fix 2 situations: 3rd + short, 3rd + long

[isaacjunk]

on offense: 3rd and short
on defense: 3rd and long

have been the bane of this team. Don't have the numbers in front of me but anecdotally seems like high leverage situations where we've been exceedingly bad. How many fewer ppg would we allow if we got off the field consistently on 3rd and long?

on defense, without looking at film but it seemed like we go too often to a soft zone which does not suit our personnel. On offense, we want to run more but have been really bad at it this year. How do we fix it, this year and beyond?

 

[artdnj]

Hard to argue with

 

[Lionstone]

There is only one fix for the defense. LBs that can get depth and clog up the throwing lanes. We cannot play zone because the backers suck up on every play action fake even when the front four are handling the run. Even if the backed play pass they do not get enough depth. Backers blow assignments. This forced Boyer to play man, and there goes Josh Allen. We win this game with any messurable improvement in the embarrassingly poor performance by the backers.

 

[isaacjunk]

There is only one fix for the defense. LBs that can get depth and clog up the throwing lanes. We cannot play zone because the backers suck up on every play action fake even when the front four are handling the run. Even if the backed play pass they do not get enough depth. Backers blow assignments. This forced Boyer to play man, and there goes Josh Allen. We win this game with any messurable improvement in the embarrassingly poor performance by the backers.

Kind of crazy with our banged up secondary we resorted to putting Holland robber->spy... the best DB we have, if you factor in health. For 3rd and long I don't know how many DBs we use but I would go 1 extra safety over the typical matched set (3 WR->dime, 2WR->nickel), use safeties instead of lbs wherever possible

 

[isaacjunk]

Also, it's funny how we all know if any of Tua/Hill/Waddle go down we are cooked...but we don't extend the same grace to Boyer and the D. X, BJones, BJones2? Not the same level of players but CB1 and CB2 fully healthy is critical to this scheme, and BJones2 as blizting DB is important as well esp for 3rd and long

 

[utahphinsfan]

So? Fix 3rd down is what the OP is saying?

 

[pags77]

Scoring TDs when in the red zone has suffered as late. We are scoring 6 on 25% of our possessions over the last 3 games which is better than only the Saints.

 

[Lionstone]

Also, it's funny how we all know if any of Tua/Hill/Waddle go down we are cooked...but we don't extend the same grace to Boyer and the D. X, BJones, BJones2? Not the same level of players but CB1 and CB2 fully healthy is critical to this scheme, and BJones2 as blizting DB is important as well esp for 3rd and long

I am not a fan of Boyer, but I fail to see how you can fix a defense with below average interior LBs. We cannot protect the middle of the field. We cannot go zone with very shallow drops by our backers. We give up huge yards to mobile QBs when we have to play man and our backers cannot chase him down. I really, really want to blame Boyer. I just do not see a solution To the backer problem.

 

[isaacjunk]

I am not a fan of Boyer, but I fail to see how you can fix a defense with below average interior LBs. We cannot protect the middle of the field. We cannot go zone with very shallow drops by our backers. We give up huge yards to mobile QBs when we have to play man and our backers cannot chase him down. I really, really want to blame Boyer. I just do not see a solution To the backer problem.

On 3rd and long I think you can just play big dime always unless they trot out something heavy

 

[Stoobz]

So? Fix 3rd down is what the OP is saying?

It appears to be an excellent summation of his prognosis of the dire situation we all find ourselves in, my dear lad.

 

[mrbunglez]

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I agree with the OP, just not sure how you can accomplish this with the current personnel.

The pass rush was generally really good against the Chargers and receivers were still wide open. The injuries in the secondary have reduced this unit, and its effectiveness, dramatically.

I fo think a healthy Jeff Wilson could help in the short yardage run game.

IMO the offense is going to have to carry the team the rest of the way. Rodgers will likely have a big day versus this defense.

 

[royalshank]

One thing that has really nagged us this year is when we get in 2nd and long due to penalties on offense or a nice negative play, we seem to give up most of it back on the 2nd down play and wind up in 3rd and short. No stats to back it up - just seems like I see it more than I care for. We play soft in those “long yardage” situations no matter the down

 

[royalshank]

I like McNuggets but he always says that he’s learned - but then does the same thing over and over. So I kinda feel like he’s just politely shoveling **** at us. He is gonna live and die by his pass happy nature. He’s probably the only guy in the NFL that thought Bevel’s call in the SB was the correct one. I kid, I kid

 

[royalshank]

I am not a fan of Boyer, but I fail to see how you can fix a defense with below average interior LBs. We cannot protect the middle of the field. We cannot go zone with very shallow drops by our backers. We give up huge yards to mobile QBs when we have to play man and our backers cannot chase him down. I really, really want to blame Boyer. I just do not see a solution To the backer problem.

We need to put Channing Tatum out there at LB