Leonhard's Debut

[hondo in seattle]

I'm the type of fan who follows the ball.  I'm barely aware of defensive scheme and only notice the defensive players around the ball.

 

From that vantage point, Leonhard's debut was uninspiring.  His 'aggressive' D gave up 381 yards, 26 first downs, and 31 points.  

 

I'm wondering if any of the X and O gurus out there can better explain Leonhard's first game as a DC?  Why didn't our D perform better?  What did we learn about Leonhard?

[Dunkirk Donski]

Just now, hondo in seattle said:

I'm the type of fan who follows the ball.  I'm barely aware of defensive scheme and only notice the defensive players around the ball.

 

From that vantage point, Leonhard's debut was uninspiring.  His 'aggressive' D gave up 381 yards, 26 first downs, and 31 points.  

 

I'm wondering if any of the X and O gurus out there can better explain Leonhard's first game as a DC?  Why didn't our D perform better?  What did we learn about Leonhard?

I noticed Bernard calling plays late,

DB’s didn’t help us much today

[HappyDays]

I can't hide my disappointment. I thought he would give Stroud and that middling OL some exotic pressure looks that would take them by surprise. Instead almost every one of our blitzes was easily picked up and just left somebody wide open on the back end. I can't put my finger on what went wrong but I am just hoping it gets better. Crazy that we scored over 30 on Houston of all teams and it still came down to the wire.

[Einstein]

The most points we have given up to Houston in over a decade (2009). 

 

There has to be someone we can bring in on dime other than Hamlin. Just has to be.

 

However - week 1 is OFTEN an anomaly. We may never see the defense that bad again the rest of the year.

[Steptide]

I will cut Leonard some slack bejng a first time DC and this being the first game. Why they seemed to be swapping defensive players in and out so much was surprising to me, but again, I will give some grace. Hamlin really doesn't need to be on the field though, like ever 

[NewEra]

Just now, Einstein said:

The most points we have given up to Houston in over a decade (2009). 

 

There has to be someone we can bring in on dime other than Hamlin. Just has to be.

 

However - week 1 is OFTEN an anomaly. We may never see the defense that bad again the rest of the year.

I’m assuming that will be Hancock

[HappyDays]

Just now, Einstein said:

The most points we have given up to Houston in over a decade (2009). 

 

There has to be someone we can bring in on dime other than Hamlin. Just has to be.

 

However - week 1 is OFTEN an anomaly. We may never see the defense that bad again the rest of the year.

 

Yes Hamlin singlehandedly gave up like 100 yards in this game. Benford had maybe his worst game ever. There were a few poorly timed penalties that ruined what would have otherwise been 3rd down stops. So some of the failures were more situational. Still I can't get over how poor the pass rush was no matter what we threw at it. It made the two biggest plays at the end which I guess counts for more than all the other plays combined, but this is not a Super Bowl team if that's what it looks like for the rest of the season. Leonhard either needs to go back to the drawing board with his pressure looks or Beane needs to trade for a legit edge rusher.

[Artem Lipatov]

His defence stopped last drive which could be game winning . That's the difference with McD defence. 

[Westside Madness]

I will never claim to know the x's and o's the way much of this board does, but I am assuming our DBs are not comfortable in man coverage...at least not yet.

[nedboy7]

Was not impressive.  But it's one game.  There seemed to be no creativity.  And perhaps a lack of talent will lead to that.  

[SunDSolar]

Its going to be a work in progress but I jave one question

 

Why was Soloman in on the 1st 4th and inches?

[Thrivefourfive]

It is a little bit unsettling that so called comforting message about this is: give it time.

 

The thing blew up last January because we were outta of time. 

[nedboy7]

1 minute ago, Artem Lipatov said:

His defence stopped last drive which could be game winning . That's the difference with McD defence. 

 

I'm not ready to claim his a better defensive mind than McD by any stretch yet.  

[SCBills]

It’s one thing how bad they looked.. that’s clear to everyone, but I too was struck by just how uninspired it looked. 
 

Nothing exotic, easily diagnosed blitzes, guys running wide open everywhere.  
 

Just felt boring, uncreative and obviously ineffective. 
 

 

Edited September 13 by SCBills

[eball]

Jesus. It was literally the FIRST GAME of real football for a new defense. Whatever they gave up, they made two huge plays to end the game.

 

I almost hate to read these threads because fans are so knee-jerk and unable to appreciate what is actually going on. Bill Belichick always said the first two games of the regular season are still really preseason because you’re figuring things out.

 

I mistakenly expected a better defense today, but they balled out when it mattered and it will only get better.

 

[bills6969]

R E L A X

 

its a brand new defense.  Obviously going to take some for it to all gel. 

[Iiiiiiiiive Got a Feeeelin]

4 minutes ago, Westside Madness said:

I will never claim to know the x's and o's the way much of this board does, but I am assuming our DBs are not comfortable in man coverage...at least not yet.

there was plenty of obvious confusion.  growing pains. my predictions is by week 6 or so its a different, better, unit

Edited September 13 by Iiiiiiiiive Got a Feeeelin

[Victory Formation]

It's too early to say.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Leaves a lot of room for growth. Feels like McDermott of yesteryear. Soft cushiony open WRs in key moments. Different was Groot closed the game out. 
 

It’s the same players playing in a slightly different variation. Ppl clamored for change (which I didn’t disagree with) but assumed a change would be a net positive. 
 

mcD had his flaws. And he had plenty of strengths: assuming those strengths with persist while also improving on weakness is niave. It will be a learning curve. 

[MasterStrategist]

Honestly, it was 2 key 3rd down pass scrambles by Stroud.

 

Stunts/pass lanes were not good today.  Those are fixable.

 

We get a stop, just 1-2x, and we give maybe 20.

 

Good tape to learn from, and improve moving forward.  Game 1 is an outlier for some teams.