It's time. Time for our defense "really" to be tested. Not a preseason test, or 3rd preseason game test. But a time for our defense to genuinely be tested, by a competent offense, and for a record that differentiates between those who make the playoffs and those who don't. There is no doubt that between free agency and the draft, we have bolstered and concentrated on making this defense better.  

 

This time last year, we were told  "This year, we built the team. It's built and it's time". Well, we found out the hard way that it wasn't built. You can barely say it was framed. Offense showed some signs of life. But, our defense...down right pathetic. Was it players, scheme, defensive coordinator, Ryan O curse? Maybe a little bit of everything. I think most would agree that Babich had to go as the defensive coordinator. Enter Todd Wash.

 

We've only seen a few quarters of first rounders against first rounders this preseason. I will exclude the last preseason game, as it is a glorified scrimmage. 1st and 2nd game not so bad. Let's talk about the 3rd preseason game. A game that was really supposed to give a clue as to how our defense will perform when it's all on the line. Point blank: we looked lost. Deja vu to last season. I will not accept as an excuse that we don't have enough talent and we are still rebuilding from a complete overhaul. Most of our defensive starters were signed a free agents, and had previously proven themselves with other teams. If our defense fails this year, it is on the coaches. Period. And frankly, I'm concerned. 3rd preseason game was like a gut punch. Was there less planning that should have been? Were we intentionally being vanilla so as to not show our hand with strategies? Or were we (Todd Wash) too overconfident in our players that we thought they would just "make plays" by being out on the field?

 

I just wanted to know what the general consensus is of how everyone thinks Wash is doing/and will do this season. I'm not sure he had proven himself enough to be given the opportunity as defensive coordinator. And just for extra thought, what has the DB's coach done for the Jaguars for the past few seasons? Between him and Wash, I'm still not counting any chickens before they hatch.

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