Secondary

[Chromeburn]

I think this is more an indictment of the offense than the defense. If not for the turnovers we would never have been in this game. Also the fact they held the ball ten minutes more tells me the offense could not sustain drives. We won’t play the number 2 run defense every week. But our over reliance on the run game is no different than the over reliance on the passing game we used to have. We need a QB that can convert passes. A guy that has good accuracy and will keep defenses honest, but also can pick up the slack if the running game isn’t up to the task.

Could their coverage have been better? Yeah. But a team is symbiotic, offense and defense don’t work in a total vacuum.

[Maniac]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

I think this is more an indictment of the offense than the defense. If not for the turnovers we would never have been in this game. Also the fact they held the ball ten minutes more tells me the offense could not sustain drives. We won’t play the number 2 run defense every week. But our over reliance on the run game is no different than the over reliance on the passing game we used to have. We need a QB that can convert passes. A guy that has good accuracy and will keep defenses honest, but also can pick up the slack if the running game isn’t up to the task.

Could their coverage have been better? Yeah. But a team is symbiotic, offense and defense don’t work in a total vacuum.

Sorry, but no. The defense allowed far too many 3rd down conversions, even some ridiculous 3rd and long ones. They kept allowing easy passes even without the bucs best WR. That was a pathetic effort by the secondary.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Maniac

Sorry, but no. The defense allowed far too many 3rd down conversions, even some ridiculous 3rd and long ones. They kept allowing easy passes even without the bucs best WR. That was a pathetic effort by the secondary.

The defense allowed 8-15 3rd down conversions. Roughly 50%, which is worse than their usual. The way this defense is designed it gives up yards but is supposed to tighten up in the red zone. It is not supposed to give up the deep play. Considering this offense likes the deep pass I would think that plays to our strength. But safety help seemed a little late on a lot of deep passes. Still if it was for the two extra touchdown and the four turnovers we aren’t even in this game.

I think halftime adjustments are kind of a myth. You have to make in game adjustments. At halftime, by the time you get inside, use the bathroom, get something to drink and the coaches are done talking you have about a couple minutes. Not really enough time to put in comprehensive adjustments.

[Lawrence Owen]

The talent/players on the secondary is fine.
Individual effort was there.
The real problem was they were not in position to make plays because Matt Eberflus had called a zone defense the majority (at least 80%) of the game. And when the play calls had Hooker or Geathers or Willis covering TE's/RB's instead of protecting the deep ball in that zone,...Winston made them pay.
This defensive performance was all on Eberflus for not making mid-game adjustments when they were being torched.
I do think the reason was because his defense was getting turnovers...But that's no excuse when a QB is throwing 85% completion percentage on you...and those completions are coming within 2-3 seconds of snapping the ball, because his receivers got into the holes in the zones that fast. This also hurts the pass rush, because 2-3 seconds is generally not enough time for 4 down linemen to get to the QB. And when it was,..Winston was able to roll out and give his an extra second to get to that open spot.
Eberflus HAS to learn to make in-game adjustments...or I will want him gone next year.