Screen Pass Defense
 

The last time I remember us defensing the screen pass effectively was when the "Dome Patrol" was intact (possibly with Turnbull also).

Any thoughts as to whether we will defend this play better this year?

RE: Screen Pass Defense
 

overall i see an improved defense. perhaps not a top ten defense but better than last year(how could we be any worse?)

everything is very positive about our young linebackers. many things said go along the lines of fast, intelligent, and overachievers. our general problem with most screeen plays in the past is that we either werent fast enough to get there to stop, to stupid to know what was happening, or gave up when the play was happending away from us. so heres to hoping some youthful fire. another note says we may be more vulnerable considering that we are so young but i believe we will disrupt more than fall flat on our faces.

im sure others have noticed that there hasnt been as many quotes from venturi or anyone from the staff this summer. im hoping this is a new strategy of a united front in this organization. that right there is a reason for hope.

Tough question -- depends on who are the linebackers -- If Fincher makes it as a starter, and Cory is on the outside we may have a pretty good screen defense -- Bottom line is that no one can really predict it because we do not know if our linebackers have really improved

No the problem with stopping a screen pass is that you have 7-8 people trying to stop run, then pass (going after QB for a sack), instead of sniffing out the ball and getting between the QB and the back to break it up. They either didn't sniff it out or didn't know where to go to break it up. If you look at the game film, whenever a linemen or lb sniffed screen they moved like a foot or to to lt or rt but never went to the flats. They have to get to the flat to break it up not just stand there. The defensice coach sucks for this reason. You have to teach the linemen if rb's and linemen are drift to your side then you get there and give up on a sack or pressure (hell they didn't get much pressure anyways). the other side is the one who applies the pressure.