At what point do we say "okay, maybe we have a very good defense"?

[Primetime42]

My one complaint is that we are slow at LB. Our fastest guy on the inside is Bobby Carpenter and I'm getting sick of seeing him whiff on tackles and then get outrun by tight ends. He doesn't do much of anything well.

I'm really hoping Jason Williams becomes everything the team says he can become.

Love what Brooking has brought this year, but he's starting to look his age. He and Bradie are tackling machines but fact is they're not great in coverage.

I still support those two because I know they're giving it their all. Don't know if I can say the same for "Barbie".

 

[RS12]

Other than 3rd and long and the two Giant games the D has been stout. Gave up a total of 54 points in the other 3 losses, and there is no shame in the 20 to SD. A safety that can cover and another CB would make them lights out. Oh, and get Jason Williams some playing time.

 

[Eskimo]

You do remember the drives though don't you?

Had the defense been able to come up with one stop in CRUNCH time with the game on the line we might have won that game.

They consistently have not been able to do that.

Last night they got it done and we won.

The mark of a GREAT defense is a defense that makes the big plays in the big moments. Like the Cowboys defense did last night.

I actually now think a large part of that is just that Ware gets tired late in the game because he plays just about every defensive snap.

Yesterday when he was rested, he was harassing Brees on every play of that final drive before he finally clinched it with the forced fumble.

I know it is tempting to want to leave hiim in for every play but we have to get Butler in the mix so Spencer and Ware get some rest. Hopefully next year BWill will be able to get into the rotation too.

 

[Doomsay]

I actually now think a large part of that is just that Ware gets tired late in the game because he plays just about every defensive snap.

Yesterday when he was rested, he was harassing Brees on every play of that final drive before he finally clinched it with the forced fumble.

I know it is tempting to want to leave hiim in for every play but we have to get Butler in the mix so Spencer and Ware get some rest. Hopefully next year BWill will be able to get into the rotation too.

Genius!!

 

[Eskimo]

My one complaint is that we are slow at LB. Our fastest guy on the inside is Bobby Carpenter and I'm getting sick of seeing him whiff on tackles and then get outrun by tight ends. He doesn't do much of anything well.

I'm really hoping Jason Williams becomes everything the team says he can become.

Love what Brooking has brought this year, but he's starting to look his age. He and Bradie are tackling machines but fact is they're not great in coverage.

I still support those two because I know they're giving it their all. Don't know if I can say the same for "Barbie".

Hodge, Octavien and JWill are all being groomed as ILBs. Hopefully two of them work out because Brookings is close to the end of his career and Bradie is garbage in coverage.

I still wouldn't mind seeing us spend a first rounder on a dynamic ILB. The 3-4 will be much more effective with a player like Farrior.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

Hodge, Octavien and JWill are all being groomed as ILBs. Hopefully two of them work out because Brookings is close to the end of his career and Bradie is garbage in coverage.

I still wouldn't mind seeing us spend a first rounder on a dynamic ILB. The 3-4 will be much more effective with a player like Farrior.

I would like us to take a safety in the first round.. The position needs a upgrade.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Hodge, Octavien and JWill are all being groomed as ILBs. Hopefully two of them work out because Brookings is close to the end of his career and Bradie is garbage in coverage.

I still wouldn't mind seeing us spend a first rounder on a dynamic ILB. The 3-4 will be much more effective with a player like Farrior.

I really think Jason Williams can be that guy. Bradie was just raving about how talented he is on that Off With the Helmets radio show last week. Butler and Hodge were on the show too, but Bradie really singled out JWill.

I just wish he could take Carp's spot right now. Could he be worse? Only if he keeps making mental mistakes, I guess. But he can run like a safety at 245 lbs.

Of course, I get your point on drafting a good ILB anyway. Brooking is older and Bradie has always been borderline too slow, so we could use another one.

 

[Bizwah]

Our defense is good.

But they have mental lapses and fail to make plays in crucial parts of the game.

Examples:
Giants (game 2): We drive down the field to take the lead with about three minutes left. The Giants have the ball inside their own twenty. We force a third and 10+.....They convert about two or three of those to win the game.

Denver (game 4): Game is tied late in the fourth. Our defense dominated the entire game, but gives up an embarrassing catch and run for a HUGE TD to Brandon Marshall.

KC (game 5): We just grabbed momentum and the lead from the Chiefs late in the fourth. Despite having KC pinned inside their own twenty (and the crowd going nuts on the road) we allow them to drive the length of the field for the tie.

NY Giants (game 12): Numerous gaffes. We go up 10-0 on the Giants...momentum is ours. Yet the Giants easily drive down the field to score. We tie the game late, but allow Brandon Jacobs to take a routine, dump-off pass 70+ yards for a TD.

San Diego (game 13): After securing a tie and gaining momentum, the defense again allows a team a TD drive longer than 80 yards. After desperately needing a stop on SD's last drive, the defense couldn't get off the field. The Chargers convert several third and very longs.

Now, we've made some nice plays sure.....we've also received very little help from the offense in most of these games. But when the chips have been down, the defense has been very disappointing.

We are a good defense. We have talent on all three levels. But something seems to be missing at times. I don't know if we're just a stupid team...or if we just get out-schemed....or if lady luck just frowns on us.

I'm hoping our defense turned a corner last night. We tackled decently. We got nice pressure on Brees without blitzing.

We also got help from the offense.

I like how we match up with the Commanders and Eagles. If we can win three straight going into the playoffs, then I think our team can really make some noise....the pieces have been there for a while.

 

[Idgit]

I really think Jason Williams can be that guy. Bradie was just raving about how talented he is on that Off With the Helmets radio show last week. Butler and Hodge were on the show too, but Bradie really singled out JWill.

I just wish he could take Carp's spot right now. Could he be worse? Only if he keeps making mental mistakes, I guess. But he can run like a safety at 245 lbs.

Of course, I get your point on drafting a good ILB anyway. Brooking is older and Bradie has always been borderline too slow, so we could use another one.

More details on JWill, if you have them. That's great to hear. I had mentally put him in the 'good athelete, needs a ton of work as a football player' bucket.

Either way, we need some ILB depth, no doubt. I don't agree with criticism of our current starters (ie, Bradie's weakness is pass protection, but he's not 'garbage'), but we're thin there, and our starters are old, and if our defense is soft anyplace it's in the passing game over the middle behind the ILBs and in front of the safeties.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

More details on JWill, if you have them. That's great to hear. I had mentally put him in the 'good athelete, needs a ton of work as a football player' bucket.

Either way, we need some ILB depth, no doubt. I don't agree with criticism of our current starters (ie, Bradie's weakness is pass protection, but he's not 'garbage'), but we're thin there, and our starters are old, and if our defense is soft anyplace it's in the passing game over the middle behind the ILBs and in front of the safeties.

Well, I don't think you're wrong about Williams... I'm sure he does need some more work. But Bradie basically said he has a ton of athletic ability to the point that he made them say "wow" sometimes in practice. It kind of got me pumped because he didn't say anything like that for the other guys... For them, it was more your typical rookie stuff about getting him water during practice.

I just wish we had a role for him this year. I still think he might be playing in the nickel by now if not for that bad high ankle sprain in preseason. Maybe he can even get in a play or two these last couple games, though you surely don't want to be playing an inexperienced guy against Philly's offense.

One thing -- assuming Brandon Williams' ACL recovery goes okay, it will be like having two talented rookies to add to next year's class. Both those guys have big upsides, especially Jason.

 

[TD-33]

Our defense is good.

But they have mental lapses and fail to make plays in crucial parts of the game.

Examples:
Giants (game 2): We drive down the field to take the lead with about three minutes left. The Giants have the ball inside their own twenty. We force a third and 10+.....They convert about two or three of those to win the game.

Denver (game 4): Game is tied late in the fourth. Our defense dominated the entire game, but gives up an embarrassing catch and run for a HUGE TD to Brandon Marshall.

KC (game 5): We just grabbed momentum and the lead from the Chiefs late in the fourth. Despite having KC pinned inside their own twenty (and the crowd going nuts on the road) we allow them to drive the length of the field for the tie.

NY Giants (game 12): Numerous gaffes. We go up 10-0 on the Giants...momentum is ours. Yet the Giants easily drive down the field to score. We tie the game late, but allow Brandon Jacobs to take a routine, dump-off pass 70+ yards for a TD.

San Diego (game 13): After securing a tie and gaining momentum, the defense again allows a team a TD drive longer than 80 yards. After desperately needing a stop on SD's last drive, the defense couldn't get off the field. The Chargers convert several third and very longs.

Now, we've made some nice plays sure.....we've also received very little help from the offense in most of these games. But when the chips have been down, the defense has been very disappointing.

We are a good defense. We have talent on all three levels. But something seems to be missing at times. I don't know if we're just a stupid team...or if we just get out-schemed....or if lady luck just frowns on us.

I'm hoping our defense turned a corner last night. We tackled decently. We got nice pressure on Brees without blitzing.

We also got help from the offense.

I like how we match up with the Commanders and Eagles. If we can win three straight going into the playoffs, then I think our team can really make some noise....the pieces have been there for a while.