JKool

Welcome aboard!

(1) I agree, there was certainly an early abandonment of the run.

(2) I think our weakness isn't our base defense. The 4-3 isn't a bad base defense at all, especially with our personnel. Also, I think that, sadly, Simoneau and Shanle on the field can't be much worse (and is probably better) that putting Craft out there. How good are our nickle and dime backs, really? Of course, that said, I'm all on board that our blitz packages are pretty sorry - but I think that is a personnel issue.

(3) The problem was our inability to stop the run, due to the weak middle of our defense - DTs and MLB. This seems to me a problem, but not an insurmountable one.

(4) Nickle packages, especially with Craft aren't going to be able to stop the run as well as our base D. This, again IMO, is the reason we saw a lot of 4-3 and not nickle. They were able to use those zone runs on our base D pretty easily, putting in an extra DB would make that worse.

(5) I think, overall, their pass worked well because (A) David was playing a bit... ahem... poorly, and (B) their running game kept our safeties honest and our CBs guessing.

(6) I also agree that it would have been nice to see some more blitzes (that weren't completely telegraphed)! However, I think they were being conservative because of Peyton's good eye and ability to get rid of the ball.

(7) I also totally agree that it would have been good to see more smashmouth style plays with Duece rather than these "dancy" "could be a pass" plays with Bush. Especially against a team, who on paper, appears to me better against the pass than the run. Good job sniffing out that coaching error!

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks