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The Defence, the Turnovers, and the Tucker

I'd also say... Zach Orr deserves a glorious handjob today from the fanbase. He's been criticized a lot, and rightfully so. Yesterday, he, and most of the defense, was outstanding.
Roquan looked like a new guy.
He did what many of us have been asking to do for about a month... benched Williams and Jackson, and played Hamilton and Washington in the traditional safety roles. One game sample, but it was easily our best alignment and absolutely helped to take away big plays for a team that loves to throw down field.
Oweh was a savage game wrecker, and Van Noy was in the back field all day. Got a lot of pressure with 4 and 5 man fronts, which is great.
Even Stephens (still that one blunder) looked better.
Appeared to me like we played a lot more man coverages, which a lot of us asked for as well.

Again, one game sample, but it was an outstanding effort.

That's a coaching win.

Yeah and I think it needs to be said how we got here. That's a 32 yr old rookie DC that had to bench a $70m FA, a 2 time pro bowler and a 2nd rd pick. Our best Cb from last year might be headed to a dime/rotation role and our star young safety moved to a new role up high. Thise are some major adjustments with no full bye to make them.
 
I am still hesitant to say that the defense is "Fixed". We did just play the Arthur Smith offense who is notoriously known for being predictable. Granted I know benching Williams for Washington is definitely a step in the right direction, I just need to see more of it first.
 
I am still hesitant to say that the defense is "Fixed". We did just play the Arthur Smith offense who is notoriously known for being predictable. Granted I know benching Williams for Washington is definitely a step in the right direction, I just need to see more of it first.

I'm very bullish, Hamilton will be great up high, Tre'White acquisition could put Marlon in the slot full time. I've been bullish on the secondary throughout, we got the players, just had to find the right combo.
 
I get that the players have to make the plays and it's not on Harbaugh for the Hill, Henry, and Likely fumbles. But it seems like this team looks for a reason to get disappointed early in these Chiefs and Steelers games. They can't match the physicality, and they don't challenge them with anything else. I'm not saying at all it was all Harbaugh's fault, but being 1-9 in the last 10 is ridiculous with the talent on the roster.
This is my biggest concern with this team. Any time we play the the Chiefs or Steelers, it seems like we get away from our game. There's some inherent panic of some sorts and they feel the need to prove or script that they can do a certain thing offensively instead of just doing what works.
 


luckily we scored on this drive anyway so it was largely inconsequential

but the refs basically penalised mekari for tripping over his own OL and not getting up backwards while the play is nowhere near him

ridiculous penalty

Exactly what I said. These particular penalties have been kicking the shit out of us all year and a lot of them have been bullshit like this. Officiating wasn’t too bad yesterday we just fucked up constantly. I don’t mind letting dbs play physical, but this shit right here is outta line.
 
This is my biggest concern with this team. Any time we play the the Chiefs or Steelers, it seems like we get away from our game. There's some inherent panic of some sorts and they feel the need to prove or script that they can do a certain thing offensively instead of just doing what works.
Mentally weak coaching staff creating a mentally weak team.
 
Yeah no shit John how did it take 2 and a half months to get here?
To be fair, we've been fighting for bodies for the last several weeks. Maulet returning and adding Tre White allowed them to start using Ar'Darius as a more traditional S instead of a nickel. We've got a lot of roster spots dedicated to the secondary, but quite a few have been ST only (Kane, Brade, Tampa, JAD to a lesser extent).
 
The tape shows that was a designed run for Lamar. He was only looking to throw it because he didn't have the edge and there was no way he was getting to the end zone. Both Agholor and Likely were blocking from the onset.
That play banked entirely on the defense biting on the motions to the right. Even if likely and agholor got it right, they read it from jump and it would’ve been covered with too many bodies for Lamar to run in.

Really hope monken learned his lesson there that stout disciplined defensive fronts dont fall for shit like that. Chiefs, Steelers, browns, bills, just don’t try it, let your dogs go make a play.
 
That play banked entirely on the defense biting on the motions to the right. Even if likely and agholor got it right, they read it from jump and it would’ve been covered with too many bodies for Lamar to run in.

Really hope monken learned his lesson there that stout disciplined defensive fronts dont fall for shit like that. Chiefs, Steelers, browns, bills, just don’t try it, let your dogs go make a play.
Doesn't help that the play the ran right before the timeout was the same play, just to the right. Monken outsmarted himself on that one. I have no problems keeping the ball in our best player's hands, but it just felt too obvious.
 
I'd also say... Zach Orr deserves a glorious handjob today from the fanbase. He's been criticized a lot, and rightfully so. Yesterday, he, and most of the defense, was outstanding.
Roquan looked like a new guy.
He did what many of us have been asking to do for about a month... benched Williams and Jackson, and played Hamilton and Washington in the traditional safety roles. One game sample, but it was easily our best alignment and absolutely helped to take away big plays for a team that loves to throw down field.
Oweh was a savage game wrecker, and Van Noy was in the back field all day. Got a lot of pressure with 4 and 5 man fronts, which is great.
Even Stephens (still that one blunder) looked better.
Appeared to me like we played a lot more man coverages, which a lot of us asked for as well.

Again, one game sample, but it was an outstanding effort.

That's a coaching win.
I also really have no complaints about the defense on Sunday except for Stephens covering Pickens. Welcome back brother!
 
Exactly what I said. These particular penalties have been kicking the shit out of us all year and a lot of them have been bullshit like this. Officiating wasn’t too bad yesterday we just fucked up constantly. I don’t mind letting dbs play physical, but this shit right here is outta line.

there was a hold on stanley that was horrible but otherwise i didnt have any qualms with the refs
 
Doesn't help that the play the ran right before the timeout was the same play, just to the right. Monken outsmarted himself on that one. I have no problems keeping the ball in our best player's hands, but it just felt too obvious.

feels like you always want to give lamar a chance to be a magician as a 2nd option on those plays

either go big and run henry at them and live with the consequences
or put the ball in lamar's hands with a pass call, knowing that he has the ability to create or get 2 yards on a scramble if nothing's working
 
John Harbaugh was not a bad in-game coach this week.

The refs did not gash us.

We beat ourselves because largely, we're mental sissies.
 
Yeah no shit John how did it take 2 and a half months to get here?

i love that it's all come full circle with ardarius lol

had him as a 2nd round pick as a safety - went undrafted after coming in at 5'8 and running a terrible 40 time and has been playing in the nickel ever since...

only to end up right back as a split-field safety just like he was at TCU in his 4th season in the NFL
 
feels like you always want to give lamar a chance to be a magician as a 2nd option on those plays

either go big and run henry at them and live with the consequences
or put the ball in lamar's hands with a pass call, knowing that he has the ability to create or get 2 yards on a scramble if nothing's working
Exactly. I want Lamar to be able to make a play. That’s what he does best. The problem was that it forced him and only him to make a play instead of giving him options.
 
Doesn't help that the play the ran right before the timeout was the same play, just to the right. Monken outsmarted himself on that one. I have no problems keeping the ball in our best player's hands, but it just felt too obvious.

feels like they have certain calls in key short yardage moments where they outthink themselves and philosophically tie a hand behind our backs by limiting options

options are good for this offence, it allows lamar to make decisions which lamar is incredible at
 
I'm very bullish, Hamilton will be great up high, Tre'White acquisition could put Marlon in the slot full time. I've been bullish on the secondary throughout, we got the players, just had to find the right combo.
Obviously only one game, but if Tre White continues playing well, we need to find a way to keep him....for the right price.
 
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