Defense 11th overall

[Stash]

After the first three games last year we had only given up an average of 18 pts,,, this year it's 23,,,

Uh-oh!

Way to be a party pooper!

 

[Stash]

I'll ask the question again, not that I expect a response this time either.

How many times are we seeing the other team's punter have to do his job?

I think that's a pretty clear indicator of a defense's success.

How many times did you see the 49'ers punter? The Titan's punter (in the second half once Locker woke up anyway)? Do we even know who the Rams' punter is?

I think before anyone gets excited about this defense, they should ask themselves that question.

Are we actually making the other teams' offense punt?

 

[Doomsday101]

This is what I expected to start the season. Unlike last year, I believe that this figure (points allowed) will drop as the season progresses. Young guys will get better and players overall will get comfortable with the scheme. The return of Spencer and Lawrence can only help as well.

I expect the return of some players as well as the youth will improve as the season move on

 

[Doomsday101]

I'll ask the question again, not that I expect a response this time either.

How many times are we seeing the other team's punter have to do his job?

I think that's a pretty clear indicator of a defense's success.

How many times did you see the 49'ers punter? The Titan's punter (in the second half once Locker woke up anyway)? Do we even know who the Rams' punter is?

I think before anyone gets excited about this defense, they should ask themselves that question.

Are we actually making the other teams' offense punt?

I guess the 3 turnovers put a damper on the punter getting some punts in. lol

 

[Stash]

I guess the 3 turnovers put a damper on the punter getting some punts in. lol

And you think you can count on those? lol

Is that what a good defense does?

Hope you get three turnovers in each game so you have a chance?

 

[Doomsday101]

And you think you can count on those? lol

Is that what a good defense does?

Hope you get three turnovers in each game so you have a chance?

No you don't hope you just do. Fact is last years defense in those same situations folded. I don't care about the yards I want the defense to make plays to help get the ball back, like stuffing a runner on a 4th and inches like getting 2 ints to help extend a lead and then to seal the game.

 

[Wolfpack]

I'll ask the question again, not that I expect a response this time either.

How many times are we seeing the other team's punter have to do his job?

I think that's a pretty clear indicator of a defense's success.

How many times did you see the 49'ers punter? The Titan's punter (in the second half once Locker woke up anyway)? Do we even know who the Rams' punter is?

I think before anyone gets excited about this defense, they should ask themselves that question.

Are we actually making the other teams' offense punt?

The Saints cut their punter this week and are going to carry an extra fullback just for the Dallas game.

 

[Stash]

No you don't hope you just do. Fact is last years defense in those same situations folded. I don't care about the yards I want the defense to make plays to help get the ball back, like stuffing a runner on a 4th and inches like getting 2 ints to help extend a lead and then to seal the game.

It was great that they did that.

They wouldn't have won the game otherwise.

Against a 3rd string quarterback on a bottom-feeder team.

Let that sink in.

At this point, we're exactly where we've been for the past several years - floating around the bottom.

We're the "1" in the struggling 49'ers 1-2 record and we've rallied to beat the Rams - who eeked out a win against the Bucs, arguably the league's worst team, and beat the 1 win Titans.

Unimpressive.

 

[Doomsday101]

It was great that they did that.

They wouldn't have won the game otherwise.

Against a 3rd string quarterback on a bottom-feeder team.

Let that sink in.

At this point, we're exactly where we've been for the past several years - floating around the bottom.

We're the "1" in the struggling 49'ers 1-2 record and we've rallied to beat the Rams - who eeked out a win against the Bucs, arguably the league's worst team, and beat the 1 win Titans.

Unimpressive.

It goes to ones own expectation. I had no illusions this defense would have ups and downs this season I do think with younger guys, a unit that is closer to getting healthy than a unit that just got worse last year that they will show themselves better than last season. Will it be a top 5 or top 10? No never have said it would be but I do think this group of young guys will prove themselves as good ball players. To ultimately get to a top 5 type defense you bet more talent will be needed.

 

[COfWaBnOY]

they aren't who we thought they were .....

WE "because I do NOT believe anyone would have said different before the season begin" thought they would be a bottom of the league defense and ends up they're a middle of the road defense ..... I'll take that !!!..

 

[TwoDeep3]

I'll ask the question again, not that I expect a response this time either.

How many times are we seeing the other team's punter have to do his job?

I think that's a pretty clear indicator of a defense's success.

How many times did you see the 49'ers punter? The Titan's punter (in the second half once Locker woke up anyway)? Do we even know who the Rams' punter is?

I think before anyone gets excited about this defense, they should ask themselves that question.

Are we actually making the other teams' offense punt?

Oh oh, call on me Stash. I know I know.

 

[Doomsday101]

FYI on how hot Locker was and the fact they did not punt in the 2nd half? 1 pos. TD, 2nd pos. FG 3rd pos. failed to convert 4th down, and 4 pos 2 plays and game was over. You are right they did not have to punt, they also only had 3 legit possessions in the 2nd half. overall 3rd down conversions 2 of 10 yeah that was hot. lol

 

[mldardy]

FYI on how hot Locker was and the fact they did not punt in the 2nd half? 1 pos. TD, 2nd pos. FG 3rd pos. failed to convert 4th down, and 4 pos 2 plays and game was over. You are right they did not have to punt, they also only had 3 legit possessions in the 2nd half. overall 3rd down conversions 2 of 10 yeah that was hot. lol

Great point.
And LOL at not making a team punt and instead getting turnovers or turning them over on downs as meaning the defense didn't make stops. Please.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

After the first three games last year we had only given up an average of 18 pts,,, this year it's 23,,,

This is true but once again we were the worst defense in the league last year and we lost Sean Lee, Demarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher and didn't have Scandrick for 2 games. Most people including myself said we'd need the offense to put up 28+ points a game to win.

The eye test says this defense has been better than what should've been expected.

 

[Doomsday101]

And LOL at not making a team punt and getting turnovers as meaning the defense didn't make stops. Please.

Go figure. Again not claiming nor have I ever claimed this was going to be a top rated defense this year, I know last year with aging vets was pathetic and taking a big chunk of cap room. We have a lot of young guys and I fully expected mistakes I also expected hustle and I see that, I expect them to make plays as well and have seen that. Are they were I would like them to be as a defense? No

We have very little pass rush and they have to find a way to get to the QB hopefully getting guys back will help, we will see but I have seen them step up in critical situations thus far and make plays.

 

[DiResta]

feeling pumped about the defense ranking right now is not realistic. it reminds me of teams that play the Cowboys like the Rams, they come away thinking WOW our QB is freaking awesome! I read one of them say "Sam who?" lol then they play a team with a good secondary and the dream is crushed lol. this seems to keep happening.

the defense is not very good because there are some skill players needed, some elite talent but they do play hard and they do have moments of greatness. but right now its up and down no consistency but thats ok. it will get there but as fans we should try to stay more chill and not say during games this dude sucks! cut him! then when they flash its oh we need to franchise this dude lol. just remember they are gutting out games with what they got until backup gets in town.

 

[kevm3]

Nobody is saying this is some kind of fantastic defense, but what the defense is doing is they are at least giving us a chance to win. If anyone expected a Seahawks or 49ers type defense with the lack of talent and injuries we have, they are deluding themselves. What IS being said is the defense is playing better than expected and is giving the offense opportunities to win. We can talk about not seeing their punter, but the defense held the opposition enough for us to win. Carter got a late pick and Claiborne got an interception that sealed the game. The majority of talent on this team is on the offense, so at least if the defense isn't being an utter liability, they are playing above what we expected.

 

[Stash]

It goes to ones own expectation. I had no illusions this defense would have ups and downs this season I do think with younger guys, a unit that is closer to getting healthy than a unit that just got worse last year that they will show themselves better than last season. Will it be a top 5 or top 10? No never have said it would be but I do think this group of young guys will prove themselves as good ball players. To ultimately get to a top 5 type defense you bet more talent will be needed.

We can agree on that. We both hope for improvement as the season progresses.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Just curious. The guys saying same old same old and lucky to go 8-8 again...are you the same ones that were predicting 5-11 at the start of the year?

 

[Hoofbite]

The defense will continue to slip in the rankings, and the offense will move upwards.

The defense has been given a light workload thus far, particularly in weeks 1 and 2. They're 28th in total defensive snaps.

Some of it is due to what they've done well in taking the ball away.

Some of it is due to what they haven't done well. They have three drives - one in each game - of 65+ yards that took 5 plays or leas.

Some of it is due to what the offense has done well in dominating the clock at times, keeping the defense off the field.

Some of it is due to what the offense has done poorly by turning the ball over for 2 scores and a 1-play TD drive.

I think it was percy who pointed out Dallas' yards/play allowed the other day. There are only 2 teams with a higher yards/play allowed. 6.2 yards/play is slightly worse than the defense of 2013 that came in at 6.1 yards/play.

Dallas is also ranked 27th in 3rd down defense. They're allowing conversions on 48% of the opponents attempts, which is still awfully high for a team that held the Titans to 2/10. The Rams and 49ers converted a combined 60% of their 25 attempts.