Best Defense Is A Good Offense

[Sack Daddy]

If the Cards' are going to be better this year they need fewer 3 and outs and more time of possession. It's easy to blast the D, but they spend way too much time on the field. Last year the offense imploded (injuries, turnovers, etc.) and the defense paid dearly. The defense was almost always in the hole early, many times the result of a turnover deep in our territory. Turnover +/- and time of possession are 2 things the Cards' can control. I always liked Jake, but he made horrible decisions and that kind of thing seems to be contagious. Blake will be an improvement there. Time of possession can be improved by better playcalling. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sat there last year and wondered, "What in the World was that?'. I hope and pray Sullivan brings something fresh and less predictable to the table. The playcalling the last 2 years has been uninspiring. Early leads build confidence and that's one thing this team rarely sees. I can't handle another season of a vanilla offense that goes out 0 & 3 the first 6 possessions. More early points and longer sustained drives and I think the defense would look better. True, the pass rush must improve. However, you make it easy for the opposing offense to open up when they have a 14-0 lead. When your drives go nowhere and you turn the ball over on your end of the field your defense is going to break. You can't defend a 45 yd field all day and not give up points. If Bryant, Pace, DJ or one of the linebackers can bring some heat and the offense can sustain more drives, the Cards' will be better than people expect. Look around the league at teams that have improved and you will always notice 2 things about them, fewer turnovers and increased time of possession. Dave Mac and Sully are you listening?

 

[pinnacle]

I mostly agree on your offensive comments..but we need to create turnovers on defense..and if the other teams drive down the field in 5 - 10 yard chunks..we will not see the ball that much..at least we need to stop the run or the pass..and last season we could really stop neither (late in the season anyway). I want heat on the opposing qb more than anything..that is where turnovers come from. I see no need to really sign any offensive players (we could argue on receivers all day - but no one knows how the young guys will do until they play - I believe our group is very talented..just as equally green)...caveat: I would like to see competition at backup fullback with a veteran battling mckinley..

On defense - we need help. Injuries are always horrific on defense..and other than dexter jackson replacing lassiter - we have had no upgrades at starter positions....I think we will have to score 35 points every game to win games..unless we get some veterans over the next couple of months..Pace or johnson could upgrade over wakefield...but not immediately..

 

[Sack Daddy]

Last year was one of those years where evrything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I don't think the defense is as bad as some think. If our offense can hold on to the ball and score earlier in games, I don't think we'll need 35 points to win games. Improved safety play will help the defense as much as an improved pass rush. Kwam and Wilson always seemed a step behind, that has to change. Lots of blown coverage.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by Sack Daddy
Last year was one of those years where evrything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I don't think the defense is as bad as some think. If our offense can hold on to the ball and score earlier in games, I don't think we'll need 35 points to win games. Improved safety play will help the defense as much as an improved pass rush. Kwam and Wilson always seemed a step behind, that has to change. Lots of blown coverage.

 

[JeffGollin]

Based on Mac's and Sully's comments yesterday, it looks like earlier takes on what our new "O" mightlook like were fairly accurate.

It will be more "vertical" pretty much out of Norv Turner and look a lot like the Felon offense when Aikman, Emmitt, Michael Irvin and Alvin Harper where there -

They'll run Emmitt and Shipp behind Hobson on a lot of sprint-draw, ISO and blast plays and pass deep off play action fakes to Emmitt and Marcel.

Pass patterns are expected to be more "precise" (i.e. on short patterns, hit the receiver in full stride - not ½" above or below the target but right on the money at the right place and right time).

In the beginning under Sully, I suspect you'll see the lights on the practice field burning late into the night...