Quote:To be fair, we've played a couple of bad offenses the last couple weeks. Cleveland was without their best lineman last weekend. This weekend will be a real test with a QB playing well and a good running game.
I hope Marks just goes off this weekend. He's been our best defensive player and I can't wait to see what he can do this weekend.
The Browns offense is ranked in the top 10 even after we shut them down.
I think Joe Thomas would have issues with your "best lineman" comment.
I think Miami will be a real test for our patched up defense and these injuries could be a real set back for a unit which has been growing in confidence.
If we can ride this one out, that will be massive for the team.
Quote:The Browns offense is ranked in the top 10 even after we shut them down.
I think Joe Thomas would have issues with your "best lineman" comment.
Top 10 by the numbers, but I'm not convinced they are (or were) a top 10 offense.
I was never sold that the Browns were as good as their record or statistics.
Browns being "top 10" in any positive ranking just doesn't pass the smell test to me.
Based on the youth and talent of our linebackers and secondary, I expect to see ups/downs moving forward. It won't always look as rosy as now. Winning makes it all better, and losing the opposite effect.
We will find out this week if the stats mean anything at all. A good solid D won't fold to the loss of one player, even the MLB. (Branch's loss is significant too). My fingers and toes are tightly crossed, but I admit I'm worried. Tannehill is way ahead of BB in development and confidence. He could kill our secondary if the D-line isn't causing all kinds of trouble for him.
Quote:Tannehill strikes me as a guy that still needs a strong running game in order to play well. I have no doubt the defense can slow down Miller, he's the kind of back we excel against - not real shifty, just hits his holes and goes.
Anyway, back to the topic - I am sure the defense won't get lined up quite as smoothly as before, but I like JT Thomas' physical traits, and I'm hoping Watson is a little more prepared to play now than he was at the start of the season.
Also, I really hope they don't move Ryan Davis to DE in the lightning package. Let Chris Smith take Branch's spot there and keep Davis at DT, where he is a straight up killer. In the base front, play Davis at end.
Agree on Davis.
Ive thought a Davis and Marks DT pair with Clemons and Smith at the edges would be nice on some 3rd and 5 or more passing situations would be nice too.
Stunt Clemons inside over Davis like we do with Branch every now and then see if you might get a free Clemons shot on tannehill trying some read option.
Quote:Agree on Davis.
Ive thought a Davis and Marks DT pair with Clemons and Smith at the edges would be nice on some 3rd and 5 or more passing situations would be nice too.
Stunt Clemons inside over Davis like we do with Branch every now and then see if you might get a free Clemons shot on tannehill trying some read option.
Hopefully we see this on Sunday.
Quote:We will find out this week if the stats mean anything at all. A good solid D won't fold to the loss of one player, even the MLB. (Branch's loss is significant too). My fingers and toes are tightly crossed, but I admit I'm worried. Tannehill is way ahead of BB in development and confidence. He could kill our secondary if the D-line isn't causing all kinds of trouble for him.
Tannehill is playing well but he knows the running game and read option scheme are working much like Alex Smith in KC when their running game is going.
It allows him to play safe. If we take away Miller and can make Tannehill pay on a few of his runs (cyp is studying im sure ) then i fully believe Tannehill will look just like Nick Foles did when in the first half of the philly game - lost.
Quote:Tannehill is playing well but he knows the running game and read option scheme are working much like Alex Smith in KC when their running game is going.
It allows him to play safe. If we take away Miller and can make Tannehill pay on a few of his runs (cyp is studying im sure ) then i fully believe Tannehill will look just like Nick Foles did when in the first half of the philly game - lost.
Agree - but it's the second half that worries me.
I don't know how you can say our defense played well against a Charlie Whitehurst led team.
This stat means little to nothing.
Quote:We can absolutely shut down the run with Big Red, Marks, and Roy Miller. Poz has been great with his run fits, and Cyprien runs down hill.
Cyprien's primary job is pass defense. If a running back reaches him, the reason is our huge hole at MLB.
Quote:I've always been a Poz supporter. But it's funny to see how everyone here goes from "Poz sucks!" to "We're screwed!" when he gets hurt.
That being said. This defense is coming together nicely. Can't wait for Colvin
Me too. I started liking him when he was in college. He won the Butkus Award as an OLB, then moved inside the next year because Sean Lee had a torn ACL. That move must have made him better because he never played on the outisde again.
I never understood why people said Poz sucks while he played with three minor injuries. When they finally said he is the best player on defense he played with a season-ending injury. It is like people finally realized being hurt made him less effective after his name was taken off the injury report.
Quote:We will find out this week if the stats mean anything at all. A good solid D won't fold to the loss of one player, even the MLB. (Branch's loss is significant too). My fingers and toes are tightly crossed, but I admit I'm worried. Tannehill is way ahead of BB in development and confidence. He could kill our secondary if the D-line isn't causing all kinds of trouble for him.
I am confident the defensive line will give Tannehill a bad day with some help from Telvin Smith. Losing Andre Branch is not as bad as losing Paul Posluszny. If we can do our job at the LOS our defense should be OK. But I will worry about the MLB until I see what he can do as the starter.
Quote:I don't know how you can say our defense played well against a Charlie Whitehurst led team.
This stat means little to nothing.
Easily. There is no reason to think it means nothing if you saw the game. Charlie Whitehurst was forced to throw because we shut down the run game. We made him look worse than the Browns did. It was pretty obvious all of our stats against the Titans mean something.
Quote:Cyprien's primary job is pass defense. If a running back reaches him, the reason is our huge hole at MLB.
Me too. I started liking him when he was in college. He won the Butkus Award as an OLB, then moved inside the next year because Sean Lee had a torn ACL. That move must have made him better because he never played on the outisde again.
I never understood why people said Poz sucks while he played with three minor injuries. When they finally said he is the best player on defense he played with a season-ending injury. It is like people finally realized being hurt made him less effective after his name was taken off the injury report.
I am confident the defensive line will give Tannehill a bad day with some help from Telvin Smith. Losing Andre Branch is not as bad as losing Paul Posluszny. If we can do our job at the LOS our defense should be OK. But I will worry about the MLB until I see what he can do as the starter.
Easily. There is no reason to think it means nothing if you saw the game. Charlie Whitehurst was forced to throw because we shut down the run game. We made him look worse than the Browns did. It was pretty obvious all of our stats against the Titans mean something.
You make a good point. We made them make Whitehurst beat us. Teams try to take away your strength and make you beat them with your weakness and that what they did. Apparently 3 teams were unable to do that and we could.
Quote:For points,ans they are 2nd in sacks with 22.
Credit Gus Bradley for this. And we dont have any house hold names.
The scheme is working. Omve we get a lock down corner and a FS, we will be even better.
Telvin Smith has sured up that linebacking core.
I told people for weeks that it's not as bad as it seems.
Now, I need to tell you that it's not as good as it seems.
A little perspective would show that this is an average, to below average defense. There is a ton of room for improvement. Are they improving, sure. Do they still have a long way to go? You better believe it.
Keep those knees from jerking so much, people.
I've been saying this for a few weeks now... But I'll say it again...
The D Line is very good. Our secondary has issues in pass coverage because of the way we played for the first 5 and half games. We played 5 yards off the line of scrimmage and zoned the entire field while only rushing 4.
It's was easy for QB's to pick apart our soft zone when we didn't blitz.
Starting with the 2nd half of the t'acks game and the majority of the clowns game, our scheme on D changed.
We started blitzing our LB's and we played press with our CB's right at the line of scrimmage. This makes a huge difference.
If we continue to put pressure on as a defense, blitzing and playing bump and run, then we'll be beasts.
But if we get soft again, then we'll get torched. It's really just that simple.
Bortles sustaining longer drives, which places the defence in better field position helps this. Gus scheme is working, and everyone is chipping in. Andre Branch and Poz out will probably hurt but those are injuries and they happen. Our D Line has stopped the run. CYP is really impressive. Marks is a beast. The amount of sacks we have is something we haven't seen in so many years. LOVE THIS.
Quote:I've been saying this for a few weeks now... But I'll say it again...
The D Line is very good. Our secondary has issues in pass coverage because of the way we played for the first 5 and half games. We played 5 yards off the line of scrimmage and zoned the entire field while only rushing 4.
It's was easy for QB's to pick apart our soft zone when we didn't blitz.
Starting with the 2nd half of the t'acks game and the majority of the clowns game, our scheme on D changed.
We started blitzing our LB's and we played press with our CB's right at the line of scrimmage. This makes a huge difference.
If we continue to put pressure on as a defense, blitzing and playing bump and run, then we'll be beasts.
But if we get soft again, then we'll get torched. It's really just that simple.
What he said..
Quote:For points,ans they are 2nd in sacks with 22.
Credit Gus Bradley for this. And we dont have any house hold names.
The scheme is working. Omve we get a lock down corner and a FS, we will be even better.
Telvin Smith has sured up that linebacking core.
You didn't just play Green Bay and Chicago.
Quote:I've been saying this for a few weeks now... But I'll say it again...
The D Line is very good. Our secondary has issues in pass coverage because of the way we played for the first 5 and half games. We played 5 yards off the line of scrimmage and zoned the entire field while only rushing 4.
It's was easy for QB's to pick apart our soft zone when we didn't blitz.
Starting with the 2nd half of the t'acks game and the majority of the clowns game, our scheme on D changed.
We started blitzing our LB's and we played press with our CB's right at the line of scrimmage. This makes a huge difference.
If we continue to put pressure on as a defense, blitzing and playing bump and run, then we'll be beasts.
But if we get soft again, then we'll get torched. It's really just that simple.
Since we actually move the ball on offense I could see us running more man now. The defense can get a chance to rest.
Quote:You didn't just play Green Bay and Chicago.
So what? There is nothing wrong with being happy about 22 sacks in a season that was mostly horrible the first three weeks.
Quote:So what? There is nothing wrong with being happy about 22 sacks in a season that was mostly horrible the first three weeks.
We weren't horrible getting sacks the first three weeks. We were leading the league.