Skins vs Carolina Pre Game

Our defense is bad, real bad, but here' something I found interesting...

Q: How do KC (10-3),Oakland (10-3) and Atlanta (8-5) defenses compare?
A: 1) Their Defenses are all rated lower than the 'Skins.
2) They all have fewer sacks than the 'Skins: KC-27, Oak-22, Atl-28
Wash has 34 sacks, 4th in the NFL
3) All have more Interceptions than the 'Skins: KC-14, Oak-12, Atl-9
Wash has 8
4) They all have more Passes Defended than the 'Skins
KC-85, Oak-64, Atl-61....Wash has just 54

We get enough sacks & we all know we've missed many other opportunities.

But, we don't Intercept the ball enough & we definitely don't defend the pass strongly enough. So where's the real issue lie?

Is it with our poor Defensive calls (Joe Barry), poor secondary coaching/techniques (Perry Fewell) or is it really just a lack of talent on the Def side (Scott McL)?

I think the real answer is some portion of All of the Above.

To me its not about interceptions, sacks, or yards, its about keeping the other team from scoring and the Skins D gives up too many points. It puts a lot of pressure on the O to have to score 30 points each game just to eek out a win.

To me its not about interceptions, sacks, or yards, its about keeping the other team from scoring and the Skins D gives up too many points. It puts a lot of pressure on the O to have to score 30 points each game just to eek out a win.

Getting off the field on 3rd down. End of story. Games are decided on 3rd down.

Only Cleveland is worst then us.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-third-down-conversion-pct

Getting off the field on 3rd down. End of story. Games are decided on 3rd down.



Only Cleveland is worst then us.



https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-third-down-conversion-pct



I definitely agree this has been our biggest problem on D, by far.

Getting off the field on 3rd down. End of story. Games are decided on 3rd down.

Only Cleveland is worst then us.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-third-down-conversion-pct

I agree. Unlike other stats I think this stat is directly related to the D giving up too many points.

I definitely agree this has been our biggest problem on D, by far.

How many times have we seen them do well on 1st and 2nd and its 3rd and say 7? then boom 10 yard pick up. Fawk even on 3rd and super long they give it up. So frustrating.

How many times have we seen them do well on 1st and 2nd and its 3rd and say 7? then boom 10 yard pick up. Fawk even on 3rd and super long they give it up. So frustrating.

Too many. Way too many.

Part of it is lack of talent (speed), part of it has to be playcalling, but I'd also say part of it is not playing angry enough.

When you play defense, and it's 3rd down, you have to play like your life depends on it, like those guys want to get into your house and F your dog! I'm not seeing that attitude from our D.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-third-down-conversion-pct

This really tells the story of the tape with our defense. In the last 3 games the opp has converted the 3rd down 55% of the time, only Philly is close to use at 54% and they have basically given up on their season. That is why we are 1 and 2 over the past 3 weeks.

Last year we were at 37% that would have put at a tie for 7th place this year. Why such a major drop off from last year? To me 3rd down is a lot about coaching and this just shows Barry has gotten worst. I would be in favor of a new DC next year with an infusion of some more talent, even if that means hitting the FA market.

Getting off the field on 3rd down. End of story. Games are decided on 3rd down.

Only Cleveland is worst then us.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/opponent-third-down-conversion-pct

spot on...I agree, 3rd down on defense has bout killed this team just like our red zone offense.

Except the red zone makes less fucking sense because of our ability to move the ball. I think its McVay and Gruden is to blame

spot on...I agree, 3rd down on defense has bout killed this team just like our red zone offense.

Except the red zone makes less fucking sense because of our ability to move the ball. Red offense makes absolutely no fucking sense and I think its McVay and Gruden responsibility.

Well lets visit that.

Drum roll......the Skins are also near dead last in that category (this stat determines if you score a TD).

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/red-zone-scoring-pct

We are at 45% for the year and we have shown some improvement in the last 3 at 50%. Last year we were at 58%; again a decline.

I feel like 3rd down and Red Zone is coaching guys. We are doing a good job on 1st and 2nd downs defensively so this shows me we have the talent to at least compete (it is normal a long drive that kills us, not a quick bing bang boom score from the opp). The Red Zone is even worst we move the ball like a hot knife through butter then when we get to the red zone and the brakes lock up.

To me McVay and Gruden stay and figure the red zone out but the defense needs a overhaul, IMO.

Good post, imo we need a big dominant NT, at least one new safety, and maybe another corner if Breelands not the guy. Some of our young guys will be better next year, Cravens, Fuller, Smith, Ioannidis, could all turn into nice pieces. And if Galette returns we have an athletic pass rusher to rotate in instead of the plodders we have now. We could actually be solid on defense next year

Edit: Oh and of course a new D coordinator is a must

Last offseason the Giants did exactly what you said. They spent big in FA and they got a dominant DT and an elite Edge Rusher. We criticized them a lot here for spending so much on those positions but they had the last laugh because their defense is much better.