Quote:Olsen was a scapegoat.   The entire coaching staff needs to go.   Last week, while the offense was putting up a total of 60 yards in the first half, the defense was giving up 350 yards IN THE FIRST HALF.   

 

First let me say that I completely agree with this sentiment.  I have never seen that many uncontested explosive runs before.  I mean my gosh.  IF you are playing AP in his prime and he breaks 3 tackles you can kind of understand that, but there was a third and thirteen where DeMarco murray pulled up lame and he wasn't touched for 18 yards.  It was the most pathetic performance that I have ever seen.  It got called back for stepping out of bounds but you had some third string TE run through our whole defense.  That CAN'T HAPPEN!  It just can't.  Had Shahd come out at the start of the third Quarter and told Bradley to get out of the stadium I would have had no problem with it. 

 

Having said all that... 

 

1.) This game was so bad, that I think it could logically be placed as an Outlier for the defense.  To this point in almost every game they competed and gave us a chance to win.  I am not saying that as an excuse, that level of mediocrity and apathy should never be tolerated at the professional level, but at least to this point, it hasn't been a pattern.

 

2.) This was bound to happen.  The defense has been over performing in the past few weeks keeping us in games we should have bene blown out of.  When you go three and out that many times and allow the TOP and field position to become THAT SKEWED then there will eventually be a snowball affect and a good team will put up a couple TD's.  The offense has scored I believe 6 points in the last 3 first halves combined.  Blake has regressed this season, the receivers (aside from Marqise) have regressed.  The running game is abysmal.  This HAS become a pattern. 

 

This defense is based on essentially two rookies providing the bulk of the pass rush.  We were going to need the O to take the bull by the horns and let them play with a lead in some games, convert third downs so they could be fresh, and not turn the ball over to put them in bad situations.  We have failed pretty miserably in that regard. 

 

After a performance like that I have no problem with cutting bait with Gus, but at the same time I think it makes sense to see if we can give the offense some life and let things play out. 

 

Also, I think that this has a lot to do with the small miracle that we are only 2 games back in the win column.  In reality, the gulf is a lot bigger than that we haven't played to our potential all year but I think it plays into the wait and see narrative.  If we were 1-6 and the leaders in the division were 5-2 I don't think that Gus would be employed.

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