The defense has been playing well

[xwalker]

End of the day what we "think" will happen matters absolutely zero.
All that matter is what does happen.

While the scheme and talent suggests something like you posit, there are far too many variables to know much of anything.

Yep. We don't even know who's playing yet.

 

[Fletch]

I am seeing a litany of posts with a continued dismissal of the defense. A whole lot of quips, digs and snark.

Thing is you look at our opponents offensive output against the first team the last three weeks and it's been 3 points.

Against SD the starters forced a fumble on the first series and that is all they went. Rivers was throwing on Lindsey, Mitchell, Hitchens, and Dixon scoring TDs.

Against Baltimore, Flacco managed a FG and a 3 and out.

Against Miami we turned them over and forced them to punt.

The team as a whole is creating lots of turnovers and TFL if not sacks.

I have no illusions that a good QB won't carve them up or that they are not limited in multiple areas but this very young defense is improving and to this point has done rather well.

Stop with the facts. It's really getting annoying.

 

[CCBoy]

Stop with the facts. It's really getting annoying.

C'mon, fletch, after Thursday, as some mild excitement, there are less than two weeks until the black n' blue has meaning.

 

[TheDude]

Gonna stop you right there because no other team is getting injury excuses if you discount them for Dallas.

Im not sure what seattle needs an excuse since they won the SB
You claimed "not top 10" OL - By what measure? Rushing? Pass protection? SB wins?

As to the rest just stop. The current front offices are not responsible for much of what plays on the lines for both teams.

Seattle rebuilt EVERYTHING BUT it's DL.
Skill positions both sides of the ball all new. LBs all new.
Only hold over starters are DL.

Are you only focused on drafting? They added Bennett and Avril (DEs) last year at very resonable $.

Seattle does not have good/great OL.
Okung has averaged less than 12 games a year and has made one pro bowl. He is well below Tyron Smith.
Unger is quite good but he's the only plus starter they have.
The other guys are all just journeyman.

What measure? Pete Carroll's first pick in both 2010 and 2011 was on a LT and a OG respectively.

SF just used the last two first round picks on safeties.
The last time they used a 1st or 2nd rounder on an OL was 2010. Under a different GM/Coach.
They've drafted more RBs in the top 4 rounds than any team in football the past 4 years.
Again just to be clear the building along the lines those teams did happened when they suckled and happened under previous regimes.

Great, What is the earliest either team used on a CB? What Elite CB did they sign from FA? Carlos Rogers?

Seattle has hit on an amazing number of Rd3-7 picks since Carroll started. What ever their philosophy, can't argue the results

I dont really get what you are trying to get at by besmearching Seattle and SF or trying to say they value DBs (i.e. CBs) more than anything. They value safeties. Something many of us have lamented since Woodson left or especially since RW played at 240lbs.

 

[NeonDeion21]

Give up yards, not points. As long as we are okay in the RZ, we will be fine.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I didn't think it was very good defensively. I think Miami stopped themselves as much as the cowboys did.

 

[Alexander]

Give up yards, not points. As long as we are okay in the RZ, we will be fine.

That will only get you so far. Eventually a defense has to get stops and make plays against superior opponents.

 

[wileedog]

Give up yards, not points. As long as we are okay in the RZ, we will be fine.

Honest question. If we can't stop anyone between the 20's, why are we suddenly going to turn into Doomsday in the red zone?

I've seen a couple of people espouse this theory, and trying to get a handle on the logic of it. If you can't block or tackle anyone inside at the 50, why will it be easier at the 2?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Honest question. If we can't stop anyone between the 20's, why are we suddenly going to turn into Doomsday in the red zone?

I've seen a couple of people espouse this theory, and trying to get a handle on the logic of it. If you can't block or tackle anyone inside at the 50, why will it be easier at the 2?

Its because you can run a 2 deep zone and not have to worry about being beaten over the top. 8 and 9 man boxes are easier to manage.

 

[Nirvana]

The defense has weaknesses at every position. In the regular season the opposing offense will be calling plays that target these weaknesses. The lack of a pass rush will ruin many games.

 

[wileedog]

Its because you can run a 2 deep zone and not have to worry about being beaten over the top. 8 and 9 man boxes are easier to manage.

Thanks, but also easier to block though. And can still much easier go play action if you have just run down the gut at a defense for 60 or 70 yards. Recognition is not a strong suit for the LBs at the moment.

This is not a stout inside defense by any stretch as currently constructed, even with Melton. I don't get the optimism that we will be much much better in the RZ.

 

[Dodger12]

Your memory is quite faulty.
The Tyron Smith pick was perhaps the most applauded pick in the last decade.
That was 4 drafts ago.

Every season since OL has been a leading candidate for R1 picks and high picks every year.
DeCastro was easily the top choice of the board and media when he came out and other OL have been in that mix every year.
This year was the first year an OL was somewhat poo-poo'd and then only because the OL was about the only place we didnt badly need help.

What people who looked at the whole picture and didn't fixate on the agenda said was fixing the OL won't guarantee more wins and viola 4 years later they are right.
The OL has gotten progressively better as we've tread water at 8-8.

Yes, they picked Smith but then completely got away from the OL the next year. Everyone here knew we needed OL help and were clamoring for DeCastro. Not only did we not take DeCastro in 2012, we didn't draft ANY offensive linemen in 2012 but some folks around here changed their tune pretty quickly and gave the draft their seal of approval even though they talked about OL all off-season. In 2013 we drafted Fred and no other O linemen even though (once again) everyone here clamored for help along the OL.

I don't think there's any question that we didn't pay attention to the OL until we were in desperation mode. It shouldn't take this long to fix area of need that we've had year in and year out.

In 2009 we wanted Max Unger, or so the story goes. When he was off the board we traded down. We knew we needed help on the line and we addressed it by picking exactly one offensive lineman in 12 picks that draft.

We were so depleted on the line that we had to call a guy out of retirement and off his couch to play and he played better than the scrubs we were putting oout there.

Now we have the same issues with the DL. Sorry, but this no way to "address" the lines and build a team.

 

[Dodger12]

Cool story bro except Seattle has a bottom 10 OL.
Seattle actually built through the secondary, you know that area which was the main consternation and agenda target.

How can you even say this with a straight face? The highest they drafted a CB in the Pete Carroll era was the 4th round. Their drafts are loaded with linemen on both sides of the ball but mainly on D (although I didn't count). Out of 48 draft picks since Carroll was hired, they drafted 5 CB's. How is that building through the secondary?

 

[Dodger12]

All i'm asking from this defense is don't finish as one of the worst 10 defenses in football.

Are you talking about this year or one of the 10 worst defenses in the history of the league? This could get ugly real quick........

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Thanks, but also easier to block though. And can still much easier go play action if you have just run down the gut at a defense for 60 or 70 yards. Recognition is not a strong suit for the LBs at the moment.

This is not a stout inside defense by any stretch as currently constructed, even with Melton. I don't get the optimism that we will be much much better in the RZ.

It's not easier to run block when there are more people in the box. The entire point of play action is to get behind the LB but without the need to cover 30 yards downfield the safties are still there to make a play if the LB bite in the red zone.

 

[CCBoy]

4. Seattle Seahawks



The Seahawks laid an excellent foundation for their Super Bowl run through the draft, but a lot of their draft success came in later rounds while they struggled with their top picks. LB Aaron Curry was a big miss in 2009, and LT Russell Okung and LB Bruce Irvin have been inconsistent. The Seahawks’ work outside of the first round has been exceptional though. QB Russell Wilson, CB Richard Sherman, SS Kam Chancellor and LB Bobby Wagner were selected in later rounds. If not for some shaky top picks, Seattle would have easily topped this list.
http://q.usatoday.com/2014/05/07/nf...-49ers-tennessee-titans-new-england-patriots/

 

[CCBoy]

There is also the view of this past off season for Seattle:

http://www.foxsports.com/west/story...uphill-battle-after-offseason-turnover-080714

3. How will the defense respond to losing key players from its 2013 rotation?

After one of the most dominating defensive performances in Super Bowl history in the win over Denver, Seattle's unit is going to find it tough to live up to fan expectations this season -- even if the everyone had returned for another go-round. That didn't happen, though, as the 'Hawks lost key members of its ball-hawking unit.

Cornerbacks Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond III both have moved on. Defensive lineman Chris Clemons, Red Bryant and Clinton McDonald all moved on, too. Those five names all were starters or part-time starters last season.

Seattle likely will ask defensive ends Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel and Cliff Avril all to play more snaps this season, none of whom played more than 57 percent of the snaps in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus.

Greg Scruggs and rookie Cassius Marsh will be looked upon to pick up any remaining slack on the ends, while Jordan Hill and Kevin Williams will see more time at the tackle position.

Schneider has had great success with the draft picks of Wilson, Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, so it'll be interesting to see a few more of Seattle's homegrown guys in action.

 

[JBell]

Great post. All this defense needs to do is consistently force fumbles at the 1 yard line in the regular season and we'll be alright.

Bend but don't break baby.

 

[Alexander]

The defense has weaknesses at every position. In the regular season the opposing offense will be calling plays that target these weaknesses. The lack of a pass rush will ruin many games.

If you read this in James Earl Jones voice, it is pretty much awesome.

 

[morasp]

As far as the pass rush goes Tannehill was consistently getting rid of the ball in two seconds. There was one play he held it three seconds where they did a good job of collapsing the pocket and Carter should have had an interception. By contrast on two of Romo's sacks it was four seconds from first motion to the sack. Unless you beat your man right at the snap which Coleman did once, or don't get blocked at all it's hard to get a sack in two seconds. The secondary needs to be able to cover for that long.