What Ails the Defense

*Goldenfleece* · #1 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

The big problems I see with the defense right now are as follows:

1) The run defense was atrocious today. Kennedy actually did seem to be tying up two blockers a lot of the time, although he only actually managed to fight through the blocks to make a play maybe once or twice. I saw Witherspoon fight his way through blocks without losing much speed to make some really good stops. But that's all the good I can say for our run defense.

I'm still not sure where to lay the blame on this. On LT's first big run, our entire D except Otogwe bit on the counter and headed right (the offense's left). Fullback Lorenzo Neal gets a big block on the left defensive end, Glover has already been corraled out of the way by the right guard when Tomlinson makes his cut back to the (offense's) right. That leaves the right tackle and tight end loose to take on two of our linebackers in pursuit (Spoon and Chillar I think). OJ is in position to make the play, but LT easily breaks his tackle. As some of the chatroom folks pointed out, Atogwe tackled too high. That leaves Chavous deep trying to come back in before LT gets to the endzone, and a corner trailing behind. But neither was close enough to really have a chance at him. Later I recall Chavous whiffing on another big run. They aren't the only ones to blame, but our safeties definitely earned a share of the fault in our loss today.

2) Fisher is a major liability in coverage. I'm not the first to say it, and I won't be the last. At about 7:10 in the second quarter Fisher appeared to be covering Eric Parker (with a five yard cushion) and would have given up a big first down if Parker hadn't dropped the pass. Later, he gave up 3 plays consecutively of 16 yards, 11 yards, and 11 yards towards the end of the second half. To be fair, though, his excellent coverage of Antonio Gates on a deep third down pass later in that drive forced a punt. So you could say he atoned a little bit for his mistakes, but it doesn't change the fact that he made them in the first place. Looking through the play-by-play, it appears that Fakhir Brown gave up about 7 yards total through the air on his side. It seems so clear to me when I watch plays going Brown's direction or even towards the Chargers' corners, that they all seemed to be playing much tighter coverage. Our receivers made some great catches despite the fact the Chargers' corners were getting their hands up there on the ball; I'm not sure Fisher ever touched the ball.

3) We've gotten only 3 of our 13 sacks this year in the second half of a game. I suspect our defensive ends are wearing down late in the game, and it's affecting our ability to get pressure. This is in part a depth problem. I think we've sorely missed having a good situational pass rusher to bring in as a change of pace. I'm thinking along the lines of 2004 when Bryce Fisher got 8.5 sacks for us as a backup. Does anyone reckon Green is even going to be good for half that number this year? Adeyanju may be a really good player for us in the future, but right now he's a raw rookie who may be in over his head. I hate to think what would happen if Little were to go down. On the subject of pass rush, Glover struck me as inconsistent more than anything. A couple times I saw him get a really good jump off the snap, but other times he resembled a rubber ball bouncing off a wall. I don't know whether he's taking plays off or just not concentrating, but we really need more out of him than what we're getting right now.

*Guam rammer* · #2 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

Our d line needs to get to work. They were pushed around too much, and the holes were huge. but the biggest key in the game was the FUUUUMBLE in the 3rd. that killed everything. the d actually came up with some stops and after the 1st 2 scores from the charges it actually looked like it was gonna be a close game, but after the fumble you could literally see the life sucked out of our team.

*smizzhfx* · #3 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

once again, we lose due to fumbles.

*Truth* · #4 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

I'd like to see us get a really big guy like Pat Williams on the D-line. We need someone the offensive line can't move, to stuff the middle.

*tonyt1203* · #5 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

on that fumble, why wasnt Jackson in there running on that series ?? they put Davis in and he fumbles ??

*rampete* · #6 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

our front four is inconsistent at best...one play they provide solid run stuffing...on another, they get man-handled on sweeps and iso's...

witherspoon was the only linebacker who looked the part yesterday...chillar and coakley are journeyman at best...

our DBs didn't allow any long pass plays except to gates but they didn't make any plays worthy of note either...is it just me or did it seem like rivers was picking on fisher and chillar all day? even if rivers had all day to pass, you'd like to see our DBs and LBs provide tighter coverages...one can dream, no?

*general counsel* · #7 (**permalink**) -30-10-2006

pass rush stinks

ramming speed to all

general counsel

**Nick** · #8 (**permalink**) -31-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldenfleece

Looking through the play-by-play, it appears that Fakhir Brown gave up about 7 yards total through the air on his side.

Actually, in the fourth quarter (14:16), Brown was in coverage against Eric Parker on a 22-yard reception - longer than any single reception Fisher defended all day - that converted a key third down for the Chargers. Incidentally, Brown got away with what appears to be a hold on that play as well.

Speaking of Brown as well as the run defense, I think it's also important to note that Brown completely whiffed on an open field tackle of LT in the third quarter, and a play that could have been a five yard gain if he makes that tackle becomes a 51-yard highlight that leads to a score.

*Goldenfleece* · #9 (**permalink**) -31-10-2006

You're right. I must have overlooked that play to Parker, but I just saw it again on film. I didn't see a hold, but Brown did allow a big gain there.

**Nick** · #10 (**permalink**) -31-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goldenfleece

You're right. I must have overlooked that play to Parker, but I just saw it again on film. I didn't see a hold, but Brown did allow a big gain there.

Maybe hold isn't the right classification but if you watch the slow-mo replay during the Fox broadcast after the play is made it looks like Brown wraps an arm around Parker and impedes his progress outside of the five yard contact zone. Doesn't make much difference though, since the pass was caught anyways.

*Guam rammer* · #11 (**permalink**) -31-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by general counsel

pass rush stinks

ramming speed to all

general counsel

Our pass rush does stink! And its due mostly to the lack of push up front. All our d-line are accounted for and double teamming is not an issue except for little. This should be addressed and guys need to step up