[jcmanson]

Should we start from scratch on defense for next year, and completely get rid of this? It seems like it's been our achilles heel the last 2 years, and if it hasn't been fixed yet I don't see it ever getting fixed.

[Fumblerooskies]

Is the issue not getting enough pressure on the QB? Is that a drawback of the 3-4? I don't know...just asking.

[SuperJon]

If someone comes up with a defensive scheme to get pressure on the QB from the DL when the QB is taking a 2-3 step drop then I would like your autograph because you should be coaching at the NFL level.

[PAmedic]

Greiser. that's the scheme.

[ToTheLeft]

It's one thing to not get a sack on a 3 step drop... but we are leaving wide open passing lanes on the line, and the 8 guys in coverage are leaving HUGE holes. Something's wrong.

[Fumblerooskies]

If someone comes up with a defensive scheme to get pressure on the QB from the DL when the QB is taking a 2-3 step drop then I would like your autograph because you should be coaching at the NFL level.

Supe...I am not a "football guy," and am simply asking a question to enhance my knowledge.

[ToTheLeft]

Jon,

Something is wrong with the defense. I know you don't want to accept that, and want to prove everyone wrong, but something is not right with a defense that should be running a cover 2 with 4 line backers, and screens and passes across the middle work all the time, without fail. There is no pressure on the QB, and no pressure on receivers.

Cover two should have holes in it. That's one of the flaws. But the holes in our defense are just too big, and too easily exploited. Plus, our lack of pressure on the QB is very concerning. You can run a cover 2 effectively with less than 8 guys dropping back. See Buccaneers, Tampa Bay and Colts, Indianapolis and Bears, Chicago. You just need a linebacker who plays deep, and good corners. We have linebackers with the speed and vision to play deep, and good corners.


See the diagram for the main problem with our defense:


__________ x ________ x
______ WIDE OPEN WIDE OPEN
x_____WIDE OPEN WIDE OPEN_____x
______ x_______x___x______ x
WIDE_______ x_____x_____x______OPEN

[SuperJon]

I'm not saying there are no holes. I'm just saying that the "not enough pressure on the QB" on short passes is something that you can't fix. Coverage or something like that, sure, but the pressure thing everyone whines about is something that isn't a legit complaint.

[Champion]

True. Basicaly, in a 3-4 your ends/tackles (Jacobs/Richard) play a very rigid "responsibility" defense. Their main job tends to be keeping offensive linemen off of the linebackers. They have area respsonbilities and on certain schemes are responsible for containment. Generaly speaking, the DL is rarely used for an all out pass rush. QB pressure in a 3-4 usualy comes in varoius blitz packages which are numerous and complex in the 3-4.

[Chris Lang]

I'm not saying there are no holes. I'm just saying that the "not enough pressure on the QB" on short passes is something that you can't fix. Coverage or something like that, sure, but the pressure thing everyone whines about is something that isn't a legit complaint.

You're right, when it comes to the quick passes -- the bubble screens and quick outs at the line of scrimmage. You can send the house every time, and you're not going to get to the QB because he gets rid of it so quick.

The problem yesterday was when Liberty had those routes covered, and Miley had eight, nine seconds in the pocket to wait for someone to get open 15 yards down the field. It's tough to blame the DBs in that spot, because most pass defenses are designed to cover a guy for six or seven seconds. You give a QB 10 seconds, a receiver WILL get open.

What I noticed yesterday was that Liberty's corners were not tackling well at the line of scrimmage. Too many 1-yard outs were turning into 9-yard gains.

[rogers3]

I'm not saying there are no holes. I'm just saying that the "not enough pressure on the QB" on short passes is something that you can't fix. Coverage or something like that, sure, but the pressure thing everyone whines about is something that isn't a legit complaint.

We seemed to put more pressure on QBs last year, though. The 10 seconds that Chris mentioned is a long time. Reminds me of playing football in the playground and chasing a guy around in circles because we couldn't "rush" the QB!
Maybe Redd was just that good... or that scary.

[LCA&LU Mom Original]

Maybe Redd was just that good... or that scary

both

[Schfourteenteen]

IMO, the 3-4 is just not working. The line must play conservatively, which takes away a great deal in the pass rush.

The actual concerning part is it's not just this game, or this year. Since this setup has been implemented(or my recollection of it starting) any team with a half decent offense has picked us apart again and again. This is just how I see it, but whatever adjustments that have been made in the past 2 years still leave us with a team that needs the ball last to win a tight game.

[JK37]

Having only seen LU twice in-person, and once more on TV, I may be a bit off-base here, but I'll take a shot at this:

The point of a 3-4, in my rudimentary estimation, is that one or two linebackers could conceivably always be adding pressure to the QB, in addition to the three down-linemen. In the three games I have watched, I have not seen LU blitz very often. As good as our three linemen may be, they're just not getting to the QB. And, if LU isn't willing to send an LB or two, opposing QB's have had time to pick apart the secondary.

In short, our DC has to take some more risks in getting to the QB. But, I could be wrong...

[jcmanson]

Obviously something needs to be done. Rocco is a 3-4 guy so I highly doubt he would go away from that. I think this offseason he will take a long look at what we're doing on defense, and what needs to be fixed. Our first year with Rocco at the helm we had a very good defense so we know he can get it done.

[Mixitup]

These teams study film. They know that our defense is very disciplined and will be where they are supposed to be. Teams can count on our players to be in certain spots leaving room for a TE or WR to come across the middle. The defense has become to predictable.