Our defense simply has to step up more than they did last night. We can’t be asking the offense to score 45 points in December and January against good teams.
The Giants have a few things that worry me: a QB who likes to scramble for yards (even though he’s dinged up), a quick, shift RB in Gallman who has come on strong, and a few WR/TEs who can make plays: Engram, Slayton, and Shepherd.
This is not a gimme game and is probably closer to 50/50 than I’d like to think.
What can our defense do against the Giants to give us a better chance to win?
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
With a team like them, we simply need to replicate what other teams have had success doing. They don't have a ton of great options; we just have to take them away.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Daniel Jones is lacking pocket awareness...There was multiple times he let his Oline down as he held the ball too long, and he has perhaps the highest tendency of any QB to fumble.
Andrew Thomas has been turning the corner at LT, but he didn't look too bad minus 2-3 plays (which happens to be Wills issue too...but hey...theyre rookies) Zietler is still their best Lineman at RG...Hart at RT should have his hands full this weekend.
Alfred Morris is the best north/south back...Gallman is nice, but dances too much and had the same issues last week...But he is quick once he comes to the 2nd level, Dion Lewis has really fallen flat...Fumbled on a KR too.
Tate is past his prime, Sterling Shepherd hasn't been the same this year. Slayton has that deep speed. Engram has come some ways from a blocking standpoint, and can be a mismatch if and when the QB goes his way.
Logan Ryan dropped an interception, but really seemed to elevate this secondary. Peppers hovers all around and seems to thrive in his role. Bradberry has been a good signing...I don't know much of their LBS, but they seem to be a sound unit.
Williams, Lawerence, and Tomlinson all got some beefy bodies that can push that pocket...a fine young trio up front.
There is literally no rational reason we don't control this game from beginning to end for the W. That said, there is still the any given Sunday thing that holds so true in the NFL. Our D matches up well with them.
That's the play that had me so livid last night...when the 2 deep defenders ran into each other, I know one was Sendejo (who somehow has been taking teammates down all year) I still can't make the other player out....Thought it was redwine, but the player looks a little bigger...anyone know?
Our defensive scheme has to be better this game than it was against the Ravens. It just has to. Both that, and the players have to do what their damn jobs are. Stop playing hero ball and stay in your assignment.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Do any of us realistically expect to win many games giving up 45 points or so? This defense, everybody not named MG, needs to pound their job harder. We can do better with little stuff, one of which is getting off blocks. Our D line needs to bring the chaos. On paper, we own this game coast to coast. The reality willed to be seen.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
Our defensive scheme has to be better this game than it was against the Ravens. It just has to. Both that, and the players have to do what their damn jobs are. Stop playing hero ball and stay in your assignment.
Scheme can only cover up so much poor execution. I highly doubt the scheme called for 4 defenders running into each other. Players need an injection of 'not-stupid' before they take the field again. I don't think it would be the worst thing to subtly remind them that there will be significant roster additions over the offseason, and not much time left to prove they deserve to remain.
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Our defensive scheme has to be better this game than it was against the Ravens. It just has to. Both that, and the players have to do what their damn jobs are. Stop playing hero ball and stay in your assignment.
Scheme can only cover up so much poor execution. I highly doubt the scheme called for 4 defenders running into each other. Players need an injection of 'not-stupid' before they take the field again. I don't think it would be the worst thing to subtly remind them that there will be significant roster additions over the offseason, and not much time left to prove they deserve to remain.
I would venture to say they've seen that tape a few dozen times already back at Berea.
I wasn’t a fan of blitzing Lamar (we had a timeout to really discuss how to approach it). It was 4th and 6 IIRC ... so we shouldn’t have been concerned about a run play, only if Lamar would scramble. I would have wanted the DL to keep him inside and have our LBs/DBs force him to throw it outside the hash
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
There are many a problem with the D. Posters seem to be in a either or mind set .. Talent vers scheme .. I believe it's a combo .. This FO didn't no us any favors with their evaluations . Just look at the personal they brought in for the defensive backfield THIS season. I could list the backfield roster , but it's not pretty.. Could talk about the lack of physicality ( again ) , but I digress ..
We have all beat the LB position to death. that's on the FO and the Coaching stff..
You can usually spot a pick route from the snap of the ball .. HELLO.. Some how , some way the Woods scheme leaves the middle of the field open on almost every play .. You have to see that when watching game film .. I know the opposing OC's see it and scheme foe it..
I love what Ski has done with the O ; Just hope he can transform the D in the off Season..
I wasn’t a fan of blitzing Lamar (we had a timeout to really discuss how to approach it). It was 4th and 6 IIRC ... so we shouldn’t have been concerned about a run play, only if Lamar would scramble. I would have wanted the DL to keep him inside and have our LBs/DBs force him to throw it outside the hash
This! I have no idea why you would ever blitz Lamar Jackson.
The goal against Lamar shouldn't be too sack him. The goal should be to keep him in the pocket and make him make tight-window throws against man-to-man coverage. If you play man-to-man, you CANNOT let him get out of the pocket, as you now have everyone out of position and with their backs turned to the QB!
I'm no NFL defensive coordinator, but the formula seems pretty easy to me, especially when you know they have to throw:
Man coverage across the board. Rush 4; tell your DL to maintain leverage so they can going inside or outside when they see Lamar start to run (basically, bull-rush and collapse the pocket). Maybe let MG do his thing and rush around the end, but only from the right side. Safety spy in a zone in the middle of the field (like a LB), and a single-high FS that you can play around with.
Heck, sometimes, I would just rush 3 maybe, and put 2 "spys" in the middle of the field to take it away.
Once again, the goal is to make Lamar throw the ball from the pocket to the outside against man-to-man coverage.
Our defensive scheme has to be better this game than it was against the Ravens. It just has to. Both that, and the players have to do what their damn jobs are. Stop playing hero ball and stay in your assignment.
Scheme can only cover up so much poor execution. I highly doubt the scheme called for 4 defenders running into each other. Players need an injection of 'not-stupid' before they take the field again. I don't think it would be the worst thing to subtly remind them that there will be significant roster additions over the offseason, and not much time left to prove they deserve to remain.
Yeah, I was still ticked off coming off the game when I wrote that. The number one priority is obviously the players doing their job. However, it didn't seem like we had a spy or the right coverage in place for Jackson, but I could be wrong. I was hoping for a more disciplined, pocket-collapsing style defense that we saw against HOU, but our ends and some of our DL went for more of the penetrating, "get-behind" the QB style where Jackson can really burn you. It kept happening that way, whether that was on Woods or on the players.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Yeah, it's almost a fool proof formula. You just have to have the personnel and the discipline to pull it off:
1. Receive the ball and be the first to score. 2. Don't blitz, just contain. 3. Guard the middle and bracket Andrews.
Edit ~ this is one of those scenarios where I understand people could say you could come up with a formula for any team, but I believe Baltimore is the most clear cut, notorious example of "do this and you'll win."
Last edited by dawglover05; 12/16/2002:29 PM.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Only responding to the one part of your post because we briefly touched on it before the game...
Who on this roster would you have spy Lamar?
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
Haha, that's an excellent question and speaks to the talent issue.
IMHO, I think you'd have to try it with one of our safeties. I also think that Johnson has been farely successful in the times where he has rushed the passer, so he would have been an option. I do understand that the issue there is that we are already thin at that level.
Blue ostriches on crack float on milkshakes between the sidewalk titans of gurglefitz. --YTown
Our defensive scheme has to be better this game than it was against the Ravens. It just has to. Both that, and the players have to do what their damn jobs are. Stop playing hero ball and stay in your assignment.
Scheme can only cover up so much poor execution. I highly doubt the scheme called for 4 defenders running into each other. Players need an injection of 'not-stupid' before they take the field again. I don't think it would be the worst thing to subtly remind them that there will be significant roster additions over the offseason, and not much time left to prove they deserve to remain.
Yeah, I was still ticked off coming off the game when I wrote that. The number one priority is obviously the players doing their job. However, it didn't seem like we had a spy or the right coverage in place for Jackson, but I could be wrong. I was hoping for a more disciplined, pocket-collapsing style defense that we saw against HOU, but our ends and some of our DL went for more of the penetrating, "get-behind" the QB style where Jackson can really burn you. It kept happening that way, whether that was on Woods or on the players.
Exactly...the defensive line did not play disciplined; getting too far up the field and leaving too many running lanes for Lamar. As someone else said, trying to play "hero" and get a sack instead of just doing their job and containing.
the play that upset me was a missed field goal and pat
The PAT we made up for with the 2pt conversion, but I agree about the missed XP. Parkey has been suprisingly solid all season, so I won't get on him too much
It is easy to overlook field goal kickers until they cost you a game.
The difference in this game was the kickers. Justin Tucker is the best in the game. Parkey is not.
Many, many, games are won and lost by kickers.
Tucker is close to automatic from 55 yards. Everybody else is measured at 40 yards. 40 yards and below unless the weather is extreme should be automatic.
When your defense gives up over 40 points, it rings rather hollow to blame the loss on your kicker missing a FG.
Agreed. With DC as well. Blaming anything other than the D for this loss makes no sense to me.
While I blame neither the kicker or Baker for the loss ... if we're going to blame the kicker for those 4 points why not blame Baker for 7? That pick was a horrible throw, and while not technically a pick-6 for all intents and purposes it was.
How does a league celebrating its 100th season only recognize the 53 most recent championships?
Can't seem to stay on the field. I will be happy to take whatever Ward gives for as long as he can. We need everybody to do their assigned job. Take away at least a few folks. Pressure could ice it for us.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
