Whats with the D?

[Guiness]

Raji isn't really playing more snaps this year by any appreciable measure. He played 85% of snaps last year. This year it's what, 90%?

If he's playing 90%, that's just short of insane, and I think that would be hurting his effectiveness. Going from 85% (already one of the highest in the league for a DT, I'm sure) to 90 could well end up being the straw that broke the camel's back.

[pittstang5]

I wonder if it's time to unveil the Vic So'oto show.

Would be nice, but kinda hard when he's usually inactive. I think he suited up once and didn't do anything. I can't believe he'd be any worse than Walden, Zombo or Jones, all of which, imo, haven't produced jack squat.

[King Friday]

I don't really see a big issue with the defense. The reason the game was close at the end was our inability to recover an onside kick. We get that, and the defense is getting praised today because we win by 2 scores.

Our offense doesn't control the clock and our defense is on the field A LOT. We have a lot of guys nicked up...who are out there at less than 100%. The Chargers are a talented offense...capable of scoring 30+ on anyone.

Outside of a couple lousy plays where someone screwed the pooch in coverage, our defense was decent considering our pass rush is almost invisible these days.

[Gunakor]

Barnett was and is a very good player. I seriously doubt D improved because he went down last year. This is all crap because of his off the field nonsense.

What changed after Barnett got hurt last year? AJ Hawk started making the defensive playcalls. Nick Collins started making the pre-snap defensive adjustments. Desmond Bishop showed up in a big way in Barnett's stead. The defense got better for a myriad of reasons that would have never occured had Barnett not gone down with injury. So, yes, the D imporved because he got injured. As good as he is or was, he wasn't the best talent and wasn't the best leader and was replaced by better talent and better leadership. Glad he's doing well in Buffalo, never wished him any ill will, but lets be honest about last season. He got hurt, and the defense got better. That's what happened.

[Gunakor]

I don't really see a big issue with the defense. The reason the game was close at the end was our inability to recover an onside kick. We get that, and the defense is getting praised today because we win by 2 scores.

Our offense doesn't control the clock and our defense is on the field A LOT. We have a lot of guys nicked up...who are out there at less than 100%. The Chargers are a talented offense...capable of scoring 30+ on anyone.

Outside of a couple lousy plays where someone screwed the pooch in coverage, our defense was decent considering our pass rush is almost invisible these days.

It's not the final score that worries us about the defense. It was the frequent miscommunication and blown assignments leading to Vincent Jackson running wide the fuck open in the back of the end zone. It was the time Rivers had in the pocket to scan the field and find Vincent Jackson in the first place. I didn't think it was a big issue earlier in the season but it's becoming more and more apparent now that the mental mistakes WILL cost us a win here or there if they aren't fixed. If it happens here, okay, 15-1 is pretty damn good too. If it happens in January...

[mmmdk]

It's not the final score that worries us about the defense. It was the frequent miscommunication and blown assignments leading to Vincent Jackson running wide the fuck open in the back of the end zone. It was the time Rivers had in the pocket to scan the field and find Vincent Jackson in the first place. I didn't think it was a big issue earlier in the season but it's becoming more and more apparent now that the mental mistakes WILL cost us a win here or there if they aren't fixed. If it happens here, okay, 15-1 is pretty damn good too. If it happens in January...

Spot on!

No matter how great our offense is, no way they can carry the miscues by the defense during a title run.

[pbmax]

The prevailing theory about Capers was that his defenses tended to get worse in his second year I think. That didn't quite carry over to 2010. The new JSO theory is that his defenses get better in the second half of a season.

[Pugger]

I think this miscommunication issue can be corrected. I don't know if it is Peprah or Burnett who is calling the DB plays now and not having Collins there might be the main reason for these screw-ups. What has me concerned is our inability going back to last season of containing TEs in coverage. This was a big bugaboo last year.

[mmmdk]

The prevailing theory about Capers was that his defenses tended to get worse in his second year I think. That didn't quite carry over to 2010. The new JSO theory is that his defenses get better in the second half of a season.

They'd better [get better] in the second half of the season or it'll be games like the Arizona PO game 2 years ago in january and no february; that's not Lombardi Trophy football winning ways! The good thing is that the mistakes by the D can be corrected but only with the right coaching and by the right mindset of the players.

Stats are for Baseball ; trophies are for football Champions.

[Upnorth]

I think what we have seen is an opportunistic defence that knows how to make a stop when they ahve to. More turnovers than anyone else, 10th in points against, this d that pukes yards is not horrible. On another thread it was mentioned that for a record 14 games the packers have never trailed starting the 4th quarter (Chi was tied with us going into the 4th once every other game we had the lead). During that time our d has held onto a one score lead NINE times. That is a defence making stops when it has to. Is our d great? No. Is it good enough to win it all? I belive it is.

[Packers4Glory]

Sometimes it looks like guys are guessing looking for the big play instead of staying w/in their assignment..others it just looks like blown coverage. I think the secondary needs to be more assignment sure and pick their spots. I have no doubt that communication and guys not knowing where they should be are the big things killing the defense.

I do agree w/ Woodson tho, and Clay needs to be moved around and used more creatively.

The other aspect that is missing is actually having a LB that is a good coverage guy. It seems if a team has a decent TE we just get torched all game.

BJ Raji needs to step up his game. To me he's been a bit of a disappointment this yr. I really expected him to take another step this yr and be an elite DL.

[Smidgeon]

i was gonna start this same thread. other than 3 int's, we looked absolutely pathetic on d yesterday

peprah is not on the same page as the cb's

tramon is almost worthless this year. if its because of the injury then he needs to sit and heal. him giving a 15 yard cushion on every play is sickening

i'm almost positive the clay was using HGH prior to this year and got off it because there was suppose to be testing. he's playing no where close to what he was the last two years. even when he's not double teamed he's not getting it done.

the other OLB is worthless

raji needs to move back to NT, he's not effective at all at DE. does he have a single sack or tackle for loss this year?

shields is invisible

woodson is really up and down this year. some huge plays, some horrible plays. lots of penalties. is he only a coverage CB now? where's the weak side cb blitz, why isn't he in the backfield breaking up plays?

christ, we damn near lost a 21 point lead in the 4th quarter. shit needs to be fixed, fast

Except before the last game, he was leading the league in QB pressures. He wasn't getting the sacks, but he was getting the knock-downs, hits, and hurries.

[denverYooper]

I think what we have seen is an opportunistic defence that knows how to make a stop when they ahve to. More turnovers than anyone else, 10th in points against, this d that pukes yards is not horrible. On another thread it was mentioned that for a record 14 games the packers have never trailed starting the 4th quarter (Chi was tied with us going into the 4th once every other game we had the lead). During that time our d has held onto a one score lead NINE times. That is a defence making stops when it has to. Is our d great? No. Is it good enough to win it all? I belive it is.

Nine times...

[Harlan Huckleby]

What changed after Barnett got hurt last year? AJ Hawk started making the defensive playcalls. Nick Collins started making the pre-snap defensive adjustments. Desmond Bishop showed up in a big way in Barnett's stead. The defense got better for a myriad of reasons that would have never occured had Barnett not gone down with injury.

Barnett is a far better player than Hawk. You are grasping at straws,

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't really see a big issue with the defense. The reason the game was close at the end was our inability to recover an onside kick.

you don't get 7 points for recovering an onsides kick.

you are in outer space. S.D. marched up and down the field against that pathetic defense. The packers got two picks for scores, that was the difference.