We're in trouble if we don't fix this Pass Rush

[Tenkamenin]

Quite a few of us knew going into the season that we were going to have a rough time without our starting ends and Romac in the middle. It is what it is, and unfortunately, our defense has been sketchy for a long time.

 

[Idgit]

Dude, Nick Hayden isn't on the team anymore.
Problem is there wasn't a DE worth taking at #4 and there wasn't a DE worth taking at #34 (the two we were targeting when just before our pick).

Yep, it's been a multi-year problem. Think the Vikes would take Gregory for Danielle Hunter straight-up at this point?

I know hindsight is 20/20, but Ramsey/Jack/Hunter in place of Elliott/Smith/Gregory probably makes us a legit contender right now. The chances we've taken here recently have hurt the process.

 

[Idgit]

That said, the defense actually played well against a bad team tonight. I'm complaining in general, but mostly I'm just enjoying the win right now.

 

[Zordon]

This is partly why they're in this very situation. Reliance on McClay to spot something the other 31 teams couldn't and a near cult-like confidence in Marinelli to spin straw into gold. The false belief that they can get something out of nothing is what has allowed the team to continuously take these various risks that are yielding nothing.

I agree. This strategy has to change in the offseason. But right now this is the only alternative we have. McCay needs to go back to 2014 and try to get new guys in here every week. An offense like the Eagles or Packers that plays with pace, has a solid oline, pass/rush balance is going to humiliate this defense if we don't change something now. Heck Chip Kelly is going to have fun with us if Gabbert gets 4+ seconds on every play.

 

[Rogerthat12]

The only help for the pass rush comes in the form of Demarcus Lawrence coming back.

We knew this going in. It's what some of us were talking about when we spent the #4 overall on a RB we didn't need and the #34 on a MIKE who won't see the field this year, if ever.

And those of us who felt we needed to add more at DE in free agency, where you can get more immediate help with regard to the pass rush!

 

[jblaze2004]

Wasted a pick on Gregory suspended 14 games smh(high second rounder), Lawrence suspended, McClain suspended, tapper hurt smh man the dline and one of our best run defenders took a hit.

 

[reddyuta]

I agree. This strategy has to change in the offseason. But right now this is the only alternative we have. McCay needs to go back to 2014 and try to get new guys in here every week. An offense like the Eagles or Packers that plays with pace, has a solid oline, pass/rush balance is going to humiliate this defense if we don't change something now. Heck Chip Kelly is going to have fun with us if Gabbert gets 4+ seconds on every play.

If they can convert some 3rd downs then we are big trouble because we have no depth at DE at all,our run game and Dak is just about keeping our head over water right now.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Defense is a couple years away from a fixing.

 

[Rogerthat12]

The only help for the pass rush comes in the form of Demarcus Lawrence coming back.

We knew this going in. It's what some of us were talking about when we spent the #4 overall on a RB we didn't need and the #34 on a MIKE who won't see the field this year, if ever.

Yes, only help is coming from Lawrence, Gregory may never play this year and Tapper is a question mark and has yet to make it past practice with that back!

Better teams will shred this defense if they do not start making some changes (in terms of blitz packages) even with Lawrence on the field!

 

[jrumann59]

We do need help but for pass rush it has to be of the veteran variety. I will use the last two high picks we used on DE how dynamic were they their 1st year. The best DE from last years rookie class had 8 sacks. Drafting a good pass rushing DE this year would have only helped in weeks 12-17 and that is if all the stars lined up. Rookie DEs just do not offer much except occassional flashes. That being said right now I would settle for occassional flashes as opposed to the 3 we get per game from the entire DL group. In the 4-3 moreso than the 3-4 good DE play helps the DT play, good DE require D double teams or an extra blocker. Two good DE mean at least 2 guys are one on one most of the game. In the "vaunted" Tampa 2 it would be the 3T DT and the RDE. Right now while T Crawford has been lacking he has seen a lot of double teams and help no matter where he is at because the DEs can be blocked one on one and in somecase by a TE only which means a lot of the help is pinching to T-Crawford

 

[weaver21]

It's gonna be our downfall eventually this year, but it is what it is. Lawrence coming back should give the pass rush a boost. I can't complain too much about the defense, they've down their job this season and haven't really cost us big time yet. Plus we have five turnovers this season already so that helps. Getting turnovers and staying off the field will be the key, much like it was in 2014.

 

[Jack Burton]

Defense is a couple years away from a fixing.

It seems like it's been a couple of years away for the last 5 or 6 years.

 

[85Cowboy85]

The pash rush is a problem, but I'm not sure there's a whole lot they could have done to fix it this year. The free agent crop and draft class just weren't that good especially at the top. They really needed Gregory to step up and he's basically done for the year.

If a 15+ sack guy becomes available next year then yes absolutely bring him in and pay the man. This year we are just going to have to make do with what we have.

 

[Idgit]

Yes, only help is coming from Lawrence, Gregory may never play this year and Tapper is a question mark and has yet to make it past practice with that back!

Better teams will shred this defense if they do not start making some changes (in terms of blitz packages) even with Lawrence on the field!

I think most teams put us in situations like the Giants put us in. There aren't that many that are going to be able to really get us over a barrel offensively. It'll be interesting to see how our offense fares against that MIN defense when we play them. So far, we've been able to move the ball against everybody, at least.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Well we will get a guy who commands double teams and is probably a top 10 player on our team back fresh soon, so that could help!

*edit* not really double teams, but chips and attention, same diff.

You mean Hardy. He didnt get re-signed. Hes the one that got all the doubles last year.

 

[endersdragon]

Defense is a couple years away from a fixing.

Not really, our secondary is already around top 10 (the way they have been playing with 0 pass rush tells me that). Lee + Smith (assuming he comes back anywhere near 100% is the start of a good LB unit). That leaves the line where we already have some good interior guys and DLaw if he can ever get his act together. That's the start of a good defense that one good draft + free agency period could fix... Now we just need that.

 

[waving monkey]

We will have Dlaw back soon. The niners wont need a passrush. Were gonna be alright.

No way, the sky is falling

 

[theogt]

Yep, it's been a multi-year problem. Think the Vikes would take Gregory for Danielle Hunter straight-up at this point?

I know hindsight is 20/20, but Ramsey/Jack/Hunter in place of Elliott/Smith/Gregory probably makes us a legit contender right now. The chances we've taken here recently have hurt the process.

I feel like they've taken the steps to put something competent in place, but it just hasn't panned out. I suppose you could say we should have expected Gregory to f up, but if Tyrone was playin up to his contract and Lawrence and Gregory were playing, it'd be a different discussion altogether. Resources are finite.

 

[gmoney112]

There just isn't much talent there. Poor talent evaluation overall. Poor choices in Gregory and a highly questionable one in Jaylon. Zeke looks to be a solid back, but was he worth the #4 overall?

Signing guys like Mayowa and Thornton when you could have just signed Williams or Ayers. The Crawford contract is looking to be a bad decision.

After last year, this offseason looks to be pretty ugly for the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Kaiser]

Yes, only help is coming from Lawrence, Gregory may never play this year and Tapper is a question mark and has yet to make it past practice with that back!

DLaw coming back will be a big impact, also Tyrone Crawford looked (in this game anyway) like LDE is his best position.

Also Mayowa didn't show up in the stat sheet but he did get some pressure, he and Irving will play better when they are healthy and only playing in spots as backups. This DL isn't going to be great, but it could be good enough for what we need. Remember that we went 12-4 two years ago starting Selvie, Nick Hayden, Henry Melton and Jeremy Mincey.