So, yeah, about those DT's

[Zod]

I know the popular thing right now is to bash the D-line. Fairly easy and lazy thing to do.

For as much crap as they get, the DT's weren't the biggest issue yesterday in the run defense. Most of the big gains came from pulling guards and off tackle running. Seems our linebackers are at fault on more so that the line. They were slow in recognition and were a step behind more times than not.

But but but... its the D-Line's job to stop the run!!! Not always. It is equally the linebackers jobs to make the tackle. After all, our 4 defensive linemen are up again 6 blockers and one running back. On off tackle plays, D-Line's job to set the LINEBACKERS (you know, the guys that back the line) to make the tackle. They do this by disrupting the play of the offense and slowing its development. Yesterday, the D-Line wasn't stellar, but they played better than our linebackers who failed to shed blocks and recognize the play in a timely manner. Once they were half a step behind, it was too late, big gainer.

Just sayin....

[Spaceballs83]

So moral of the story. We need Beason back and a new LOLB to replace Davis, along with some run stuffers.

[GotSwag?]

Our young DT's wont be pro bowlers but are going to be very solid starters for us for many years to come.

Bottom line - We were 1-15 last season. Falcons were 13-3. Michael Turner always gives us fits and we lost at the dome and suddenly the sky is falling.

Give this team another year of a top 10 pick and FA...not to mention a healthy beason and then we can expect to be back in the postseason!

[Zod]

So moral of the story. We need Beason back and a new LOLB to replace Davis, along with some run stuffers.

And an actual full offseason in the same defense. Our DT's are what, 21 or 22 years old? Give them a full offseason of wheaties and weights and I would bet they come into next season 10 pounds of muscle heavier.

[Squirrel]

Well we are relying on our 3,4,5th LBers.

[DJ Insicion]

I still don't understand everyone on the boards saying "WE NEED A DT IN THIS YEARS DRAFT!?". So we already have 2 young DT's and we'll go out and just add more? I don't mind the way our DT are playing for rookies. With a full year of offseason work outs and training programs they will be fine and when we get Edwards back next year we'll be good. Our LB's are the issue at this point............good call

[SuperMan]

Our young DT's wont be pro bowlers but are going to be very solid starters for us for many years to come.

Bottom line - We were 1-15 last season. Falcons were 13-3. Michael Turner always gives us fits and we lost at the dome and suddenly the sky is falling.

Give this team another year of a top 10 pick and FA...not to mention a healthy beason and then we can expect to be back in the postseason!

2-14 :( freaking band wagoners cant even remember last years record.

[Davidson Deac II]

Most of the criticism has been focused on our DT's and linebackers. Both are struggling right now.

[Cyberjag]

I saw a ton of broken tackles yesterday, maybe some fundamentals would be worth revisiting?

[Zod]

I saw a ton of broken tackles yesterday, maybe some fundamentals would be worth revisiting?

Saw that too. Saw a lot of players going high to tackle turner. Pretty silly thing to do. Grab the mans legs or get out of his way and save the embarrassment.

[Herb]

Well we are relying on our 3,4,5th LBers.

Yup... the fact is that 2 of our current 3 starting linebackers are not fit to be full time starters in this league. It's killing us. Anyone who thought we weren't gonna struggle mightily without Beason was kidding themselves. Guy is our best defensive player by far and one of the best in the league.

[bigdog10]

Fua has awful technique. He is so off balance that the linemen for the falcons just give him a slight push to the back and he's on the ground.

[GoDaddyGo]

Go back and watch Fua. Tell me how times does his big body ever cross the line of scrimmage? The only "disruption" he is causing is by getting pushed back into our LB's.

[carpanfan96]

exactly, if you blame the dline. You have to blame the DE's yesterday, they were horrible on getting sealed on the edge on stretch plays. The OLB's were getting cracked and blocked out of plays, same thing with the safeties.