It's really hard to tell right now. Since these guys haven't played much tackle football since last year. In today's NFL you can only have so many contact drills with pads. And now the starters only play a few series in the preseason. It's going to take time to work out. However, I'm very worried about the defense. They don't look right at all. Timmons should know this by now. Troy has obviously lost a step or two. Ike looks like ****. Worilds and Jones are getting pushed around. I can see Jones needing some time but Worilds is making 10 Million just for this year. Yea, he got a sack but that doesn't make up for him being pushed around like he was on roller skates for 2 qtrs. I just don't get this defense right now. Hopefully DL can work it out.
The Good:
- Everyone on the defense NOW knows what they are doing wrong with poor judgement and over-pursuit. (including the Vets like Timmons and Troy, who as you said should know better)
- Unlike some here, I didn't see our DL "getting pushed around" too much. The outside zone makes it look that way though. (Play or play-fake to left...everyone slides to left...OL keeps them moving in the direction they are already moving AS ACTUAL PLAY GOES BACK TO RIGHT)
- Cleveland has a very accomplished OL (at least on the left side) C Mack, LG Bitonio and LT Thomas might be the most dominant left side in football. Bitonio might be a rookie but he is a good one who plays with a tenacity that NONE of our OL have.
- Philly and NOW Cleveland has exposed our weakness when it comes to over-pursuit and up-tempo, if we fail to find a solution it shouldn't be related to understanding WHAT we are doing wrong.
- Baltimore has a lot softer OL who shouldn't be as tough to handle coming off the Cleveland game.
The Bad:
- The inability to schematically eliminate the "outside zone" has been a work in progress for too many years to describe it as 'personnel related'. We haven't been able to stop it going back to the old days when it first came about.
- We do not have the pressure NOR the run support from EITHER OLB spot which makes it more difficult to scheme effective remedies to play-action fakes.
- As has been pointed out, are younger players are not alone in failing to temper their aggression and play under control.
- Our DBs have been so relied upon for run-support that the play-action is ALSO drawing them off their coverage assignments.
- We have never been able to stop the "explosive plays" while playing a single high S with Troy in the box. He doesn't make nearly as many tackles up front nor does he cover well against anyone...so get him the hell outa there. He plays best when he is lined up BEHIND the ILBs historically.
- IF we don't ask Timmons and Shazier to penetrate, we run the risk of them not being able to get off their blocks which neither has been noted for. It may be either shoot the gaps and HOPE you are right or sit back and fill lanes and HOPE to get of the block that's coming.
All in all, it looks a bit to me like watching pee-wee football where the misdirection is the winning solution over these undisciplined youths. The flea-flicker works as do counters, reverses and double-reverse plays. We are following the flow (which is the "trap") instead of following the ball. Maybe we can put a 'chip' in the ball and use COD technology to give them a cross-hair pointer showing where it is all the time?
