The defense will be fine

[Galian Beast]

Rewatching the game, the defense looked very good. There was some communication errors, and some issues with the linebackers and safeties, but this is a new offense. I think most of these things can be cleaned up.

The linebackers can't bite on the playaction like they did against the Giants. It left the secondary in no mans land. And Kiffin has to get that play call out there, especially with teams moving towards no huddle offenses. If I'm Kiffin, I'd make it my goal this year to humiliate Chip Kelly, and get some revenge. I hope that is on his mind. Week 7 should be circled on his calendar. Stopping Vick and RG3 are going to be what gets us into the playoffs or not.

We don't really have a true test for the secondary again until we play Denver in week 5. This should give us plenty of time to get up to speed on this defense and assignments.

I would say the test would be San Diego, but they aren't the offense they used to be.

Beating New Orleans and Green Bay is really going to require us to improve the pass rush and make this secondary more sound. I'm not sure how well the Tampa 2 is going to work against Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees unless we can really get after them.

 

[morasp]

Rewatching the game, the defense looked very good. There was some communication errors, and some issues with the linebackers and safeties, but this is a new offense. I think most of these things can be cleaned up.

The linebackers can't bite on the playaction like they did against the Giants. It left the secondary in no mans land. And Kiffin has to get that play call out there, especially with teams moving towards no huddle offenses. If I'm Kiffin, I'd make it my goal this year to humiliate Chip Kelly, and get some revenge. I hope that is on his mind. Week 7 should be circled on his calendar. Stopping Vick and RG3 are going to be what gets us into the playoffs or not.

We don't really have a true test for the secondary again until we play Denver in week 5. This should give us plenty of time to get up to speed on this defense and assignments.

I would say the test would be San Diego, but they aren't the offense they used to be.

Beating New Orleans and Green Bay is really going to require us to improve the pass rush and make this secondary more sound. I'm not sure how well the Tampa 2 is going to work against Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees unless we can really get after them.

Some really basic stuff needs to be addressed. Either the coach on the sideline or Lee needs to be authorized to called time out if they don't even have a defensive call. That situation should have been discussed before hand. Burning a timeout is preferable to a touchdown.

Linebacker drops on play action were an issue in pre season too but maybe they just need more time to get used to it. At some point though you either have to look at the scheme or the players. Listening to talkin cowboys they blamed the safeties and linebackers for all the passing yards. They thought it was because we were worried about the running back breaking big plays.

 

[theebs]

I disagree on not having a test.

The rams offense will be just like the giants only faster. Big arm qb.

The chiefs will run the ball better this week and they will move smith around and get him some easy looks. Plus he is a threat to run.

And San Diego again is just like ny only will run the ball better.

And all three teams are going to blitz and bring pressure like crazy on defense.

If we get out of this 3-1 we will be in good shape. The fact that I think we will probably play at least one of these games without Claiborne creates another problem.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Alex Smith looks much better than he did in SF and that RB of theirs is no joke. If we don't want our LBs biting on play action then the front four will have to lock down the opposition's running game,,, I haven't seen that happen in many years.

 

[Risen Star]

The problem is the lack of talent up front. When Jason Hatcher's your best DT and Ware is your only pass rusher, you got problems.

Maybe we can kinda sorta make that a semi-priority in the offseason while stock piling more cornerbacks.

 

[Galian Beast]

I disagree on not having a test.

The rams offense will be just like the giants only faster. Big arm qb.

The chiefs will run the ball better this week and they will move smith around and get him some easy looks. Plus he is a threat to run.

And San Diego again is just like ny only will run the ball better.

And all three teams are going to blitz and bring pressure like crazy on defense.

If we get out of this 3-1 we will be in good shape. The fact that I think we will probably play at least one of these games without Claiborne creates another problem.

You're overestimating all three of those teams while terribly downplaying the giants and eli manning and his offense which is far superior to all of theirs.

 

[theebs]

You're overestimating all three of those teams while terribly downplaying the giants and eli manning and his offense which is far superior to all of theirs.

Manning is better than the all, but I am in no way over estimating them.

We are not going to be able to outscore people every week and our defense is pretty shaky. Inserting scandrick outside and Webb inside will make it even poorer.

 

[CATCH17]

The defense is going to get beat all year. That is how the NFL is set up with all of the rules so just learn to expect it.

What we can't do is have mental mistakes and break downs in the secondary like we did.

 

[Future]

The defense is going to get beat all year. That is how the NFL is set up with all of the rules so just learn to expect it.

What we can't do is have mental mistakes and break downs in the secondary like we did.

Agreed. We essentially handed them 7 on the Cruz blown coverage...take that play away and this game is over at half time.

 

[Doomsday101]

You're overestimating all three of those teams while terribly downplaying the giants and eli manning and his offense which is far superior to all of theirs.

I agree. Dallas had good pressure on Eli and in many instance good coverage and he hung in there and threaded the needle. Dallas needs to do a better job but Eli having a game like that is not that uncommon. He was in a situation playing from behind with nothing to lose he could aford to go for it and take risk on some of his throws.

 

[Rockport]

Eli had all day to make his throws for the vast majority of the game. We've got to get more pressure on the QB because of our weakness in the secondary.

 

[Nova]

It seemed like to me we sat back a little bit when a lot of those bulk stats were accumulated... Has anyone watched the film yet on how we ran our defense after we went up 27-10?

Because up until that point Manning had only passed for just over 200 yards, with a big chunk of it coming on the aforementioned miscommunication.

Then of course once the game was once again in reach, the Cowboys stopped them twice. One three and out, one int return for a TD. (Then of course, Manning increased his passing totals from 370 yards to 450 yards on a garbage drive with less than 2:00 left when it only made sense for us to be in prevent).

I'd be curious to see if the Cowboys just sat back in prevent a little prematurely, resulting in some pretty ugly numbers.

Not saying we're an all world defense-- I think we'll see other problems because of the lack of rotation on the defensive line. But I don't think our defense had a poor showing Sunday night.