Quote:
Originally Posted by Nconroe
I'm really hoping the poor defensive start is because we have new Defensive coaches and players, first time DC, and they are all young, perhaps still adjusting. Overall defense is 32nd in many categories, although 17th against pass. Against the run it has been improving every game. Its been a few big runs , if those stop, defense would rank much better. If tackle for loss is a good measure of pressure and perhaps potential of the defense to be good, we rank second only to Baltimore, along with a few others. Through three games Ravens have 15 TFL. At 13 TFL sits Texans, Titans, Jets, and Chicago. Minnesota has 11, Eagles 10, Oakland and San Fran have 9. Then Pittsburg, New England, Cowboys, and Giants have 8. Colts have 4 and Jaguars only 3. Well, trying to find something positive with all this doubt flying around.
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While I understand the desire to look for something optimistic, I just can't subscribe to the excuse anymore that the coaches, players, etc. are new to the system, "learning curve," etc. First off, we didn't make some dramatic transition in the defense, such as converting from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Second, teams replace coordinators and install new defenses all the time. Again, this usually involves substantially more change that what we underwent from promoting within. You think the Jets underwent fewer changes going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 (along with Denver and Green Bay). How about the Saints having to learn Gregg Williams new D? Where is their month of crappy D while they adjust? The bottom line is that changing coordinators is par for the course for several teams every year and virtually everyone else is able to do it without giving up historically bad numbers for the first month of the season while trying to learn the system. Seriously, can anyone point to another defense in the last few years which put up horrendous numbers for the first month under a new coordinator while trying to learn the system and then turned it around after doing so? I'm honestly curious.