I agree with that. Hopefully, we see defenseive play Saturday by our first team against their first team indicative of improvement from the last 2 years.
Your opinion is that Shwartz is the cause of technique deterioration. So your giving the position coaches (who are the ones who coach technique not Shwartz) a pass. I don't get it. If your blaming Shwartz for the d's technical play, than you should be Blaming Fisher for the defensive scheme problems right? All I see is passing the buck here. Shwartz's job is to over see the defensive coaching staff just like it's Fishers job to oversee Shwartz. Does Shwarts suck? Maybe so. If he is the demize of this team and Fish doesn't realize it than he needs to be the one to blame.
rcarie said:
My prior posts will tell you what my position is. I'm not giving Fisher a pass nor am I saying Schwarz "caused" the technique lapse.
In most cases, Schwartz is about scheme and the position coaches are about technique.
Clarity...
Grab a sandwich and some Chips TJ and commence munching!
I'll address your points...
First...when Bulluck sees himself not shuffle his feet and over-run the play, I'm sure he is thinking about WHY he did that and I think his conclusion will be that he felt he had to make the play so he threw out his technique and his defensive responsibility and ran down the line. When we make mistakes we 'allowed' ourselves to make, we usually have a justification for it. And right or wrong, it HURTS the defense so it needs to be addressed by Schwartz AND McGinnis.
We practice fundamentals all the time in any physical technique. I'm a martial artist. I learned how to punch when I was in elementary school. Do you think I still practice punching? If you've been a professional boxer for 7 years, don't you think they KNOW every technique in boxing? And yet they ALL have coaches and spend hours and hours punching a heavy bag. Why? To maintain technical excellence (we'll ignore strategy/scheme for the moment).
Every single player on the Titans KNOWS how to tackle. So ask yourself...why do they still practice it...they know it right? Or better yet, why do we have position coaches beyond initial training camp? They've learned all the techniques, can't Schwartz just show them the defenses in the film room and they go and practice them?
You're a smart guy so I'll assume you know the answer to the above questions. You get rusty/sloppy (whatever you like to call it) when you don't practice physical techniques.
More importantly, there is a big difference in knowing HOW to do something, being able to perform it in practice, and being able to perform it as second nature (as in a fluid game situation). And this is ultimately what we're talking about...
You have to monitor players to keep their technique perfect without them having to think about it. For example, when I teach drums, I teach students a certain basic drum beat. Once they can play it comfortably (performing it in practice), I make them play it again but ask them rudimentary questions....spell your first name, what is 3-2, whats the name of your dog? Know what happens, they mess up. Did they mess up because they forgot the name of their dog or they haven't learned the technique? No. But they haven't mastered the technique to the level that they didn't have to think about it.
Some players in the NFL never learn technique, some master it, and some need constant monitoring to get them to do it. This is where coaching comes in. A defensive coordinator goes over the scheme for the defense with position coaches and tells them what needs to be done. Ultimately, he is the head coach for the defense. The reason they have position coaches is that the DC can't be in 3 different places at once teaching/coaching the DL, LB's, and DB's. The position coaches are there to get done what the DC wants to get done. If he feels the DB's aren't catching balls hitting them in the hands, he's gonna tell the secondary coach he wants that worked on. However, certain skills/techniques are unit-wide things....tackling and pursuit angles are 2 of the most important to a defense. Ultimately (at least at the HS level) you need the whole D working on these things because they are fundamental to good defense. Living in NY, I can't watch the Titans practice, but the Jets do practice this team wide. Tackling is obviously a very important skill. Within a certain variance of talent and scheme, the best tackling team will be a much better D - assuming they take proper pursuit angles (of course there are other things like taking on and shedding blocks, but you get the point). And when you pursue, you need to know where everyone else is pursuing from which is why we always practiced pursuit as a team defense. Afterall, you don't just have half the kickoff team run down to practice kickoffs...you need all 11.
In the past, Gregg Williams did not allow many missed tackles in a game. When there were a few more than he liked, the defense practiced in pads and did some extra tackling drills and magically, the tackling got better. Did anyone learn a new technique? No...but there was an emphasis on this when the technique got sloppy. The team I used to help coach got similar treatment. If we didn't tackle well, they ran more AND spent some more time doing tackling drills. They already knew HOW to tackle, but got sloppy in games because they hadn't mastered it to a certain level to retain technical excellence.
Hope that makes sense.
So getting back to Bulluck...when I see him getting more and more sloppy with his technique and I see this repeated throughout the defense, the DC is responsible. Same with pursuit angles...when it happens to the DL, LB's and DB's on the same play, it is a DC thing, not a McGinnis thing since he didn't coach the other units.
Now, you may have noticed that some people are calling for McGinnis to replace Schwartz, but the position coaches don't get a free pass either. McGinnis should be all over Bulluck to get his LB technique perfect and challenge him to set the example. Shuffling your feet and staying 'back' on the runner (as the backside LB) is a LB thing...that particular thing is a McGinnis' issue. The fact that technique breakdowns are happening across the defense in position specific techniques AND in team defense techniques is a DC thing. Hence my call for Fisher to take over the D, not McGinnis.
As far as...how do you gameplan if all you do is fundamentals...
No one is suggesting that you spend all your practice time working on tackling and taking proper pursuit angles. I only spend 5-10 minutes working on fundamentals prior to each practice. However if I see a problem with a certain fundamental, it will get additional time...but not even close to half the practice. Usually these things are not large corrections since they already 'know' the technique. But as in teaching anything...when you see technique breakdowns, they MUST be addressed FIRST. If a CB doesn't do a backpedal correctly and you let it slide, how is that gonna help your blitz package you're trying to install because that CB is gonna get smoked = totally ineffective. Technique breakdowns are the first thing that kills a D no matter how sound your scheme. Case in point, the backside LB to the play is usually the 'hit' man (or the guy who is SUPPOSED to make the tackle. If he over-runs the play and the RB cuts back, there is only a S and possibly a CB between him and the endzone. The defense called was sound and should have only given up 3 yards (or less)...but poor technique turned it into a 60 yard TD. If everyone on the D played with proper technique but the WLB didn't shuffle his feet, you could blame the player. He normally plays with good technique but messed up on that particular play and we got burned. But when half the D is doing the same thing...it's the DC.
You need to drill and drill technique until it is second nature. Since most of these guys aren't learning how to tackle for the first time, we're not talking about spending a lot of time, but making it an emphasis both on the field (when it's practiced) and on gamefilm. If someone screws up during the game, they get chewed out in gamefilm review. When one of my students messes up a C scale, which they've been playing for 10 years, I don't make them practice the C scale for an hour, but they will hear about it and have to play it perfectly a few more times than normal to make it perfect and presto...problem solved in minimal time.
As far as the previous defenses were concerned, Schwartz did 'better' when he had more vets (who are better at self monitoring) and fewer injuries. You could argue that vets have more experience so they will play better, but I would argue another point. In these last 2 years, we are far removed from MOST of the players who were coached by Gregg Williams. So the newer players are purely a product of Schwartz. To me, it is not surprising that as more and more of the players from Gregg Williams days are gone, the worse our D has gotten despite quite an influx in talent on D (via free agents and draft picks based on where they were picked). What does that tell you?
As far as simplifying the scheme, this is a BAD argument. You know who has the simplest D? The Bucs for quite a number of years and now the Colts. Simple D's can be quite destructive...except for ours. And as far as we 'need' to simplify the D because of our youth...let me remind you that the 46 D is one of the most complicated defenses the league has seen and Buddy Ryan implimented it quite effectively in a single off-season. Furthermore, the Patriots seem to be able to learn a new defense in a week (like flipping to a 4-3 when needed)...how did they do that? And remember, a few of their defenses allowed them to win the Superbowl with youth at FS, CB and an undrafted CB...and a WR playing nickel. How did they manage to have any kind of D let alone one good enough to win the Super Bowl and send Peyton packing his bags....yet we can't impliment a real D because of youth and inexperience? Even on the HS level we had to impliment new defenses in a single week. So the point is, that is just blowing smoke. Not only can it be done, it is being done!
As far as you seeing this as a talent issue...how do you figure? We have...IMO...at LEAST average talent on D but have managed to finish near last in the league the last 2 years. We have UPGRADED defensive talent this off-season and I'm not seeing much improvement yet (except for Hope being a leader and voicing what needs to be voiced).
Every single defensive coach from the defensive quality control guy all the way to Fisher plays a part in this defense. If you think we have a lack of talent at D (despite all the draft choices), you should be calling for Reese's hide. I'd also like to know who you think is sub-par on this D...?
As I've said before, if it was a talent issue, our players would be playing with good technique but simply get overwhelmed or outrun. Instead we are getting overwhelmed BECAUSE of poor technique.
Anyway, that's my $10!
Gut
Grab a sandwich and some Chips TJ and commence munching!
I'll address your points...
First...when Bulluck sees himself not shuffle his feet and over-run the play, I'm sure he is thinking about WHY he did that and I think his conclusion will be that he felt he had to make the play so he threw out his technique and his defensive responsibility and ran down the line. When we make mistakes we 'allowed' ourselves to make, we usually have a justification for it. And right or wrong, it HURTS the defense so it needs to be addressed by Schwartz AND McGinnis.
We practice fundamentals all the time in any physical technique. I'm a martial artist. I learned how to punch when I was in elementary school. Do you think I still practice punching? If you've been a professional boxer for 7 years, don't you think they KNOW every technique in boxing? And yet they ALL have coaches and spend hours and hours punching a heavy bag. Why? To maintain technical excellence (we'll ignore strategy/scheme for the moment).
Every single player on the Titans KNOWS how to tackle. So ask yourself...why do they still practice it...they know it right? Or better yet, why do we have position coaches beyond initial training camp? They've learned all the techniques, can't Schwartz just show them the defenses in the film room and they go and practice them?
You're a smart guy so I'll assume you know the answer to the above questions. You get rusty/sloppy (whatever you like to call it) when you don't practice physical techniques.
More importantly, there is a big difference in knowing HOW to do something, being able to perform it in practice, and being able to perform it as second nature (as in a fluid game situation). And this is ultimately what we're talking about...
You have to monitor players to keep their technique perfect without them having to think about it. For example, when I teach drums, I teach students a certain basic drum beat. Once they can play it comfortably (performing it in practice), I make them play it again but ask them rudimentary questions....spell your first name, what is 3-2, whats the name of your dog? Know what happens, they mess up. Did they mess up because they forgot the name of their dog or they haven't learned the technique? No. But they haven't mastered the technique to the level that they didn't have to think about it.
Some players in the NFL never learn technique, some master it, and some need constant monitoring to get them to do it. This is where coaching comes in. A defensive coordinator goes over the scheme for the defense with position coaches and tells them what needs to be done. Ultimately, he is the head coach for the defense. The reason they have position coaches is that the DC can't be in 3 different places at once teaching/coaching the DL, LB's, and DB's. The position coaches are there to get done what the DC wants to get done. If he feels the DB's aren't catching balls hitting them in the hands, he's gonna tell the secondary coach he wants that worked on. However, certain skills/techniques are unit-wide things....tackling and pursuit angles are 2 of the most important to a defense. Ultimately (at least at the HS level) you need the whole D working on these things because they are fundamental to good defense. Living in NY, I can't watch the Titans practice, but the Jets do practice this team wide. Tackling is obviously a very important skill. Within a certain variance of talent and scheme, the best tackling team will be a much better D - assuming they take proper pursuit angles (of course there are other things like taking on and shedding blocks, but you get the point). And when you pursue, you need to know where everyone else is pursuing from which is why we always practiced pursuit as a team defense. Afterall, you don't just have half the kickoff team run down to practice kickoffs...you need all 11.
In the past, Gregg Williams did not allow many missed tackles in a game. When there were a few more than he liked, the defense practiced in pads and did some extra tackling drills and magically, the tackling got better. Did anyone learn a new technique? No...but there was an emphasis on this when the technique got sloppy. The team I used to help coach got similar treatment. If we didn't tackle well, they ran more AND spent some more time doing tackling drills. They already knew HOW to tackle, but got sloppy in games because they hadn't mastered it to a certain level to retain technical excellence.
Hope that makes sense.
So getting back to Bulluck...when I see him getting more and more sloppy with his technique and I see this repeated throughout the defense, the DC is responsible. Same with pursuit angles...when it happens to the DL, LB's and DB's on the same play, it is a DC thing, not a McGinnis thing since he didn't coach the other units.
Now, you may have noticed that some people are calling for McGinnis to replace Schwartz, but the position coaches don't get a free pass either. McGinnis should be all over Bulluck to get his LB technique perfect and challenge him to set the example. Shuffling your feet and staying 'back' on the runner (as the backside LB) is a LB thing...that particular thing is a McGinnis' issue. The fact that technique breakdowns are happening across the defense in position specific techniques AND in team defense techniques is a DC thing. Hence my call for Fisher to take over the D, not McGinnis.
As far as...how do you gameplan if all you do is fundamentals...
No one is suggesting that you spend all your practice time working on tackling and taking proper pursuit angles. I only spend 5-10 minutes working on fundamentals prior to each practice. However if I see a problem with a certain fundamental, it will get additional time...but not even close to half the practice. Usually these things are not large corrections since they already 'know' the technique. But as in teaching anything...when you see technique breakdowns, they MUST be addressed FIRST. If a CB doesn't do a backpedal correctly and you let it slide, how is that gonna help your blitz package you're trying to install because that CB is gonna get smoked = totally ineffective. Technique breakdowns are the first thing that kills a D no matter how sound your scheme. Case in point, the backside LB to the play is usually the 'hit' man (or the guy who is SUPPOSED to make the tackle. If he over-runs the play and the RB cuts back, there is only a S and possibly a CB between him and the endzone. The defense called was sound and should have only given up 3 yards (or less)...but poor technique turned it into a 60 yard TD. If everyone on the D played with proper technique but the WLB didn't shuffle his feet, you could blame the player. He normally plays with good technique but messed up on that particular play and we got burned. But when half the D is doing the same thing...it's the DC.
You need to drill and drill technique until it is second nature. Since most of these guys aren't learning how to tackle for the first time, we're not talking about spending a lot of time, but making it an emphasis both on the field (when it's practiced) and on gamefilm. If someone screws up during the game, they get chewed out in gamefilm review. When one of my students messes up a C scale, which they've been playing for 10 years, I don't make them practice the C scale for an hour, but they will hear about it and have to play it perfectly a few more times than normal to make it perfect and presto...problem solved in minimal time.
As far as the previous defenses were concerned, Schwartz did 'better' when he had more vets (who are better at self monitoring) and fewer injuries. You could argue that vets have more experience so they will play better, but I would argue another point. In these last 2 years, we are far removed from MOST of the players who were coached by Gregg Williams. So the newer players are purely a product of Schwartz. To me, it is not surprising that as more and more of the players from Gregg Williams days are gone, the worse our D has gotten despite quite an influx in talent on D (via free agents and draft picks based on where they were picked). What does that tell you?
As far as simplifying the scheme, this is a BAD argument. You know who has the simplest D? The Bucs for quite a number of years and now the Colts. Simple D's can be quite destructive...except for ours. And as far as we 'need' to simplify the D because of our youth...let me remind you that the 46 D is one of the most complicated defenses the league has seen and Buddy Ryan implimented it quite effectively in a single off-season. Furthermore, the Patriots seem to be able to learn a new defense in a week (like flipping to a 4-3 when needed)...how did they do that? And remember, a few of their defenses allowed them to win the Superbowl with youth at FS, CB and an undrafted CB...and a WR playing nickel. How did they manage to have any kind of D let alone one good enough to win the Super Bowl and send Peyton packing his bags....yet we can't impliment a real D because of youth and inexperience? Even on the HS level we had to impliment new defenses in a single week. So the point is, that is just blowing smoke. Not only can it be done, it is being done!
As far as you seeing this as a talent issue...how do you figure? We have...IMO...at LEAST average talent on D but have managed to finish near last in the league the last 2 years. We have UPGRADED defensive talent this off-season and I'm not seeing much improvement yet (except for Hope being a leader and voicing what needs to be voiced).
Every single defensive coach from the defensive quality control guy all the way to Fisher plays a part in this defense. If you think we have a lack of talent at D (despite all the draft choices), you should be calling for Reese's hide. I'd also like to know who you think is sub-par on this D...?
As I've said before, if it was a talent issue, our players would be playing with good technique but simply get overwhelmed or outrun. Instead we are getting overwhelmed BECAUSE of poor technique.
Anyway, that's my $10!
Gut
TitanJeff said:
If only it worked like that...
You can't separate them like that. That would mean while the defense watches gamefilm, Schwartz would only comment on how the scheme worked or didn't....and the position coaches would look for the technique problems?
You should hear Gregg Williams breakdown tape...he points out every incorrect detail from a player mis-aligned, to poor technique, to plain getting beat by superior talent. And you know what, he doesn't blame the player or the position coaches...he blames himself because HE'S the one 'allowing it to happen.' I only use him as an example since we are all familiar with him.
If you're responsible, you better know WHY things are happening and know HOW to fix them.
Position coaches don't get a free pass - as I mentioned before - but they take their cues from the DC. McGinnis is not responsible for the secondary taking poor pursuit angles nor for a DE losing contain. We can balme him for LB specific things...but team defense problems land at the feet of Schwartz.
Gut
You can't separate them like that. That would mean while the defense watches gamefilm, Schwartz would only comment on how the scheme worked or didn't....and the position coaches would look for the technique problems?
You should hear Gregg Williams breakdown tape...he points out every incorrect detail from a player mis-aligned, to poor technique, to plain getting beat by superior talent. And you know what, he doesn't blame the player or the position coaches...he blames himself because HE'S the one 'allowing it to happen.' I only use him as an example since we are all familiar with him.
If you're responsible, you better know WHY things are happening and know HOW to fix them.
Position coaches don't get a free pass - as I mentioned before - but they take their cues from the DC. McGinnis is not responsible for the secondary taking poor pursuit angles nor for a DE losing contain. We can balme him for LB specific things...but team defense problems land at the feet of Schwartz.
Gut
TitanJeff said:
Riverman said:
Guys, preseason means squat. Never did, never will. Guys like Musa Smith look like super studs, but they barely get 50 carries in the season. Think Jay Cutler would play like this during the regular season? Come on. The fact is there is ZERO pressure to win, and when there's ZERO pressure to win, two things can happen: You either look all world because you say "heck this is my chance to shine" or you just look like you belong in NFL Europe because your spot is secure and you don't go all out and just say screw it, I ain't risking an injury, no way...
Preseason means nothing, nada, zilch. Ask the Colts...
I mostly agree with your point about Ws and Ls, but the loss in Denver was less about the W or L and more about the absolut lack of any pride, effort, attitude or commitment. The Titans were throughly outplayed in every aspect of the game. No way can the "it's preseason" apply to such a complete beatdown.
If T-Rac made the trip I bet he got forced into some scandalous horse - racoon goings on.
If T-Rac made the trip I bet he got forced into some scandalous horse - racoon goings on.
Just some coffee and toast this morning.Gut said:
I think we can assume Bulluck has heard how to play with proper technique for the last decade or more. I think is it a discredit to Bulluck to think he needs to be coached like a first or second-year player. I think it's also a stretch to think he isn't coached on technique during the preseason.
Again, it is something discussed in OTAs, the film room and training camp. Once the season begins, you rarely have the time to go back and rehash basic technique during the regular season. It is up to the player to practice what he has been taught. Let's put some responsibility on the player here.
And it continues to happen almost on a yearly basis. I would assume most teams with the inexperience the Titans have had do it even more.
As you said, Williams did it. Schwartz has done it too. So why praise Williams and not Schwartz when they both have had the same issues and addressed it the same way.
"More and more sloppy?" Based on what? One play in a preseason game?
Look at his stats. A player that productive is doing something right. I don't stare at Bulluck for 20 snaps in a row to see if he is practicing perfect technique even if I knew what that is supposed to be.
My point is he is a PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER who has both experience and success. What is a professional in your eyes? Someone who needs the same technical coaching as a rookie or second-year guy in mid-season? What burden do you place on one of the top LBs in the league to be responsible for his own actions?
It tells me the Titans defense, since '03, hasn't had nearly the talent it did in '03 or what Williams had. It's pretty simple when you look at the roster in '03 vs. '05.
It can be if you have the talent and experience to execute it to perfection. The Titans D clearly isn't nearly as talented as those Buc defenses. You can cover a lack of talent with scheme.
I've addressed this. Where was the talent in '04 and '05? Looks at the guys who were on the field playing vanilla defense in '04 because of injuries. Look at the rookies and second-year guys last year. I see three guys on those defenses which break into the lineup in a top 10 defense.
And I am unwilling to judge this season's defense based on one performance. As logical a guy as you are, how can you predict how the defense will play in October? It was the second preseason game. I think we'll have a better grasp on this season's defense in a couple of months.
I've pointed out often the mistakes Reese has made since '03. But some of it isn't his fault as injuries have taken their toll as well. Here are the higher defensive picks from '02-'04 which should be the heart and soul of the Titan defense:
'02
Haynesworth
T. Williams
Calmus
Echols
Beckham
Boiman
'03
Woolfolk
Long
Nickey
'04
LaBoy
Odom
Starks
Gardner
Schobel
Waddell
You don't have any of the above even sniffing a Pro Bowl. Besides Haynesworth, you have a long list of busts, very average players or guys who have been injured most of their career.
To Reese's credit, he didn't have the opportunity to take a guy in the top 10 during that era. But still, that is very little production from guys who should be doing more.
And I see technique and talent going hand-in-hand. Talent is limited if there is a lack of technique and vise versa. You have cases (like Hayneworth) who is often times successful despite a lack of technique. You have some players (like Sirmon) who probably would not be in the league except for his technique. But proper technique can only take you so far without talent.
Surely you don't think technique is not being taught to these guys. One visit to camp will tell you otherwise. I clearly think technical issues are easily overshadowed by a lack of talent and inexperience.
Alright- I thought I was out of this debate but TJ, you keep defending the same points. I think others and myself differ from you on a couple of points.
Yes, the player is responsible to utilize the proper technique he has been taught or reminded. BUT every player needs constant objective review and practice to maintain it. That is one of the RESPONSIBILITIES of the coaches, most importantly of which is the DC.
As an individual player it is that player's responsibility to give his all toward being a better player for the team. The "concern" is that a much higher number of players are playing with poor technique. Now it is a TEAM issue. Who is responsible to correct the TEAM issue? IMO, the coaches are- and Schwartz because he is the DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. If a player just refuses to incorporate the technique or is too stupid, is it the coaches job to get somebody who does.
I completely disagree with you here. Watch the films of Williams defenses. They weren't nearly as sloppy with their techniques. IMO, that's why he got better results.
We've had difficulty getting anybody to understand that it is NOT JUST ONE PRE-SEASON GAME that has us "worked up". It is the poor technique style of play that the TEAM has demonstrated over past 2 years. That fact that we see it in the first team play in the pre-season "concerns" me that the issue has not been corrected.
In summary, I know that we agree this issue dies if the Titans first team defenders can play a technique solid "pre-season" game. If not, we keep beating this issue to death.
Yes, the player is responsible to utilize the proper technique he has been taught or reminded. BUT every player needs constant objective review and practice to maintain it. That is one of the RESPONSIBILITIES of the coaches, most importantly of which is the DC.
As an individual player it is that player's responsibility to give his all toward being a better player for the team. The "concern" is that a much higher number of players are playing with poor technique. Now it is a TEAM issue. Who is responsible to correct the TEAM issue? IMO, the coaches are- and Schwartz because he is the DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR. If a player just refuses to incorporate the technique or is too stupid, is it the coaches job to get somebody who does.
I completely disagree with you here. Watch the films of Williams defenses. They weren't nearly as sloppy with their techniques. IMO, that's why he got better results.
We've had difficulty getting anybody to understand that it is NOT JUST ONE PRE-SEASON GAME that has us "worked up". It is the poor technique style of play that the TEAM has demonstrated over past 2 years. That fact that we see it in the first team play in the pre-season "concerns" me that the issue has not been corrected.
In summary, I know that we agree this issue dies if the Titans first team defenders can play a technique solid "pre-season" game. If not, we keep beating this issue to death.
Gut...
Their first stringers vs our 2nd stringers?
Tell me which of these guys is a second stringer..
Starks
KVB
Thornton
Thompson
Sirmon
Hope
bulluck
pacman
hill
Which one? They all started! The 2 starters not playing(Just 2!) laboy and haynesworth play the right side but most of the rushing yardage was up the middle and our left.
Is cutler their starting QB? Is nash their starting RB?
All these excuses that just don't wash. Like the altitude. Why would the altitude matter in a pre season game in which we play 50-60 different guys?
Their first stringers vs our 2nd stringers?
Tell me which of these guys is a second stringer..
Starks
KVB
Thornton
Thompson
Sirmon
Hope
bulluck
pacman
hill
Which one? They all started! The 2 starters not playing(Just 2!) laboy and haynesworth play the right side but most of the rushing yardage was up the middle and our left.
Is cutler their starting QB? Is nash their starting RB?
All these excuses that just don't wash. Like the altitude. Why would the altitude matter in a pre season game in which we play 50-60 different guys?
Jeff...
Why would we compare the 2005 defense to the 2003 personel? This year is different isn't it?
Addition of thornton and hope. Hill, fuller and pacman are not rookies. Last year we didn't even have fuller. Pacman has an improved attitude. Laboy-odom-starks-schobel are 3rd year players now so age is not an excuse.
Why would we compare the 2005 defense to the 2003 personel? This year is different isn't it?
Addition of thornton and hope. Hill, fuller and pacman are not rookies. Last year we didn't even have fuller. Pacman has an improved attitude. Laboy-odom-starks-schobel are 3rd year players now so age is not an excuse.
GoT said:
Yes it is but we're not so bad when you look at other teams drafts over the last 5 years. I looked at a few & most drafts only generate 2 or 3 at best good starters for a team.
Ours stands out because we've had to rely solely on the draft & have had to play back up talent as starters.
Childress79 said:
What a good point. Are we REALLY out of cap hell yet?
Which is what OTAs, training camp and the preseason if for. I've read Fisher comment about working on technique during the season and he's said that the focus is on gameplanning once the regular season begins. There is little time for basic technique work which is why they are in camp two months before the first game of the season.Riverman said:
As Gut mentions, there are exceptions such as after the Pittsburgh game last year and in previous seasons where the players pad up and work on tackling. You have to know they also discuss it watching film. It's not like they totally abandon it but the focus shifts.
Every team in the NFL is faced with the same issues. I doubt many have time to work exclusively on technique as much as they'd like once the season begins.
Not if it is a talent/inexperience issue as well which I believe to be the case.
And you see new players in camp because of it. But contracts limit any coaches ability to replace players. Fisher and Schwartz have to deal with the hand they are dealt.
And the level of talent and experience has no bearing? That's the difference I see. Technical breakdowns don't have as much impact when the guy beside you makes the play.
And I've had difficulty getting anyone to answer why Schwartz was successful in '03. Did he just decide to not teach techniques after that? Look at all the factors and tell me where the differences are between '03 and now.
If we didn't have some success under Schwartz, it's easier to point the finger at him. But the facts are he has been successful which points to other factors.
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