Defensive ineptness. Talent or scheme, where does the blame lie?

[suitanim]

I used one example. Deebo being out is another. Chris Carter is basically a placemat compared to Harrison. Not only does he generally hurt us being out, it also allows teams to cheat their TE over to the right and help out with Woodley whenever they need to.

I hate to use this analogy again, but in today's uber-complex defensive schemes, you can't be thinking in checkers terms to play chess. Every little thing has implications 5 moves down the line. ONE PLAYER makes a difference, and we were out 2 key players (Clark was also out and Troy was STILL very effective).

That's why I'm not worried yet. The DL's job is to occupy blockers to filter things back to the LB's, and shortages in the secondary have meant that we've had to cheat those same LB's back into coverage more. When we are 100% healthy, with Clark and Troy on the field, and Harrison back at OLB, and we have problems, then, and ONLY THEN, will I be concerned. Right now there are mitigating circumstances. Trying to assess this defense right now is not possible.

[Edman]

More excuses for Dick. More ignorance of the Denver and Jets game.

NYJ: No Troy, no Harrison. Defense pitches a second-half shutout on an Offense that scored 48 points the week before. 10 points given up total.

Denver: Troy is in the game, the Defense gets shredded. 24 Points given up.

I look at what's happened as evidence, but you seem to want to play the wait and see game. I'm not worried about the Defense anymore. I'm worried about the Defensive Coordinator and his ability to scheme a competent Defense now.

[suitanim]

More excuses for Dick. More ignorance of the Denver and Jets game.

NYJ: No Troy, no Harrison. Defense pitches a second-half shutout on an Offense that scored 48 points the week before. 10 points given up total.

Denver: Troy is in the game, the Defense gets shredded. 24 Points given up.

I look at what's happened as evidence, but you seem to want to play the wait and see game. I'm not worried about the Defense anymore. I'm worried about the Defensive Coordinator and his ability to scheme a competent Defense now.

Look, I'll listen politely to your complaints and bellyaching but DO NOT ACCUSE ME OF IGNORANCE. This (and others) board is littered with people who get angry and fly off the handle after every loss. The OC, the players, the HC, it doesn't matter, there's always blame being bandied about. Why can't we just wait until the motherfucking defense is at full strength for ONE GAME before we all the whining and bitching and crying and bellyaching starts? Jesus Christ, people, grow the fuck up! Every loss means the season is gone, the players all suck, the coaches are old or stupid or the game has passed them by...it gets old year after year after year.

It would be different if this was the first time we've heard this weak-assed complaint before, but it's been going on for at LEAST 5 years. According to some of you brainiacs, LeBeau should have been fired in the early 2000's.

I'm outta the football side. It's the same garbage every year. Every time we lose people start getting retarded...

[Steeldude]

Not only does he generally hurt us being out, it also allows teams to cheat their TE over to the right and help out with Woodley whenever they need to.

Lmao. Isn't Woodley usually taken care of by a lone TE.

[suitanim]

Then, of course, there are some people who are always retarded, win or lose.

[Steeldude]

Then, of course, there are some people who are always retarded, win or lose.

Like the people who thought Kordell was a great QB and should have never been let go. Who was that...hmmm...oh yeah I remember now...lol

[Chidi29]

It's a combo of both. The scheme changes when Polamalu cannot play because nobody else can do what he does.

Then care to explain the Denver game? We had Troy in that game, and the Defense was still ineffective. Oh, he was hurt right? One of the Classic Lebeau excuses for his dinosaur scheme. It's the players, age, the stars aren't aligned properly, it's Tomlin's fault, it's Colbert's fault. No, Dick's scheme is just crap.

The Scheme changed in the second half of the Jets game (Because true to form, it wasn't working), you saw what happened.

The Scheme didn't change in Oakland (When it clearly wasn't working), and you saw what happened.

When a scheme needs one or more players to be 100% healthy to work, it's not a good scheme, period. Lebeau the genius put his ego out there and got his lunch money stolen by a bad offense, plain and simple.

I'd like to see you clarify by what you mean when you say the scheme "changed" in the second half of the Jets game. Because I didn't see anything noticeably different. Please be as specific as you can.

[NCSteeler]

Maybe this all comes back to communication. We all know Potsy was the cog in this defense for a long time. He held all the communication responsibilities, I remember this offseason they said that would fall on Troy and now he's out too. WHo is making the calls on the field now?

[zulater]

Maybe this all comes back to communication. We all know Potsy was the cog in this defense for a long time. He held all the communication responsibilities, I remember this offseason they said that would fall on Troy and now he's out too. WHo is making the calls on the field now?

Foote.

[Steelman]

Foote.

Is it always the ILB then? For some reason I thought Clark made the field calls since Farrior left.

[Devilsdancefloor]

Foote makes the calls on the field even when troy is there.

Foote said the first order is for players to start trusting LeBeau's calls, and his system.

"Sometimes, you can get caught up in just trying to play hard and aggressive, but you're not trusting the defense," he said. "Not the other players, but the defense. And that can't happen. The bottom line is that we have to make a play when we get a chance.''

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nf...has-work-to-do

[Devilsdancefloor]

I'd like to see you clarify by what you mean when you say the scheme "changed" in the second half of the Jets game. Because I didn't see anything noticeably different. Please be as specific as you can.

From memory after tone scored his TD the DB's went press coverage instead of giving the normal 7 yard cushion, but id have to watch the game again to sure

[Craic]

Foote makes the calls on the field even when troy is there.

Foote said the first order is for players to start trusting LeBeau's calls, and his system.

"Sometimes, you can get caught up in just trying to play hard and aggressive, but you're not trusting the defense," he said. "Not the other players, but the defense. And that can't happen. The bottom line is that we have to make a play when we get a chance.''

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/nf...has-work-to-do

I have to admit, I never even thought about that . . . the players might be overextending themselves to make players, creating wholes in the scheme that are being exploited.

In truth, I really hope this is the issue, because if it is, it's an easy fix. STAY HOME AND DO YOUR PART.

[Chidi29]

From memory after tone scored his TD the DB's went press coverage instead of giving the normal 7 yard cushion, but id have to watch the game again to sure

Remember on the TD that Clark came up and bit on the playaction. So that had less to do with the CBs. And I think the "went to press coverage" is quite an oversimplification.