I have to say, even though it ended up a close game and they still let a couple plays get by them, I was really impressed by the energy and tenacity our defense was showing out there on every play. This didn't look like the same team that missed tackle after tackle that let the Colts win the game in two big plays on offense. This defense was out there wanting to hit someone and make a play on every play in this game. This was the real reason why we won today.
Our pass rush was really the deciding factor. We got 4 sacks, but there were so many more plays where the pass rush really broke up the play without getting a sack. And we hit Delhomme hard even when he was able to get the ball out. I can't even list every guy who made a contribution to the pass rush, because the entire line was collapsing on a lot of plays. And on one's where it wasn't, our ends were forcing the QB to get rid of the ball nearly constantly. Cameron Wake was doing his thing again, and even though he didn't get credited with even half a sack, he was in there on a ton of plays.
Our corners did get beat in a couple plays, but I was really happy with the energy that the safeties were playing with. Yeremiah Bell was playing like the guy who almost single-handedly turned our team around in 2006, not the guy who's been a non-factor in most games the last couple of years. Gibril Wilson isn't gonna be the guy the FO hoped he would be when they signed him, but since he was "benched" a couple games ago he has really been making big hits in the passing game and run support. And gotta give props to Nate Jones, that pick wasn't a tough one but we've had a number of guys in our secondary in recent years who were completely incapable of taking advantage of their opportunities for game-changing plays. And this play certainly was a primary factor in our win today.
All things considered, this was the type of effort and energy that this defense has sorely lacked over recent years. And certainly, its the type of energy that could have helped changed the outcome of the early season games like the Colts and Falcons games.
Our pass rush was really the deciding factor. We got 4 sacks, but there were so many more plays where the pass rush really broke up the play without getting a sack. And we hit Delhomme hard even when he was able to get the ball out. I can't even list every guy who made a contribution to the pass rush, because the entire line was collapsing on a lot of plays. And on one's where it wasn't, our ends were forcing the QB to get rid of the ball nearly constantly. Cameron Wake was doing his thing again, and even though he didn't get credited with even half a sack, he was in there on a ton of plays.
Our corners did get beat in a couple plays, but I was really happy with the energy that the safeties were playing with. Yeremiah Bell was playing like the guy who almost single-handedly turned our team around in 2006, not the guy who's been a non-factor in most games the last couple of years. Gibril Wilson isn't gonna be the guy the FO hoped he would be when they signed him, but since he was "benched" a couple games ago he has really been making big hits in the passing game and run support. And gotta give props to Nate Jones, that pick wasn't a tough one but we've had a number of guys in our secondary in recent years who were completely incapable of taking advantage of their opportunities for game-changing plays. And this play certainly was a primary factor in our win today.
All things considered, this was the type of effort and energy that this defense has sorely lacked over recent years. And certainly, its the type of energy that could have helped changed the outcome of the early season games like the Colts and Falcons games.