Why So Much Cushion?!!

[Sirspud]

You really just took any logic in his post and threw it out the window didn't you??

We are top 5 in scoring defense over last 2 years, the other team in our echelon of scoring defense average 11+ wins a season, we don't, and somehow that is still our defense's fault? Maybe the offense should try to score more points than our top 5 scoring defense allows.....crazy concept I know....

All in all our secondary didn't look great last night, but it seems to be Coyle's tendency to be very vanilla in coverage during pre-season. Linebackers again looked poor taking bad angles and missing tackles....oh well it's all just a teaser to me until the PATS on opening day.

The defense's inability to get off the field and tendency to allow long drives all game both shortens the game by keeping the clock moving but also limits our offense's ability to win the time of possession battle, thus making for lower scores. Points scored is one metric, but giving up 7 points while letting the opponent lead 5-10 minute drives (to guys like Thad Lewis and Geno Smith no less) still impairs your ability to win.

I really don't think it's illogical at all to say that the 8-8 is indicative of the defense's performance when what I saw last year they failed as frequently or more as they succeeded in making stops and plays at the moment when it could turn a solid effort into a win. After all, the point of the game is not yards or even points themselves, it's winning the game. This team's defense played as much of a part in 5-6 of the losses as the offense, and a couple of the wins were in spite of the defense, such as that fantastic effort in Pittsburgh when Antonio Brown inexplicably stepping out of bounds erased what was an epically bad defensive effort.

 

[ojmcduffy]

with the way the refs wanrt to throw pi flags after every play we may need that cushion.

 

[One Love]

I'm just going to let this season's play speak
for itself. I'm going to really analyze the defense this year so I can really pinpoint our strengths and weaknesses. I would love to see a constant press coverage but who knows the cushion might not be so bad considering our weakness at the LBer position. We'll retouch on the subject after a few games of the regular season.

 

[One Love]

with the way the refs wanrt to throw pi flags after every play we may need that cushion.

Very true, sad but true. Pffff it's going to be the 'NFFL'
(national flag football league) in a few years!

 

[One Love]

Yeah sorry but to me those stats on D mean that the D is doing their job holding opponents on the score board and the offense is not doing their job to help. Yards dont always equak points . I dont care if the d gives up 500 yards a game but if they hold teams to fgs ill be happy. The offense needs to score more

Well the only issue I have is how the defense in on the field for too long, meaning less possession time for our offense to score. Overall, I want the defense to play more aggressive so they're able to make 3rd down stops rather then letting the opposing offense drive on is all day because the receivers are open for that easy 5-7 yard completion every down.

 

[One Love]

The problem with the Dolphins defense is not that we give receivers too much cushion in the defensive backfield.

The problem with the Dolphins defense is that our starting linebackers are awful.

Which just may be the fact why the db's are playing off majority of the time. Man this LBer situation is not looking good I just hope philbin has the cojones to switch things up and potentially start a rookie if necessary.

 

[GoonBoss]

You're not going to show schemes during pre season.

 

[Dolphan_NY]

I whole heartily agree.. They need 3 yds for a first down and were 7 yards off the line. Way to much of a cushion..

 

[Dthrill_08]

The on down that still has a bad taste was the 4th and long against the panthers where Steve Smith sat for an easy 12 yarder...

 

[NBP81]

I whole heartily agree.. They need 3 yds for a first down and were 7 yards off the line. Way to much of a cushion..

Playing off in that situation is actually a good thing, the whole play is in front off them and allows them to read the QB... If the ball comes out on a 3 step drop, they have plenty of time to jump the route and cover that cushion in a hurry...Grimes, Finnegan and Davis are custom made for that type of coverage...

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

I think NBP hit on part of the issue. When we are in man we do play without a huge cushion, but when we play zone our defenders are not turning and running with the WRs but staying in their back petal so they can watch both the WR and the QB. To stay in the back petal that long you have to have a big cushion because you are running backwards while the WR is running straight at you. You have to be able to swing your hips and accelerate with the WR if he is running a fly. If the player is running a come back, you will see it because you are watching the QB and should be able to come up and attack quicker than if your back was turned.

On a 3rd and long the offense will have to go to the check down and the DBs should be able to come up and make the play before the player has a chance to get the first. Our problem comes from the fact that one missed tackle in that situation ruins the whole plan. Our DBs and safetys have to tackle better for "off" coverage to work.

 

[dolpns13]

I see our defensive backs giving the receiver about 7 yards from LOS every play. I saw it some during the game tonight and I remember Coyle did a lot of this last season. I hope this is not going to be a pattern of what we'll see during the regular season. Shouldn't Finnegan, the aggressive player that he, be right up at los and do what he does best which is disrupting the receiver? Grimes should be right up at the line too. I just hope Coyle can change this and let our DB's play more aggressive. Sure we may give up a big play every so often but we'll also get some turnovers and that's what this defense needs! I don't care right now because it's preseason but when the regular season starts I want our D to be STOUT instead of giving the receiver a for sure curl route every down.

Anyone else have an opinion on this? Maybe I need a change of perspective on this.

Coyle has done this every year he's been our DC. Terrible coaching Imo

 

[LikeUntoGod]

More Cushion for the Pushing?

Plus, it is the first week of preseason....I mean really......

Another reason could be the new rules about "Defenders can be physical with a receiver in the first five yards but they must let the receiver “run free” after that.". There has been a lot of talk about that and Teams like the Seahawks having to adjust to them.

In the past, if a defensive back grabbed a receiver’s jersey, officials had to make a judgment call on whether the grab restricted the receiver. But any grabbing of the jersey this year will result in an automatic flag.