Quote:You're both missing the point. Sure, if you have 11 Pro Bowlers every scheme will work. The Jags don't have 11 Pro Bowlers on defense.


 

The point was that the Jags coaching staff kept using the same packages that had failed week after week. Those required a level of player competence that didn't exist. Would a different scheme be more successful? Who knows? Bradley/Babich never even tried.

 

The players aren't great. That's not being argued. I would argue that the players on defense are better than 31st in the NFL, better than the Bears, Ravens, and Eagles, to name three teams that had better results. Given the quality of our opponents this year, especially at QB where the Jags faced numerous backups and rookies, the Jags defense has no excuse for being 31st.

 

The thing is, I don't know that this is true. It simply can't. A quick eye-test tells us we went from a blitz-avert to blitz-heavy defense as the season went on. I don't think anyone will argue that point, right?

 

So here's the thing when you blitz...you have less players to cover. Furthermore, we've seen this team blitz linebackers, we've seen it blitz nickel corners, and we've even seen it blitz safeties. Do you see where I'm getting at with this?

 

Fundamentally, you just cannot send multiple blitzes using different personnel and not really change your package or even your scheme for that play. To do so would leave significant glaring holes on that defense. To think that we're always running some kind of press-bail cover 3 on the back end (which really is the calling card of this defense), its just not possible.

 

When your core problem is inability to rush the passer, it trickles down to the rest of the defense. Because you can't rush, you have to blitz. Because you have to blitz, the coverage has to be good enough to allow the blitz to get there. And when the ball does go out of the qb's hand quick and to an outlet receiver/running back, your defense needs to be able to tackle before they get the first down.

 

We can't rush....

 

We had problems with coverage...

 

And we had problems with wrong angles and bad tackling....

 

No scheme can fix it when you have a combination of these three things occurring in some manner or fashion

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