Defense Gradually getting better
 

Still pumped from last nights game and even though there is still alot of work to be done, its good to see our defense is gradually getting better

week 1 - no forced turnovers, 40 points given up

week 2 - no forced turnovers, 35 points given up, 1 sack by Cam Jordan

week 3 - 2 turnovers forced, 1 pick by greer, 2 sacks and a forced fumble by galette, 27 points given up

week 4 - 28 points given up, 1 pick by pat robinson, no sacks

week 5 - 2 forced turnovers, 1 pick by HARPER!!! 5 sacks - galette, jordan, smith, lofton and wilson, and a sack fumble by wilson to win the game

We were hot and cold in the middle for a while, but if this game is a turning point for our team and our defense, we could seriously go on a tear

our defense is gradually getting better, we gave up too many deep passes but did you notice last night;

Malcolm jenkins contesting each pass that came close to him, his perfect coverage caused Harpers interception - Great Play

Martez wilson not only made the game winning play - a couple of plays before, he made the play that led to galettes sack. Ronnie Brown tried to run out into the flats and wilson, disengaged his blocker and stuck with brown, Rivers looked for the quick pass, wilson had it cover and galette buried rivers

I can see it all coming together gradually but we have to start Wilson and Galette!!

Feel free to post your opinions please

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

I'm not sure what game you were watching. I saw one team's defense get gashed ten yards a pop by running plays and by huge mental mistakes. If it weren't for bad playcalling at the end and a (few borderline penalties), that other team would have won.

Did I imagine, but did one of our defensive linemen try a spin move int he 4th quarter? NBC's coverage sucks, so it was hard to tell.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Gradually was the word to focus on.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

I agree bro. I mean clearly they aren't where they need to be, but they also had quite a few stops. I wanted to point this interesting stat out- we only gave up 7 points in the entire second half last night, and that was on an extremely short field courtesy of the interception.

Do we have work to do, yes! Have I seen improvement, yes.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Week 4 vs packers - 7 points allowed in entire second half

Week 5 vs chargers - 7 points allowed in entire second half

There is an improvement, as you pointed out we aren't where we need to be but seeing an improvement is encouraging

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Proves 1/2 times adjustments are starting to happen.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

I’ve always said the lineup with Smith/Jordan at ends is not a good look for us. Galette and Wilson needs to start, Ellis to the bench and rotate them tackles with Hicks in the mix; notice Harper play around the line is needed and he did decent in coverage although Jenkins at times look confused especially on the Meacham’s TD. With better front 7 play Robinson and Greer will look like all pros; work is still needed but the pressure didn’t come entirely from the front 4 like Spags want once he sent the blitz the swag picked up. I hope we can build from this and keep this going; our offense is good enough to put 35+ pts a game and if the D can hold we’d be one of the scariest teams in the NFL

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

I think Spags saw his career and reputation going down the toilet so he threw the proverbial "Kitchen Sink" at the issue:

• I saw different formations and players at different positions throughout the game
• We ran more blitz in the game and looked similar to last year's defense
• Cory White probably started because Jabari Greer was screwing up at CB in practice this week
• Spags was livid on the sidelines the entire game and appears to have lost his patience with this group
• Finally in the 4th quarter, with the combination of Wilson and Gallette at both ends, I do not remember the exact defensive backfield personnel, but something happened

Spags threw "the book" at "it" including techniques and personnel.
YES I did see d-linemen spinning off the line to break free to get pressure on Rivers. I give props to the defense for trying just about anything LIVE, in-game, to determine what WORKS for them.

Finally, yes the defense had awful moments too, but I've only seen improvement from 1st two games of the season.

Intangibles like "bad play-calling" and "borderline calls" -- I would argue some other "borderline calls" like hands to the face on Wilson in the 4th, and others, KEPT drives alive for the Chargers. I accept those as part of the game now that we have the regular refs back.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Yup, right on, and Halo's comment too... I have nothing bad to say about Spags' "system" but I was kind of waiting for this moment, of "hey, this isn't working" and maybe seeing some adjustments made to the "Spags system" to fit it with the people we have RIGHT NOW THIS YEAR -- blitzing more, using Roman Harper as Roman Harper, throwing some unknown variables in, and maybe doing some artificial things to get pressure, instead of this hopeless anemic non-push from the front 4.

I know that pressure from the front 4 is supposed to be Spags' "big thing" but it was just not happening because of the people we have right now. I am not 100% sure what's going on out there, but it feels to me like that is what's happening, what Halo is saying -- that he is adjusting stuff to suit the people we have, and maybe doing a few things from last year's defense that guys know and are used to.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Spags started doing what we have done for the last 3 years... Confuse the sh1t out of the offense. Sadly it confused the sh1t out of our defense weeks 1-4.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

The defense has averaged 456 yds/gm Last night they allowed 427, which means they are still ranked 32nd in yards allowed. They did get better with points allowed. Holding the chargers to 24 pts allowed them to move into 29th averaging 30.8 pts/gm

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Do we care if anyone runs up and down the field... Not much. As long as they are not getting into the endzone I really dont care.

I dont look at yards allowed much. I focus more on turnover ratio/ points allowed/ sacks, and 3rd down %.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

This is what I'm talking about. Even though I hate to see opponents gashing us in the middle of the field.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Nobody has been harder on the defense than me.

Last night we gave up, what 354 yards passing? 80 Rushing? Some questionable calls or Rivers would have been OVER 400 yards passing people. That's not good.

Still, we were able to get some stops - and some without the help of questionable penalties.

"Gradually"? Okay. I'll go with that. Our defense has a LONG way to go, but I'll take "gradually" over nothing at all. My expectations are truly that low these days.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

They'd have looked really good without the first down and third and long plays added in. Still plenty of season left though, c'mon D you can do it!

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Our Red Zone efficiency is 59%. 14th in the league.
last year we were a whole 2% better

Red Zone scoring attempts per game 4.4 3oth in the league.

So we met them get there horribly but stop them better than 1/2 of the league

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Spags will figure out whats best and I think that it is Gallette and Wilson on the outside.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

I saw a hugh change from week 1. I'm not satisfied but ATM I'm content.
I'm still waiting for that one week that the defense will wake up and just maul the offense. I really liked the last 2 mins... Defense did thier job!

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Yes. We do. Because field position IS important. Shutting someone down, even if only every now and then, has a huge impact on momentum. Our offense can overcome bad field position, but that doesn't mean it isn't important.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Agreed
but what happenes to Smith? Maybe I don't know jack but from his play performance I could care less

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

What I am sensing is a 2nd half adjustment over the last 2 games.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

I saw a HUGE improvement....Wilson And Galette Are Beginning To Take Over....And For The First Time I Am IMPRESSED at Harpers Performance for the whole game....2 weaknesses in my opinion 1.Any Linebacker not named Lofton 2. Corey "Garbage" White....when Loomis gets back he needs to fill in those problems ASAP....

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Don't kill White yet. Remember, he is a rookie. He is gonna make mistakes. The person that should be blasted on an everyday basis is Jenkins. He has no excuse. The guy is JUNK! Leads the team in missed tackles (maybe even NFL), takes terrible angles and seems generally lost 3/4 of a game. He accidentally made 1 decent play last night. He has got to be one of the worst safeties in the NFL.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

Yep, this was supposed to be a development year for the rookie, who didn't even play Div I ball IIRC, or whatever they call it now.

The only reason he's seeing playing time is because of injuries.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

As I posted in a different thread, we had 4 DE's playing in the last series because we knew it was going to be all passing. Gallete and Wilson on the ends with Smith and Jordan on the inside. It definitely helped the pass rush, I just don't know if it will work defending the run. Yeah we need to give White a break. He is getting better with experience though. I like Harper playing LB in passing situations as well with Qudous and Jenkins playing safety.

Re: Defense Gradually getting better
 

We also throw them ALL out there because it was the end of the game... I dont suggest we start that in the 1st qtr and leave all our DE out of gas by the 3rd qtr.