I'm specifically talking to the fire Pete crowd, now I was all for some change, but it appears it was not the coach being the issue.
Most likely we would have the same record (or close) with Pete at the helm. Players that can't tackle like they have oil rubbed all over them. This team already looks like they checked out. Just seeing Geno and DK's body language tells me so.
It appears there will be some major changes to players in the near future, at least I hope so.
This was a shet show last night.
I get the anger, but its a bit premature, isnt it? I mean, i thought they'd finish the first 6 games better than .500, but at the same time, i get why they are where they are.
I was also a Pete supporter because i know how hard it is to find a quality HC, let alone an entire staff that (a) works well and then (b) stays together long enough to benefit from continuity.
But i dont see any reason to br looking for the eject button, as i beleive it is the way J Love, M Mac and the rest have said - that its not the design thats wrong, its the entire unit 'getting it' and being assignment correct.
We have been undermanned for most of the first 6 games. Having key personnel out and backups (even promising ones) having to carry the burden will slow development.
3 games in 11 days with that same udermanned staff just makes it that much more difficult.
Add to that the reality is the post Wilson trade boon was fantastic for the talent we brought in, but there are a lot of rookies on this team, as even the guys who came in 2 years ago are having to learn a completely new system - they have seasons under the belt, but none that prepared them for the new scheme or renewed culture.
Its a lot to throw at them. Im not making excuses. But you can see last game that it was less a case of us not having a solution for what the 9ers were doing, it was not executing the solution properly.
The D Sam TD? Love was there and had he been a split secong earlier, could havr had a pick or at worst a tackle for no YAC.
The TD to Kittle? Again, Love was there and it took a perfect pass.
The long run to seal the game was just bad assignment ball.
But in each instance, when you watch the breakdowns on All22, its almost always been one guy guessing the wrong way or stepping wrong. A LB not filling the wrong gap because he forgot he had a DB (behind him) outside of him, a safety slow to roll coverage, or a LB / Edge player split too wide and taking himself out of the play.
The number of those errant plays thrusday was far fewer than what we saw against Detroit. Im tossing out the Giants game because i think it was squarely a case of a young squad looking beyond the game in front of them.
And unfortunately, when you've gone against 3 of the best OCs in football in an 11 day span with a team learning to play together, let alone a young one, there are going to be a lot of 'firsts' in terms of learning the hard way and being taken advantage of by savvy coordinators on thr other side of the ball that know EXACTLY the plays to run to takr advantage of an aggressive (but undermanned and inexperience) D.
On offensr, its all about the line. And with the line, its all about who we get to hold down LT and how quickly the interior can come together. Everything hinges on those two elements.
But pulling the plug? No way.
They're learning on the job. And as much as thry looked better than they were over the first 3 games, they arent as bad as they've looked over the last 3
3 in 11 days.
Until there is evidence of Mike losing the lockerroom over the next few weeks, i think they'll be fine. As much as i would have liked them to be better than they are now, asking the holdovers on defense to unlearn everything they knew under Pete in a few short months, and for an offense to find its footing with its new OC... its a tall order.
And that's not me rationalizing poor play. Its seeing some things getting better week to week (Giants excluded) and hesring the guys to a man call it all the same thing - they are beating thrmselves by not playing assignment correct, tight football. Acknowlesging that, plus with the talent, leadership and smarts of the FO and coaching staff... they just need to keep their heads down, fix the errors and get healthier.
. Shoutsout to @RolandDeschain lol!
