The Defense

[wayne]

[quote name='jdynamite' timestamp='1354021213' post='1235584']
I may be wrong but it seems that Kruger is being used similar to last year now and playing more on passing situations and he is fresher and getting pressure.

I'm thinking when McPhee comes back maybe he shouldn't start, he should rotate in like last season as well maybe he can generate pressure too. Art Jones or D.Tyson could start get more of the run-stopping plays with McPhee getting reps like last year.
[/quote]

I agree with this assessment and I feel McPhee should get the same treatment. I know it's too early to say but Kruger and McPhee seems like good situational players and mediocre starters.

[jdynamite]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1354082937' post='1236885']
I agree with this assessment and I feel McPhee should get the same treatment. [b]I know it's too early to say but Kruger and McPhee seems like good situational players and mediocre starters.[/b]
[/quote]

Yeah, I know what you mean, because as I was thinking of a way to word this I mainly struggled with an excuse or defense for Kruger ( because he has been with the team for 4 years now, albeit with little playing time early on, I still believe within a 4 year time frame and with veteran leadership such as Suggs and JJ for years that Kruger should have learned better technique to Shed blocks, set the edge etc to be a more complete player. But the flip side to that is Kruger was kind of played with as to would he be a 280 lb DE or a 260 lb LB maybe that stunned his development a little rather than creating versatility ( like with Adailus Thomas))
I think McPhee honestly just needs to work on his technique, body control, hand movement, if will be an every down starter, pass rusher with run stopping ability, this is only McPhee's second year.

[Bltravens]

How about Pees last night? Soft zone coverages again, scared to blitz when a team has more than 1 WR that can beat you deep. He stopped the run well by bringing Pollard down alot, but he played off coverage on Wallace, Brown and Sanders virtually the entire night. Hardly any zone blitzing done. That was a game plan from 2 months ago by Pees.

I'm also getting miffed by how they're using Upshaw. They're trying to mold him into JJ which is fine and all but you don't take an All American at the top of the 2nd round to be a 2 down LB. He's gotten worse as a pass rusher since Alabama. I realize Kruger is a better pass rusher but even when Upshaw is on the field we hardly ever let him pass rush and when we do its at the damn DT position.

The scheme needs to change in regards to the OLB position for this team, we can't have an OLB that can't pass rush and just always drops in coverage. When Suggs becomes less impactful, which is coming in the next few years unfortunately, we are going to have serious issues if Upshaw isn't given pass rush reps or used correctly.

[CptJesus]

The Defense last night

[img]http://fapamentalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/20d7d2ba21a9f90ea7121a7616362668_yapfiles.ru_.gif[/img]

[TT_05_Stang]

Pees and Cam are our problems.

We cant tackle. We are soft midfield. Only care about redzone defense.

The yards AFTER tackle is atrocious for us.

Our DL is getting manhandled...

[CptJesus]

[quote name='TT_05_Stang' timestamp='1354564934' post='1245126']
Pees and Cam are our problems.

We cant tackle. We are soft midfield. Only care about redzone defense.

The yards AFTER tackle is atrocious for us.

Our DL is getting manhandled...
[/quote]

I feel like you contradicted yourself a bit there. Pee and Cam are PART of the problem, but your second part is far more crucial. Some of the tackling last night was pretty atrocious. Let's not forget the many many many times a Steelers receiver was WIDE open behind our coverage.

[Bravens292]

dline played awful. i can't believe we made a 3rd stringer look that comforable. we had some good run stops in the backfield but with that oline, we shouldn't have given up as many big plays as we did.

[kassaiscool]

I have noticed a trend, our d plays worse at home than on the road after the bye. Our game plan on D was working all the way up until a little before halftime. Something our coordinators can't do is adjust. Teams make adjustments and we struggle.

[flynismo]

Corey Graham is beast. He, Webb and Jimmy will give us a killer trio at CB next season.

If we can find proper personnel for our DL, our defense will be back to being a top 3 unit.

[nextgen_RavensFan]

Kruger finally found his groove but i did not hear Upshaws name at all. I hope he is ok. Graham is awesome, for sure a ball hawk.

[wayne]

To the masses that want to blame the D for the game........ I feel our D is doing the best with what we have. Webb and Ray is out with Suggs, Ngata, Reed who are banged up. We have Kruger and McCellan with Upshaw who is our OLB's with McClain and Ellerbe who is our two ILB's with Cary Williams and Graham who we picked up off the streets ( he's playing good ) along with Johnson.

Our D is playing is good as it can in the circumstances it's in and this is like our 4th D-Coordinator in 5 years or something like that. This was suppose to be the year where the O gave the D a break which with everything that has happen, we knew the O was gonna have to step up.

[CptJesus]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1354587575' post='1245731']
To the masses that want to blame the D for the game........ I feel our D is doing the best with what we have. Webb and Ray is out with Suggs, Ngata, Reed who are banged up. We have Kruger and McCellan with Upshaw who is our OLB's with McClain and Ellerbe who is our two ILB's with Cary Williams and Graham who we picked up off the streets ( he's playing good ) along with Johnson.

Our D is playing is good as it can in the circumstances it's in and this is like our 4th D-Coordinator in 5 years or something like that. This was suppose to be the year where the O gave the D a break which with everything that has happen, we knew the O was gonna have to step up.
[/quote]

Come on. Our D has looked so much better in the past few games than this pathetic performance. Receivers couldn't have been more open if someone was holding our secondary hostage.

[GrimCoconut]

I have to give the defense a slight pass. People are forgetting we're missing Ellerbe, and he's had a phenomenal year. Light out year. That made a big difference.

Hell, I will say even losing Dickson hurt us. He might not have the most reliable hands (hah!) But he does block decent and is not bad catching, though his hands need work.

I know Dickson's not playing defense but it just kinda fit with my post, lol. Anyway, losing Ellerbe was a big deal. Then losing Suggs in-game was a big deal. That's when our defense really struggled.

[wayne]

[quote name='CptJesus' timestamp='1354591913' post='1245878']
Come on. Our D has looked so much better in the past few games than this pathetic performance. Receivers couldn't have been more open if someone was holding our secondary hostage.
[/quote]

You act as if Brown or Wallace had 100 yards receiving with like 8 catches a piece or something. What killed the momentum to me was the strip sack by Harrison on Flacco. If we could have at least punted the ball on that possession, I feel they wouldn't have came away with any points.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1354607786' post='1246089']


You act as if Brown or Wallace had 100 yards receiving with like 8 catches a piece or something. What killed the momentum to me was the strip sack by Harrison on Flacco. If we could have at least punted the ball on that possession, I feel they wouldn't have came away with any points.
[/quote]if Brown didn't fumble himself we wouldn't even have had the ball.

Don't start the if game because there was a lot more that favoured the Steelers

[Militant X 1]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1354563489' post='1245082']
[u][b]How about Pees last night? Soft zone coverages again[/b][/u], scared to blitz when a team has more than 1 WR that can beat you deep. He stopped the run well by bringing Pollard down alot, but he played off coverage on Wallace, Brown and Sanders virtually the entire night. Hardly any zone blitzing done. That was a game plan from 2 months ago by Pees.

I'm also getting miffed by how they're using Upshaw. They're trying to mold him into JJ which is fine and all but you don't take an All American at the top of the 2nd round to be a 2 down LB. He's gotten worse as a pass rusher since Alabama. I realize Kruger is a better pass rusher but even when Upshaw is on the field we hardly ever let him pass rush and when we do its at the damn DT position.

The scheme needs to change in regards to the OLB position for this team, we can't have an OLB that can't pass rush and just always drops in coverage. When Suggs becomes less impactful, which is coming in the next few years unfortunately, we are going to have serious issues if Upshaw isn't given pass rush reps or used correctly.
[/quote]

i was so pissed over this. JAM THE RECEIVERS! you don't give speedy receivers a huge 10-12 yard cushion to accelerate in open field. smh! you jam them up...get in their faces....make their first 5yds to get open...a tough 5 yrds. throw them off of their routes and mess up the timing of the QB's passes. what is hard about that?

~Mili

[Bullrush]

I'm loving what Art Jones is turning into. He used to be a decent run stopper, now he's really good against the run and in the past 2 weeks he was a beast as a pass rusher as well. A lot of QB hits, lots of tackles behind the line, 3 sacks. If he keeps making progress like that and with his background he could become a Pro Bowl type player next year. Kruger is also doing a good job rushing the passer.

[Radinho84]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1354565804' post='1245143']
Corey Graham is beast. He, Webb and Jimmy will give us a killer trio at CB next season.

If we can find proper personnel for our DL, our defense will be back to being a top 3 unit.
[/quote]

agreed on webb and graham. not so sure about smith. he has a long way to go to become a great corner.
but maybe his problems are the high expectations we had regarding him being the next revis

[flynismo]

[quote name='Radinho84' timestamp='1354639612' post='1246392']
agreed on webb and graham. not so sure about smith. he has a long way to go to become a great corner.
but maybe his problems are the high expectations we had regarding him being the next revis
[/quote]

Smith's problem is his durability. Guy has played hurt most of his games. I remember a while back the thread about how he gets beat on double moves a lot; I think that a lot of that has to do with his mobility being limited by his injuries.

[BloodRaven]

Art Jones is a beast, we need to re-sign him.

[HoldingCall]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1354594288' post='1245912']
I have to give the defense a slight pass. People are forgetting we're missing Ellerbe, and he's had a phenomenal year. Light out year. That made a big difference.

Hell, I will say even losing Dickson hurt us. He might not have the most reliable hands (hah!) But he does block decent and is not bad catching, though his hands need work.

I know Dickson's not playing defense but it just kinda fit with my post, lol. Anyway, losing Ellerbe was a big deal. Then losing Suggs in-game was a big deal. That's when our defense really struggled.
[/quote]

I agree!

[nextgen_RavensFan]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1354565804' post='1245143']
Corey Graham is beast. He, Webb and Jimmy will give us a killer trio at CB next season.

If we can find proper personnel for our DL, our defense will be back to being a top 3 unit.
[/quote]

Come on flynismo really ? You cannot keep Smith on the field so good luck with that. Williams a "Beast" not even close. The guy gets burnt more then toast and even if it was 2nd down and 3 he still plays 10 to 12 yards off. He never EVER plays the balls and he is just a mess. To get an interception it has to be a very bad throw by the QB which has happened this year to his benefit. With Webb you are correct. I doubt Carey is even here next season as i think Graham will take over that 2nd spot and Webb will be back strong. Smith on the other hand will probably be on the sideline with some other issue not gaining experience he really needs and that is what will always be his downfall. Some guys never stay healthy, it is a fact. No matter what talent they have. Look at Brian Roberts, probably one of the best lead off hitting 2nd baseman in the MLB but he has sat out and watched seasons go by.

I am not saying Jimmy is a bad player. He has all the talent and size to be a BEAST but he just has this talent for getting hurt.

[The Raven]

[quote name='nextgen_RavensFan' timestamp='1354643447' post='1246488']
Come on flynismo really ? You cannot keep Smith on the field so good luck with that. Williams a "Beast" not even close. The guy gets burnt more then toast and even if it was 2nd down and 3 he still plays 10 to 12 yards off. He never EVER plays the balls and he is just a mess. To get an interception it has to be a very bad throw by the QB which has happened this year to his benefit. With Webb you are correct. I doubt Carey is even here next season as i think Graham will take over that 2nd spot and Webb will be back strong. Smith on the other hand will probably be on the sideline with some other issue not gaining experience he really needs and that is what will always be his downfall. Some guys never stay healthy, it is a fact. No matter what talent they have. Look at Brian Roberts, probably one of the best lead off hitting 2nd baseman in the MLB but he has sat out and watched seasons go by.

I am not saying Jimmy is a bad player. He has all the talent and size to be a BEAST but he just has this talent for getting hurt.
[/quote]

Do you need glasses? Fly never even mentioned Williams...

[Bullrush]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1354642027' post='1246454']
Art Jones is a beast, we need to re-sign him.
[/quote]
Definitely. If he keeps it up the next 4 games they should re-sign him this offseason.

[nextgen_RavensFan]

The guy is taking over on defense. Is making everyone take notice. Just what we need.

[flynismo]

[quote name='nextgen_RavensFan' timestamp='1354643447' post='1246488']
Come on flynismo really ? You cannot keep Smith on the field so good luck with that. Williams a "Beast" not even close. The guy gets burnt more then toast and even if it was 2nd down and 3 he still plays 10 to 12 yards off. He never EVER plays the balls and he is just a mess. To get an interception it has to be a very bad throw by the QB which has happened this year to his benefit. With Webb you are correct. I doubt Carey is even here next season as i think Graham will take over that 2nd spot and Webb will be back strong. Smith on the other hand will probably be on the sideline with some other issue not gaining experience he really needs and that is what will always be his downfall. Some guys never stay healthy, it is a fact. No matter what talent they have. Look at Brian Roberts, probably one of the best lead off hitting 2nd baseman in the MLB but he has sat out and watched seasons go by.

I am not saying Jimmy is a bad player. He has all the talent and size to be a BEAST but he just has this talent for getting hurt.
[/quote]

I never mentioned Cary...I think I've made my opinion on him pretty obvious since the beginning of last year.

But if Jimmy has a talent for getting hurt, then what does that say about Webb?

[Bltravens]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1354683794' post='1247134']
I never mentioned Cary...I think I've made my opinion on him pretty obvious since the beginning of last year.

But if Jimmy has a talent for getting hurt, then what does that say about Webb?
[/quote]
At least Jimmy doesn't blow anything out, would be the argument you could take. Besides, Smith will be back for the playoff run.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1354686148' post='1247155']
At least Jimmy doesn't blow anything out, would be the argument you could take. Besides, Smith will be back for the playoff run.
[/quote]

Yep, but he worries me. He hasn't played very well when hurt; and he gets banged up an awful lot

[Bltravens]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1354690014' post='1247164']
Yep, but he worries me. He hasn't played very well when hurt; and he gets banged up an awful lot
[/quote]
With weird things. I don't even know how you get a sports hernia. Seems like random chance.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1354721820' post='1247304']

With weird things. I don't even know how you get a sports hernia. Seems like random chance.
[/quote]its pretty common, nothing major really, something to do with the muscle, you just get it removed. Footballers, well soccer players for you get them often enough.