The problem with the defense as I see it

[CalPolyTechnique]

Marinelli likes to keep the responsibilities simple on defense. Consequently it makes it easy for an offense to exploit.

The Tampa 2 defense requires everybody flying to the ball, which becomes a massive problem when everyone is heading in the wrong direction. The supposed leader of the secondary is a 3rd year vet, Byron Jones, who has his own issues with taking the wrong angles in run pursuit. Why it isn't the, 'been around the block a few times' Scandrick is beyond me.

Missing Lee is huge as the LB Corp is not only depleted in talent and depth, but in the ability to read the direction that the play is going to head in.

I don't think there is anything Marinelli is going to be able to do to fix this defense this year if the players already are struggling to master even his basic concepts. It needs the offense to step up in the worst way.

Just my 2 cents.

One thing I’ve noticed about Byron Jones is that he prefers tackling in pursuit, dragging players down rather than head-on. That’s not what you want in a safety.

 

[CF74]

Question. Were you a friend of old BobSacamano?

Not exactly but I enjoyed the humor..

 

[xwalker]

Marinelli likes to keep the responsibilities simple on defense. Consequently it makes it easy for an offense to exploit.

The Tampa 2 defense requires everybody flying to the ball, which becomes a massive problem when everyone is heading in the wrong direction. The supposed leader of the secondary is a 3rd year vet, Byron Jones, who has his own issues with taking the wrong angles in run pursuit. Why it isn't the, 'been around the block a few times' Scandrick is beyond me.

Missing Lee is huge as the LB Corp is not only depleted in talent and depth, but in the ability to read the direction that the play is going to head in.

I don't think there is anything Marinelli is going to be able to do to fix this defense this year if the players already are struggling to master even his basic concepts. It needs the offense to step up in the worst way.

Just my 2 cents.

Marinelli designed it to be simple for the DLine. The LBs in his scheme actually need to be more intelligent/instinctive than some other schemes because the way he makes it simple for the DL is to push the thinking onto the LBs.

Much of what appears to be fails by CBs are actually fails by LBs or Safeties not giving them help in zone.

Jaylon, Durant, Wilson, Woods, Heath and Frazier have been more responsible for fails than the CBs or Jones.

 

[CCBoy]

Me, I think that an opponent's ability to put a 300+ offensive lineman body on body for 3-5 seconds, consistently, is the biggest problem of the defense...and scheme brilliance be damned.

 

[Jake]

It starts with the line. Who do we have that scares people, a future member of the Ring of Honor? David Irving? Tyrone Crawford? Lewis Neal?

Toss in a bunch of inexperienced players behind it and it's no wonder it comes apart without Lee leading the way.

 

[TrailBlazer]

They don't have enough talent. Its that simple. If we can run the ball on offense, we can milk clock and keep them off the field and we can mask their issues. But right now our offense is pathetic. Worse than the defense.

 

[FLCowboyFan]

I think I found the problem

 

[Doomsday]

Even though the scheme is fairly simple, I don't think that is the biggest issue. Minnesota doesn't do anything all that exotic but of coarse they have real talent.

Bill Parcells always said, you build from the inside out. That is exactly where this defense is falling flat. Not having a true 1-tech DT, lack of talent at LB when Lee is out and Heath Jones is a ST / backup player, not a starter.

Getting a DT, moving Collins back to his natural position would allow Irving to play RDE where he belongs. It would also help to keep the LBs free to make plays.

Hopefully Smith can take another step in the off season and they can find a SS in free agency to shore up that position.