Defensive Backfield Obviously a Problem

[Shouright]

We're through three games now, and in each of the three games the defensive backfield has been completely torched or has given up the game-winning play.

Patriots: Tom Brady has one of the best games ever for a QB.

Texans: Nolan Carroll gets used by Andre Johnson and, with lack of help from Reshad Jones, gives up the game-winning TD.

Browns: Reshad Jones invisible as a presence around the ball in the defensive backfield. Jimmy Wilson, who may well be a good player one day, gives up the game-winning TD after taking relatively poor position on the player and the ball. Not a terrible play on his part by any means, but very rookie-like. Sean Smith looks very similar on the Browns' other TD.

Now, Armando Salguero wrote a terrific article this past week on Jeff Ireland's very questionable personnel moves.

In a league whose rules have made the passing game so powerful, Ireland looks to have made a huge error in not better addressing the defensive backfield through his personnel moves.

This area of the team has become a serious liablility game in, game out. Vontae Davis may be hurt, but there can't be such a steep drop-off in depth in the area of the team that the league's rules are designed to exploit.

Major personnel blunder IMO. And we're paying. Big.

 

[DolfanISS]

Lots of folks on here protect Rashaad Jones and I admit I don't know his assignments but he seems like a non factor in coverage. At least Chris Clemons was there, albeit he can't catch.

 

[Shouright]

Lots of folks on here protect Rashaad Jones and I admit I don't know his assignments but he seems like a non factor in coverage. At least Chris Clemons was there, albeit he can't catch.

Having a free safety who can make plays on the ball is critical in today's game IMO.

Passing on Earl Thomas in favor of trading back may have been almost as big an error in rebuilding this franchise as passing on Matt Ryan in favor of Jake Long.

Free safety was a huge need then and it still is. We've chosen to address that position with late-round picks. Not real smart IMO.

 

[armyphin]

We've chosen to address that position with late-round picks. Not real smart IMO.

So in other words, in the new pass happy league, not only is the QB an important position but just as important are the guys in the secondary who can shut down a QB.

 

[Phinatic8u]

I actually thought Jones played alot better than in previous weeks.

 

[Shouright]

So in other words, in the new pass happy league, not only is the QB an important position but just as important are the guys in the secondary who can shut down a QB.

...or at least not let them romp up and down the field and/or score whenever they need to.

I'm not sure anybody is going to compile a defensive backfield that shuts other teams down week after week, but I think you have to at least put some effort into compiling one that doesn't lose every game for you.

 

[mialuv13]

Our DB's have been a liability and very suspect these first three games. Our pass rush is nearly non-existent too, and that doesn't help out our DB's in any way. Our D is lacking all around, but it's most apparent in the defensive backfield. Bell has lost a step, and Jones is not a natural at FS.

 

[armyphin]

I'm not sure anybody is going to compile a defensive backfield that shuts other teams down week after week, but I think you have to at least put some effort into compiling one that doesn't lose every game for you.

No, I agree. Opposing teams are always going to score points.

You hit the key point in your first post, Davis is out and the team lacks depth.

 

[Tunaphish429]

Where is Cameron Wake? Can he get some pressure once in a while?

 

[Shouright]

Where is Cameron Wake? Can he get some pressure once in a while?

That's a problem too, but I'd be interested to know how Wake's number of coverage sacks and coverage pressures compares to last year's.

 

[Miami1]

Playing 10 yards off the line doesnt help, whey you allow opposing WR's to run their routes freely.