I think all facets of the team need to show (keep showing) improvement if we're going to go anywhere this year (except kick return teams, Washington is fantastic & coverage seems to be what it needs to be). The fate of the defense partially hangs on if Jenkins stays healthy. But as far as being overrated? Right now I think the O is overrated, if anything. Everyone who isn't watching closely thinks this team is winning because of Favre, when this really isn't true -- yet (I still expect O to keep jelling and by the end of the year be the difference; they're just not there now). Who out there is giving props to the D?
I'm glad someone pointed this out. Your dead on with this post Junc. The OP needs to get his head removed from his arse in a bad way.
This defense is top 5 in stopping the run, top 10 in turnovers and top 10 in sacks. There's no coincidence that teams that can stop the run, get takeaways and rush the QB usually win alot of games. This defense has been tremendous in these 3 areas...all that needs to improve is the 3rd down D. I'm thinking they'll find a way to make that work schematically as they have a shut down CB and an extremely rangy playmaking safety that offense's avoid to play w/.
The thing that scares me is 3 down D. And that goes to coaching. Something needs to be done about that but I'm not sure if it's going to happen.
I agree with Badger. As for my 2 cents.....we have the personnel to be a top 10 D in the league at least...and perhaps top 5....but the coaches need to do a better job of using every player as well as possible. On the other hand, Harris needs to be better on pas coverage and Gholston has a long way to go......also, other than last week, we have been having to blitz to pressure QBs, which has left holes in the secondary......if this happens for the rest of the season, we'll be in trouble against good teams because when we rush 3, they have all day to throw and we can't cover well enough to cause incompletions.
We had that many holes to fill last year that you can't expect to fix everything in one go, we are going in the right direction - at last - keep the faith, we will get there!!!
I'll say it again this def is good on paper but on the field is average to below average. This defense cant stop anybody, look at what Thigpen is doing to us....Even if we end of winning this game at the last minute we will get crushed by a good team IF we can even make the playoffs. I will add the KC game to the list of other opponents we have played that have made us look like total bitches on that side of the ball.
Our D is constantly put in bad spots thanks to the turnovers of our "legendary" QB. The D shut down cincy 2 weeks ago, shut down Oak last week and were in the process of shtuting down KC until Favre went to work helping the Chiefs out. It's too difficult to keep stopping teams after these awful TOs. WE don't have the '85 Bears D but we have a very good D.
What did you all expect, it was very obvious that our defense was smoke and mirrors and not very good two months ago....I am sure more people are on board with this thread now that you can add a another 3 or 4 examples of how this def has made every QB look like a hall of famer and can no longer stop the run.
The one stat the really struck me today was SF had 6 fumbles and only one was recovered by the Jets... The D has to start capitalizing... and pass rushing would be nice too.
