Art Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 I think the defense will struggle for a while because of having to learn a new system and language and therefore having to think each play through instead of just knowing what to do. But, Williams will generally improve things by simply allowing players to play something on every play. He'll let guys run to the ball at the snap instead of having them sit there and wait for a play to develop. We don't have a defense built for the Lewis system. We have one built for Williams though for the most part. It's not perfect by any stretch, but, it has the speed and aggressiveness he likes. The difference between last year where our linebackers were supposed to cover for a weak defensive line and this year where the same may be necessary is we didn't run a system last year that allowed the linebackers to cover for the line. We ran a system that required the line keep the backers free. Now we're running a system that's said to be attacking. Our backers will come up quickly in fill and often beat blockers to the spot because of it instead of catching blockers. Simple schematic shift should improve things ultimately if not immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince62 Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 art is correct...the speed of decision-making for the offense is going to be accelerated in this scheme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrfriedm Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Originally posted by feeshta I'm certainly not saying that this will be like the old days with Wilbur terrorizing quarterbacks. I just don't think that this team with be as bad as some people predict. Satistically we had a better defense last year than KC, and they certainly did better overall than we did. We are looking at possibly having an offense with similar production. If we could achieve that, and even improve our defense to the level of average, we would be a truly competetive team. That is all I can honestly expect this year. I just think the coaching staff will get the players to play to their ability level. Something that most definately did not happen last year. :hammer: K.C. does not play in the NFC East, with coaches like Reid, and Parcells. In this division you have to be able to stop the run with your front seven. If you have to start pulling a saftey up every down to help stop the run, you will get burned deep, no matter who you have a courner. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Originally posted by Art We don't have a defense built for the Lewis system. We have one built for Williams though for the most part. It's not perfect by any stretch, but, it has the speed and aggressiveness he likes. The difference between last year where our linebackers were supposed to cover for a weak defensive line and this year where the same may be necessary is we didn't run a system last year that allowed the linebackers to cover for the line. We ran a system that required the line keep the backers free. Now we're running a system that's said to be attacking. Our backers will come up quickly in fill and often beat blockers to the spot because of it instead of catching blockers. Simple schematic shift should improve things ultimately if not immediately. Here is the problem with that again.. You’re again trying to compensate for having horrid D line play by using your LB’s as blitzers, which is in effect the same thing that we were doing last year under Edwards. This system will work but it will leave us exposed to passes around the 5-15 yard range down the middle due to the fact that there is a void where the LB’s should be. Plain and simple, if we had a DL that could hold its own without having to send a blitz, this scheme of Williams’ would be a hellova lot better. I hope they realize this and draft DL for the next two years, like they should have been doing instead of drafting Jacobs and Betts… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Originally posted by Oldskool Here is the problem with that again.. You’re again trying to compensate for having horrid D line play by using your LB’s as blitzers, which is in effect the same thing that we were doing last year under Edwards. This system will work but it will leave us exposed to passes around the 5-15 yard range down the middle due to the fact that there is a void where the LB’s should be. Plain and simple, if we had a DL that could hold its own without having to send a blitz, this scheme of Williams’ would be a hellova lot better. I hope they realize this and draft DL for the next two years, like they should have been doing instead of drafting Jacobs and Betts… OS, No, this is not in effect what we were doing last year under Edwards. Time and time and time and time again, our backers stood stock still at the snap. We didn't compensate for a relatively weak line by forcing the tempo of the offense. We didn't take what an offense likes to do away from them through scheme. We let them do what they do and we reacted. Again, this is a fine scheme if you have time to implement it and you are with the right personnel. We didn't. Williams seems to take things from a different viewpoint. He believes when an offense lines up in a formation where they like to bootleg 75 percent of the time, that he'll take the bootleg away. He'll FORCE them to beat you with the thing they don't like. He believes you always play the run or the pass on every play and react to the other when you're wrong, but that you NEVER play neither and react to both. He believes you have to make the offense work on YOUR tempo. You have to make them beat you doing the things they don't like to do. This requires something similar to what the Cowboys did to hide relative weakness on their line. They brought extra bodies up and forced the issue. The went man up with no safety help quite often. That's why we're rolling with four starting level corners. So we can press the coverage and force tempo. Again, I think it'll be a struggle early as we learn the language, but, it won't be anything like what we just saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illone Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 i am not worried about our defense AT ALL. one word: coaching Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feeshta Posted March 24, 2004 Author Share Posted March 24, 2004 K.C. does not play in the NFC East, with coaches like Reid, and Parcells. In this division you have to be able to stop the run with your front seven. If you have to start pulling a saftey up every down to help stop the run, you will get burned deep, no matter who you have a courner. I think it's a bit moot to talk about the NFC East in the old terms any more. You have to be able to stop the run with your front seven in ANY division to be succesful. Things have changed and the league has much more parity than it ever has in the past. None of our NFC East opponents are particularly threatening with the running game right now. Lets see, the Giants have "fumble" Barber. The Eagles Have Buckhalter and Westbrook, both of whom are injury prone and Buckhalter may be stolen by another team before next season. The Cowboys have ? They have a big question mark. Maybe they will get someone good in the draft, but they are not that dangerous right now. I think our defense is already better against the run. (how could it not be LOL!)Griffen and Daniels are both considered run stoppers. Smith will no longer be a missing man on the line every other snap. I think KC has a much tougher task ahead of them with their Division as far as the running game. This line could use a solid pass rusher, but it should be stout against the run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonnyJ Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Originally posted by Oldskool I hope they realize this and draft DL for the next two years, like they should have been doing instead of drafting Jacobs and Betts… What DL should they have taken at those spots that were projected to be formidable pass rushers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ummagumma Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 I don't think EVERYONE things the same way about the defense. I don't think everyone who are worried about the defense think it will be TERRIBLE. The DLine wasn't good last season. The players brought in aren't studs. Therefore the D-Line must still be considered suspect, at the very least. I'm oldschool...if you don't control the line of scrimmage, you can't control the game when it matters. Doesn't mean we'll be terrible, just disappointing and appearing to underachive considering the LB corp and secondary depth, with or without Taylor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrfriedm Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 But the thing is...before this past season, would any of you called Carolina's D-line great? Did any of you think that they had any studs? More than likely not. That just it in this league, you never know what to expect from certain players, when new coaches come to town. :cool: :eaglesuck:cowboysuck:gaintsuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xanathos19 Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Defensive rankings are so over-rated anyway...the Defense will be much better coached, therefore resulting in much fewer blown assignments and botched coverages. Plus, as average as it may be, the D-Line IS an upgrade from last year. The LB's will only get better sans Armstead, and although Champ is gone, if Taylor is drafted, I think the secondary will be fine with Springs, Smoot, and Co. I see the D being very respectable. Much more coherent than last year's bunch, when it seems as if they were just running all over the place. They'll be solid and consistent, and keep us in some games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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