On Both Sides of the Ball, Packers Still Running into Problems

The Green Bay Packers can't run the ball or stop the run. Blip on the radar or long-term problem?

Now four weeks in, the possibility certainly exists that the Green Bay Packers will continue having problems running the football on offense and stopping the run on defense throughout 2014. 

At the quarter pole, the Packers rank 28th in rushing offense (73.0 per game) and dead last (32nd) in run defense (176.0). As a result, no team in the NFL has a greater disparity between yards gained and yards allowed on the ground than Green Bay's 412 (292 gained, 704 allowed). 

Sunday's trip to Chicago felt like a barometer of sorts for both the run offense and defense. The Bears came into Week 3 allowing 144.7 rushing yards a game, while only gaining 64.0 per game on offense. The numbers appeared to give the Packers a real chance to get jumpstarted on both sides of the football, but just the opposite happened: the ugly trends of Weeks 1-3 actually got worse. 

The Packers rushed for a season-low 56 yards, while the defense allowed a season-high 235. The 235 rushing yards surrendered were the franchise's fourth-most since 1990. 

The two rushing numbers probably went hand-in-hand Sunday. 

The Bears rushed 41 times and totaled 16 rushing first downs, which allowed the Chicago offense to run 77 plays and control the football for roughly 36-and-a-half minutes. Meanwhile, the Packers offense ran just 47 plays—a new season low—and called only 17 runs. Running back Eddie Lacy carried all 17 times but managed just 48 yards. 

If the Packers can't run the football against the beat-up Bears, can they expect to run it on anyone?

Few will doubt it's been a difficult start. A year after rushing for over 100 yards in 13 of 17 games (including playoffs), the Packers offense has opened the 2014 season 0-for-4 hitting the century mark. 

Lacy has been mostly a non-factor. His 53 rushes have resulted in just 161 yards, good for 3.0 yards per carry. With only six rushing first downs, Lacy is currently tied with the likes of molasses quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Ryan Fitzpatrick for 38th in the NFL.

After four games last season—including his one-carry, 10-yard outing against Washington in Week 2— Lacy had carried 61 times for 270 yards (4.4 per). Even his worst four-game stretch of last season doesn't compare to his start to 2014. From Weeks 10-13, Lacy rushed for only 218 yards, but still 57 yards more than Lacy's current total four games in. 

Problems appear to plague all aspects. The line hasn't moved people in the run game. Lacy has run tentatively at times. The offense doesn't have a legitimate blocking tight end. Runs are being called at a lower percentage. And rarely have the called runs allowed Lacy to plow downhill. 

The result has been just 292 rushing yards, which is the team's lowest four-game total to start a season since 2007. 

The run defense looks far more unfixable. 

Since Week 9 of last season, or a span of 14 games (including playoffs), the Packers have allowed 2,286 rushing yards. That's 163.3 per game, and includes five games allowing 200 or more (for context, consider that the Bears' historically bad run defense last season allowed 161.4 per game, with four 200-plus games). The Packers are currently on pace to allow 2,816 rushing yards in 2014, which would come close to breaking the franchise record of 2,885, set by the 1979 defense. 

Club history says allowing 2,000 rushing yards is a season killer. The Packers have done it 24 times in their history; of those 24 teams, only three finished with a winning record, and only one—the 1989 club—won 10 or more games. The 24 teams averaged 5.3 wins. The Packers allowed exactly 2,000 last season and finished 8-7-1. 

The 235 rushing yards allowed Sunday in Chicago were the most by the Packers since the Detroit Lions rushed for 241 on Thanksgiving last season.

"I know what the numbers are," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "Nobody likes it."

Again, answers are hard to come by. 

The Packers are soft as Charmin up the middle. The defense still hasn't identified a legitimate nose tackle minus B.J. Raji. The inside linebackers are not nearly good enough to make up the difference up front. Lacking a starting caliber third defensive lineman, coordinator Dom Capers often stayed in two-linemen defenses in Chicago despite the Bears running the football down Green Bay's throat. 4-3. 3-4. Same result. 

The Packers started last season with one of the league's best run defenses but then flatlined over the final 10 games of the season. A turnaround of opposite effect in 2014 feels as unlikely as A.J. Hawk keeping his lid on for 60 minutes or Jay Cutler staying interception-free against Green Bay. 

If either side has a real chance to turn things around, it's certainly the run offense. Lacy has the talent and the offensive line showed last season it can make room and bully people at times in the trenches. But nothing about the first four games suggests improvement is on its way, for either side. 

When it comes to the Packers' ability to run and stop the run, what you see is probably what you'll get for most of the final 12 games in 2014. 

 

Zach Kruse contributes to Cheesehead TV. He is also the Lead Writer for the NFC North at Bleacher Report. You can reach him on Twitter @zachkruse2 or by email at [email protected].

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Comments (55)

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pacman's picture

September 30, 2014 at 08:57 am

Maybe they can sneak a 12th man on the line. Looks like nobody would notice for while.

I'm not a draft expert but I think the case can certainly be made that fixing the defensive line should have taken priority over anything else. Bend but don't break might work sometimes but this line is broken!

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:10 am

I wish I knew what the answer was. But just like everyone else, I have no idea what is going on with the run game on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, Lacy appears to not be in sync with the OL. He has missed holes and appears to be trying to bounce everything outside to much. The OL hasn't done a good job though allowing penetration and hasn't provided a lot of holes either.
I do believe that the run game will get going though. Starks has looked good with the few carries he has received. Also I think once the OL gets more reps together they will get a better feel for each other and will improve.

The run defense, I am not sure. The first 3 games the were getting better each week, and then against the Bears they gave up a lot of yards again. It felt like they were content with giving up a lot of rushing yards in order to prevent the Bears from beating them in the passing game. And anyway we want to look at it. It worked. They only gave up 17 points and created turnovers.
I do really think the loss of Raji is a bigger blow then anyone wants to admit. I hope some other guys can step up like Pennel because we could really use a good NT right now.
Is there any NT's available that might be able to be brought in to help? I know Pickett was just signed last week, but is there anyone similar?

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Idiot Fan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:44 am

I think you can have a light, attacking-style defensive line (like we just switched to) if you have some bruising, thumping linebackers. Or you can have some average linebackers (like we have) if you have big, stout defensive linemen. The problem is that we have a small line with average linebackers.

I do agree that they set out to stop the passing game first this past week, which worked pretty well with Jeffrey/Marshall, though Bennett almost killed us. But egads, you would hope that, even if they focus on the pass, the run D could hold up a little better than that. I don't know why the Bears didn't just run until we had to stop playing nickel.

And it did work out well, but that was largely because, A.) The offense was unstoppable, and B.) We actually did get a couple turnovers. The O won't always be able to do that, and turnovers can't always be relied on. The last couple years the defense has lived and died on the turnover. Personally I would be willing to give up some turnovers for a defense that could just force some punts.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 30, 2014 at 10:07 am

"I don't know why the Bears didn't just run until we had to stop playing nickel."

They fell behind and had to throw, and then Culter started forcing his throws. Almost no one makes up a double digit deficit by running.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

October 01, 2014 at 03:50 pm

What on earth is there about this comment that 5 people dislike?

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Tundraboy's picture

October 02, 2014 at 07:32 am

I kind of agree. Who if anybody ever feels confident that we can make a stop on 3rd down. When was the last time? Hope-full yes, confident no. Be honest now.

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zoellner25's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:41 am

"The Packers are soft as Charmin up the middle". Spot on. The biggest problem with not stopping the run at all is the time of possession, which translates into a very tired defense that already can't stop anyone. Smarter teams than the Bears will exploit this more. Hell, the Vikings had over 200 yards rushing on Sunday too. Need to bring in a street FA nose tackle.

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Evan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:46 am

"The biggest problem with not stopping the run at all is the time of possession..."

That coupled with the hurry-up offense is going to destroy this defense.

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Tundraboy's picture

September 30, 2014 at 11:03 pm

And if its 3 and out on O....the wheels will completely come off. . Lets hope MM sees this now before game 11

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sonomaca's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:47 am

Can Pennel be any worse than Guion? I think it's time to give the rookie more playing time. Don't know what's up with Daniels. Good one week, bad the next. Jones is getting better, but I think the ceiling for hims isn't all that high.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 30, 2014 at 10:09 am

Daniels is now the focus of the blocking schemes. He's not big or strong enough to take on double teams and the other linemen don't warrant one. He's going to have a long season.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

October 01, 2014 at 11:38 am

I think Daniels is strong enough. He had a hell of a showing against the Jets. He's just not consistent. To make things worse,his fellow D-Linemen aren't giving much help to take any pressure off of him. Team sport.

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Gianich's picture

September 30, 2014 at 10:13 am

Starks 5.2 YPC. Lacy 3.2 YPC. I can't understand why Starks didnt get any touches Sunday. I get that Mashed Potato Mike wants to work Lacy out of his vision impaired slump but at what point does this rigid inability to mix it up end up really cost the team in the Win catagory?? ITS TIME TO FEED #44 on first and second down. Lacy is better at catching and protecting BUT NOT rushing at this point this season so it makes too much sense to play 27 on 3rd downs while 44 gets 15-20 carries. Numbers don't lie! I wonder how long Mashed Potato Mike is going to bang his head against the wall while Lacy keeps bouncing everything outside instead of hitting the open seam???

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Evan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 10:15 am

Numbers absolutely lie, especially when they're based on such a small sample size, as Starks' 5.0 YPC over a whole 15 carries is.

Yes, Starks should get more carries. But let's keep his YPC in perspective.

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Gianich's picture

September 30, 2014 at 11:35 am

Watch the tape. That wont lie. WHos's hitting the hole with decisiveness and who's dancing? Who's making the correct read and who's bouncing everything outside at every chance? Starks' vision and decisiveness is much better than Lacy's at this point, The tape don't lie. Bottom line is after we split hairs here we both agree that Starks needs more carries.

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Evan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 11:35 am

Yeah. no argument there at all - Starks is definitely running with more decisiveness and explosiveness.

Tape doesn't lie. Numbers can.

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Gianich's picture

September 30, 2014 at 10:16 am

I got nothing for defense. The Pack are stuck with who they have. I hope Pennel can provide some ability to take up blockers in the middle otherwise we'll just have to hope for many more games in which Mastay does not punt...

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Tundraboy's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:37 pm

Snap counts below

Eddie Lacy: 50
John Kuhn: 2
James Starks: 1

MM is stubborn as a mule and not very consistent.

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Tundraboy's picture

September 30, 2014 at 06:10 pm

and this just in

"That was poor management by myself,” McCarthy said. “That shouldn’t have happened. James Starks should touch the football every single game.”"

How does the play calling HC not even remotely know this until after the game?????

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DrealynWilliams's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:53 pm

I mean....we didn't even punt that game. So,he's off the hook for that 1. I get it.

Other games though??? Inexcusable. Unacceptable. This Eddie Lacy force feeding HAS to stop.

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KenEllis's picture

September 30, 2014 at 10:18 am

Was this not the year Mike McCarthy was going to come down from his offensive mountain to guide the D to glory?

How can a pathetic run defense be worse than ever?

There are FIVE 1st round picks among the front 7 (D. Jones, Perry, Clay, Peppers, and Hawk) and we stink.

The time to BLOW UP THE D was after the playoff debacle in SF after the 2012 season.

We are now watching the final twitches of a dying entity.

Will Rex be the next DC?

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jmac34's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Rex has too much pride to go back to being a D Coordinator

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Tundraboy's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:40 pm

Never thought I would say this living out east but Ryan is what we could use. You never know,

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zeke's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:07 pm

"I want to write an "I told you so" comment... but I'm too big for that."

Like when you said that there was not a team in the league GB could hold under 20 points.

A troll's life is a hard life sometimes, no?

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zeke's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:33 pm

It means (as you wrote at the end of the 2012 season) that you write the negative crap you do in order to get a reaction out of people. In other words, you do it to get attention.

But you already knew that because, like I said, you wrote it yourself.

Understand now?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:22 pm

I know COW is famous for trolling but I don't believe he's being overtly negative in this post. So rather than berating him for previous offenses why don't we talk about the upcoming game in a civil manner? He's actually made a good point.

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zeke's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:47 pm

Where was I berating him or being uncivil?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:57 pm

Did you not call him a troll and belittle his existence?

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Evan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:58 pm

Not to be the CHTV police, but can we please not turn this into the weekly Cow discussion?

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barutanseijin's picture

September 30, 2014 at 06:22 pm

Have an issue with the Bovine? Address his arguments. Calling someone a troll is a cop out.

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Idiot Fan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 01:52 pm

"Put the onus on the back-end... it's the strength of the defense."

I was thinking exactly the same thing. If there's any part of the defense that might be able to be leaned on a little, it would be the secondary. Put effort into stopping the run and hope your DBs can play well enough.

My guess is that Dom was pretty afraid of Jeffrey and Marshall, so he sold out to stop them. This week there isn't quite that same receiver threat, so I expect him to put more effort into stopping the run (not to mention that the players are ashamed of their performance against the run last week).

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FITZCORE1252's picture

September 30, 2014 at 08:17 pm

I actually agree about going into attack mode. The long, sustained drives that just end up in points are equal to death by a thousand cuts, figuratively speaking of course. They tire out the D and eat the clock. If you attack and they bite you, so be it, get it over with quick and put the ball back in QB1's hands. I still like our chances in a shootout against most anybody.

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White92's picture

September 30, 2014 at 11:27 am

Off topic a bit here sorry-

But I was at game and didnt tape it (doh!)

Wasn't there an offensive penalty on the play that ended the first half in the game Sunday? I thought sure there was offensive holding called. If that were the case, the replay didn't negate a sure touchdown in any case. Everyone is acting like it was probably a touchdown.

Thanks

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:09 pm

This was brought up on Green and Gold Today, and I think it might be a good point. Is Lacy being used differently this year from how he was last year when he was so productive? Most of his production came when Rodgers wasn't in.

Lacy is a downhill runner so would he be at his best in more of a traditional type of role, with a fullback in front of him where he takes the hand off moving towards the OL, versus now he is mostly side stepping to Rodgers to get the hand off?

I do wonder if he would be a little more productive if he was used that way. It might give him that 1/2 second he needs to get to the hole.

Now McCarthy likes his offense and likes the shotgun formations, so I don't see him changing that. But how about changing where Lacy lines up in it? Have him line up behind Rodgers in more of a Pistol look. On hand offs it would give Lacy a running start towards the OL, and it can be used on play action passes more.
A small change could perhaps create a little more productivity.

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:23 pm

I think it would add a new look and wrinkle to the Packers offense. Could help the run game out a bit.

One thing I like about it is when they decided to run it, it would get Lacy moving forward for the ball versus sideways. And plus if they would have success running from the Pistol then play action will be even more effective.

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pooch's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:26 pm

I said after 1st game get rid of shotgun and use it only on 3rd and long.Cant stand the handoff when back is basically starting flat footed.Thats how GB runs it.Get in a 3 point stance a fire out like your in starter blocks

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pooch's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:26 pm

I said after 1st game get rid of shotgun and use it only on 3rd and long.Cant stand the handoff when back is basically starting flat footed.Thats how GB runs it.Get in a 3 point stance a fire out like your in starter blocks

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pooch's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Watch it Zach,4&1 would say your whining.Why would you not bring Johnny Jolly back in for a try.This were Ted is so stubborn he is detrimental to the team

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Evan's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:24 pm

Has Jolly even been medically cleared?

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packer4real's picture

October 01, 2014 at 08:51 am

I agree with you Pooch, if you look back at last season prior to Jolly getting hurt, the defense was stout up front, when he got hurt the run defense started getting tourched. Also for Lacy to run the ball better they need to go back to the zone blocking as they did last year. They are not running no type of screen plays. They need to utilize all the backs. Starks, J. Harris for his speed, and Kuhn.

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pooch's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Watch it Zach,4&1 would say your whining.Why would you not bring Johnny Jolly back in for a try.This were Ted is so stubborn he is detrimental to the team

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4thand1's picture

September 30, 2014 at 03:58 pm

Was referring to cowpie. quit whining about whiners.

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pooch's picture

September 30, 2014 at 12:47 pm

Sorry for double post,dont know about jolly,he does post from time to time on sunday live blog,anyone know if he has been cleared to play?

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FITZCORE1252's picture

September 30, 2014 at 08:22 pm

You really think Johnny Jolly is posting on a live blog? Did you see Reggie White's posts above? You're not looking for any land by chance, are you?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

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4thand1's picture

September 30, 2014 at 08:46 pm

LMAO, I'm really Jim Carrey. Well allllriiighty then!

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Lphill's picture

September 30, 2014 at 03:21 pm

everyone take note of COW'S comments," nothing can be fixed , nobody can be a leader on defense," this is 4 games, watch the highlights of other contenders, this COW person is not a Packers fan just here to piss off people and bring them down. plenty of time to fix the defense and get the run game going. RELAX

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4thand1's picture

September 30, 2014 at 04:01 pm

R-E-L-A-X. It wont go away. For cow, exlax.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 30, 2014 at 06:45 pm

A cow on ex-lax sounds like a bigger mess than the Packers defensive line...

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FITZCORE1252's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:00 pm

Man, that's a close one.

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Clay Zombo's picture

September 30, 2014 at 08:22 pm

Nothing we suggest here today will be thought of by McCarthy until around week 10 or later so don't hold your breath.

How many times does MM have to watch teams use the jet sweep or the end around successfully against us before he puts a play like that in his playbook.

if you want to freeze some LBers to give the RBs some room to breathe, than run some jet sweep, reverse or end around action. Its just another form of play action except now the defense has to account for 3 different guys instead

In a game of inches every little split second counts and if a LB, S or CB has to stop even for a second to make sure the WR doesn't have the ball than that's 1 less second to account for the RB or the QB if he keeps it.

Just about every other team out there runs some form of misdirection plays or read option now, just not the Packers. McCarthy fell in love with the pace of the Eagles offense the last time we played them, too bad he ignored everything else.

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Imma Fubared's picture

September 30, 2014 at 09:49 pm

I agree with Cow. The obvious, we have to play with what we got. I know one thing, you cannot tell someone, you need to start tackling better.
If you do your an idiot. Its like asking someone to start being smarter and better at math solving.

Instead the players have to be shown what is expected of them in various situation's. Those that continually fail to achieve what is being shown, need to go, obviously now is not a good time.

The Vikes scare the heck out of me too. Spielman developed this team to be a ball control team mixing in running and passing but if the Vikes run game is working they milk that cow to death. Their rookie got 135 in the game last week and he is three on the depth chart.

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Aeric's picture

September 30, 2014 at 11:35 pm

Geeze what a dumbass. Likely the packers bitchslap the Vikes as usual

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JimTaylor31's picture

October 01, 2014 at 04:47 am

My concern with the defense in general is that they have generally underperformed for the last 3-4 years and continue to do so. Granted Ted hasn't done a good job of drafting to upgrade the defense but the talent level is at least average. In other words there are teams with worse talent who seem to out perform Capers & Co. Why Ted has chosen to accept that level of underperformance is a mystery but it seems like there is always an excuse with no accountability. If we just had a consistently OK defense I'd be happy.

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TKWorldWide's picture

October 01, 2014 at 09:51 pm

It looks to me like the run defense's best hope right now is that the offense builds a big lead and forces the opposition to abandon the run.

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