Think about that for a second. We came into this season believing our defense would be one of the best and the main reason we would win games. It's been the exact opposite this year. If our defense played at even a mediocre level we would be 5-1. I guess I just don't understand what happened. The Bucs game is the only game our defense ended on the field, and it was because of a penalty. So my question is, what the hell happened to our defense? We have basically the same players from last year yet we are twice as bad. Any answers?
Our defense hasn't closed out a single game this year
- Thread starter Legatron4
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I mean if you think about it. We are unstable at the moment. Seems like the Rams can go any direction from here. Hopefully the defense can keep up with our offense from here on out. Without Chris Long this is probably the reason why. Who knows we should have a better idea to gauge on where we actually stand once he is back in full swing.
fearsomefour
Legend
"Paul" Williams has crapped the bed in my opinion.
Over complicated ineffective blitzing, poor execution, bad tackling. Williams has managed to turn the biggest strength of the team into a weakness. A failure so far.
Over complicated ineffective blitzing, poor execution, bad tackling. Williams has managed to turn the biggest strength of the team into a weakness. A failure so far.
Agree that GW has not done a good job of putting our players in the right scheme thus far. I also think we have been out schemed by opposing OCs for the most part. If we had better LB play, they could do more within his defense. We don't, and GW has been slow to adjust IMO.
I think this is the crux of the problem. The players appear to be thinking about where they're supposed to be as opposed to reacting instinctively. This was especially evident in the opener against the Vikings. I predict that as the season goes by and the players become more familiar with their assignments that the D will improve dramatically.
In 3 games our D has made great stops to give the offense the ball in the final minutes of the game. We stopped SF twice on 4th and short. Our D isn't great by any means, but they have given our offense the opportunity to win the game.
the D really was my biggest fear coming in to this season. It seems what ever the media picks up on and hypes during the pre-season always turns out badly.
Remember last year when they were saying how Bradford should be comfortable with Shotty in his 2nd year as O.C now that he has some talented WR's on the roster. Well that didnt go too well now did it, certainly not what everyone was expecting.
This year everyone was talking about the D-Line and how they had a shot to break the sack record, improve on last years stats and be one of the top 5 defenses in the league, comparable to the Chicago "Monsters of the Midway" blah blah blah yada yada yada Well, how's that going so far? LOL
Granted the D has stepped up and handled some tough situations so far this season, but it certainly isnt performing at the high level that everyone expected.
Remember last year when they were saying how Bradford should be comfortable with Shotty in his 2nd year as O.C now that he has some talented WR's on the roster. Well that didnt go too well now did it, certainly not what everyone was expecting.
This year everyone was talking about the D-Line and how they had a shot to break the sack record, improve on last years stats and be one of the top 5 defenses in the league, comparable to the Chicago "Monsters of the Midway" blah blah blah yada yada yada Well, how's that going so far? LOL
Granted the D has stepped up and handled some tough situations so far this season, but it certainly isnt performing at the high level that everyone expected.
I know. I still say that with last season's defense this team is 4-2. The run D was bad early and Fisher said they'd get it cleaned up...and to his credit they have, but the playcalling from Williams is IMO not good. Guys are out of position. Poor communication. I see our guys executing blitzes in terms of timing and getting stonewalled in the process. I see zero fear in opposing offenses this year. We need to get that back.
The offense has finally risen out of the annual NFL cellar, but now we can't get our D off the field on 3rd down once our offense establishes something. Giving up way too many yards too (379/gm 10th worse in the league).
Jumava1968
Starter
It takes time to learn a new defense so IMO they will be drastically better by years end and downright nasty next year.
mr.stlouis
Legend
Great defenses don't get schemed, especially like we have.
I blame the refs for a couple games. Nothin unusual there, though.
Greg Williams sucks like Walton, but in an opposite way.
fearsomefour
Legend
Fair enough. That is the maddening part. Plenty of talent and moments where it looks great. The run D vs SF was very impressive. Perhaps Prime Time is right and things will get better as we go along. He just has to get Ogletree on the right page. I think that guy is scary talented.
Precisely. This team is brimming with talent, they just lack consistency. Not just from game to game, but from drive to drive. I have nothing but absolute faith in Ogletree, he's still young, and perhaps trying to fully grasp the playbook. I rewatched the seattle game, not only was he out of position but he looked very slow in that game.
I think it's the flexibility that GW puts into the defense, giving the players freedom. That allows the defense to be very, very good when they're all communicating like they should be, however when they don't it means you get blown coverages and missed assignments. In this league missed assignments allow big plays.
Improvement is there in the run game. This is the best run defense I have seen in horns in a long time. But they need to keep improving, because their penchant for not being able to get off the field is the heart of good defense.
I think they're close, personally. Real close. They just need to play a full game.
Improvement is there in the run game. This is the best run defense I have seen in horns in a long time. But they need to keep improving, because their penchant for not being able to get off the field is the heart of good defense.
I think they're close, personally. Real close. They just need to play a full game.
fearsomefour
Legend
I noticed that too. He looked slow almost clumbsy. That said its a speed game so a moment of hesitation and you are lost.
fearsomefour
Legend
A few of us were saying the defense was gonna be special.. It's special alright!
I really think Long's presence is what our D is missing and man, was I wrong about Chris Long's impact on our team. I thought we could still very good without him but he really does complete our D-line, hell maybe even our whole front seven.
I really think Long's presence is what our D is missing and man, was I wrong about Chris Long's impact on our team. I thought we could still very good without him but he really does complete our D-line, hell maybe even our whole front seven.
I think part of it is a new scheme, but the majority of it is Greg Williams incompetence.
As others have noted, they saw the same routine blitz on 3rd down over and over again earlier in the season.....
then comes the the statistic that the rams have the fewest deepest passes against them, while also having the highest blitz percentage...
uhh HELLO???? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the correlation between least deep passes and most blitzing..
As others have noted, they saw the same routine blitz on 3rd down over and over again earlier in the season.....
then comes the the statistic that the rams have the fewest deepest passes against them, while also having the highest blitz percentage...
uhh HELLO???? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the correlation between least deep passes and most blitzing..
LOL
this guy...
not entirely fair to paul williams, though...at least he knew how to consistently generate big hits.
not entirely fair to paul williams, though...at least he knew how to consistently generate big hits.
