Will we have a better D next year?

[TRUTH87]

probably not. i looked up our defensive rankings for the last 17 years.

2003: we had number 1 defense.

then around 2007-2009 we had like #6-9 ranked defense. the rest of the years is like middle of the pack and late 20s.

historically crap defensive team. only difference is some of our offenses have been legit

 

[Gameover]

Other than the sack and the forced holding penalty that saved the game. And the strip sack. Sheesh.

Did I not say they were lucky and good. Sheesh

Ignore my post since I can't ignore yours

Like Heath didn't get an interception that was a major reason why we were able to get back in the game.

Like Heath didn't blindside Rodgers with a hit that left most observers shocked that Rodgers didn't fumble

They were lucky. We were snake bit

Dak left a TD on the field when he missed open reads on 2nd and 3rd down of the last series

All the blame isn't on the D

 

[Gameover]

Did I not say they were lucky and good. Sheesh

Ignore my post since I can't ignore yours

Like Heath didn't get an interception that was a major reason why we were able to get back in the game.

Like Heath didn't blindside Rodgers with a hit that left most observers shocked that Rodgers didn't fumble

They were lucky. We were snake bit

Dak left a TD on the field when he missed open reads on 2nd and 3rd down of the last series

All the blame isn't on the D

Dak's missed reads were pre snap.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Offense wins games, defense wins championships....................yea, I know its an old saying but it is true.

The number one ranked defense has won 3 of the last 4 SBs................that is not an accident.

 

[stilltheguru88]

While I feel your frustration, lets hope that someone.....anyone.....in this organization learned a lesson from wasting Romo's career without a D. I'm not a fan of spending big in FA, but sometimes you've gotta quit trying to plug holes with bargain basement players and pull the trigger on guys that can get you over the hump, ala Haley. Otherwise, we're going to keep seeing the SOS every year.....

Who is available to do that? JPP? No.

 

[percyhoward]

Point?

Defense was not in the top 3 reasons why they won last night.

The Falcons had 7 scoreless possessions.

Falcons' drive results per game

Regular Season
score: 5.7
no score: 4.6

Super Bowl
score: 3
no score: 7

 

[JoeKing]

Yes our D will be better. That's what experience does.

 

[waving monkey]

Every year we hope to have a better D and according to the many wishful thinkers here we will but we never do. It's the same defense every year regardless of DC and personnel changes. We have issues mounting a consistent pass rush especially in the 4th quarter when games are on the line. We're average to poor in coverage, we don't force many turnovers and we miss a lot of tackles. What else is new! We bend but don't break until our season is on the line. It's the same frustrating story year after year with the defense.

you are saying the 2016 defense wasn't better then the 2015 defense

 

[waving monkey]

While I feel your frustration, lets hope that someone.....anyone.....in this organization learned a lesson from wasting Romo's career without a D. I'm not a fan of spending big in FA, but sometimes you've gotta quit trying to plug holes with bargain basement players and pull the trigger on guys that can get you over the hump, ala Haley. Otherwise, we're going to keep seeing the SOS every year.....

draft "D"

 

[ErikWilliamsHeadSlap]

draft "D"

But that in part is where luck comes in. We have basically hit gold with some offensive picks lately. But on the other side, we seem to strike out more often than not. We have to change that. Hopefully last year's draft is the start. We need good players on all three levels that can impact big games. Problem is that we also need a new right tackle and a new receiver that we could justifiably use high picks on.

Without upgrading the defensive talent that we will have to out coach the other playoff teams. And I do not see that happening with this staff. Both Seattle and Atlanta literally took Lombardis out of their own trophy case and handed them over to the Patriots with poor offensive play calling at crunch time. The Pats as great as they have been over the last 16 years would be 0 for their last 4 otherwise.

Luck is involved in all this.

 

[Bullflop]

I'm quite sure this team will attempt to improve the D this offseason -- whether they succeed or not is a mystery. There's an element of luck in the draft that cannot correctly be dismissed. We'll also likely acquire a couple of mid-level vet FAs that won't offer much impact. It's a tossup.

 

[KJJ]

you are saying the 2016 defense wasn't better then the 2015 defense

Our defense only ranked three spots higher this season than in 2015 and that was because our offense was so much better. Our defense wasn't any better but our offense was so efficient chewing up the clock and keeping our defense off the field that it made it appear the defense was better. Our QB situation was so much better than in 2015 that it helped our defense and we didn't suffer as many turnovers from the QB position. We were better at not allowing points but again that was because our offense was top 5 in scoring which put a lot of pressure on opposing offenses and it helped our defense but like every time we make the playoffs our defense ends up being our undoing. Same thing always happens against a great QB, they shred us. We can't mount a consistent pass rush, we have issues tackling and our secondary gets taken apart. We have the defensive problems year after year.

 

[Chuck 54]

You build through the draft, but history says you won't find your pass rush for the next season via a rookie draft pick, especially not at the bottom of round 1, though those guys may become your pass rush over a few years.

The only way we significantly improve our pass rush next season is

1. We sign a proven pass rusher in FA
2. One of our guys (DLaw, Irving, Tapper, Mayowe) take a big step up this season...which does happen with young guys
3. We find better blitzers (JSmith, draft)

I don't see #1 happening. We have to hope someone on the team takes the next step, and we have to hope Smith is a superior blitzer, and we add to the rotation through the draft.

 

[waving monkey]

Our defense only ranked three spots higher this season than in 2015 and that was because our offense was so much better. Our defense wasn't any better but our offense was so efficient chewing up the clock and keeping our defense off the field that it made it appear the defense was better. Our QB situation was so much better than in 2015 that it helped our defense and we didn't suffer as many turnovers from the QB position. We were better at not allowing points but again that was because our offense was top 5 in scoring which put a lot of pressure on opposing offenses and it helped our defense but like every time we make the playoffs our defense ends up being our undoing. Same thing always happens against a great QB, they shred us. We can't mount a consistent pass rush, we have issues tackling and our secondary gets taken apart. We have the defensive problems year after year.

MCollins was a big upgrade over Hayden.Adding 6 sacks and more pressure. You could see the difference in QB hurries.
We have more talent in the bank then we had in 15. We were a better defense and we have to get better

 

[silver]

Jaylon Smith should be an immediate upgrade over anybody we lined up last year at MLB. Hopefully they change the rules and allow the use of medical cannabis and Gregory can play. Those 2 alone can make this defense a lot better.

 

[KJJ]

MCollins was a big upgrade over Hayden.Adding 6 sacks and more pressure. You could see the difference in QB hurries.
We have more talent in the bank then we had in 15. We were a better defense and we have to get better

We had 5 more sacks this season than in 2015 and that was due to a fresher defense that wasn't spending as much time on the field and offenses having to throw more because we were getting teams behind. We had a few more pressures/hurries because teams had to throw more against us but we ranked 26th in pass defense compared to 5th in 2015 and in the playoffs we had the same problem containing Rodgers that we had in 2014 despite him not having his #1 receiver. As for our defensive talent, once you get past Lee and the potential Irving has I see nothing but JAG's including Jones who can't cover WRs at corner and doesn't have the instincts to be a solid safety.

He's never where he's suppose to be and we don't have any playmakers in our secondary. DLaw who only had one sack all season is looking like another wasted #2 pick. Our defense is loaded with holes and we don't force many turnovers. I'm fed up with that side of the ball, it always let's us down. We have very little talent on defense we've had very few Pro Bowl players on that side of the ball the past decade.

 

[waving monkey]

KJJ I get that it's frustrating.
Jones is in his second year. MCollins isn't a Jag. We are lacking in competitive talent I agree but we are playing better each year.
Zeek & Dak were big helps to the defense your right but that was planned and talked about.Marinelli admitted the rest would help his squad.
If we can add two starters this year from the draft and JSmith materializes we take the next step. Tapper may be an addition they say he'll be healthy.
THe thing most believe and myself is we have arrived at the conversation. We haven't even been there for years but we are now a contender.
I'm excited. The draft was phenomenal it saved our butts.