What element(s) are missing for us to have a dominating defense?

[GimmeTheBall!]

Only thing missing are defenders that can tackle

Well done, young man!

How many times have we seen in the past several years, RBs blowing past our defenders between the line and the LBs? I see lots of arms flapping but few bring downs.

Could be a case of their RBs just being too fast, but I think the basic tenet of hit-them-hard, hit-them-low needs to be reinstilled.

 

[Idgit]

Good topic. Injuries and poor personnel judgment (Pacman) took our secondary out of what it does well early last year. With everyone healthy, we were a few missed tackles from being a legitimately suffocating squad.

A full season with healthy corners, coverage safety starters and depth, and a third-down ILB who can get deep enough to make throws difficult will put us right where we want to be on defense.

I'm much more concerned with how we'll play well on offense late in the year.

 

[WarDaddy]

A solid zone playing secondary and a space eating D-Lineman or two.

Spears and Igor could play that role but it would preferably be a NT.

If the secondary could play any zone without getting turned around at crucial times in these games, we would see a lot more pics. Wade would dial up a zone at times in the middle of the season and ideally a sack or pic would be the end result of those plays but it would often end up in a completion for a 1st down and me throwing something at the TV.

The D got good when Wade all but stopped calling a zone when one could have worked well. A lot more man was played when everyone was healthy but I'm sure zone coverage would have produced more TOs.


Oh yeah, the defense is also missing the Fear Factor that comes with bringing the pain physically. In 2007, defenses that played us got beat up by our O line and spoke about it on a few occasions. But last year, I think offenses that played against us weren't left with a lasting impression. I think the defense needs to be a little more nasty to be remembered as a dominant D.

 

[Woods]

Good topic. Injuries and poor personnel judgment (Pacman) took our secondary out of what it does well early last year. With everyone healthy, we were a few missed tackles from being a legitimately suffocating squad.

A full season with healthy corners, coverage safety starters and depth, and a third-down ILB who can get deep enough to make throws difficult will put us right where we want to be on defense.

I'm much more concerned with how we'll play well on offense late in the year.

I'm figuring that with a dominant defense and significantly improved STs we will scratch our way into the playoffs one way or another - and if the Defense is good enough, we'll manage to win a playoff game as well.

I just think that you can rely on a tough, tough defense (and STs) in December to get you through, esp taking into account the weather, more hostile road games (since more is usually on the line).

 

[Bleu Star]

We definitely can generate pressure.

And we can play well defensively for series or even a game or two at a time.

I think it comes down to

1. Generating turnovers, and

2. We need to generally tackle better.

Now, we did drop quite a few interceptions last season. But still . . . . generating turnovers is critical.

To address points 1 and 2 above, I would say that we require more dominating play from the LBs (who aren't called Ware or B James) and we need more consistent play from the Safety position.

I also wonder how much Ratliff got worn down as the season progressed as we didn't have anyone capable to rotate with him? The guy must have been exhausted by the end of the season. (I suppose the same could be said of Ware.)

I think we really have to shore up the middle and force teams to run more to the outside to let our speed work as we know it can. That said, a nice pickup at Safety, ILB, and DT would make me extremely happy.

Barbie is garbage. (stating the obvious)

 

[Woods]

A solid zone playing secondary and a space eating D-Lineman or two.

Spears and Igor could play that role but it would preferably be a NT.

If the secondary could play any zone without getting turned around at crucial times in these games, we would see a lot more pics. Wade would dial up a zone at times in the middle of the season and ideally a sack or pic would be the end result of those plays but it would often end up in a completion for a 1st down and me throwing something at the TV.

The D got good when Wade all but stopped calling a zone when one could have worked well. A lot more man was played when everyone was healthy but I'm sure zone coverage would have produced more TOs.


Oh yeah, the defense is also missing the Fear Factor that comes with bringing the pain physically. In 2007, defenses that played us got beat up by our O line and spoke about it on a few occasions. But last year, I think offenses that played against us weren't left with a lasting impression. I think the defense needs to be a little more nasty to be remembered as a dominant D.

Not really sure how you get a reputation for being more nasty (rather than being dirty), but I suppose by just hitting hard and gang tackling.

I'd say in his best days, R Williams was considered nasty. Other players that come to mind include Randy White, Cliff Harris, and C Haley. R White and C Harris definitely had reputations for hitting hard. As did R Williams once upon a time.

 

[Monster Heel]

- An offense that can control the ball.
- Good safety play.
- A WOOLLY MAMMOTH at nose tackle.

Until we get those three things, we won't be great.

 

[Rampage]

- An offense that can control the ball.
- Good safety play.
- A WOOLLY MAMMOTH at nose tackle.

Until we get those three things, we won't be great.

 

[ethiostar]

Outside of addressing particular positions, we need LEADERSHIP.

 

[CATCH17]

Better execution on 3rd downs.

That is all.

The players are in place. We are damn good on 1st and 2nd down. 3rd down we can't stop anyone.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I look at Baltimore and Pitt and try to compare..one thing that we are missing from those two is a true 320-330 pound NT that can just bull rush and clog the middle..

Ron Brace anyone?? I mean Bob? lol

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Wade running the defense completely.


Leave the head coaching to the GM/Assistant Head Coach.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I think what we really need is one more very good defensive lineman. We have one in Ratliff, but Spears is just okay and Olshansky will just be solid, too. I think we need one more guy like Ratliff that can create havoc, whether that's a big, strong NT that can push the center into the backfield, or another disruptive end similar to Rat if he stays at NT.

We also need a good 3rd down rusher IMO. Ellis is about done and I hate his attitude. So we need to find a Shaun Phillips type to join Ware and Spencer on passing downs.

I also tend to think we need a really top, Pro Bowl type ILB next to Bradie. If Jay stays at NT, he needs to be a bigger, physical guy. If we got a big NT, maybe he could be a smaller, athletic guy that runs to the ball all over the field and makes a ton of tackles. This might not be as necessary as the other two, though. Or maybe it would be harder to find this than the 3rd down rusher -- I go back and forth on that.

The safety can be just a good player. Safeties don't make or break defenses IMO.

Ummm Bob Sanders,Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu??? You take those guys off their teams and they arn't even the same defense..I think Bob Sanders displayed that when he was out injured then came back.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I look at Baltimore and Pitt and try to compare..one thing that we are missing from those two is a true 320-330 pound NT that can just bull rush and clog the middle..

Ron Brace anyone?? I mean Bob? lol

they also have 2, double-digit sackers, and a safety allowed to roam around and make plays

I'll pass on Ron Brace in the 2nd and take William Moore instead, thanks, k, bye

 

[SLATEmosphere]

they also have 2, double-digit sackers, and a safety allowed to roam around and make plays

I'll pass on Ron Brace in the 2nd and take William Moore instead, thanks, k, bye

:laugh2: William Moore is god-awful..I would MAYBEEEEE draft him in the 7th round..maybee

Ron Brace 4 life!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

:laugh2: William Moore is god-awful..I would MAYBEEEEE draft him in the 7th round..maybee

Ron Brace 4 life!

he has the same kind of production as your boy Sean Smith in the last 2 years

9 INTs (both) and 11 pass-break ups to Sean Smith's 15

and we're not even talking about the tackles, tackles for loss and fumbles which William Moore gobbles up

 

[Rampage]

:laugh2: William Moore is god-awful..I would MAYBEEEEE draft him in the 7th round..maybee

Ron Brace 4 life!

hell yeah! Ron Brace 4 life! but from what I saw William Moore made plays in college. only thing that concerns me about more is his weight. most players tend to put on more weight in the pros and he's already at 220 I believe.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

he has the same kind of production as your boy Sean Smith in the last 2 years

9 INTs (both) and 11 pass-break ups to Sean Smith's 15

and we're not even talking about the tackles, tackles for loss and fumbles which William Moore gobbles up

LOL too bad they don't keep track of "toasts" and "shutdowns" in college and the Senior Bowl

Toasts
Williams Moore=25
Sean Smith=2 because he tripped.

Shutdowns
Williams Moore= 4?
Sean Smith=Every reciever he faced.

 

[Bleu Star]

- A WOOLLY MAMMOTH at nose tackle.

I definitely co-sign on that. JRat is a beast but we could us a true beast to rotate & keep him fresh all season long.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

LOL too bad they don't keep track of "toasts" and "shutdowns" in college and the Senior Bowl

Toasts
Williams Moore=25
Sean Smith=2 because he tripped.

Shutdowns
Williams Moore= 4?
Sean Smith=Every reciever he faced.

one's a safety, the other's a corner...