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.