Dan Connor vs Bears.

[jks85]

ldo it is ideal to get the lb through clean, i am not saying otherwise. good blitzing lbs can still get some penetration even w/o perfect lanes. there is no lb who blitzes well who is not somewhat capable of dealing w/the size mismatch. that doesn't mean he ever throws the lineman to the ground, but it means that he can disengage w/some frequency. i don't think connor has the tools frankly

edit: and wrt me saying

also connor is finding himself stuck to a guard for reasons beyond the d-line being bad imo-- instincts/reaction/athleticism

i am talking more about his inability to get outside this past game than i am ineffective blitzing

[Udogg]

On the Connor play in question the reason the guard got on the LB so quickly is because it was a toss play. The guard basically released the DT's and went immediately to the second level. to cut off the LB pursuit. The guard doesn't make it if the lb recognizes the play faster. In that particular instance he didn't.

[Urrymonster]

People need to rewatch all games rather than just one. The same thing happens to Beason that has happened to Connor. The difference is Beason reacts quicker and can get outside easier. The downside of that his aggression is often taken advantage of through cutbacks.

Connor played solidly last year however all our linebackers are struggling against the run this year. I would guess it's part down to two rookies (and no rotation) at DT and part an overly aggressive defence.

Personally I wouldn't single Connor out as underperforming, Beason was getting taken out of plays before he was injured, same with TD and Anderson is a shadow of what he achieved last year.

Due to our scheme, more OL players are going to get their hands on the LBs, thats just fact. Problem is our entire LB corp are all sideline to sideline types and not suited to shedding blocks.

[CatMan72]

On the Connor play in question the reason the guard got on the LB so quickly is because it was a toss play. The guard basically released the DT's and went immediately to the second level. to cut off the LB pursuit. The guard doesn't make it if the lb recognizes the play faster. In that particular instance he didn't.

On that particular play, an offensive lineman reported as eligible and lined up as a TE and this was the offensive lineman who threw the cut block on Connor and helped spring Forte.

Connor could have done a much better job of pressing the hole, but at the end of the day that's still an offensive lineman 1 on 1 with a MLB.

In the meantime, Hardy and Fua were completely sealed off and washed out of the play. Hardy needs to do a much better job setting the edge.

James Anderson was also completely dominated and taken out of the play by the TE.

[CatMan72]

Sitting here watching the replay and another big Forte TD run was enabled by a TE blocking Hardy right into Connor.

I know Hardy is everybody's darling, and I love the kid's pass rushing potential, but no self-respecting defensive end should get blocked into his own MLB by a TE.

Hardy has a lot of work to do against the run.