Guys that didn't take advantage of the opportunities

[toffee]

Four of our defense front seven were out due to injuries, that opened up opportunities for backups to shine. But most didn't or couldn't

Mike Morris, he flashed in his freshman year and he's build like Big Cat, both are over 6'4" and 300lbs. Mike didn't do enough in this game.

Hankins, he couldn't abuse Lions' backup center

Dre'mont Jones, not sure he will be back next year?

We may need more depth as part of our dynasty building?

 

[Lords of Scythia]

Four of our defense front seven were out due to injuries, that opened up opportunities for backups to shine. But most didn't or couldn't

Mike Morris, he flashed in his freshman year and he's build like Big Cat, both are over 6'4" and 300lbs. Mike didn't do enough in this game.

Hankins, he couldn't abuse Lions' backup center

Dre'mont Jones, not sure he will be back next year?

We may need more depth as part of our dynasty building?

THere's a reason they are bench players

 

[CouchLogic]

It was a good showing against Superbowl contenders for a buncha backups. It's a shame no one really took the reigns and upped their game.

If anything the coaches will have a better idea of where to fill holes next season.

 

[Spin Doctor]

It was a good showing against Superbowl contenders fir a buncha backups. It's a shame no one really took the reigns and upped their game.

If anything the coaches will have a better idea of where to fill holes next season.

A good showing? They were able to run at will against us, Goff had all day to sit in the pocket. They were straight up abused.

 

[knownone]

Four of our defense front seven were out due to injuries, that opened up opportunities for backups to shine. But most didn't or couldn't

Mike Morris, he flashed in his freshman year and he's build like Big Cat, both are over 6'4" and 300lbs. Mike didn't do enough in this game.

Hankins, he couldn't abuse Lions' backup center

Dre'mont Jones, not sure he will be back next year?

We may need more depth as part of our dynasty building?

Morris only played 10 snaps, so it's hard to blame him.

Similarly, PFF's positions are misleading. Normally, Dre'Mont backs up Mafe at ROLB, but against the Lions, he shifted down and played on the line. He played poorly. Other than him, the other fill-ins did pretty well. Knight, Adams, and Hall were among the best players on the team, scoring in the low 70s.

I mentioned this in another thread. Seattle's issues, on paper, weren't wholly related to the guys missing. We actually showed pretty good depth up front.

 

[CanHawksFan]

On the positive side, Tyrice Knight might be a player. He's got good instincts. With some more experience he could develop into a solid starter down the line.

 

[bigskydoc]

It’s hard enough building a good defensive line. Expecting a team to build two good defensive lines is just ridiculous.

Backups are backups for a reason. They are adequate to replace single players along the line, when they are surrounded by good starters, who can mask their warts, somewhat.

With no starters to mask their warts, the warts were on full display.

I’d be shocked if there is a backup line for any other team that could perform significantly better. This isn’t on the Hawks for building a bad backup line. It’s just the breaks.

 

[toffee]

THere's a reason they are bench players

Yes indeed, some are journeymen, career backup. But not young guys like Morris? This was the opportunity.

 

[keasley45]

Hard to evaluate when you have guys who have to slide inside or play technique they arent suited for.

Not as simple as ' the backup didnt step up'. D line play is more nuanced than just plugging the next big body in to fill a hole. The players have to be suited for the speciifc spot on the line AND they have to mesh together and communicate responsibility betwern eachother and the backers.

Thats hard to do with guys stepping in for a week.

I'd wager if we had to see that group on the field for several consecutive weeks, theyd improve simply by virtue of the communication part, them learning to play together and developing expertise in positions some of them dont typically play.

My .02

 

[RockinHawks]

Yes indeed, some are journeymen, career backup. But not young guys like Morris? This was the opportunity.

Again...10 plays doesn't really allow a youngster like Morris to shine.

 

[bigskydoc]

It’s hard enough building a good defensive line. Expecting a team to build two good defensive lines is just ridiculous.

Backups are backups for a reason. They are adequate to replace single players along the line, when they are surrounded by good starters, who can mask their warts, somewhat.

With no starters to mask their warts, the warts were on full display.

I’d be shocked if there is a backup line for any other team that could perform significantly better. This isn’t on the Hawks for building a bad backup line. It’s just the breaks.

Further, the attempts by the rest of the team to cover the warts made everyone else look worse. The rest of the players, even if only mentally, are going to shade to cover perceived weak areas.

It was most obvious with the LBs, who were seemingly out of position the entire game. It was less obvious in the secondary, but you have to know those guys were, at least mentally, shading to cover for the out of position LBs, especially as the game went on. Mental fatigue combined with 15, then 30, then 45 minutes of seeing their teammates out of position takes its toll.

Without knowing the game plan, it's impossible to know where to place the blame. Did MM tell the LBs to maintain position, keep everything in front of them, and react, but they just didn't execute the game plan, or was the plan at fault, instructing the LBs to play over aggressively, at risk of getting out of position.

I think the defense performed admirably, with some faults that can be improved on with better discipline/ game planning. This is a situation where a Carroll style post-game would finally be right. Just a few things we need to tighten up.

We were never going to blow out Detroit, with our defense in the shape it was in. I predicted either a high scoring, one-score game, going either way (which is really what we had), or a complete blowout from Detroit. Happy it wasn't the latter

Our best hope was for the defense to keep us in the game, and let our offense win it, with mistake free football. I feel like the defense did its part. Mistakes on offense cost us the game. With a healthy defense, we wouldn't have needed the offense to be perfect. With this defense, we needed them to be absolutely perfect. They came so close.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Above is calling out some good plays on Tyrice Knight, so it's encouraging to see his development at linebacker.

But on a lot of other plays (big plays for the Lions, that is), like bigskydoc said, both he and Dodson were mugging the line often enough to be recognizable instead of staying home. It led to several of their biggest runs. JMO but McD doesn't seem the type to have his LB overpursue intentionally.