Have to keep modern defenses so simple or everything falls to pieces

[Flamma]

Been watching the NFL since 1974. IMO the league is so degraded now that its an unwatchable mess. The difference just between 90's football and this fiasco we watch today is dramatic. NOT talking just the Cowboys either,....Im talking league wide.

You noticed that too? I notice any time i go back and watch just about any game from the 90s i immediately notice one thing. The defense is much more aggressive and the hitting is harder. It's unmistakable, it jumps out at you. Hell, I just recently watched a falcons 49ers game played back in 1981, Ronnie Lotts rookie season. I noticed it there too.

 

[ghosttown cowboy]

Defense is read and react, hit and wrap up...They have spent 15 years legislating contact out of the game...

 

[glimmerman]

They truly need to go back to the base 4-3 defense.

When Tom Landry developed his Flex Defense, it was said, it was very hard to learn. And it took about 3 years for the players to truly grasp its entirety.
I think this is where Tom's 3 year rule came in effect. They were going to get it or not.

Nolan's stupid Hybrid plan kind of reminds me of this. Back when Tom coached, they had the players rights forever, so a player could have time to learn and stay. Now, a team can't do this, as half the players move on by year 4. Has nothing to do with if the are smart or dumb or in between. It has to do with time.

Crap can the stupid concept and / or crap can Nolan if he can't or won't change.

Who was the long haired dude that was our DC for a while. His brother was a HC in the league. His defense didn’t work for us because it sucked and was hard to learn.

 

[Vtwin]

You noticed that too? I notice any time i go back and watch just about any game from the 90s i immediately notice one thing. The defense is much more aggressive and the hitting is harder. It's unmistakable, it jumps out at you. Hell, I just recently watched a falcons 49ers game played back in 1981, Ronnie Lotts rookie season. I noticed it there too.

The Welkers, Amendolas and Edelmans that were the bread and butter of the Patriot's run would have had a much tougher task playing against the Lott's and Atwaters of those days.

 

[jazzcat22]

Who was the long haired dude that was our DC for a while. His brother was a HC in the league. His defense didn’t work for us because it sucked and was hard to learn.

Rob Ryan, spawn of Buddy.

 

[glimmerman]

Rob Ryan, spawn of Buddy.

Yeah him. He blew. And his defense. And it may have been better than what we have now. I wish they would just simplify it totally.

 

[jazzcat22]

Yeah him. He blew. And his defense.

Yes. However one season, I think it was him, may have been Rod's 1st or 2nd year. Or both of the coaches. Were decimated with injuries as well. Far worse than now.

They trotted out 18 different starting DL alone. Not counting LB's and secondary injuries.

 

[cern]

So why does Nolan keep getting hired? He was even a HC for a time!

Same reason giants hired garrett. He's coached their offense to dead last in the nfl. The heart wants what the heart wants, no matter how the brain feels.

 

[gjkoeppen]

I tend to believe it. I remember listening to Ex Raven Bart Scott on his show around 4 years ago or so. He went on and on about how basically so many of the modern NFL players are so stupid that you have to keep modern defenses so simple or everything falls to pieces in short order.
He really hammered home the point,....said he was appalled at what he was seeing on defense in the modern NFL. I wasnt a big fan of the Nolan hire to begin with and this is just one of the reasons why. You have to walk before you can run and he's expecting a bunch of mental paraplegics to run the 40 yard dash!

As you can see........It doesnt work.

I'm sticking up for Nolan, in fact I've said repeatedly that his complicated convoluted defense is the problem, but what Bart Scott doesn't admit or realize is how the rules on defense have change so drastically in favor of the offense over the past couple of decades. Unless a defense has 4 really good linemen that put constant pressure on the QB and get a lot of sacks and 2 really good corners to do tight coverage until those linemen get to the QB defense have a hard time defending and offenses move along.
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[jazzcat22]

Same reason giants hired garrett. He's coached their offense to dead last in the nfl. The heart wants what the heart wants, no matter how the brain feels.

Or maybe, it is the heart gets what the brain dead does, or is that the dead brain.

 

[glimmerman]

Yes. However one season, I think it was him, may have been Rod's 1st or 2nd year. Or both of the coaches. Were decimated with injuries as well. Far worse than now.

They trotted out 18 different starting DL alone. Not counting LB's and secondary injuries.

Let’s just go straight 4-3. Nothing pretty just something they can execute and blitz from. I want blitzes this weekend. There qb is freaking out on jg, lets make him fumble and throw a pick.lol

 

[gjkoeppen]

Those NE Defenses and others use more advanced schemes and their coaches seem to relay that into something they can swallow. It does take some knowledge on who you're drafting.

Players who are illiterates can still be football smart but I can see Bart Scott's point too. Takes some foundation to receive/process info quickly.

A good example of football smart and athletic ability just look at Bo Jackson. When drafted he read at a 3rd grade level.
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[gjkoeppen]

You could say the same about a lot of ineffective coaches. It's an old boys club.

Agreed Look at the horrendous record for 1st time head coaches. Some are the exception but 99% of them fail their first time. Johnson was and now McVay is an exception .
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[RS12]

Defense has no impact players on it. Name one player on this defense that opponents would just love to have? I ll wait.

 

[khiladi]

So defensive players aren’t idiots when Dak is padding yardage in garbage time? Dak is just threading needles against the Legion of Boom?

 

[Kaiser]

Who was the long haired dude that was our DC for a while. His brother was a HC in the league. His defense didn’t work for us because it sucked and was hard to learn.

Rob Ryan, who was known to take a drink or two.

 

[Kaiser]

I disagree with the premise of the thread. We don't have stupid players, we have a new coaching staff that overestimated how quickly the players would pick up the new scheme - especially without a real offseason or preseason. Offensive numbers through the first three weeks were the highest in NFL history, the offenses are bound to be ahead in this situation.

There are a few positions like CB where a dumb player can still do well because they are mostly physical. But you can't have multiple guys like DLaw, Jaylon, Griffen, etc play in Pro Bowls in the past if they are too stupid to play in the NFL.

 

[gjkoeppen]

So defensive players aren’t idiots when Dak is padding yardage in garbage time? Dak is just threading needles against the Legion of Boom?

It's so funny when people refer to Prescott and the Cowboys are trying to come back and win as garbage time. BTW the legion of boom hasn't been the legion of boom for a couple seasons now.
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[gjkoeppen]

Defense has no impact players on it. Name one player on this defense that opponents would just love to have? I ll wait.

After leading the league in sacks for the 1st 3 weeks how many teams wished they had taken the chance on Smith like the Cowboys did?
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[McKDaddy]

Those NE Defenses and others use more advanced schemes and their coaches seem to relay that into something they can swallow. It does take some knowledge on who you're drafting.

Players who are illiterates can still be football smart but I can see Bart Scott's point too. Takes some foundation to receive/process info quickly.

There is a reason Bill P & Bill B tried to avoid "dumb" players ....