Through 6 games this season our defense has looked absolutely lost in 4 and completely dominant in 2. What was different in those 2 games? John Johnson was wearing the green dot and calling the defense as opposed to Anthony Walker.

I don't know if JJ3 calls a better defense. Honestly I don't really understand what the role of the defensive green dot is. Perhaps when JJ3 isn't calling the defense he isn't as tuned in. I don't know but in the bad defensive games I see as many completely blown coverages per game as I do in a typical season but in the 2 good games I don't remember seeing any.

What do you guys who understand this better than me think?

I always think a LB should be the “QB” of the defense (much like the CF for a baseball team or PG for a basketball team) simply because they’re at the heart of the defense.

Walker is not a good player (in games he’s played we’ve been at our worst), but maybe he’s a better “green dot” guy than Johnson.

For us to have the talent we have on defense and to give up 40 a game is totally inexcusable.

j/c

Malcom Smith (injured, I know) plays so much better than Walker that it's ridiculous. They rolled the dice on Walker. Let's hope at season's end they don't double-down there.

BINGO. Smith is so much better for us than Walker it’s laughable. Walker is simply not good.

Let's say this discussion that it is true beyond or discussion that Smith is better than Walker. How does that play into the breakdowns in the defensive backfield coverages?

My summary recollection is that we routinely have breakdowns when corners are handing receivers off to safeties or are expecting help.

Why is that happening?

The Hopkins TD where Harrison/Ward did this same thing is tantamount to a switch in basketball. Just bad, bad communication

I'm not sufficiently equipped to to break this problem down, much less find a solution.

My understanding is that the playcall specifies peoples initial and secondary responsibilities, but those responsibilities can be altered depending on how the play unfolds. Very much a "if-this-then-that" type of deal. So it all comes down to two different defenders see the same thing and make different 'decisions'. One or more of those defenders would then be wrong. That stuff happens, but it's happening to us A LOT, and at the worst times.

Add: I think the huge cushions are because we are scared of being beat deep (very understandable). Perhaps a band-aid, of sorts, to deal with backfield miscommunication in-game? Did we start the game giving them huge cushions, or did that happen as the game unfolded?

John Johnson seemed to do fine in that role for the Rams last year. My best guess is that the defenses struggles are mostly related to lack of time on the field together.

IF true, why didn't we have those same issues against the Bears and Vikings?
Or did we and I just didn't see it?

My guess is that we were getting so much pretty that what was happening on the back end didn’t matter much.

We also has a couple of games last year where the defense was much better than in most. We had a streak of games where we held the Raiders to 17, the Texans to 7, and the Eagles to 17. Later, we held the Giants to 6. One or 2 games is not a trend.

I’m surprised that Delpit only played 10 plays (or so). Wonder if he’s dinged up or if it was a scheme thing yesterday

Stefanski was asked in today's practice about Johnson being asked to play a different role in this defense than the role he played while on the Rams. Reporter mentioned that Johnson, himself, has stated he still getting used to his new role. Hinted at why not put him back in role he was more comfortable. Stefanski gave a bit of a non-answer.

This have everything to do with Woods and his crappy schemes.

I think we tend to live or die by our defensive front. Dominating performance by the big boys as well as playing against questionable QBs can cover a lot of issues in the secondary.

That's easy - see J. Herbert and K. Murray vs J. Fields and K. Cousins.

Yep, it’s alarming to look at the QBs we’ve failed to beat: Lamar, Mahomes, Herbert, Murray … we aren’t top tier

Delpit has been out of position on numerous plays.

The base defense is supposed to be 4-2-5.

Delpit, Harrison, JJ3, LeCounte along with all our corners we have to communicate better.