Looking at the box score

[sufandu]

I know we need to tighten up in the secondary, but I LOVE that we gave up 27 yards rushing on 37 carries (including the sacks).

 

[Tobias Funke]

Nothing to dislike about our run D yesterday it was flat out dominant.

 

[007]

I know we need to tighten up in the secondary, but I LOVE that we gave up 27 yards rushing on 37 carries (including the sacks).

Agreed that the rush defense was very impressive against a big physical line, and great back.

At the risk of sounding negative, I am not so sure that the issues with the secondary are a matter of "tightening" up. Unless we have much better coverage DBs waiting in the wings, I suspect that what we see is the best we have.

So, the key to defending the passing game is not going to rest on trying to improve the play of the DBs (they are likely already playing to the best of their ability 5 games into the season), but in getting pressure on the QB.

 

[RMH44]

Agreed that the rush defense was very impressive against a big physical line, and great back.

At the risk of sounding negative, I am not so sure that the issues with the secondary are a matter of "tightening" up. Unless we have much better coverage DBs waiting in the wings, I suspect that what we see is the best we have.

So, the key to defending the passing game is not going to rest on trying to improve the play of the DBs (they are likely already playing to the best of their ability 5 games into the season), but in getting pressure on the QB.

Reddish didn't play much which hurts because he is our best cover guy. I like Lyn far more than Anderson. I like Wilkes' toughness but his cover skills are questionable and I'd like to see Eskridge play more.

Word has it that the staff loves Whigham but he is true frosh. Look at the giant strides Reddish made between his frosh and soph years! Hopefully Whigham can do the same which would set us up for years at CB.

 

[sufandu]

Agreed that the rush defense was very impressive against a big physical line, and great back.

At the risk of sounding negative, I am not so sure that the issues with the secondary are a matter of "tightening" up. Unless we have much better coverage DBs waiting in the wings, I suspect that what we see is the best we have.

So, the key to defending the passing game is not going to rest on trying to improve the play of the DBs (they are likely already playing to the best of their ability 5 games into the season), but in getting pressure on the QB.

I don't disagree. Our secondary probably is what it is. I was mostly wanting to express how much I liked watching our run defense while not ignoring our weaknesses.

 

[kingottoiii]

Agreed that the rush defense was very impressive against a big physical line, and great back.

At the risk of sounding negative, I am not so sure that the issues with the secondary are a matter of "tightening" up. Unless we have much better coverage DBs waiting in the wings, I suspect that what we see is the best we have.

So, the key to defending the passing game is not going to rest on trying to improve the play of the DBs (they are likely already playing to the best of their ability 5 games into the season), but in getting pressure on the QB.

IMO a lot of that is schematic. There is zero excuse for allowing 3rd and longs. I think we did a great job in stopping the run. And I can understand if we were beat by the pass on 1st and 2nd downs as we were concentrating on the run. But in passing situations having such soft coverage and relying mainly on a zone D with zero pass rush is insane. Sunseri sucks. Put pressure on him and/or make him beat you down the field. Even when we do blitz we play a soft zone in which the QB already knows where he is passing it on the snap, negating the blitz. Can we see some press coverage? Or drop a guy into that passing lane that EVERY team goes to against us. We get beat by the same pass over and over. Sorry but if you blitz with press coverage from Reddish and Lyn we will be a lot more successful than rushing 3 and playing a soft zone.

This D is so frustrating to watch. We allow long drive after long drive, letting the other team dictate what happens on the field. Yet somehow in the end (aided somewhat by the time consuming drives) we don't give up many points (17 last week, 13 this week). It prevents the O from being on the field or getting into a rhythm. Plus we rarely get good field position on O as a result. All that really matters is that we score more than our opponents. If we keep winning this way I will certainly take it. However I think being more agressive on D will make the team better and help the O as well. It will give us our best chance at winning.