(12-05-2022, 11:07 AM)Mikey Wrote:

(12-04-2022, 08:09 PM)OG-JAGFAN Wrote: It seems to be a ton of noise about replacing Caldwell next season. Pederson has adapted the motto of players not plays. I guess the question is who is to blame for the terrible defensive performance? The Jaguars could not get off the field. The Lions also converted 66% on third downs.  The pass rush again was irrelevant for most of this game. Muma was the lead pass rusher with 1.5 sacks but one of those was just a busted play. There was a ton of money spent on this defense to allow a team to march up and down the field all game  long. So who is to blame? Is it the Defensive coordinator having a poor game plan? Is it players under performing missing their assignments?

We spent money this past offseason to address run D. In the pass-happy NFL, we may be paying the price for this prioritization.

We spent money last offseason to address pass D. Shaq, Williams, Jenkins, which of them are the stars of our pass D? We are paying the price for these misses.

We considered our spending on pass D sufficient, so we invested our top pick in a pass rush project to unlock the potential pass rusher nearing the end of his rookie deal, rather than pursue either a pure pass rusher, DB, or look to other positions. We are paying the price for this miss.

I have no idea about the coaching that goes on. I don't know if Caldwell is an upstart guy who is learning the ropes, or if he is in above his head. I don't know if his relative inexperience prevented him from bringing in better assistants and position coaches, but he's not doing must to keep from becoming the scapegoat.

I don't even know if we let him go, do we have guys capable of shifting to 4-3, or are our hands tied due to cap constraints to only seek out 3-4 coaches?

I don't think it's as easy as players or plays. It's absolutely a blend of both. Can a crap coach get Micah Parsons sacks? Can a defensive genius put Chaisson at the top of the stat sheet? We gotta be better at both acquiring talented players and putting them in positions to win.