Some love for our defense…

[hugecanoli]

Quoted from NFL.com.
Pay special attention to the final sentence:

“Mike Macdonald’s defense is a monster that should be feared by every opponent standing in its path.”





Source: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-week-10-takeaways-what-we-learned-from-sunday-s-12-games

 

[Sperrydogg]

Deathzone

 

[Pickly]

Nice thing about this D is that even with the injuries, the guys that have stepped up have not only just filled in but they have been noticeable. Okada, Jobe, and now Knight have been stellar in their replacement roles. Pritchett had an outstanding game today in a part time role. Drake Thomas wasn’t supposed to be anybody but here he is making impact plays game after game.

This is coaching. This is getting the best out of what you have and so far these guys are responding to what Mike Mac is preaching. I love it.

 

[hawks85]

Darnold better get those bone headed plays out o his system. Come playoff time and this continues, WE WILL be eliminated in the 1st round.

 

[Appyhawk]

It's only fair to point out that in both the last two games our reserves have played substantial minutes.
Another caution is inclusion of "fantasy" figures when stone cold facts are what we need.
FACT: We have not beaten the Rams in eight attempts with Stafford behind center for the Rams.

 

[Seak]

Darnold better get those bone headed plays out o his system. Come playoff time and this continues, WE WILL be eliminated in the 1st round.

I dont know man, I think there is too many factors when the game was essentially "over" in the first quater
Play calling / player mentality have to be considered.
The fact that the Hawks are smashing teams like they are now, means that they are top tier

 

[Shane Falco]

Didn't one of those plays a guy got pushed into him and the ball hit his helmet? Then I know another the oline broke down and their defense made a good play and knocked it out. I'd say one bad play.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yep. One was on him, other 2, just good defensive play.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

I didn't really think any of those turnovers were Darnold's fault.

 

[Steve Hawk]

That play by Prichett knocking the ball out of Harrisons hands while falling in the end zone was absolutely insane.

 

[Nv_Hawks]

When Jones returns, I would insert Knight back next to him, he looks like he’s found himself. Thomas is a good backup, but does get ran over at times.

 

[Russellmania3]

This Defense is the Blue Machine

 

[keasley45]

I dont know man, I think there is too many factors when the game was essentially "over" in the first quater
Play calling / player mentality have to be considered.
The fact that the Hawks are smashing teams like they are now, means that they are top tier

I don't know. You can't look at the same things happening (talking only about the strip sack) and not be concerned about it.

How many strip sacks / deflected INTs under pressure does he have now?

Pittsburgh
San Fran
Arizona
Houston

And all of that with an O Line that is playing at as high a level as we have seen in 12 seasons. He has 10 TOs in 9 games and has only been stacked 10 times. Those numbers don't add up. He has been playing outstanding ball, but I swear to God I feel like I am watching Dave Krieg reincarnate.

And although I don't entirely blame him for the PA from under center play that resulted in the tipped INT, I have to think that he has the ability to change the play or just not try to force a ball from the endzone when the line is getting pushed back into his face. The big issue on that one is Kubiak calling a play where the QB has to turn his back to the defense for the PA. That takes time and pulls his eyes away from where pressure is coming from. You need a better play call there. And this isn't the first time Kubiak has done it. If I were MM I would ban under center PA inside the 5.

But the strip sack ... Again, similar to week 1, Darnold is a righty, so his RT is visible to him. lucas lost on that play immediately. Sam has to be more aware and check the block before he turns away and decides to just stand pat in the pocket. He could have just stepped up a half step and the play doesn't happen. I get being confident in your blocking, but he needs to (hate to say it) take a little bit from ARs game and not always just hit his drop and assume it's solid. It's the RT. It's to his vision side. I could understand if Cross was getting beat and he had no clue but Lucas is to his side. He HAS to see that.

Like I said, one of the best pass blocking offensive lines in the league and he has the TOs he does... At some point it's not just 'the other guys made a great play'.

We can't be great only when every single o lineman does their job.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He def. needs to work on his ball security. I just don't worry about him. He always bounces back.
I doubt anyone was worried when he was helping the team put up 38 points in the 1st half.

 

[keasley45]

The defense though is incredible. It's a shame they have to carry 22 points in what became a stinker. And more impressive is that they did it without Reed. If we can stay healthy in that side of the ball the sky is the limit. It's a couple of games now that they've been handed the shirt straw and still dominated. Take away the Bucs game when they were short handed and this unit is easily tops in the league. It's a special, special thing we are seeing. And its coming from everywhere.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Short fields though. A lot of backups, and they're contributing. It really is impressive.

 

[keasley45]

He def. needs to work on his ball security. I just don't worry about him. He always bounces back.
I doubt anyone was worried when he was helping the team put up 38 points in the 1st half.

You can't bounce back in-game when it happens on your last possession to win. And that's been happening, in addition to having games well in hand and put away and letting TOs keep the opposing team in it. It's one thing to do that against the likes of Houston and Arizona, quite another to think we can get away with it against the Rams or other top tier teams.

 

[Jayburd14]

Riq Woolen stepped up in this game.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

You can't bounce back in-game when it happens on your last possession to win. And that's been happening, in addition to having games well in hand and put away and letting TOs keep the opposing team in it. It's one thing to do that against the likes of Houston and Arizona, quite another to think we can get away with it against the Rams or other top tier teams.

We can disagree on Darnold. He's one hell of a player. And you could also argue that 2 of those turnovers were not on him.
They just got done winning by 24 and 22. Not sure what else you guys want. Other than 50-0 wins with 4 quarters of perfection.

EXACTLY what I said would happen has happened. Hawks win in a blowout; they give up some short fields and the game SEEMS to be closer than it was. Followed by people losing their minds (to a point)

Win by 1, win by 22, all counts the same. Perfection is not realistic on the football field. I just have a hard time understanding not being stoked about a 7-2 team who has controlled MOST of the games they have won. This team is going to lose some more games. And I suspect the jump off the bridge crowd will be right here for it. I'm here for it, win or lose. Everyone deals with it their own way. At least we're talking about a 7-2 team and not a team sitting at 5-4 or 4-5.

 

[SeaWolv]

#5 and climbing...



https://sumersports.com/teams/defensive/