Breaking down the defense

[Peppermint9030]

The jump we took on the offensive side of the ball this off season isn't even possible in madden...Then again the set back we took on defense is worthy of job's being lost and players being benched...The defense we had last season hit the right gaps, and didn't over pursue...Its strictly coaching, Dan Connor played great last year, so did Anderson and we didn't have Davis as well. I understand Beason is a huge loss but my God it's hideous. Last season our defense held us in game's where this season is the complete opposite...But both resulting in 1-5 starts!

It starts up front, as good as Charles Johnson is he seems to struggle versus the run and get's sucked up a lot on run plays. Fua and Terrell are below average DT's with McClain pulling away from Fua as the season goes on. I personally would like to see more of Applewhite at end, slide Hardy inside next to him and have Terrell and Johnson on the other side. I saw this a few times versus New Orleans and was very optimistic about it. (for this washed season it's worth a shot) Fields is a block with 0 push or athletic ability and I hate the signing.

Our linebackers plain and simple blow. I played 6 years of football (nothing to brag about) but seriously playing line backer you have to take your first step forward and not peak in the back field, stand your ground and take good angles...I'm seriously wondering how bad these guys are? Or how bad this d line is to not allow the right reads these line backers need to even contain the run. We Miss Beason but even he couldn't fix this mess. It's abysmal when I see an out side run, the DE gets turned inside, and there's a collection of linebackers being walled off for a 30 yard gain. Maybe Anderson's great play was only a product of Fox (yup I said it) and Beason being on the field. We all can hate on Fox, but the guy knows a thing or two about defense...I thought Rivera did, but I'm not seeing it. I didn't for see us shutting everyone down this season, but I wanted to see some form of physicality and push that just is not there.

Last is our secondary...The physicality of a secondary can set a tone I look at safety's as the new age linebackers. Frankly they are not good. Godfrey and Martin are DECENT at best! I understand Rome wasn't built in a day, but they also didn't start to build it, then knock it down and then restart again. (Chris Harris being let go) The secondary defines this defense...Undersized, out matched, poorly coached, and lost.

Ron Rivera is seeming to make rookie mistakes as well...Very much resembling Rod Mareneli in Detroit a few years back. Rod brought in a few pieces of EX Tampa Bay trash and refused to fill these voids for off seasons to come (Naanee, and Applewhite)...Ron get's a pass this season, but if next season these voids look the same it's going to raise an eyebrow. It can go two ways, either they look at this mess and think things will fix them selves on their own, OR they add more personnel this off season and look at this season as a season to make our depth (current starters) for next season more reliable. Frankly our linebackers wouldn't make a lot of teams 53 man rosters. (Jason, Thomas, Lawrence, and Kion)

People can say we need more time to build this defense...We used 3 draft picks on this defense...We over payed 2 line backers that didn't deserve it (Should have been let to walk away) and over payed Johnson I understand we had to do it to keep him, but we still over payed.

[Tarheels23]

It's hard to blame Rivera for the defense when we're missing 3 starters. Getting ran on all game is extremely hard to watch. The sad think about it, is that it can't be fixed over night. Connor is a couple of games away of being my new Nick Hayden. Thomas Williams and Phillips both look better.

Tampa beat the Saints, while scoring one less point against them than we did.

I'm starting to see the outcome of each game play out before it even happens.

[Peppermint9030]

It's hard to blame Rivera for the defense when we're missing 3 starters. Getting ran on all game is extremely hard to watch. The sad think about it, is that it can't be fixed over night. Connor is a couple of games away of being my new Nick Hayden. Thomas Williams and Phillips both look better.

Tampa beat the Saints, while scoring one less point against them than we did.

I'm starting to see the outcome of each game play out before it even happens.

It's sad...Make fun of Nick Hayden but Fox had him playing better then our 2 draft picks... lol

[Snake]

The Scheme we are running does not fit real well with who we are playing. One thing I will say about Fox is he ran a simple easy to learn scheme. Plug and play all day long but with a Philly Defense that requires man and zone coverage plus knowing run gap assignments its looking real ugly. Fua and McClain are over there heads and are wrong on almost every play. When they are supposed to shoot they hold up and get turned when they are supposed to hold up they shoot and let Guards clear out the LBs. Its just a mess on the interior Dline.

[Swarly]

let me break it down for ya'll right meow

it sucks

[JawnyBlaze]

My biggest disagreement is about CJ. He's actually very good against the run, better than most DEs.

Applewhite is playing decently, but I don't like sliding Hardy inside. He becomes far less of a factor inside, and the total sum of the parts is greater with Hardy and CJ outside and whoever in the middle, in my opinion.

[Snake]

My biggest disagreement is about CJ. He's actually very good against the run, better than most DEs.

Applewhite is playing decently, but I don't like sliding Hardy inside. He becomes far less of a factor inside, and the total sum of the parts is greater with Hardy and CJ outside and whoever in the middle, in my opinion.

Applewhite understand Rivera's Scheme and thats why he is such an asset. I know people have said this before about Rivera picking up all the cut SD players but these guys know the scheme and its clear the other players dont.

[Peppermint9030]

I understand how to play football doesn't mean I should be in the NFL

[P2808]

They are some of the most inept tacklers ever.

[jtnc]

I disagree with you, on Anderson and Johnson. Both are suffering from abysmal dt play.

[The Other Colbert]

If you want a thorough breakdown of our defense, just invite michael turner over... he will be happy to assist.

derp

[Catalyst]

It's important to note that it's probably a bad idea to single out individual players on defense right now. The entire unit is struggling and that's never about 1-2 or even 3-4 guys playing poorly, but the entire unit as just that - a unit.

We know Johnson can play. We know Hardy can play. We know Anderson can play. Godfrey & Martin are average safeties, but we can get by with that; most teams do. Right now it's just the entire defensive team that's playing poorly and to single out a guy like Charles Johnson, who has been one of the few bright spots, isn't a good idea, IMO.

[Peppermint9030]

yea but they suck at it

[Peppermint9030]

It's important to note that it's probably a bad idea to single out individual players on defense right now. The entire unit is struggling and that's never about 1-2 or even 3-4 guys playing poorly, but the entire unit as just that - a unit.

We know Johnson can play. We know Hardy can play. We know Anderson can play. Godfrey & Martin are average safeties, but we can get by with that; most teams do. Right now it's just the entire defensive team that's playing poorly and to single out a guy like Charles Johnson, who has been one of the few bright spots, isn't a good idea, IMO.

Charles Johnson is a bright spot I never said he wasn't but all players have a weakness and I think at times he gets eaten up on outside runs...But I singled out every unit on defense not just him...They all deserve if anything you shouldn't be singling out CJ as a bright spot how can you have a bright spot when teams are running for 250+ plus on you every week?