The main difference in our defense this year versus the last few years Is that players seem to be in better position to make plays. I chalk this up to better coaching though the defense is less talented overall in skill.
I just don't see those breakdowns we were used to in years past. Just limited skill and ability. Think spags needs a year to get roster upgraded and we can have a solid d
There seems to be less thinking and more doing now. Less coverage breakdowns too.
Hi arc.
Also, I think the effects of the short week are more obvious in the defenses than in the offenses.
Bingo. You can argue that Amukamara and DRC are the best CB tandem in the league - Fewell has never had the benefit of having those guys both fully healthy and on the field at the same time. In a lot of cases he's had to play their backup's backup.
The coverage in the secondary has been significantly better, but they're still not getting sufficient pressure on the Qb. And I would look at Atlanta and Dallas as better measuring sticks for the defense, which were both embarrassing performances. I do see some promise, but I don't think it has anything to do with any special magic Spags is bringing to the team.
Cmon Bob. Fewell had 2 Top 10 defenses in points allowed during his 5 seasons with the Giants. He had terrible linebacker play last year and no healthy corners.
As to last night, what happens if Cousins throws the ball accurately? He was awful. The Redskins have to be out of their minds playing that bum over RG3. But that is why they are the Redskins.
The Giants came into this game ranked 31st in defense. Their defense allowed 2-score leads in the fourth quarter of the previous 2 games to be frittered away. Last night, the Redskins were 4 for 4 converting fourth downs. The Giants got helped by three huge offensive penalties that brought back big plays. Reed (5-86) was open the whole damn night.
Lots of Carl Banks analysis in this thread. People seeing what they want to see. I hope they come around this year. The overall talent on defense is much better than it was last season. But neither they nor Spagnuolo have done much to inspire confidence.
Well Hosley started and Prince went down for a period of time so you can't say that.
Much more athletic LB's who have a sense of what to do - unlike athletic LB who have little football sense. Nice to see LB filling holes on running plays vs picking wrong spots
A healthy Cullen Jenkins at DT. He is not a DE but is a good veteran DT
Most important is the DC. I think it is clear that guys like to play for him
As a result if they continue to put teams into passing situations I would think as the defense develops under Spags the pass rush could eventually get better as a matter of repetition and scheme. They have shown a penchant for turning teams over and that is huge. No bigger then Wade sticking his hand in at the goal line as the Redskin running back was about to score a touchdown.
Then, the fourth quarter, again.....
First drive of the quarter, they go 78 yards for a td, but the back fumbles it out of the endzone for a touchback....
Next time they touch the ball, they go 74 yards for a td....
And then, just when you think ST's has turned the corner, a punt return for a td, and two onside kicks that the Giants almost gave away....
You get away with that against a team like Washington....not against the better teams in the league.....
This defense can't protect leads.....Eli has to score more points....
It was good to see Randle make some plays out there(but does he look stiff when he runs?), because Harris does not look like a receiver....Cruz can't get back soon enough....
Now the walking wounded have 10 days to rest up for Buffalo...
Significantly better? How in the world can you say that?
I'm not sure what's going on... this seems to be a three quarter team.
You were almost close though.
The problem remains that our pass rush must be holding out like Kam Chancellor because it has yet to report to the team. Our secondary and linebackers can only cover for so long. Give a QB an hour to make throws, and receivers will get open.
that is BS
We are playing a 4-3 defense with zero DE's of note. We can't get pressure on the QB with rushing 4. How sad is that with a 4-3 defense? VERY! I fear the game a team comes out and just goes 3 wide and throws all day. We are great against the run but against the pass we are suspect as seen in all 3 fourth quarters (we have talented cover corners but they cant cover all day).
I only hope Ayers, OO or Moore find a way to be our needed DE pass rusher.
Based on current personnel and combined with players being in the proper position, plays are being made and the net result looks to be positive IMO.
If OWA can perhaps put on some pressure when he gets in the line-up, it could end up being a very good D.
Arrow is pointing up, the unit is looking more cohesive but there are still a lot of guys wide open in the secondary and we caught a few breaks last night. Better to be lucky than good, I suppose.
We've done fairly well against the run but the pass defense still has a ways to go. I'll be very happy with league average defense this year. We're not quite there yet.
My biggest issue with Fewell was, and has always been, uncontested catches by the opposition's recievers.
I'm not seeing that nearly as much anymore, so I am happy, even though they are struggling.
But I can't blame Spags for being too aggressive when our pass rush is so weak. He's a little blitz happy but I don't mind it as much with this DL.
This defense is decimated by injuries and yet they consistently do a better job of setting the edge, funneling the run, playing downhill with aggression and more energy than the past few seasons. Plenty of work to do, and need to get healthy, but there are plenty of encouraging signs.
I was waiting for this. The main difference between this season and the last few is that a large chunk of fans are quick to dismiss any positives as being against bottom dwellers team or backup QBs. These same cats are in here now arguing the opposite because they like this defensive coordinator more. Amazing, isn't it
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He seems to get a lot more out of less talent then PF ever did
Cmon Bob. Fewell had 2 Top 10 defenses in points allowed during his 5 seasons with the Giants. He had terrible linebacker play last year and no healthy corners.
As to last night, what happens if Cousins throws the ball accurately? He was awful. The Redskins have to be out of their minds playing that bum over RG3. But that is why they are the Redskins.
The Giants came into this game ranked 31st in defense. Their defense allowed 2-score leads in the fourth quarter of the previous 2 games to be frittered away. Last night, the Redskins were 4 for 4 converting fourth downs. The Giants got helped by three huge offensive penalties that brought back big plays. Reed (5-86) was open the whole damn night.
Lots of Carl Banks analysis in this thread. People seeing what they want to see. I hope they come around this year. The overall talent on defense is much better than it was last season. But neither they nor Spagnuolo have done much to inspire confidence.
It what category were the Giants 31st? Because it wasn't points, and that's the one that counts.
This defense is decimated by injuries and yet they consistently do a better job of setting the edge, funneling the run, playing downhill with aggression and more energy than the past few seasons. Plenty of work to do, and need to get healthy, but there are plenty of encouraging signs.
I agree with this. It looks like a fundamentally sound group of players on defense. And to me that is the major reason we have been successful in the first 3 quarters of our games.
Problem is our lack of a pass rush is going to kill us. If someone doesn't step up we are not going very far.
I do like seeing the return of blitzes to our team though.
There seems to be less thinking and more doing now. Less coverage breakdowns too.
Hi arc.
I think a win makes things seem better than they are because our 31st ranked pass defense is the main problem and why we lost the first two games (Eli mistakes, notwithstanding).
I am not sure if we were just playing a soft shell over the last quarter and a half (which is a mistake if we did, because we were not leading by enough to do that), but we gave up a lot of long gains through the air. It seems we run a zone defense where no one in the zone actually picks up a receiver running through the zone.
I can see why we might go to a zone, though, considering how our LBs get gashed in coverage against backs and TEs, but players have to do a better job picking up whoever is in the zone, and we get no pass rush from our front four at all. We have some time now to make adjustments, and I hope we do.
But to end on a positive note, the thing Spags has really fixed is the rushing defense. Our run defense is drastically improved. It's actually an amazing turnaround.
Selvie and Ayers are playing their arses off, the DTs have elevated their play, and Spags is trying to bring timely heat blitzing from the back seven to create pressure. But, they flat out need an Odi to develop quickly and to add another talent next offseason.
Next question? That was a softball.
The secondary has generally played pretty well, and the LB corps is improving. Kennard is all over the field making plays, Thomas has had some moments, Collins is all over the field, he and Meriweather up in the box have made an impact.
If there was one fundamental thing this defense needed to demonstrate, it's setting the edge and they're improving there as well.
Next question? That was a softball.
We didn't really have any last year, either. JPP is the only real difference and although he's a good pass rushing DE, he's strongest against the run.
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He seems to get a lot more out of less talent then PF ever did
Cmon Bob. Fewell had 2 Top 10 defenses in points allowed during his 5 seasons with the Giants. He had terrible linebacker play last year and no healthy corners.
As to last night, what happens if Cousins throws the ball accurately? He was awful. The Redskins have to be out of their minds playing that bum over RG3. But that is why they are the Redskins.
The Giants came into this game ranked 31st in defense. Their defense allowed 2-score leads in the fourth quarter of the previous 2 games to be frittered away. Last night, the Redskins were 4 for 4 converting fourth downs. The Giants got helped by three huge offensive penalties that brought back big plays. Reed (5-86) was open the whole damn night.
Lots of Carl Banks analysis in this thread. People seeing what they want to see. I hope they come around this year. The overall talent on defense is much better than it was last season. But neither they nor Spagnuolo have done much to inspire confidence.
Its definitely an ongoing work. I just hated PF habit of playing not to lose.
This year .. we are 2 GAMES into Season with this new Defense.
I think we get better at getting off fields in 3rd and longs
as we get more comfortable with this new system.
but the players are playing with more energy and less confusion
Both guys play the run very well.
Selvie and Ayers are playing their arses off, the DTs have elevated their play, and Spags is trying to bring timely heat blitzing from the back seven to create pressure. But, they flat out need an Odi to develop quickly and to add another talent next offseason.
Couldn't agree more. If the talent is there (no forced picks) - we have to concentrate high at the DE position in the next couple of drafts. I am sorta of giving up on D. Moore but, still have my fingers crossed with OO. Hope he can stay healthy - injuries were a problem at UCLA.
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