from 2023. Of course the rest of the guys are sucking wind.

Honestly, the defense's performance on the whole has been thoroughly ok. The only games that they straight up screwed the pooch were Houston and Jacksonville. The rest of the results were entirely reasonable given the opponents, at least in terms of points. If we look at yards, the team has a clear issue with stopping the run, which is partially attributable to the losses of Peppers and Bentley, with insufficient depth to back them up.

I agree that the defense needs an impact player at all three levels, but not a wholesale overhaul.

. For real. Is this Mayo’s spysode

I saw Maye as a layup, but you're right. Wolf didn't miss the free dunk.

I'm not thrilled with Mayo, but if they brought in a real OC, I think he would become an ok coach.

If one of the three needs to go I would want it to be AVP.

If two need to go I'd prefer Wolf and AVP.

Open your eyes & ee things for what they are. Mayo is an incompetent boob, who should be banished to the ash heap of football history for undermining BB and having absoletely nothing to offer as HC. Tell me exactly what value Mayo adds? He can't coach the O. He can't coach the D. He calls himself a "CEO coach", unburdened by the distractions of play calling, but has no command over the game & makes boneheaded decisions every week that costs his team points. If this team even had Rod Rust as HC, they'd be in playoff contention.

The only problem I have with Wolf & AVP, is that they are overperforming & by doing so, preventing Mayo from being exposed as the complete & total incompetent fraud that he is.

This team was supposed to have an inept offense & a "Top 5" defense. Yet this vaunted defense gets worse every week & can't stop the run, while the offense gets better & is now carrying the defense.

Mayo is a complete fraud & the football gods will punish him & this team, for undermining the greatest coach of all time, at the alter of his massive & baseless ego. The pathetic & easily manipulated Bob Kraft needs to be put out to pasture if his team will ever be competitive again.

 

[sportnik]

There also needs to be a serious infusion of talent!

The talent is fine. BB would win 10 games with this team. The issue is Checkers Mayo, his remedial game plans & his inability to adjust. The couldn't coach the Medfield JV team to a winning record.

 

[stcjones]

This season even with all the changes on the coaching staff, rookie QB most of us thought the defense would be sound.

Trading judon, Barmore's health ,peppers legal situation, and Dugger underperforming all have effects. However even with 3rd string guys this defense should still be at least middling. What is Covington asking these guys to do? The Rams game made me realize that coaching, and match ups have been a problem all season. Can it get better? sure but not this season! However this defense has been the biggest disappointment to me this season. Save for gonzo and Barmore feels like the defense needs injection of talent on all levels.

what do you fellow posters think?

To me it’s been a combination of both the somewhat surprisingly horrible defensive play this year and the more predicable wet paper bag OL that have crippled the Pats. Sprinkle in the inconsistent hands of stone dropsy WR group and arguably the worst coaching staff in the NFL right now …..and you get this mess. We are going backwards instead of forwards and all of that falls at the feet of…..Thunder….

 

[stcjones]

Yes it's real ****ty when you think about it... if we had stayed Pat no pun: we would have come away with Maye and Ladd McConkey. Trading can seem tempting then it blows up in your face. We were picking close to the Top of each round and came away with absolute Stiffs after Maye that's bad. IF Wolf messes up again in 2025 he needs to be in the Unemployment line abysmal.

I don’t think McConkey makes a significant difference here because of the horrible OL that hasn’t been giving Maye enough time to go through progressions and because running game also not a factor because of garbage OL ….makes it a lot easier for opposing teams to scheme against us and pretty easy to out coach Mayo!! With that having been said would i rather have McConkey here instead of concrete hands Polk and the invisible man Baker……Yep!

 

[stcjones]

That is why I hope we lose out I don't think the Krafts stick with Mayo if we don't win a couple of more games. That's the gauge Five or Six games if we lose out we should be First in line for Ben Johnson - Kliff K or Bobby Slowik. That said I don't see too many wins on the remaining schedule unless our WR's play light out: not holding my breath.

Mayo fits their cheesy budget perfectly …..even tho I think Thunder Bob obviously should clean house and bring in an elite coaching staff to right the ship….he won’t do it ….he will probably can AVP and Mcadoo and bring back boy wonder Joshie

 

[stcjones]

I think we are lacking in that department as well as the entire D don’t get me wrong…..but alot of their blunders come down to poor schemes and coaching decisions and no adjustments…..They are using Gonzalez for example ….horribly wrong!

I think the safety play has been atrocious.. the pass rush is non existence. We aren't the only team dealing with injury.. Buffalo lost thier best LB in Milano and has no names all over thier defense and they are top 10 in the NFL.

 

[stcjones]

I use to think that: but now I'm not so sure especially with these Three Teams... Dallas - Jacksonville and the NY Giants. Jerry Jones is capable of anything: Jacksonville just needs a Good HC: and he's a folk hero with the NY Giants.

I think Jax needs more than a good HC….

 

[Toofy]

Covington is clearly over his head. He needs to be replaced by a real DC.

The challenge is no good DC would want to come here as they know Mayo has just this year and they could get canned and there is total lack of talent .

We might need to hire Robert Saleh as DC if he agrees . That's the only option I see.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[UrbanCowboy]

There are some positives: White looks like a beast and is getting needed experience; Jennings has emerged; Tavai continues to be solid; Gonzo came back from injury and is elite. marcus jones is a keeper. Dell Pettus seems like a find. Bring back the injured/missing players, a few draft picks, and a couple free agents, and we have a solid group.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think we are lacking in that department as well as the entire D don’t get me wrong…..but alot of their blunders come down to poor schemes and coaching decisions and no adjustments…..They are using Gonzalez for example ….horribly wrong!

BINGO.. there probably wasn't a more optimistic poster than myself on the defense earlier in the season.. week 1 seems like ages ago. I was duped as a fan into believing that is how they would be this season. The Rams game I out entirely on the defense as great as young Drake has been he has minimal support from his WRs.. he can't have blunders from his veteran defense. Covington said in onw words that he's keeping the same principles on defense as BB. This looks like a defense with no principles whatsoever!

 

[Real fan 02]

I don’t think McConkey makes a significant difference here because of the horrible OL that hasn’t been giving Maye enough time to go through progressions and because running game also not a factor because of garbage OL ….makes it a lot easier for opposing teams to scheme against us and pretty easy to out coach Mayo!! With that having been said would i rather have McConkey here instead of concrete hands Polk and the invisible man Baker……Yep!

Yes and the fact he would have had Brissett at QB for the first 5 games of the season.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm not sure we can really view the defense as a disappointment.

The unit has lost Judon, Barmore, Peppers and Bentley. That is three out of our top four defenders, four of our top six or seven, our two best pass rushers, our best overall player from 2023. Of course the rest of the guys are sucking wind.

Honestly, the defense's performance on the whole has been thoroughly ok. The only games that they straight up screwed the pooch were Houston and Jacksonville. The rest of the results were entirely reasonable given the opponents, at least in terms of points. If we look at yards, the team has a clear issue with stopping the run, which is partially attributable to the losses of Peppers and Bentley, with insufficient depth to back them up.

I agree that the defense needs an impact player at all three levels, but not a wholesale overhaul.

I've come to the conclusion they are. This supposed to be Mayo's wheelhouse. Mayo and Covington coaching in the defense for several years. Most of the players have been here. I mentioned the losses of key guys.. however the COACHING should have allowed guys who are playing to improve. Have you seen any improvements? How did you feel watching the Rams game? Or the Jags game where Mayo was prompted to call them soft? They need help at LB, DL, CB, DT. Take a look at Buffalo name me 1 single name outside of millano.. those guys are all unproven guys who play well together and we'll coached. That's what our defense should be doing even with guys missing.

 

[JohnJH]

The talent is fine. BB would win 10 games with this team. The issue is Checkers Mayo, his remedial game plans & his inability to adjust. The couldn't coach the Medfield JV team to a winning record.

Agree on Mayo. But, we still need more talent and BB isn't walking through that door.

 

[Patsfan1645]

possibly another instance of Poor Coaching

No doubt. If I see it they should certainly see it as well and if they don't address it then its on the coaches.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I saw Maye as a layup, but you're right. Wolf didn't miss the free dunk.

I'm not thrilled with Mayo, but if they brought in a real OC, I think he would become an ok coach.

If one of the three needs to go I would want it to be AVP.

If two need to go I'd prefer Wolf and AVP.

Covington needs to go before AVP as the offense is at least improving and the defense is some how getting worse.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

I think Jax needs more than a good HC….

They definitely need a better backup QB, LOL

 

[Stu Pidassle]

I've come to the conclusion they are. This supposed to be Mayo's wheelhouse. Mayo and Covington coaching in the defense for several years. Most of the players have been here. I mentioned the losses of key guys.. however the COACHING should have allowed guys who are playing to improve. Have you seen any improvements? How did you feel watching the Rams game? Or the Jags game where Mayo was prompted to call them soft? They need help at LB, DL, CB, DT. Take a look at Buffalo name me 1 single name outside of millano.. those guys are all unproven guys who play well together and we'll coached. That's what our defense should be doing even with guys missing.

Coaching and the front office worked in tandem to undermine the defense this year. For all intents and purposes Wolf did not invest anything in the defense, all resources when to the offense. With very little competition in camp, inexperienced coaches, and overconfidence in the defense across the board created a sense of complacency. When injuries hit, the team was not ready to meet the challenge. Going forward Wolf needs to balance investment on both sides of the ball, even if one side seems much better than the other.