Will we EVER stop a critical 4th down this year?

[Dolfan23]

It appears that other teams know that we can't stop them on 4th down as opposing teams are 11 of 19 on us this year on 4th down for a 58% conversion rate.

Compare that with other top 10 defenses vs the opponent:

Seahawks: 4/7 57%
49ers: 4/9 44%
Lions: 4/8 50%
Broncos: 6/10 60%
Buffalo: 3/6 50%
Jets: 0/1 0%
Chiefs: 5/15 33%
Chargers: 2/9 22%
Redskins: 4/7 57%

Just for grins here's the Patriots: 5/17 29% (I was surprised to see their attempts so high)

Obviously our conversion rate is about the same as these other top defenses but most of them have a lot fewer attempts. And the ones who do have a lot of attempts against have a very high success rate at stopping the other team. Why is it that so many teams are going for it on 4th against us and why are they converting at such a high rate? Of course there are a lot of other factors that play into this but either way we are just really bad on 4th down.

In Coyle's 3 years here teams are 31 for 51 for a 61% conversion rate. I'm really beginning to think that Coyle must go this offseason. I'm on the fence about Philbin but leaning towards wanting him back. But Coyle's defenses rarely seem to be able to get a stop when it matters the most and we're just putrid at stopping them on 4th down.

 

[Canadianfishfan]

 

[datruth55]

I think it's more a function of not having DTs that can get penetration. Where has Randy Starks been this year?

 

[Dolfan23]

I think it's more a function of not having DTs that can get penetration. Where has Randy Starks been this year?

He's invisible. Meanwhile Mitchell is often double-teamed and still seems to get penetration quite a bit.

 

[datruth55]

He's invisible. Meanwhile Mitchell is often double-teamed and still seems to get penetration quite a bit.

Yeah it seems Starks' play has either fallen off a cliff or he just doesn't care anymore.

 

[jvw]

I think it's more a function of not having DTs that can get penetration. Where has Randy Starks been this year?

Thanks, I was saying that during the game, Where is Starks!!!!! somebody needed to step up and make a play .....this D is good but we are weak in areas that get exposed by good O.....Denver, Packers and Lions could all score TD when they needed too....I give Coyle credit for hiding our weakness this yr

 

[uk_dolfan]

Can we get out of the starks contract? Paying odrick is gunna cost a mountain of money and mitchell deserves to be an every down player

 

[dannysc305]

It's not as blatant as you make it seem it was a bang bang play