Defensive performance so far

[tonyto3690]

As a whole they've looked better than expected. Don't really include the ravens game as they were given 28 undeserved points. Just to make a list of quick hits.

Spikes has regressed largely because of scheme. Was hoping to see him blitz more.

Chandler has been a beast. He had a monster game against the ravens, just wasn't getting the calls.

McCourty has been way better than people give him credit for. Not rookie season dominant but still pretty good.

Chung has been okay.

Gregory has been better than expected, solid.

Hightower has been pretty good for a rookie, hope he developes into more of an impact player instead of a guy who won't lose the game for you.

Mayo hasn't been good. Still needs more impact plays.

Wilfork is still an all pro who we are way too dependent on

Love has been better than expected. Solid starter but still would prefer him as a backup rotation guy. Still upset we didn't get red Bryant

Ninkovich has been a massive liability in both pass and run defense

Cunningham has made a nice resurgence.


I think the schematic shift to have lighter de's and heavy lbs was a smart one, but we need to get a better de than Ninkovich, he simply can not hold up in the run and is mediocre rushing the passer as a de. Whether its Cunningham or carter or someone else, we need to improve there.

Also the disappearance of dowling has been confusing. While I think Arrington and especially McCourty have been doing better than give credit for, I'm confused why someone as talented as him is on the bench. I was expecting a great year out of him.

Safety play from last year has been much better and now we have some actual range and athleticism. I'd like to see Chung (Along with spikes and hightower) given chances to blitz more often. Heck even a corner blitz out of McCourty could be beneficial as iirc it worked well in 2010 when we did it (twice?)

As long as wilfork and love are on the field, we have a pretty good defense as our run defense can be contained in the front seven and play two deep safety. However it reared it's ugly head against the ravens. Wilfork was getting a breather and the ravens ran it down our throats like we were expecting a hailmary. We can't afford to be that dependent and that bad without him.[/img]
_________________

[mcmurtry86]

Spikes was fine the first 2 games. Both he and Hightower were bad vs. Baltimore

McCourty has been mostly fine, not sure how much of that is due to improved safety play

Arrington isn't as bad as people make him out to be, but I don't understand Ras-I Dowling's disappearance

Kyle Love was pretty good the first 2 games, but again, too easily neutralized vs the Ravens

Chung is what he is

Gregory hasn't been as good as some people here have made him out to be, but he hasn't been bad. I'd say slightly below average or average, which isn't too bad considering how poor NFL safeties are. He's not a liability, which is the important thing

Mayo as a WILL isn't something I really understood last year and still don't get it. He's solid, but seems to be playing away from his strengths

I wouldn't call Ninkovich a massive liability, but he's been a non-factor. Not sure what they can do there, maybe Trevor Scott gets more playing time

Cunningham has been somewhat effective but under utilized

Sterling Moore has been bad, bad, bad.

The backup DL haven't done anything, but other than Forston don't look out of place

Tavon Wilson has been OK, hard to tell given his limited playing time

I'm not worried about the defense really. I don't think it's a unit that can win games for the team or dominate an opponent. However, it seems like a unit that will trend towards solid and reliable as the season goes on (assuming no big injuries to Wilfork or McCourty)

The lack of a pass rush is troubling though. Next year's draft or free agency needs to yield an interior rusher. Love is OK (passable anyway) as a base defense DT but a more disruptive player would take the defense from steady (which is what I hope they end up as) to disruptive and possibly elite.

[Jmacz008]

Why specifically do you think Sterling Moore has been so bad? I'm not disagreeing with you, I just haven't really noticed anything to terrible. Why exactly has he been so bad?

[mcmurtry86]

[Sciz]

Better refs against the Ravens and better STs against the Cards, and the Pats are top 5 in the NFL in points allowed. I can't complain about that.
_________________
Shut up, NBT

[TKOhitter8737]

[tonyto3690]

[mcmurtry86]

[Deadpulse]

The thing I can't understand about Nink is that he was good last year and even with Chandler already getting some double teams on the other side, he still can't be a factor. I really just dont understand, maybe he just can't have his hand in the dirt, Idk.
_________________

Sig Gallery

[NinjaZX6R]

[mcmurtry86]

[Deadpulse]

[mcmurtry86]

[trivium2009]

[24isthelaw]