This Defence is allergic to Interceptions

[RustyBourneHorse]

Right then! On to the second bit. Terribly sorry mods, if you'd like to merge this, feel free. However, this is going to be a different tangent.

Now, the defence put up a valiant effort as well. They went against one of the best quarterbacks ever, and held him to 1 touchdown, and that was off a rubbish special teams effort on a blocked punt. Our ST were just laughable today. They were absolutely brilliant! No denying that! Well done Richard, and well done Marinelli. However, there's one area that we DESPERATELY need to improve on defence, and this had a hand in the loss today as well.

Our defence is ABSOLUTELY and UTTERLY useless at getting interceptions!! It's as if they are allergic to them. Take today's match for example. They had one play where one of the safeties, I think it was Heath (who had a BRILLIANT game), batted the ball in the air and it hung there for a long time. However, nobody on this defence managed to intercept that. For just about any other defence, that's always going to be an INT. Brady doesn't make a lot of mistakes during the course of a match. When he does, you've GOT to be on your toes and ready to take advantage of the mistake. Those change momentum. Those batted balls simply MUST turn into interceptions. Yet, our defence is USELESS at intercepting the ball. I think we have 3 of them this year, if my memory is correct. That's appalling!!

So, what I will say is this. As well, as they played, I think we should draft a CB or safety that can get INTs regularly. We NEED to be able to get those, and we MUST take advantage of those. Those are completely vital for a team!!!

So, well done to our defence overall. But, we MUST prioritize drafting a proper CB or safety that's capable of routinely intercepting the ball. Oh, and brilliant smash by Heath when he leveled the Pats WR. That was brilliant!!

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Simply don’t have the players. The talent is vastly overrated. The only two guys worth keeping long term are Lewis and Woods. They’ll both be pretty cheap and can at least make some plays on the ball. The rest can go including Byron Jones. I’m not paying that guy 17-18 million a year.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Fewest interceptions in the league since Garrett took over as HC.

Need to know anything else?

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Simply don’t have the players. The talent is vastly overrated. The only two guys worth keeping long term are Lewis and Woods. They’ll both be pretty cheap and can at least make some plays on the ball. The rest can go including Byron Jones. I’m not paying that guy 17-18 million a year.

I agree. The lot of them are completely useless at interceptions. Other than Woods and Lewis. I'd also keep Heath because he played very well today. The rest of that are useless. I'd let Byron walk, take the comp pick for him, and draft a better CB.

 

[Hot_Toddy]

Right then! On to the second bit. Terribly sorry mods, if you'd like to merge this, feel free. However, this is going to be a different tangent.

Now, the defence put up a valiant effort as well. They went against one of the best quarterbacks ever, and held him to 1 touchdown, and that was off a rubbish special teams effort on a blocked punt. Our ST were just laughable today. They were absolutely brilliant! No denying that! Well done Richard, and well done Marinelli. However, there's one area that we DESPERATELY need to improve on defence, and this had a hand in the loss today as well.

Our defence is ABSOLUTELY and UTTERLY useless at getting interceptions!! It's as if they are allergic to them. Take today's match for example. They had one play where one of the safeties, I think it was Heath (who had a BRILLIANT game), batted the ball in the air and it hung there for a long time. However, nobody on this defence managed to intercept that. For just about any other defence, that's always going to be an INT. Brady doesn't make a lot of mistakes during the course of a match. When he does, you've GOT to be on your toes and ready to take advantage of the mistake. Those change momentum. Those batted balls simply MUST turn into interceptions. Yet, our defence is USELESS at intercepting the ball. I think we have 3 of them this year, if my memory is correct. That's appalling!!

So, what I will say is this. As well, as they played, I think we should draft a CB or safety that can get INTs regularly. We NEED to be able to get those, and we MUST take advantage of those. Those are completely vital for a team!!!

So, well done to our defence overall. But, we MUST prioritize drafting a proper CB or safety that's capable of routinely intercepting the ball. Oh, and brilliant smash by Heath when he leveled the Pats WR. That was brilliant!!

We have a great secondary. But I do agree, they need rear view mirrors on their helmets to get the interceptions.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

I agree. The lot of them are completely useless at interceptions. Other than Woods and Lewis. I'd also keep Heath because he played very well today. The rest of that are useless. I'd let Byron walk, take the comp pick for him, and draft a better CB.

I’d keep Heath as a 3rd safety/ST Ace. They need an upgrade at Strong Safety, someone who’s excellent in run Support, someone who can make plays around the line of scrimmage. They almost got it with Jamal Adams.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Fewest interceptions in the league since Garrett took over as HC.

Need to know anything else?

Says it all right there, doesn't it? Garrett is the most useless of the lot. Not to worry. He'll clap along the way out when he finally gets the sack.

 

[Hot_Toddy]

I agree. The lot of them are completely useless at interceptions. Other than Woods and Lewis. I'd also keep Heath because he played very well today. The rest of that are useless. I'd let Byron walk, take the comp pick for him, and draft a better CB.

I completely disagree with this. Byron is our best shutdown corner. He reminds me of Kevin Smith in the 90's.

Very rarely hear his name. And there is a reason why. He shuts receivers down receivers single-handily.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

We have a great secondary. But I do agree, they need rear view mirrors on their helmets to get the interceptions.

They really do. They never look for the ball, do they? That play I was talking about wasn't the only one they had a chance at intercepting either. They had a few others they could've had if they looked for the ball. That was just the most egregious error that struck me as this defence being allergic to Interceptions.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I completely disagree with this. Our best shutdown corner? He reminds me of Kevin Smith in the 90's.

Very rarely hear his name. And there is a reason why. He shuts receivers down receivers single-handily.

Ok, that may be an overreaction. But, we should, in that case, get another one for the other side. Brown will be gone, and not all that impressed with Awuzie.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I’d keep Heath as a 3rd safety/ST Ace. They need an upgrade at Strong Safety, someone who’s excellent in run Support, someone who can make plays around the line of scrimmage. They almost got it with Jamal Adams.

Strong safety would be a good upgrade too. Maybe SS and CB can be 2 picks.

 

[Hot_Toddy]

They really do. They never look for the ball, do they? That play I was talking about wasn't the only one they had a chance at intercepting either. They had a few others they could've had if they looked for the ball. That was just the most egregious error that struck me as this defence being allergic to Interceptions.

This, in my opinion, could be the best secondary in the league once they reach their potential.

But, I fully agree with you. They have to look for the ball. Be opportunistic.

Turnovers win a lot of games.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Strong safety would be a good upgrade too. Maybe SS and CB can be 2 picks.

If it were me running the team my 1st 3 picks would be

SS
CB
TE

in no particular order. I know DT is a big need but I don’t trust this team in drafting DL at all with premium picks. I’d rather sign a vet DT and draft the other positions. One thing to keep an eye on is Joe Jackson moving to DT in the offseason. He has the Power and frame for it. Needs to gain 15 pounds.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

This, in my opinion, could be the best secondary in the league once they reach their potential.

But, I fully agree with you. They have to look for the ball. Be opportunistic.

Turnovers win a lot of games.

Yes, and they can't let opportunities slip by. I'm a very forgiving lad. But, when it comes to American Football, letting the ball drop on the play I'm talking about and not intercepting that is almost unforgivable. Especially considering who we were playing. You HAVE to intercept that.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

If it were me running the team my 1st 3 picks would be

SS
CB
TE

in no particular order. I know DT is a big need but I don’t trust this team in drafting DL at all with premium picks. I’d rather sign a vet DT and draft the other positions. One thing to keep an eye on is Joe Jackson moving to DT in the offseason. He has the Power and frame for it. Needs to gain 15 pounds.

I'd go SS, CB, and DT/DE. I know Marinelli is rubbish at drafting dline. But, hopefully we won't have to worry about that next year.

 

[Hot_Toddy]

Ok, that may be an overreaction. But, we should, in that case, get another one for the other side. Brown will be gone, and not all that impressed with Awuzie.

Awuzie is also one of my favs. Plays with heart and smarts. I like Brown too.

But, why is Jourdan Lewis not on the field all the time. He goes after the ball. He has the potential to get those turnovers I am looking for.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

This, in my opinion, could be the best secondary in the league once they reach their potential.

But, I fully agree with you. They have to look for the ball. Be opportunistic.

Turnovers win a lot of games.

And this was a match in which NOT being opportunistic lost the game. That could've been a match winner with how momentum drives sports (both American football and English football).

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Awuzie is also one of my favs. Plays with heart and smarts. I like Brown too.

But, why is Jordan Lewis not on the field all the time. He goes after the ball. He has the potential to get those turnovers I am looking for.

I like Awuzie. Don't get me wrong. He does play with a lot of heart. But, at the same time, he does get caught out of position a bit much imo. But, he is improving. I'll give him that. Lewis should play more too. I like how he attacks the ball. I'm really keen on adding a bit more firepower at CB to try and get more Ints.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Awuzie is also one of my favs. Plays with heart and smarts. I like Brown too.

But, why is Jordan Lewis not on the field all the time. He goes after the ball. He has the potential to get those turnovers I am looking for.

It’s funny how some fans see things different. I can’t stand Awuzie, I think he’s soft, doesn’t tackle well, leaves huge cushions. He’ll get one more year with a new staff. Maybe he can improve.

I just envy watching other teams DB’s like the 49ers being so physical and being excellent tacklers.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Our defense is as plain vanilla as the offense. There lies the problem where we don't throw any variations and disguises to fool teams. Garrett would just have us play the same strategy each and every game. Our predictability is our Achilles heel and that is why we really need to ditch Garrett asap.