Our rookie DT's

[ladypanther]

Getting reps...that plus some good film study. Are they going to get better....soon?

[Brooklyn Bully]

There are no guarantees. Just have to wait and see.

[jtnc]

Fua seems like he's improving holding his ground.

[ladypanther]

OK, maybe better question...what is the best we can realistically expect? I am looking to our smart football people here.

[maddog]

Let's hope so bc the rest of our defense is suffering a bit from their play. I think McClain has more promise than Fua! I've seen Fua just stink it up to much but that's just my opinion. As for the rest, we should have signed better vets until the rooks get a grip. I know this isn't Madden and you can't always pull the right strings, but this isn't Pop Warner either where everyone has to play.

[pantherclaw]

I like our young tackles.

They are playing hard, and not giving up.

If they were the sole reason for our run defense, I'd be more critical of them, but our other guys are blowing their assignments also.

[maddog]

I like our young tackles.

They are playing hard, and not giving up.

If they were the sole reason for our run defense, I'd be more critical of them, but our other guys are blowing their assignments also.

I agree that our defense as a whole needs to be versed on the concept of tackling. Just something I noticed last game was that Chicago was blowing up our D-line and making it into our linebackers. Poor tackling was evident, but our DT's was a big reason for the 224 yards rushing.

[twylyght]

Getting reps...that plus some good film study. Are they going to get better....soon?

I've seen definite improvement in their 3-technique since the beginning of the season. At the beginning of the year, they were getting pushed off their gaps pretty badly. It will still happen from time to time, but they are definitely faring much better in that regard.

Though it isn't always Fua, our DTs don't really do well in a 3-4 as a NT. That is where I've seen the biggest failures on the inside with respect to stopping the run. The biggest thing is our LBs missing their gaps or flat out not tackling. From what I can tell, this is where Rivera has seemed most frustrated.

We actually fared a little better when Beason got hurt with respect to run D. It is why I surmised that he was injured prior to coming out for the season. However, when TD went down, our run D dropped DRAMATICALLY.

I haven't heard anything on the Curry front, but I would be interested to see if we can turn things around both with him and us. Listening to Sirius radio, Gil Brandt said that the thing that struck him most by watching Curry is that he has seemed to have lost the desire to play. Perhaps if we get him back closer to familiar ground and with a new staff he can incur new life. Being a WF fan, I am used to seeing him exhibit a motor that simply did NOT quit.

[Marguide]

Getting reps...that plus some good film study. Are they going to get better....soon?

I noticed the combo of Fua/Fields quite a bit in the Chicago game. This probably isn't a knock on McClain as much as a desire by Rivera to get some more beef in the middle. They seemed to be pretty effective, but it was a small sample size because Chicago found they could just run to the outside for big gains.

One thing I really like about McClain...when he is in the game, he never gives up on a play and goes to the whistle, sometimes way downfield. Effort certainly isn't a problem.

[Guest Irv]

Mcclain is the standout. In about 2-3 years don't be surprised if he makes the probowl.

[rodeo]

I think a lot of the reason that Connor and the other LBs blow some assignments is because they're forced to do too much to make up for a lack of support up front. With a line that generates some push into the backfield and ate up a lot of the blocks, I think our LBs would look a lot better. Right now every single defensive player is being blocked on a lot of plays, there simply nothing that they can do.

[jramsey4]

I've seen definite improvement in their 3-technique since the beginning of the season. At the beginning of the year, they were getting pushed off their gaps pretty badly. It will still happen from time to time, but they are definitely faring much better in that regard.

Though it isn't always Fua, our DTs don't really do well in a 3-4 as a NT. That is where I've seen the biggest failures on the inside with respect to stopping the run. The biggest thing is our LBs missing their gaps or flat out not tackling. From what I can tell, this is where Rivera has seemed most frustrated.

We actually fared a little better when Beason got hurt with respect to run D. It is why I surmised that he was injured prior to coming out for the season. However, when TD went down, our run D dropped DRAMATICALLY.

I haven't heard anything on the Curry front, but I would be interested to see if we can turn things around both with him and us. Listening to Sirius radio, Gil Brandt said that the thing that struck him most by watching Curry is that he has seemed to have lost the desire to play. Perhaps if we get him back closer to familiar ground and with a new staff he can incur new life. Being a WF fan, I am used to seeing him exhibit a motor that simply did NOT quit.

Uh we are a 4-3 D. I think you meant a 1 tech (2 gap DT or 4-3 NT) which I do believe is a concern. McClain has improved and so has Fua (to a lesser extent). Personally I think its still up in the air and while I am optimistic and hope for the best, I also believe in preparing for the worst. DT should still be a top priority in this draft. I see us using our 4th on one. I like Mike Martin from Michigan.

I think our LB were more to blame however for Forte going off. There was a lot of sloppy play at the 2nd level especially in containment. I would love us to get Curry as I think he would sure up the SLB position allowing Anderson to play WLB where he is better suited. A lineup of Anderson, Beason, Curry would cover up a lot of weaknesses of Curry (much better at stopping the run then coverage) and that would be a pretty bright future at LB even minus TD (who I believe is too much of a liability to ever bet the future on again). I just hope its for Clausen and a conditional pick.

[twylyght]

Uh we are a 4-3 D. I think you meant a 1 tech (2 gap DT or 4-3 NT) which I do believe is a concern. McClain has improved and so has Fua (to a lesser extent). Personally I think its still up in the air and while I am optimistic and hope for the best, I also believe in preparing for the worst. DT should still be a top priority in this draft. I see us using our 4th on one. I like Mike Martin from Michigan.

I think our LB were more to blame however for Forte going off. There was a lot of sloppy play at the 2nd level especially in containment. I would love us to get Curry as I think he would sure up the SLB position allowing Anderson to play WLB where he is better suited. A lineup of Anderson, Beason, Curry would cover up a lot of weaknesses of Curry (much better at stopping the run then coverage) and that would be a pretty bright future at LB even minus TD (who I believe is too much of a liability to ever bet the future on again). I just hope its for Clausen and a conditional pick.

Regarding the 3-4 vs 4-3, we've done both. It was sparing with Fua being the only NT option after Edwards was lost for the season. You would see an occasional mix with the "NASCAR" package where McClain was moved to LDE and Norwood was brought in as the 4th LB. I don't recall seeing Hardy being in for that package though I didn't have time to go back over the games like I normally do.

With Applewhite being signed, I don't see much indication that we'll pursue those types of packages as the season goes on. I think TD really allowed that to do as well as it did when we were successful with it.

[jramsey4]

Regarding the 3-4 vs 4-3, we've done both. It was sparing with Fua being the only NT option after Edwards was lost for the season. You would see an occasional mix with the "NASCAR" package where McClain was moved to LDE and Norwood was brought in as the 4th LB. I don't recall seeing Hardy being in for that package though I didn't have time to go back over the games like I normally do.

With Applewhite being signed, I don't see much indication that we'll pursue those types of packages as the season goes on. I think TD really allowed that to do as well as it did when we were successful with it.

When was that. At no time would I consider our D successful. More like lesser degrees of lousy. Our D needs serious work that has been apparent for the entire season.