So what is the simplest thing we can do?

[ItsPantone278]

Start playing more aggressive D, we're not getting it done with a 4-man rush - start blitzing more.

Most of the blitz plays we have run have resulted in big gains/TDs.

[mwright350]

The simplest thing? Tackle well. We have given up an astounding amount of yardage after first contact in all of our games.

Runner-ups include: OLine play, DLine play, and DBs "covering" receivers from 15 yards away....but those all have multiple points of failure or are schematic and cannot be seen as "simple". Tackling is a fundamental skill that each of these players has been learning for most of their lives. Fixing that should be the most bang for our collective buck if you're looking for one thing.

[megadeth078]

Most of the blitz plays we have run have resulted in big gains/TDs.

so?

we're going to be scared of blitzing so we can play our safe, always effective zone? I'd rather get gashed while being aggressive than standing around having our coverage get picked apart.

[Jackofalltrades]

Attitude.

[mwright350]

There is a happy medium between blitzing like it's Madden and playing a zone so soft my wife could find a hole in it for a big gain.

Blitzes are an important tool but constant blitzing / complex pressure schemes are no more effective than our current defensive scheme of "you guys try not to get too close to the receivers - you might catch a cold".

[Montsta]

I think we miss more tackles per game than any other team in the NFL. When you have a defense called and have guys in the right position and then they miss a tackle and a 3rd and long turns into a 1st down after a huge gain it snowballs and kills the defense.

[saX man]

Steal the actual Lombardi Trophy Ocean's 11 style

Nortman is Brad Pitt & Medlock is Clooney

[nobody]

Steal the actual Lombardi Trophy Ocean's 11 style

Nortman is Brad Pitt & Medlock is Clooney

That wasnt simple and would require a gameplan

[Marguide]

A few thoughts...

Stop running so many plays requiring 4-5 players going out on patterns. Run more 2 TE sets with a fullback to give us more pass protection and run support.

Explore what, if any, FA vet CB's are out on the market. If anyone decent wants to come in for a 1 year swan song, sign them, and ease Norman into his role, rather than just throwing him in the deep end.

Call an occasional jail break blitz, sending 7. Yeah, we'll get burnt sometimes, but at least the QB won't be able to sit back all day with no fear of ever getting hit.