Defense: Are you worried any?

[garyv]

Just curious if anyone else other than me has some concerns with the Defense. I like Rob Ryan and what he brings to the table but have been concerned all off-season about the front office lack of adding a few free agents to the Defense. I just don't think Rob has the neccessary talent in a few areas to make his Defense work the way it's intended to work. Lately I feel even worse seeing how both Denver and SD first Team Offense moved down field so easily on the Boyz Defense. Give me your thoughts and make me see a brighter side of our Defense.

 

[Doomsday101]

Not worried, if we hit the reg season and continue to make these mistakes yes I'll be worried. Right now I expected many of the mistakes we are seeing. I do think it falls to Ryan to clean these mistakes up. There were instance of blown coverage guys not going with the man they should have. There were instance of good coverage and the WR just made a very good play. The 2nd I can live with the 1st I can't guys need to know there responsibility and through mistakes is how you correct them.

 

[theogt]

If someone isn't worried either they just don't care, they're lying to themselves, or they're too stupid to know better. Rob Ryan isn't a guy that turns water into wine. Until this defense actually proves otherwise, it should be assumed it will be the downfall of the 2011 team.

 

[Stautner]

I'm worried, but not to a huge degree. I would like to have had better showings in the 1st preseason games, but I have to remember they have only been together 3 weeks and are learning Ryan's system.

 

[peplaw06]

The defense played better than the offense last night.

 

[Doomsday101]

If someone isn't worried either they just don't care, they're lying to themselves, or they're too stupid to know better. Rob Ryan isn't a guy that turns water into wine. Until this defense actually proves otherwise, it should be assumed it will be the downfall of the 2011 team.

I don't worry over pre season I expect mistakes, I'm watching alot of the teams in pre season making mistakes. Dallas clearly has things they need to clean up and some players they need to get back into the lineup.

As for assumption you can assume whatever you want but to call out those who do not see it your way is a joke, sorry we don't all go into panic mode.

So enough with the those who see it different are lying or stupid.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I expect there to be some major mental lapses in the first quarter of the season. With no mini-camps to learn the defense, injuries to some key folks and Abe Elam coming in so late, I just don't see everything coming together in time for the unit to be firing on all cylinders come the first game.

Ryan should honestly consider just scaling back and implementing new pieces each week once he sees that they are "getting it".

 

[SDCowboy]

If someone isn't worried either they just don't care, they're lying to themselves, or they're too stupid to know better...

:laugh2: QFT.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I think the defense will be definitely better than last year. I'm not sold that Rob Ryan is going to make this defense dominate though. (meaning top 7 in the league)

I understand that our two best (supposed to be best) CBs aren't playing. Our safeties I would consider to be average (which is better than last year), but my biggest concern is the defensive line's inability to hold the line of scrimmage.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Not worried, if we hit the reg season and continue to make these mistakes yes I'll be worried. Right now I expected many of the mistakes we are seeing. I do think it falls to Ryan to clean these mistakes up. There were instance of blown coverage guys not going with the man they should have. There were instance of good coverage and the WR just made a very good play. The 2nd I can live with the 1st I can't guys need to know there responsibility and through mistakes is how you correct them.

it's not about mistakes to me. It is how EASILY teams are moving up and down the field. Like they are playing against air. Looks like another year of "bend but don't break defense"...and the offense needing to put up 27 points. That will get you past the bad teams. Probably put you at around .500 against good teams. With a little luck you can win a playoff game with that philosophy....and that would be progress when you consider last year.

 

[EPL0c0]

A little worried about depth quality in the 2ndary... but hey, that's been a worry for a few years now so really, what's new there.

I think if the players had had a full off-season with Rob Ryan it would have helped a great deal.

Again, it's pre-seaosn, who knows how much they're showing or holding back, we'll just have to wait and see. WEek 1 will be a huge test for the defense

 

[Stash]

I'm concerned as they really haven't shown the ability to stop either the run or the pass.

But what I'm using to temper my worries is the fact that they've only been learning this defense for three weeks - there are bound to be some struggles.

Also add in that they have played without both starting cornerbacks for both of these games. If either Jenkins or Newman come back improved from last year, the defense should be improved.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

Not Overly concerned at this point. I saw marked improvement in last nights game over week 1 game for sure. Our run d was much better last night. We had a blown coverage, by a LB, that led to an easy TD, that will be fixed. We gave up one long pass to the one of the better passing teams in the league. Other than that it was mostly underneath dump off passes. There is reasons to be optimistic but we have a ways to go.

 

[peplaw06]

it's not about mistakes to me. It is how EASILY teams are moving up and down the field. Like they are playing against air. Looks like another year of "bend but don't break defense"...and the offense needing to put up 27 points. That will get you past the bad teams. Probably put you at around .500 against good teams. With a little luck you can win a playoff game with that philosophy....and that would be progress when you consider last year.

That's some pretty thick air to only give up 239 yards to a last year's number one offense.

 

[skinsscalper]

The overwhelming excuses being bandied about are: "the team has only been in this defense for four weeks" and "our two starting corners are out"

What's troubling about both of those scenarios is that there are other teams learning new defensive schemes that seem to be much farther along in their development (see Denver, San Diego, Houston) and some how, magically, our starting corners (who have less actual time in this defense) are going to pick it all up while sitting on the sidelines and be able to come in on week one and turn the whole thing around.I think the notion is foolish.

I was a fan of the Rob Ryan hiring and still am. I like the confusion that he creates. Unfortunately, I think he's confusing our own players. The most troubling part about that is the reported claims from last year that defensive players asked Wade to dumb the defense down. I have no idea if those claims are true or not. If they are, then we have a collection of players that are, for the most part, neither physical or smart. That's a scary thought.

 

[Mansta54]

If someone isn't worried either they just don't care, they're lying to themselves, or they're too stupid to know better. Rob Ryan isn't a guy that turns water into wine. Until this defense actually proves otherwise, it should be assumed it will be the downfall of the 2011 team.

Really? Wow!! I bet there's a lot of fans who disagree with you and they aren't stupid and they care. IT's PRESEASON and they're learning a new D on the fly without their starting corners.. This is exactly what PRESEASON is for.. To learn!!!

 

[Nightshade]

It's a brand new Defense that's reportedly more complicated than last years. Add to this they've had no OTA's or mini-camps.

Of course I'm worried. I know it's dangerous to say that in this forum but yeah I'm very worried.

I like our players but there's a lot to learn in a very short time. Just hoping for the best.

 

[MRV52]

As it stands now I am worried. Secondary will once again be our downfall. I don't care if it is just presason, good teams bring it even in the preseason. This defense will be better than last year but I don't know by how much.

 

[silverbear]

Just curious if anyone else other than me has some concerns with the Defense. I like Rob Ryan and what he brings to the table but have been concerned all off-season about the front office lack of adding a few free agents to the Defense.

Their lack of activity was necessary, to bring the cap under control both this year and next...

I just don't think Rob has the neccessary talent in a few areas to make his Defense work the way it's intended to work.

Rob has said, on more than one occasion, that he has never had as much talent as he has on this defense...

Give me your thoughts and make me see a brighter side of our Defense.

Okay, I'll try:

The Boys held last year's number one ranked offense to 239 total yards, allowing 4.3 yards per play...

The Boys allowed a whopping 7.4 yards per COMPLETION (not per attempt), even with an early 29 yarder to Vincent Jackson factored in... this tells us their QBs were throwing underneath a lot, which suggests they weren't comfortable with sitting back in the pocket and looking downfield... they only had 2 completions that went for more than 10 yards... this is even more impressive when you remember that the Chargers had the league's second-best passing offense last year...

The Boys stuffed the Chargers' running game pretty thoroughly, allowing 3.5 yards per carry... San Diego only had 3 carries of more than 6 yards... to me, that's some pretty fair run defense...

So, did I make you feel any better??

 

[Doomsday101]

it's not about mistakes to me. It is how EASILY teams are moving up and down the field. Like they are playing against air. Looks like another year of "bend but don't break defense"...and the offense needing to put up 27 points. That will get you past the bad teams. Probably put you at around .500 against good teams. With a little luck you can win a playoff game with that philosophy....and that would be progress when you consider last year.

they are and it is due to guys not being where they should be. It is easy to make a catch when the man who is suppose to be covering you is not there. It is easy for a back to come out on a swing pass and make yards when the man responsible is not where he needs to be.

I fully expected to see many of the breakdowns we are currently having we have 2 CB who are not the starters making mistakes and a defensive scheme guys are trying to learn.

Those who are worried I have no problem with only problem is those calling out others who are not hitting the panic button as of yet.