Today's NFL: Defense or Defenseless?

Hello football fans! I was just wandering how many fans watched a few games or maybe read about the long touchdown runs in the Cowboys vs. Ravens and then the Giants vs. Panthers games?

Well, I did, and all I can say is, those were some heaping rushing stats! Again, we are talking about very similar point of attacks exploited for back-to-back, long, galloping runs for touchdowns in crucial or, at least I thought were crucial, games.

Let's break it down fans.

Late in the game a defense has now seen the offensive output then surrenders of two long runs to two very very good defensive teams. Well what is your take on why this happened?

Breaking down a defense is really finding out what their tendency is in attacking the offense. The tendency is to exploit a strength in the defense by the cowboys it was quickness. I cannot add a strength because that is what was exploited. The linebacker chose to go around a block and try to reach back and make the tackle on their running back.

Well, folks that won't get it done! Now, for the reason why this happened. Two very important things I must point out: One, the offensive player was able to dominate the opposing player, and two the alignment of the defense left him out of position to tackle the runner.

The latter is the one we can debate we can do nothing about knowing that we are facing a stronger opposing player other than insuring we have the strongest group of players on the field. Alignment can be changed and the Cowboys need to look @ alignment to avoid this mismatch and give their defense a chance.

Tom Landry had this thing called the Flex defense that would give up the two to three yard gain in order to defend against the long run. The defenders played off the line and this created better angles to the ball carrier. 

In a situation where there was a mismatch in size and strength allowing his defenders to move and stunt  as well alignment variable and creating blocking confusion and slowing the progression of the blocking would allow the defense to react to the ball carrier, surrendering a two or three-yard gain and also able to shift into an audible formation, if recognized by the single caller for the defense.

The second level on Landry's defenses were always strong with a hard hitting safety and sure tackler. Good fundamental defense insures sure tackling is awaiting a ball carrier who could breakdown a flex designed defense.

The defense that is soft @ the safety level pays dearly as did the Cowboys and Giants when second level defenders failed make tackles that would have stopped the runs for less gains. 

The pass could be defended by ends that could close quickly. Again utilizing an angular path to the quarterback and again allowing for greater reaction time for linebackers who could fall back into the passing lanes more quickly and defend screens with more ease.

Good corner cover is necessary because the defense is designed to take care of the middle two-thirds of the field and could flex to deal with the sweep.

Each week brings a little different twist to football but the Ravens have been running the ball very well throughout the season and the Cowboys were not prepared to stop this team and they didn't.

A team that runs well does not resort to a rookie quarterback to pick you to pieces to see it  works on game day. Your job is to stop the run then worry about the pass.  

Second thing that must be addressed is the lack of game preparation by coaches and key players namely the  linebackers in which the offense  attacked. The players are coached to recognize formations and study offensive tendencies and the results of those tendencies if successful will be repeated over and over. Well, you'd think, if this is true, why can't they be stopped?

In my opinion it is the level of skilled players and the ability of the defensive coaching staff to devise alignments to offset the  known weakness in their defense men to allow the players a greater probability by putting them into  the best possible position to make the tackle. What do I mean by position?

If I had a defender who does well with size and strength and has a good technique to breakdown a block, he can back up traffic and allow lateral movement to clean up. I don't like the idea that Zach Thomas is five yards back unless I feel that he has better lateral movement than Spencer or Brady James. 

By bringing James and Spencer up, I have left them vulnerable to a power run and a seal-off block. I must change my alignment from  pass rush  to run defense  and  containment and utilize the speed of the line-backing core to blitz the gaps created by my lineman and attack the tendencies the offense has to run over their center, guard and tackle gaps.

The wait and see approach when I am mismatched up front is futile and the offense will tee off just as the defense attacks quarterbacks who must  pass over and over. I must force them to pass and then take my chances with my four deep in the hope that I can pressure the quarterback while in route to defending the run.

I can tell you with a rookie quarterback I feel much more comfortable if I were a defensive coordinator to force him pass and beat my well performing cover corners.

Therefore, a defender that is undersized who is being dominated by an opposing offender but has good technique and speed his strength is lateral movement.

Allowing a more varied angle of defense leaving defenders off of the line of scrimmage forces the guard,tackle and center to not only who to block who but in what angle they must approach the defender taking into account lateral movement.

If man for man you are undersized than deception is your best friend. I have watched enough football recently to be unimpressed with the lack of activity on the defensive side allowing for quality quarterbacks to audible their players and into a formation that allows for a quick strike either from the air or ground.

Defenses must do more to recognize their own frailties and to utilize the talents of their players to defend effectively. 

You be the judge: defense or defenseless?