DC Frank Bush a Disaster so far

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

Kubiak was on channel 13 with Bob Allen today. He said it wasn't Frank Bush's playcalling, it was the players. Well.........I don't think these defensive players are stupid. Bush has had ever since August (and before), to get them to understand his system, which admittedly places more emphasis on the play of the safeties. But we haven't seen any plays out of the safeties, to speak of. So to me it has to be the gameplanning of the DC and his coaches, it just can't be all the fault of the defensive players. remember when they were always having to dumb down the playbook for the players? Well, it's still same chapter, different verse.

Just rewatched the channel 13 post game report from Sunday night at 10:30, and they showed the gap responsibility, and how on the 61? yd run Busing went to wrong hole. How is that Bush?

In most defenses everybody has to cover a gap. If they do not cover the gap then cutback lanes develop, and boy has our back 5, the LBs and Safeties not played their gaps well. The front 4 appear to playing the run the way the system appears to be designed. The front four run with the flow of the OL. WHY you ask? Because a moving target is harder to block.

If we add a two stud safeties and stronger WILL, this defense should be improved.

Lastly how is Bush responsible for all the missed tackles, this teams DBs are some of the worse tacklers I have witnessed.

[Fonz the Boss]

we need Richard

[popanot]

Ok, here's the deal... If it's not the coaching then it's the players, right? Who drafts the players, chooses/signs free agents, chooses who's on the roster and which players play? What kills me is I have not heard any of the pundits who say its the players calling out Kubiak or Smith for their draft day acquisitions. Most people say they've done an admirable job on draft day. If these players are so bad, then we're screwed and in for a another 5+ years of mediocrity.

IMO, there are other teams out there that have the same or less talent on defense than the Texans do but play much better. What gives? I find it hilarious that someone in the organization (*cough* Kubiak) decided to go with a defense that relies so heavily on the weakest link, yet, hasn't invested any serious draft picks or FA money to that area. On the field of play, if they're counting on the Safeties to consistently make plays to stop the run, then something is seriously wrong up front.

Toss aside the player issue for a moment... Isn't it the responsibility of the coaching staff to make adjustments? Forget in-game adjustments because other than replacing a player or two here and there, that's way too complex and asking way too much of this staff (it's been 3 weeks in a row the opposing team has taken the 2nd-half kickoff and rammed it down their throat). We've seen 4 preseason and 3 regular season games of this crap! You'd think by now they'd see something is not working and adjust accordingly. Your new "aggressive" scheme is getting torched??? Then rush 3 or 4 and drop more into coverage. Try some run blitzes... Go back to a less aggressive bend-and-hopefully-not-break scheme... Try Rhodes at DC... I don't know, but do something!

Personally, I think it's a combination of both - the coaching and players. However, I'm still of the opinion that if we had a top DC, you'd see a much better defense. A great defense??? Maybe not, but a much better one. I hope they can turn it around or it's gonna be a looooong season and we'll be talking draft by Thanksgiving - again!!

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by popanot

Ok, here's the deal... If it's not the coaching then it's the players, right? Who drafts the players, chooses/signs free agents, chooses who's on the roster and which players play? What kills me is I have not heard any of the pundits who say its the players calling out Kubiak or Smith for their draft day acquisitions. Most people say they've done an admirable job on draft day. If these players are so bad, then we're screwed and in for a another 5+ years of mediocrity.

I guess I have been to subtle. I am calling out Smith for not being good at signing FA during the off season. He seems to listen to his coaches to much. I am calling out Kubiak for his style of play definitions. ie, the Gibbs ZBS, smaller OL can not move the pile in the red zone. He has employed a bend but don't break defense for to long. Theses styles has not won together in 10 years.

Lets talk draft, I am still mad we did not take Willis, best LB to be drafted since Ray Lewis. The next season I felt they reached for the OT, he is turning out OK, but I still think he was early.

This last draft, I wish they had played it more like the Pats, trade down trade down trade down. The pats added 3 key players, we added a couple of question marks.

[kravix]

Originally Posted by painekiller

The next season I felt they reached for the OT, he is turning out OK, but I still think he was early.

I seem to recall the Chargers saying they were actually going to take him in the first if we hadnt.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by kravix

I seem to recall the Chargers saying they were actually going to take him in the first if we hadnt.

No one really knows that for sure.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by painekiller

No one really knows that for sure.

Yea, not even Norv Turner:

Funny that the Chargers finally got a tackle with their final pick. They had been stymied from starting off the draft with one when an unprecedented eight tackles were selected before they picked at No. 27.

“We came up one pick short,” said Turner, who along with the rest of the Chargers brass watched Houston trade into the 26th spot and take tackle Duane Brown of Virginia Tech.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I guess I have been to subtle. I am calling out Smith for not being good at signing FA during the off season. He seems to listen to his coaches to much. I am calling out Kubiak for his style of play definitions. ie, the Gibbs ZBS, smaller OL can not move the pile in the red zone. He has employed a bend but don't break defense for to long. Theses styles has not won together in 10 years.

Lets talk draft, I am still mad we did not take Willis, best LB to be drafted since Ray Lewis. The next season I felt they reached for the OT, he is turning out OK, but I still think he was early.

This last draft, I wish they had played it more like the Pats, trade down trade down trade down. The pats added 3 key players, we added a couple of question marks.

Ditto.

They need to employ at least a larger OL like the Eagles or Ravens in order to get some push. The defense needs to be more creative and aggressive to create turnovers. The thought of Willis next to Ryans would have been nice.

Trading down is a process that requires several variables, including relationships between GMs, team needs, team draft boards, etc. I'd like to have us trade down too, I just don't know how easily it could be done. Luckily we didn't lose prospects by trading up.

[Roy P]

Since we are getting in the mood to start over, I took a look at the top defenses in the league for the first 3 weeks. Those who stop the run aren't necessarily the best, whereas the ones who contain the passing game also lead in Total Defense. I found a common thread - Baltimore Ravens coaches and ex-coaches. Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan, Mike Singletary, etc. have gone through that franchise. So, if we are looking for a head coach, I'm going to ask Brian Billick to quit doing those Coors Light commercials and NFL Network shows.

However, if we just want to re-shape the Defense, I'm suggesting Dennis Thurman.

Dennis Thurman spent six seasons coaching Baltimore's secondary, four as the secondary coach, two as defensive assistant alongside Rex Ryan. During his Ravens tenure, the team led the NFL with 126 interceptions and 18 interception returns for touchdowns while he was coaching, among others, Ed Reed (34 INTs, 2002-07), Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle and Deion Sanders.

http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/coac...dennis-thurman

[papabear]

As is usually the case, nothing is as simple as black and white. I think our scheme is basically sound. The NFL is a copycat league and there really hasn't been anything completely new in a long time so most schemes are going to have some level of success if you have the right players running them.

We have actually been pretty good on first and second down. The big problems have come on third and long, which is where defenses should thrive. Most of the breakdowns amount to either blown assignments or just sloppy tackling.

The sloppy tackling is maddening, but it's something you see a lot of these days. I don't know if it's because college stars are being coddled more than they used to be or not, but it seems like fundamental tackling is dying art in some ways. Unfortunately, it seems as if we have an especially bad case of it. Either way if I see one more Texan lunge in the general direction of a players legs with their head down and kind of roll into the tackle I might just lose my mind. That's something coaches shouldn't have to teach at this level, but it's obvious they do.

The coaches are also responsible for getting the team ready to play. That includes making sure guys know where to line up and what their responsibilities are on each play. The coaching staff has to take some of the blame, but there's only so much a coach can do as well. At the end of the day the players have to take it upon themselves to execute.

It's easy to call Frank Bush a disaster at this point, but it's hard to blame him when he has many times put them in a position to make the plays and get off the field. Like I said, it's not black and white, there's a whole lot of gray area. If I had to pick one area that is the biggest problem it would have to be the safety play. If they can get that squared away somehow then some of those big plays will be a little smaller, and hopefully easier to regroup from and get a stop.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Lastly how is Bush responsible for all the missed tackles, this teams DBs are some of the worse tacklers I have witnessed.

Because in the final analysis, it is his responsibility to mold what he has into a usable (attacking?) defense. He has supposedly been hammering this into their heads since TC. The players have been playing football all their lives. While they may not be mental giants, they are supposed to be football smart, if they are not getting it, it has to be at least partly Bush's fault............And yes, gap defense is everyone's responsibility.

[Fonz the Boss]

Why didnt we hire a big time defensive coordinator?.... Do they not want to pay a top DC alot of money or what? It makes a huge difference to have a top guy. Just look at what Rex Ryan did with the Jets.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by NBT

Because in the final analysis, it is his responsibility to mold what he has into a usable (attacking?) defense. He has supposedly been hammering this into their heads since TC. The players have been playing football all their lives. While they may not be mental giants, they are supposed to be football smart, if they are not getting it, it has to be at least partly Bush's fault............And yes, gap defense is everyone's responsibility.

This might be your best post ever.

Two safeties, two corners and three linebackers and not a single one of them notices Chris Johnson splitting out wide? Inexcusable. I'd say most any Junior High safety would have noticed that...

The coaches are speaking of consistency yet it is tough to be consistent when you are changing one of the starting safeties from week to week. So far we've had Barber, Ferguson and Busing with Wilson being the most "regular". I heard ND Kalu on the radio yesterday recommend going back to Ferguson but I disagree - he looks a step slow to me these days.... So that leaves Barber and Busing. Just pick one of these two and stick with him. Both are inexperienced so let them get the reps. Rotate if one needs a break or if there's ever a big lead (!). It's a little tough on the player when one mistake can get you benched. And now we have the just-acquired Pollard in the mix. Sounds like he is good against the run - not so good against the pass. He might work in a SS role with Wilson in the FS role.... whatever.

My point is, there has to be consistency among the coaches as well as the players. Just take the best candidate and make him the starter. If he's just not getting the job done then put someone in who will. Don't bench him for one boneheaded mistake. Mistakes happen but the good ones don't make many mistakes. If we've got a bunch of guys that keep making mistakes then we don't have very good personnel.

I guess this makes me a "both" person and I'm afraid we won't see the best this defense can do until the 2nd half of the season.... There is still a lot of season yet and the more "W's" we can get now, the better.... I still think this team has the ability to go toe to toe with the best in the league but right now, they've got issues....

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

If we add a two stud safeties and stronger WILL, this defense should be improved.

If I didn't see you were the one who posted this, I would have thought that I had said it.