Run defense was much improved until Naz Jones went out

[adeltaY]

I know there are other factors, like Bobby and KJ being out/hurt the past couple of games. Just think we missed Naz and am happy he might be coming back this week. Kid was a hell of a steal in the third IMO.

 

[ivotuk]

Our current DLine talent is focused on pass rushing and I think our run Defense would be better if Mebane were here. You could always tell the difference when he was in or out of the game.

I think our best run stuffer at the moment is Jarran Reed.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Jones had been playing well for sure.

But he's a microcosm of the real reason our D-line isn't playing well of late, depth. Jones being gone has shed light that when you go with an aging D-line, you better have good depth to keep your key lineman to 60-70% of snaps, not 80-90%.

At times we've had that depth, but 1-2 guys out? The cracks start showing.

Pete and John knew that going into this year, that if we wanted our D-line to return to the dominant unit they were 3-4 years ago, then they'd have to draft and acquire another couple of good players. Then McDowell went down, and we had no choice but to give up picks to get Richardson.

But he wasn't enough to make up for Avril gone and a diminished Bennett.

 

[HawkerD]

Attribute it to luck or what ever but we have drafted and signed a bunch of players on the DL that cannot stay healthy. Naz is another in long line of players that have been hampered.

 

[tmobilchawker79]

I'm looking to the offseason guys.

I see a potentially healthy D Line:

QJeff
Naz Jones
J Reed
Frank
Richardson (if they don't unload him - i think he's a FA)
McDowell if he isn't busy w/ ATV's
Bennett is under contract
Who knows on Avril
B Jackson, D Jordan

It seemed like our D line was rounding into form about 4 weeks ago.

 

[Bigpumpkin]

I'm looking to the offseason guys.

I see a potentially healthy D Line:

QJeff
Naz Jones
J Reed
Frank
Richardson (if they don't unload him - i think he's a FA)
McDowell if he isn't busy w/ ATV's
Bennett is under contract
Who knows on Avril
B Jackson, D Jordan

It seemed like our D line was rounding into form about 4 weeks ago.

The only thing that got "rounded" the last few weeks was their ass from sitting on the bench due to lower
extremities injuries.

 

[adeltaY]

Our current DLine talent is focused on pass rushing and I think our run Defense would be better if Mebane were here. You could always tell the difference when he was in or out of the game.

I think our best run stuffer at the moment is Jarran Reed.

That's interesting, because Rob (english) always says they're more focused on run-stopping which is why the sack numbers are pretty lackluster. I guess we can't really know because I'm not sure if anyone from the team has actually said so. If we are actually focusing on pass rushing, that's terrible because the results are damning.

 

[ludakrishna]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/PFF/status/936614883419975680[/tweet]

A steal in the draft.

 

[Natethegreat]

I would attribute a lot of our recent troubles in run defense to Bobby playing injured. Not Naz Jones but I'm sure him being able ti come back wouldn't hurt.