Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

After watching yesterday's game against the NY Jets it occurred to me that the Defense is not invincible after all. After coming into the game with a a relatively low 17 points per game allowed, the underlying stat that I had not paid much attention to was the Rushing Yards Allowed.

Watching the game closely I began to realize why opponents were able to rush all over us. Part of it is due to Rob Ryan's aggressive schemes. I applaud Rob Ryan tremendously for how he has been able to bring back swagger and confidence to this defense early on in the season. However, as many schemes as he has in his arsenal we have to be better prepared for teams that can run the ball. I was able to notice as well as the commentators of yesterdays game that when the Saints went to a 3-4 look, it allowed the running back to explode through the A gaps and get 5 yards nearly every time. The Jets were also able to exploit the outside run game, as our OLB were coming in hot for the pressure and overran the play several times, which resulted in big gains. Much like Von Millers Rookie year, they held him to passing situational downs due to his tendency to overrun plays. I think that injuries also hurt us this week, but I think part of it is a scheme error. While our passing defense has been greatly improved, with all the money and talent we have invested in the front 7 guys like Curtis Lofton, David Hawthorne, Cam Jordan, Akiem Hicks, there is no reason we shouldn't be able to get this fixed

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Defense has allowed its share of running this year. I felt adjustments were made in the second half that eventually shut the Jets down.

I totally agree with you GeauxNOGeaux. I also think it was a monumental task cleaning up this defense from last year, and that overall I really could not ask for more, pourous run defense included.

What's most disappointing is the defense handing the ball back to the offense and the offensive mistakes and miscues are mind boggling. I don't want to go off topic too much, but I agree that the defense appears to be the more serviceable and adjustable squad on the team as opposed to the offense which needs its collective heads examined.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Thats why I think you'll notice that not a lot of people (atleast the ones that know what they are talking about) tend not to blame the defense anymore

The offense is putting them in terrible situations, we get the ball back with 2 minutes to go half time, nick toon tips the pass, our D is back out and jets have the ball at our 20 yard line.

They were bad against the run yesterday but it's the offense that are to blame for a lot of the defensive struggles, because its only when we put them in bad situations that the areas show up.

If toon makes that long catch, completely different game.

He dropped the pass, jets went down and scored
He caused an INT, jets went down and scored

Complete momentum swing by his two huge mistakes

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

I think thats what I'm encouraged about. Our defense is playing much better on average than our offense.

But I'm certain this offense can turn it around and start playing much better. Numerous drops, dropped passes that resulted in two picks, missed blocking assignments, numerous penalties... all are very uncharacteristic of a Brees/Payton offense. I expect most of that will be corrected as the season progresses.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

I would like to see more of Jenkins in instead of Bunkley. I think Jenkins and the DL played pretty well when Bunkley was out.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Didn't mean to burden the defense at all by this post. Like I said I am very happy and content with the D this year. I have more fits about our O-Line and Run game more than anything. Defense can only do so much!

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

How about bad scheme on the OLine. The zone blocking isn't working. They need to go back to gap blocking. I keep saying that and God I hope someone at Airline Dr has figured this out. Going back to gap blocking won't solve all the problem but I bet it'll fix the run game.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

IIRC one of the reasons we switched was to adjust for Ingram's style of play.

Well forget that now, I'd rather go back to the gap scheme. It wasn't great, but it sure looked better than what we're seeing so far.

As I mentioned earlier this year, Ross Tucker (NFL Radio) mentioned that teams making that switch rarely have success at it the first year. Yes it can happen, but more often than not it doesn't work well at all in season one.

We averaged an entire yard more per carry last year.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

They played well enough to win the game especially since turnovers forced them into bad positions. I saw two or three runs by Ivory/Powell that even Halo could have run through and gained 10 yards.

Overall I thought the Jets had a great gameplan and got the ball out of Geno's hands quickly. Especially those WR screens that seemed to keep working. That opened up the run lanes.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

We have a Superbowl caliber team. We need to put in place now what will win us a Superbowl. A solid running game would be so helpful to our Offense and our Defense. I agree, we need to go back to gap blocking.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

I thought it was odd that only 3 of Gino's passes traveled across the LOS.

We played right into the Jets hands. Unforced turnovers, dumb penalties and missed assignments.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

9 in the box and dare the rookie to beat you passing is not really earth shaking at all. Geno did enough to hurt us and having third stringers out there did not.

monumental ????? i still have not reach that point. all we are playing is Greg Williams defense again. attack. the only difference i am seeing is Williams demanded more discipline in lane assignments from the front 7

the blue print is out on us both defensively and offensively now comes the real coaching challenge. NE did it to us and bills tried the same thing and now the jets laid it out perfectly. the cats is out of the bag and the rest of the nfl knows it.

now the real fun starts

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

I agree that run defense has a long way to go but I think some of that comes with time. The front seven need to be more disciplined in their gap coverages.

That being said, they're not giving up the big play nearly as often as they did last year. A definite improvement.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

According to that 4 letter sports station, Ivory had 107 yards before contact. That tells me there was an awful lot of over pursuing and not maintaining your gaps. Perfect example would be the god awful end around.
Jets DE was just sitting back in his position, he didn't crash the los and lose containment.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Just run dammit!

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Says it all.

http://prod.images.jets.clubs.nflcdn...960&height=720

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Wow, I haven't seen a gaping hole that size by the Saints O-line in years.

That is amazing. Where's the SLB? Did we just get burned on a SLB/SILB blitz?

Pretty significant hold on Hicks (or Jenkins?) however.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Our D is designed based part upon that our O will be running up the score. All we have to do then is stop them from passing on us.

Our O hasn't done its part.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Defense didn't poop the bed completely, as they did give up monster yards in the run defense.

However, couple of factors with NYJ scoring 26 points:
1) INT @ our 48 yard line. NYJ gets 27 yards & kicks FG = 3 points
2) Following TD, we give up 42 yd KO return to NYJ 39. They need only 61 yards to answer with their own TD = 7 points
3) INT @ our 39 yard line. NYJ gets 39 yards for TD = 7 points.

NYJ scored 17 points and only had to go 127 yards to get them. Defense did as well as could be expected considering the turds our offense and special teams coverage unit kept giving them. NYJ actually EARNED 9 points from their offense; our offense and special teams directed contributed to the other 17.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Off topic but I know you'll love this one Danno

If Harper played against the Jets i think we win the game.
Doesnt matter much now but if Harper was healthy those big runs don't happen. Having Jenkins and Harper out hurt us in this game, Bush took some bad angles.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Defense has to step up with the Offense playing so poorly. This is the worst offense we have had since 2005.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Wait, say what???

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz5WFINdoP...00/shocked.gif

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Agreed that the D must step up, and I believe the D did just that when they forced NYJ to kick 4 FGs and that NYJ scored both of their TDs on drives of 39 yards and 61 yards. 100 yards for 14 points, no thanks to the offense and special team coverage.

Remember we played without Colston and Sproles yesterday, though, and both are drive-extending, first-down makers. We don't execute nearly as efficiently without them in there, and it is glaringly obvious. Pedestrian offense without them, adding the fact the NYJ D-line killed our O-line all day long. DLP should donate his game check to rehabilitating prostitutes, 'cause he got pimp-slapped for 29 minutes and 38 seconds yesterday.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

I think our D played well enough and the O just didn't come up with the plays when we needed them. The TOs killed us as well. I agree with you. I still don't get why Payton got away from the run so early. Our running game hasn't been effective all year but we stuck with it and made the D play the run; against the Jets we didn't even try to keep them honest.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

All I get out of this picture is where an ILB should be. Call me crazy but we need a big thumper to go along with Hawthorn in the middle, I like Lofton and he has done better than I expected but when a runner gets past the front 3 or 4 up front it lies on the ILB or ILB'ers to get the runner in the second tier. Our lb.'s got exposed badly yesterday and others will follow until we get a handle on it, Harper could have been used to his skill set yesterday to a tee. When we do draft I hope we get our man in the middle.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Not going to say you are wrong here, I like Lofton generally. Hicks got beat up front; he should never let the O-lineman get that close to him. Hick has crazy reach but fails to use it to lock out lineman, he has been a bit disappointing.

Even though I like Lofton I wouldn't mind drafting a good ILB. Can Sam Mills still play lol

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Cant tell if thats Hicks or Jenkins, but either way its not good.

I'm no expert but I'm guessing a 9 foot wide hole is a pretty good indicator that the RB will gain decent yardage.

I'd love to see the all-22 to see what the heck happened on that play.
What formation were we in?
Why isn't a LB in that hole?
Were we blitzing?
Was it a breakdown?
Was that photoshopped?
Why wasn't a hold called?
What could our RB's do with a 9 foot wide hole?

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Truthfully I was thinking of Vaughn Johnson, I would take someone like him and Mills in a heartbeat.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Pretty sure that it's seahorse. And pretty sure the refs looked away.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

And I thought I ask alot of questions!! All valid though.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

15 rushing yards in the 1st half. I reckon he was salivating over the Bengals putting up 49 the week before on that secondary, and that we'd beat that secondary deep early and often. Oh well...onward and upwards.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Saints only managed 6 pts in the 2nd half, that is one problem.

As for the run defense, I hope this is wasnt exposing anything troubling, the 49ers are a team that does what the Jets do.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Just watched it and Hawthorne ran into the back of Hicks I believe and fell down. Clearly his fault not being in the hole.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Jordan and Hicks are both being held. Refs dont call holding until the hands make their way to the outside of the pads.

Re: Poor Run Defense Partially Due to Scheme
 

Unless your name is de la Puente and its the Saints final victory drive.