Doomsday Defense (for one game at least)

[endersdragon]

Up to #5 in yard allowed, and we should continue to get better next year on defense assuming we can resign/replace Hardy.

 

[kevm3]

I'm ready to follow the blueprint laid out by the Seahawks and even the Panthers and turn into a defensive team. Ramsey, Bosa or some other top notch defender in the first and then go qb in the second round.

 

[gimmesix]

Yes - and one of those lapses really surprised me.

When a team has 3rd and 15+ we employ a defense called Money 46. It's a 3-6-2 with a virtual picket fence on the yard to make. It's extremely effective.

Last week Carolina had a 3rd & 17 and for some stupid reason we blitzed and they torched us.

Last night Washington had a 3rd & 15 and incredibly Cousins threaded a pass in and they converted.

It's the first time we have ever given up a first down in the Money 46 defense.

It didn't look like we were playing the same picket fence defense that had been so effective, though. We had some coverage underneath on that play last night (I thought) instead of laying back to allow the underneath throw and rallying for the tackle.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Last year, Dallas led the league in takeaways per drive. This year, they're dead last. In other respects, the defense has improved quite a bit, but that one really hurts. A lack of takeaways shows up not only in yards and points allowed, but also in points scored because of the field position. Last year, Dallas was 14th in starting field position. This year, we're 30th.

It's pretty astonishing. The defense has managed to force 2 fumbles all season long, and has recovered one.

 

[Zman5]

The defense did what they were supposed to do. They let a touchdown go at the end of the game, but then again, McFadden shouldn't have ran out of bounds for one, and the offense should have taken as much time off the clock as possible. It's sort of like the game we won against the Giants the first game in. Sure, they could have blamed their defense, but they put the blame on Eli for throwing the ball out of bounds and stopping the clock for us.

I don't know why the onus is on the defense to play 4 quarters of shutout ball and generate all of these turnovers, but the offense can slide by kicking field goals all day. If you want a shut out defense, you're going to have to invest more resources into that side of the ball, which I'm not opposed to.

I'm perfectly fine with Jalen Ramsey or Bosa to really shore up that side of the ball, because Marinelli is getting a lot out of that side of the ball with no names at a lot of the positions.

And the ST didn't do the defense any favors either.