Linebackers...Improving
 

I know we still gave up a ton of yards...

But I thought the linebacker play was pretty good tonight...

Shanle had a couple of passes defensed; Vilma looks like he's adjusting to the speed of the game; and Dunbar had a nice start...

Even the reserves had decent games...

But they looked pretty good...

I think the D as a whole has shown improvement over the past few weeks. It's almost a feeling of things starting to gel on that side of the ball. I know we still give up a lot of yards but when you consistently hang 40+ on people they have to resort to throwing the ball so the yardage will pile up. I would like to see us get to the QB more. But I like the way the D is playing now.

In this era, teams tend to give up a lot of yardage until the field compresses in the redzone. Its no different for us, but we played really well in the redzone, holding them to FG's was crucial.

I don't know what it is, but our DB's and LB's couldn't catch a cold in a Flu ward. Hands of stone every one.

45-16 final score against a team that usually plays us down to the wire is enough for me to grudgingly give the defense and linebackers a reluctant "improving" status too -- I agree! They are on reprieve from the permanent doghouse of WORST DEFENSE EVER now that we have clinched the division and shut down a host of elite running backs and quarterbacks from top tier teams -- as terrible as they are, I suppose I grudgingly have to agree with that assessment of our linebackers and give them a temporary ranking of....maybe IMPROVED. Slightly improved. A little. Okay, they might actually not be too bad. Oh wait, but we can't actually say they're kinda good, now can we. I mean it's not like Scott Shanle forced a fumble for a TD tonight or anything -- if he did that, then I might give him some props, but I dunno. It's not like we stopped them on 4th down or anything. I think tonight's game was kind of an inconclusive wash -- let's call it a 45-16 draw, as far as our defense goes, I mean it can't be that it is actually good....so I'll throw in the towel and grudgingly agree with you that they have "improved"...somewhat. But I agree with you in that week after week the linebackers are the weakest link in a defense/offense that kinda shuts out opponents by a typical ratio of 2 points to 1, generally.

The D gave up a lot of yards, but that was in garbage time and the stat that impresses me was that the falcons were like 1-4 in our redzone, came away with 2 FGs and a failed 4th down conversion, when you have an O like ours thats the type of gap we need

plus the fumble recovery TD helped:bng:

We actually stopped them TWICE on 4th and 1

The tackling was very solid last night. I love the dark horse Humber he seems to play well when he's in there.

In related news, this may have been one of Juneyah's best games.

I will take a "D" like that for any game!!

Who was saying they'd stay off Shanle?

http://blackandgold.com/saints/39482-shanle.html