What about the defense?

[Alexander]

We forget how fortunate we were last year with turnovers and injuries.

Funny, you never heard that around here.

It was all skill and how Garrett was shepherding this franchise to the promised land.

 

[CCBoy]

This is also their first game back after a long layoff. And we invested nothing in them. Both have 1 year deals. Both can leave us after this year. That offense has a lot of draft picks and long term deals dedicated to it and it hasn't lived up to its potential especially the offensive line.

Both Free and Leary are injury marred as to offensive line interaction. That is a high level of drag there.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Both Free and Leary are injury marred as to offensive line interaction. That is a high level of drag there.

So why are they playing? These guys played hurt last year with no hiccup.

 

[AdamJT13]

In order to have won that game defensively, we would have had to have held the Patriots to 3 points. Even if we got a turnover, there's no guarantee we'd do anything more than dink and dunk and possibly kick a field goal. You will NOT win like that against Tom Brady.

You're absolutely correct. My point was that the defense being "too tired" was no excuse in that game.

The offense being inept AND too conservative was a completely different issue.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

TOP is only significant if you are scoring points, Dallas led the overall TOP 33:12 to 26:48 but the distinction is the Patriots scored points.

TOP alone is meaningless, you have to score points, for example, 8 minute drive to come away with 3 points.

Also, for some teams like NE, TOP simply does not matter because they score quick and with efficiency.

TOP is a factor for ball control teams but they must score points and this in turn helps a bad or mediocre defense.

Yeah. I know.

TOP is huge for this team because we're an okay defense and we have an average offense without Romo and Dez. Particularly without Romo.

We need to consistently get the drives going. They had the overall because the majority of their TOP was based on two drives. You can't win the TOP with 2 drives and think that means anything. That doesn't do a thing for the defense.

2 long drives, combined with 8 or 9 three and outs isn't going to cut it. You have to sustain some other drives as well. Even if you don't score every time you still have to put together drives, consistently, to help your defense.

Our offense under Weeden has not done that, in particular on Sunday.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I repeat again. we had the ball for 33 minutes in the game. the defense has to carry this team given the offensive injury woes. this defense needs offenses help....where is defensive accountability. offense can't carry this team all the time as it has over the past few years.

And I've already addressed this. I won't explain it again.

 

[bigdnlaca]

Defense did a great job. I just hope the offense can at least be average for now on because I don't want the defense to give up this early in the season.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If we get the same kind of Defensive effort against the next 5 teams and are able to generate some offense, we can win all of the next 5. Not saying we will but if we can do that, we have a decent chance IMO. We didn't lose because of the Defense. There are definitely things we can do better but the defense was not the reason we lost IMO.

 

[RunDMC]

again, this is not just about this past game. what about NO? what about Atlanta? this is not performance of a dominant defense. we are not getting turnovers. we can't get off the field on 3rd downs (42% and 25th in the league). 20th in pass defense (and brady had a moderate day). and the defense TOP is about 26 minutes.

this is not a good defense. we will see how hardy can make a difference. right now it looks like the past few years. either the offense has to carry the team or the defense can't be counted on.

I never said they were good against New Orleans or Atlanta, but neither was the offense. They didn't hold their own either. Against New England the defense did about as good a job as anyone could've expected.

 

[RunDMC]

The "defense was tired" excuse is convenient when the offense struggles, but it's rarely true.

Yesterday, the defense was on the field for only 55 plays. The offense kept going three-and-out in the first half, but the defense still held its own. Allowing 13 points to New England in a half -- when the Patriots had seven possessions and excellent field position -- was more than adequate.

In the second half, though, the defense allowed an 80-yard touchdown TD drive on the opening possession. There was no reason for ANY defense to be "too tired" immediately after halftime after being on the field for less than 14 minutes and only 31 plays in the first half.

After the Pats' TD, our offense went on a drive that took 8:31 off the clock -- giving the defense PLENTY of time to rest. But what happened? The defense allowed a 90-yard TD drive the next time it took the field.

NEITHER of those second-half drives should be blamed on our defensive players being "too tired." If they were, they simply aren't in good enough condition to play in the NFL.

The defense was clearly demoralized. Wasn't just about being tired. When as a defensive unit you hold a team like New England to just a field goal for much of the first half and your offense cannot do anything it's demoralizing. They were busting their ***** knocking Brady around and making him very uncomfortable and dominating the line of scrimmage. The offense had one possession where they did something and instead of going for it they kicked a field goal. Then they did the same thing in only one of two possessions they were able to get in scoring position.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I never said they were good against New Orleans or Atlanta, but neither was the offense. They didn't hold their own either. Against New England the defense did about as good a job as anyone could've expected.

offense scored 28 points against Atlanta...scored 20 points against NO. with that said, this is a limited offense due to injuries to very key positions. that

I never said they were good against New Orleans or Atlanta, but neither was the offense. They didn't hold their own either. Against New England the defense did about as good a job as anyone could've expected.

the offense is limited right now missing two key players. we all know about weeden and how many opportunities he as missed. regardless we scoed 28 against Atlanta....and 20 against NO. for an offense missing the type of talent that's missing, that should be enough. defense needed to step up and they didn't. I am not excusing the offense, but not willing to give defense a pass...

 

[RunDMC]

offense scored 28 points against Atlanta...scored 20 points against NO. with that said, this is a limited offense due to injuries to very key positions. that



the offense is limited right now missing two key players. we all know about weeden and how many opportunities he as missed. regardless we scoed 28 against Atlanta....and 20 against NO. for an offense missing the type of talent that's missing, that should be enough. defense needed to step up and they didn't. I am not excusing the offense, but not willing to give defense a pass...

Defense was limited too and still has.

McClain, Hardy suspended. Gregory out with high ankle sprain. Mincey missed a game to a concussion. Things got so bad with injuries on the defensive line we had to use Kyle Wilber and Damien Wilson as rushers. Lee was knocked out for most of the Saints game.

You can't use the injury excuse for the offense and then act like the defense was 100 percent healthy. Against Drew Brees at the Superdome 20 points is usually not good enough. That's great they scored 28 against Atlanta, but you can't just not do anything in the second.

 

[AdamJT13]

The defense was clearly demoralized. Wasn't just about being tired.

So their feelings were hurt because our offense struggled in the first half? Come on, they're professional football players. A lack of mental fortitude is unacceptable.

I'd bet if they forced a turnover or two, they would have cheered up a little.

 

[gmoney112]

The defense is going to look great. With how much Eli has to throw the ball, our improved pass rush, and the 3-2-6 alignment, we should be due for some significant turnovers.

I'm going to call my shot and say Lee has a pick in this game and a DB will come up with another (Claiborne?)

Hardy against Flowers is going to be a complete mismatch. That's going to be fun to watch.

 

[JoeKing]

I don't know if the defense should get a pass for the loses. Greg Hardy was asked to grade the defense and he said "F" because we lost. I take that to mean they win as a team and lose as a team, no pointing fingers at the offense or defense.

 

[Nightman]

The defense was clearly demoralized. Wasn't just about being tired. When as a defensive unit you hold a team like New England to just a field goal for much of the first half and your offense cannot do anything it's demoralizing. They were busting their ***** knocking Brady around and making him very uncomfortable and dominating the line of scrimmage. The offense had one possession where they did something and instead of going for it they kicked a field goal. Then they did the same thing in only one of two possessions they were able to get in scoring position.

I believe that was part of it. But part of it was Hardy and McClain don't have game legs yet. You can't keep giving Brady that many chances. The five first half sacks kept it a 10 point game after the 6 three and outs. They are as bad as turnovers. Demoralizing and momentum killers.

We had to be near perfect to beat NE on Sunday with the state of the team as it was.

The second half the better team won. The two long TD drives were helped by a big push off from Gronk and a great pick by Amnedola on the Edelman play but you have to outscore NE to win and we had no chance with Weeden and the check down offense.

 

[Vintage]

The answer here, is that both Hardy and Rolando McClain were high draft acquisitions, and still young. Only they were acquired via free agency and came with strong price tags for any future play now...

Hardy was not a high draft pick. He was a 6th rounder.

 

[Vintage]

At least the two worst tackling safeties lately. I don't know what is wrong with the pair of them, but they have missed so many tackles in the last three weeks.

I get that neither can cover. Now they can't tackle either.

Can't cover. Can't tackle. Just what I want in my safeties.

 

[kevm3]

offense scored 28 points against Atlanta...scored 20 points against NO. with that said, this is a limited offense due to injuries to very key positions. that



the offense is limited right now missing two key players. we all know about weeden and how many opportunities he as missed. regardless we scoed 28 against Atlanta....and 20 against NO. for an offense missing the type of talent that's missing, that should be enough. defense needed to step up and they didn't. I am not excusing the offense, but not willing to give defense a pass...

If the offense gets excuses for injuries, why doesn't the defense, especially in that NO game?
They were missing Hardy, Gregory, Scandrick, McClain, Mincey, and Terrell McClain. Sean Lee even went out of the game.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

If the offense gets excuses for injuries, why doesn't the defense, especially in that NO game?
They were missing Hardy, Gregory, Scandrick, McClain, Mincey, and Terrell McClain. Sean Lee even went out of the game.

fair enough. but what I wanted to point out is that everyone keeps focusing on offense and the challenges, blaming scheme. So we have to hold the defense accountable the same way.... if its expected for offense to over come injuries and lack of talent with scheme. so does the defense.