Meeks says defense needs to regain its swagger....

[Mr. Scot]

Precisely... and it's going to be the reason our defense stays average at best. I have to say even without the injuries at DT, we would still face the same issues at the interior of the line (especially with the pass rush). But with our lack of depth and talent there, I can't see how our scheme depending on the front four is going to do anything but hurt us.

Edit: I'm hoping that we do, but by logic, I can't say it feels too comforting....

I don't know that we lacked depth going in, but at this point the injury bug has eaten it.

Had we gone into the season with Kemo on run downs and Irvin or Hayden rotating in on pass downs, I'd have been fairly comfortable. Add in that I believe we were going to pick up another DT at some point anyway even before Kemo went down.

Not saying we'd be dominant at this point, mind you (transition would still be in effect) but it's hard not to believe we'd be better off than we are now.

[bleys]

I don't know that we lacked depth going in, but at this point the injury bug has eaten it.

Had we gone into the season with Kemo on run downs and Irvin or Hayden rotating in on pass downs, I'd have been fairly comfortable. Add in that I believe we were going to pick up another DT at some point anyway even before Kemo went down.

Not saying we'd be dominant at this point, mind you (transition would still be in effect) but it's hard not to believe we'd be better off than we are now.

I agree, there's no doubt we'd be better.. I'm just concerned with our philosophy. How much better is where I'm coming from...

At this point, we can only sit back, watch, and hope for the best.. The games still have to be played, these coaches have to make due with what they have while adjusting appropriately to make it work, and players have to trust the game plan and get to work...

If we won only one game this year, I'm hoping it's on Monday Night Football... lol

[xPUREBYBLOODx]

regain??? when did they ever have it?

I know right?

[CRA]

Kemo and Lewis being out is what turned our run defense into a doormat against the Giants late last season.

The plan this season would have been to rotate Kemo out on passing downs, but that plan is out of the picture now. We now have starters who would normally be rotational guiys or special teamers if not for circumstances.

But on Bizarro World, this equates to "full strength"

yes, them being out was a problem in one game in regards to a major change in run defense. Kemo and Lewis proved to be a liability the entire 2nd half of the season b/c they were horrible on pass downs and could not generate pressure........which makes your DEs less of a factor(especially the way Fox prefers to play ball). That was covered just about every week by everyone covering the games last year near the end of the season. It was a glaring weakness. That is why we all assumed a legit DT would be addressed in the draft. I was responding to your comment in regards to pressure against the pass.....I don't see how we could assume that trio would have been effective this year. When two of the guys we know what they are capable of....proved they could not hack it on passing downs. The full strength debate I didn't comment on. We found out we had a weakness at DT last year.....it was ignored and therefore I just think it is kinda weak to blame injuries for the problem this year. We were overall weak there and had no depth. We kept what we had and things are bad.....things looked bad there before the injuries. imo.

[Mr. Scot]

yes, them being out was a problem in one game in regards to a major change in run defense. Kemo and Lewis proved to be a liability the entire 2nd half of the season b/c they were horrible on pass downs and could not generate pressure........which makes your DEs less of a factor(especially the way Fox prefers to play ball). That was covered just about every week by everyone covering the games last year near the end of the season. It was a glaring weakness. That is why we all assumed a legit DT would be addressed in the draft. I was responding to your comment in regards to pressure against the pass.....I don't see how we could assume that trio would have been effective this year. When two of the guys we know what they are capable of....proved they could not hack it on passing downs. The full strength debate I didn't comment on. We found out we had a weakness at DT last year.....it was ignored and therefore I just think it is kinda weak to blame injuries for the problem this year. We were overall weak there and had no depth. We kept what we had and things are bad.....things looked bad there before the injuries. imo.

In fairness, it's just as big an assumption to say they wouldn't have been effective with the rotation thrown in. The mistake last season was using Kemo as a pass rusher (Lewis is fine in that role) and that could have been addressed using Irvin had he made it to the season healthy.

Is the combo of injuries and transition completely to blame? Don't know. I'd be hesitant to go that far.

Do they factor in? Absolutely. It'd be silly to think those things have no effect.

[bigdog10]

I think it would be wise if the players regained the knowledge of how to cover and tackle before we start searching for the swagger

[Sam Mills Fan]

None of us knows how good the defense will be at full strength. Could be pretty good, or they could continue to be weak.

One thing I do know though. It's silly to expect dominance of any defense that's having to adjust both to a new scheme and to having key players in flux (Beason hurt, Harris out, down to a third starting DT who wasn't even in camp, and now Diggs out too).

I wasn't a big fan of the Meeks hire, but it's fair to say that any DC would be having a difficult time in this spot.

You're exactly right. The injuries that are killing us are much more the fault of John Fox and Marty Hurney for not bringing in anybody that can play behind our starters.

[ncguy2184]

I think foxy lost his swagger

[Blitz]

Easy to have swagger when your practicing against our offense.

[Blitz]

This is some funny stuff. He routinely states he's not going to use injuries as an excuse, but includes it in every answer.

I also find it funny he states guys are thinking to much about where they are supposed to be. Seems to me every steps off 11 yards from there guy and thats where they line up. Think there having problems with it coach because it doesnt make sense.

[weyco2000]

Well after tonights performance, it looks like the Colts defense regained their "swagger". Funny that they look so much better without Meeks. What happened to this "fly to the ball" crap? Matt Ryan had the ball about 5 seconds didn't see anyone "flying" to him. We are "flying" to the ball, to bad its 20 yds. downfield. Now he's talking about "swagger", let me tell you this Mr. Meeks, nobody is or will be intimidated by your defensive game plan.

[beastson]

They wasn't great the 1st 2 weeks. Especially against MIA

[pantherj]

Thomas Davis has swagger.

[weyco2000]

They are 3-0 and just dismantled the team that beat the piss out of us. They also tackle and pressure the QB, Oh my god what a concept. Sure looked like they had "swagger" tonight.