Should We Be Concerned About The Run Defense?

[rey2009]

so we all know how abused we were by the running game during the first 3 weeks of the season...then the bye week came, we picked up hollis thomas and i think alot of us might have been fooled by our success against the run over the next 5 weeks...here's where those 5 teams ranked in rushing offense

WAS - 19th

TB - 25th

BUF - 18th

ARI - 31st

NO - 5th (getting out to a 17-3 lead kinda forced them to abandon the run...plus, they have no problems throwing it)

ATL is ranked 9th...i bring this up b/c last week we were very fortunate that turner left the game with an injury...he was absolutely abusing us...i just wonder if the run defense really improved after the bye week or if it was just a matter of playing teams that aren't even ranked in the top half of the league in rushing offense?

[CatMan72]

Uh, yes - our run defense invented a time machine last night and took us back to 2002 where Ricky Williams ran all over us.

[monstercat]

They haven't been the same since TD got hurt. It's hard to believe that one player can make that much of a difference though. It's like he was our Bob Sanders.

[guyinchesapeake]

I believe our pass defense is rated quite highly. That's easy to figure out, our run defense stinks. Turner was eating us up last Sunday until he was injured. The Dolphins ran on us all night, and that set up some critical passes that they completed. And this from a team who lost their best player this week, and are starting a backup QB! While I do see more fire and attitude in our defense, qualities that were sorely lacking late last season, we are giving up far too many rushing yards. I think losing Davis is a big reason for that. Until we adequately replace him, we'll see more of the same against teams with good running attacks..

[Sloth]

We're the epitome of a Meeks defense and look very much like the Colts D while he was there. Good against the pass, terrible against the run.

We just can't hang 30+ on another team and let the D pin their ears back.

[rico6]

Yes...and No it's a combination of Meeks defense + lacking a True Run Stuffer, while hollis has been the best Stop Gap player we've picked up in a long time.Having Kemo is significant because he frees up space for our LB's to make plays, just look at Beason's stats.

And we really miss TD

[carolinanimal]

We're the epitome of a Meeks defense and look very much like the Colts D while he was there. Good against the pass, terrible against the run.

We just can't hang 30+ on another team and let the D pin their ears back.

Exactly! meeks defenses were always weak against the run, but has always been good agianst the pass. But also his defenses have also caused a lot of to's and and was good in points allowed. this d should be a good fit for our o, not too aggressive and doesnt give up big plays and points. think about it. We held them to 14 points for 3 quarters. we couldnt score more than 14 in 3 quarters!! sad.

[PantherDude]

Absolutely! I hope Meeks fix that next year if he's stay. We should maybe get a good player that can help our run defense.

[Speed]

There is no correction until we have a coach that knows how to motivate.

[Fright]

We shouldn't change a thing! It's a comedic relief to me seeing Hayden get blown backwards 10 yards every run play. /sarcasm

[PantherDude]

We shouldn't change a thing! It's a comedic relief to me seeing Hayden get blown backwards 10 yards every run play. /sarcasm

I just love your avatar. Who's the babe? :drool5: :arf:

[guyinchesapeake]

Exactly! meeks defenses were always weak against the run, but has always been good agianst the pass. But also his defenses have also caused a lot of to's and and was good in points allowed. this d should be a good fit for our o, not too aggressive and doesnt give up big plays and points. think about it. We held them to 14 points for 3 quarters. we couldnt score more than 14 in 3 quarters!! sad.

There's a lot of truth to that, but good reasons for it as well. With the offense the Colts had, able to put up bunches of points quickly, they were able to consistently keep teams behind score wise, requiring those teams to HAVE to pass the ball, especially late in a game. Also, while the Colts run defense was often maligned, the year they won the SB their run defense came together quite well late in the season and in the playoffs. New Orleans is showing many of the same tendencies this year that those Colt teams had, they can be ran on, but when you're consistently down score wise, especially in the second half, the run isn't going to help much, and thus, their defense is in position to play the pass only, and their defense is scoring a lot of points because of that, via INTs.

[Peppers90 NC]

we were holing williams to less than 3.5 ypc before that last run. we got a taste of our own medicine tho, allowing a first down on a 3rd and 16 run play. we give up 6-8 yards too often, but did ok yesterday other than the 46 yarder and the 17 yarder on 3rd and 16