It's been quite a Jekyll & Hyde 4 games for our defense - absolutely dominant in the first 3 quarters of a game, and absolutely terrible in the 4th quarter.
While I think their performance is somewhat lacking, I can't hold them as closely to the fire as I do the offense. I actually think Babich has done a great job calling this defense, he's been much more creative and strategic in his calls than Rivera ever was.
But the combination of injuries, lack of secondary depth, and too much time on the field have led to poor performances late in the games by the defense. While some argue that defense can 'make its own rest' by making stops & getting off the field, it is imperative that the ofense is bale to hold onto the ball, move the ball, and score some points for any defense to have sustainable success. Playing 35-40 minutes in a game DOES wear out even the most well-conditioned defense, and fatigue compounds the possibility of injury for the members of that defense.
I think the D has done a dcent job considering the injuries & the amount of time they have spent on the field, and I am confident that the returns of Briggs, Tillman, Vasher, and Tommie Harris (who only played as a situational rusher against Detroit) will right the D's ship.
It would be easy to go off on Jerry Angelo for trading away Dante Wesley & Chris Harris, both of whom would provide some much needed relief in the secondary right about now, but I still think he made the right football decision. We had a surplus of guys in those positions at the time, we had no indication that guys would get hurt to the extent they have (Mike Brown excluded), and Harris & Wesley were the 2 guys who were not locked up for the long term, and for whom we could get something of value in return. I do think that our DB coach has a very important role throughout the rest of this year and before the 2008 season begins...to develop all these young draft picks into serviceable DBs. Kevin Payne at safety, and McBride & Graham at CB, are going to be our secondary depth/special teams guys for the next 2-3 years by virtue of their draft standing (and possibly potential starter for Payne), so it is imperative that these guys are brought up to speed ASAP so we don't see such a hug drop-off in the event of future injuries to our CBs.
1 comment:
Pat, I agree with your comments on the defense. They're overworked and run down, and that shows up in performance and injuries.
There's an obvious risk in trading away Harris and Wesley, no more need be said on that. At some point, you've got to develop young talent, and Angelo and the staff obviously decided that this was a risk they'd have to take sooner or later. Pity that it's happening so soon, but that's life in the NFL.
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