Roasted Peprah: NY Daily News

[pbmax]

it's all jenkins you stubborn dummmy

It does look like I am losing that argument. But I would say if either Jenkins or Collins had survived intact (or Neal stayed healthy) then the snowball effect isn't as severe.

McGinn lays it on pretty thick in his article, all but calling for Capers head (he notes almost no one else would survive a year like this) but its a matter of personnel as much as scheme. You scheme to personnel like Woodson and then lose two parts that make that scheme go, all the remaining choices are bad.

I might have to side with rand and Justin, they should just trust Peprah and Burnett and run last year's press coverage. Its not like it would be worse. Would it?

[denverYooper]

It does look like I am losing that argument. But I would say if either Jenkins or Collins had survived intact (or Neal stayed healthy) then the snowball effect isn't as severe.

McGinn lays it on pretty thick in his article, all but calling for Capers head (he notes almost no one else would survive a year like this) but its a matter of personnel as much as scheme. You scheme to personnel like Woodson and then lose two parts that make that scheme go, all the remaining choices are bad.

I might have to side with rand and Justin, they should just trust Peprah and Burnett and run last year's press coverage. Its not like it would be worse. Would it?

Didn't they run press coverage against the Falcons this year after they got in the hole?

[bobblehead]

nonsense....we have the 10th ranked passer rating defense and the best overall passer differential rating. We are a mortal lock.

[denverYooper]

TWill yes, but McGinn identifies Capers base coverage as Cover 4 quarters, which would explain deep corner cushions (they don't fear the WR, they have a responsibility to get deep as well) and twin safeties. One of his sources lays this on Peprah, whom Capers is trying desperately to hide from WR.

Its worth 4.99 this month for the one article alone: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packe...137361578.html

The article seems to indicate that there is a real lack of cohesion (or heart?) in the defense, too, making any personnel and scheme issues much worse.

[pbmax]

Didn't they run press coverage against the Falcons this year after they got in the hole?

Its still in use, just less than last year. I don't remember what game Justin and I were arguing about it, but some games feature more of it than others. Its pick your poison and sometimes Capers ends up with Peprah esposed in coverage and sometimes he backs off and plays the CBs deep, which neither Shields or Williams seem to be doing particularly well.

[pbmax]

nonsense....we have the 10th ranked passer rating defense and the best overall passer differential rating. We are a mortal lock.

All very true and if the game goes according to form, it should be a 10 point win. But its nice to have a backup plan.

[pbmax]

The article seems to indicate that there is a real lack of cohesion (or heart?) in the defense, too, making any personnel and scheme issues much worse.

I think that is Woodson for the most part. He gets to freelance and that can open a lot of holes. The other part, according to the article, would seem to be freelancing by Burnett.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't think there is a weak link or links to be identified. The whole unit is misfiring, which just magnifies shortcomings. Lack of gang tackling shows defense has lost confidence. It will be interesting to see if they can flip a switch for playoffs.

[denverYooper]

I don't think there is a weak link or links to be identified. The whole unit is misfiring, which just magnifies shortcomings. Lack of gang tackling shows defense has lost confidence. It will be interesting to see if they can flip a switch for playoffs.

The Patriots defense looked like it flipped a switch last night.

It could have just been the pretty simple O on Denver's part, though.

[Joemailman]

The Patriots defense looked like it flipped a switch last night.

It could have just been the pretty simple O on Denver's part, though.

Yup.

[denverYooper]

FO indicates that Green Bay's defense plays better when the score gets close. From their NFC Preview:

Green Bay ranked 30th in defensive DVOA in the fourth quarter, but a lot of that is playing prevent defenses with big leads. The Packers' defensive DVOA was 36.5% in the fourth quarter with a lead of more than a touchdown, but 11.5% in the fourth quarter when the score was within a touchdown.

11.5 is not great but there is an indication that they slack off quite a bit with big leads (which they've often had).

[MJZiggy]

Yup.

Maybe God just thought Tebow was stealing the limelight.

[pbmax]

The Patriots defense looked like it flipped a switch last night.

It could have just been the pretty simple O on Denver's part, though.

I was surprised how bad he was at running a more traditional option action. I wonder if that was new or if Belicheck saw on film that he hesitated to take it into the DE/OLB gap and had them shade to the pitch.

[denverYooper]

I was surprised how bad he was at running a more traditional option action. I wonder if that was new or if Belicheck saw on film that he hesitated to take it into the DE/OLB gap and had them shade to the pitch.

Alfred Williams, who does a local radio show now, suggested that in the first game Hoody just instructed his players to disregard any part of the option equation and just go straight for Tebow all the time. Looked like more of the same last night.

[mraynrand]

Williams fell off due to the shoulder. He didn't want anything to do with contact. Who can blame him? Guy was wearing a brace and that shit hurts like hell and limits flexibility. Shields dropped off, and then scheme dropped him off more. He is a cover jam corner and playing off totally exposes his lousy tackling. So you have two corners who can't or won't tackle and can't play their best coverage. Then Collins is gone. Then Burnett breaks his hand. Do you think Burnett and Williams were playing through their injuries for yuks? It's because the drop off to Bush and Lee is catastrophic. Add in the Woodson can no longer cover even a decent TE, and you've got problems in your seondary. A secondary that is filled with people who were great at jamming, but who can no longer play press coverage, no pass rush, and you have shit for pass coverage. Oh, and Peprah is back there. He is below JAG. But fire Capers - that'll fix it.