The Defense - Again, the Defense :(

[Fritz]

Other coaches have to resort to trickery. The Packers just line up and beat you (or 2 teams, anyhow...).

We wish. I'm just surprised that MM and Capers can be so apparently easily surprised by what other teams have concocted.

And I'm surprised at what appears to be a somewhat lacksadaisical attitude toward the importance of the early games. It's like the first four games are MM's science lab.

[Carolina_Packer]

We wish. I'm just surprised that MM and Capers can be so apparently easily surprised by what other teams have concocted.

And I'm surprised at what appears to be a somewhat lacksadaisical attitude toward the importance of the early games. It's like the first four games are MM's science lab.

Unless MM is just saying that about being surprised to cover for how lousy the gap discipline was. PB mentioned that players were swarming to the ball, right out of their gap responsibility!

Is this too simplistic to ask, why doesn't the defense take more time to diagnose what the other team is trying to do (containing) instead of seemingly attacking on every play and (often) flying out of position?

This 1. Diagnose 2. Briefly Wait 3. React instead of this 1. Attack 2. Say "Oh Shit!" 3. Turn and Chase

[Guiness]

Unless MM is just saying that about being surprised to cover for how lousy the gap discipline was. PB mentioned that players were swarming to the ball, right out of their gap responsibility!

Is this too simplistic to ask, why doesn't the defense take more time to diagnose what the other team is trying to do (containing) instead of seemingly attacking on every play and (often) flying out of position?

This 1. Diagnose 2. Briefly Wait 3. React instead of this 1. Attack 2. Say "Oh Shit!" 3. Turn and Chase

Which one does 4. Profit! go after?

[Fritz]

Unless MM is just saying that about being surprised to cover for how lousy the gap discipline was. PB mentioned that players were swarming to the ball, right out of their gap responsibility!

Is this too simplistic to ask, why doesn't the defense take more time to diagnose what the other team is trying to do (containing) instead of seemingly attacking on every play and (often) flying out of position?

This 1. Diagnose 2. Briefly Wait 3. React instead of this 1. Attack 2. Say "Oh Shit!" 3. Turn and Chase

I don't want this post to appear to be attacking you - because it's not - but for years one of our complaints with this defense (and I was one of the ones complaining) was that it was too static, too read-and-react. After Kaepernick torched the Pack in the playoffs a couple years ago, the defense seemed to go even more toward this "hold your gap" mentality to try to contain. One of the problems three years ago, I think, was Raji not doing this and penetrating a lot against Minny, allowing Peterson to run wild. We also complained (myself included) that all this work to not have any holes in the pocket for QB's to run through meant nice clean pockets for the passer.

So MM has changed it up - more penetrating, more shooting gaps. And now this shit it happening.

I don't know what the hell to think any more. I couldn't stand that contain stuff the way it was run, because it seemed to mean that opposing QB's had all day to throw. Now Capers is getting pressure with only four, but apparently at the expense of allowing running backs gaps as wide as a porn star's.

I'm frustrated, frustrated, frustrated by this defense. I hope to goodness Capers is gone after this season. In the meantime, are we once again falling back on "it's the fundamentals"? Can't our staff teach them as well as other staffs that are not alllowing 170+ running yards per game?