I don't think it's a talent issue..we have talent. We aren't elite by any means but there's enough there to be a middle of the pack defense.
The scheme is the issue. His players lapse in coverage and we play a TON of soft zone coverage that is SUPPOSED to be bend don't break but we end up doing both.
Our third down defense is atrocious. Our fourth down defense sucks. Our third and long defense sucks.
Bowles has consistently been out coached on defense.
Every big moment late in the game his defense fails after the offense has kept them in it.
He's failed to be aggressive on offense via fourth down analytics because he believes fool-hardily in his defensive scheme.
Losing is never on one person but I feel pretty confident in saying 80% of it is on Bowles as a head coach... Whether that is time management, aggressiveness, defense, or just collecting time outs for the off-season
First Neal and now Whitehead...these players didn't forget how to play safety. Even Winfield Jr. looks off this year so yeah the scheme is too problematic on the backend.
The answer was right there, I put it in bold.
We had starting ILB’s.
We had starting CB’s.
We had starting EDGE rushers.
We weren’t missing anyone.
Your current disappointment is the credit card bill we’re paying down by NOT signing anyone
No. My current disappointment is an inept head coach with a career losing record.
One who still can’t wrap his head around time management.
One, who’s stupidity caused us to lose Evans for an extended period and Godwin for the year (and further proved his ineptitude this past weekend, putting Baker back in after getting injured in a blowout).
One who has continuously been passive and banked on his defense rather than the actual strength of the team (the offense).
He’s simply not a good head coach and his record backs that.
This is my exact feeling.
You can't be a defensive head coach and get carried by an elite young offensive play caller.
Harbaugh went for it on his own 20 before half and ended up scoring a TD. Aggressiveness is rewarded in the NFL. We have the players to win on key 4th downs. Go look at how effective we are on 3rd down. And yet Bowles continues to punt in key situations then allow his defense to yet again shit the bed in crunch time.
And before I'd say well... Baker and the offense were turning it over and putting the defense in bad situations. Well that stopped and still the defense shits the bed.
Todd Bowles single-handedly has lost us 4 games... And I'd add 5th game with the Broncos as Peyton has him in his back pocket.
I do think players like playing for him and don't give up but this is a results oriented league and he is massively underperforming. All he has to do is put out an average defense.
Now we will get fool's gold down the stretch vs bad offenses and maybe sneak into the playoffs... And possibly lose Coen.
If we are gonna build the team with long term big picture thinking in mind we gotta apply that logic to the coach
I don't think it's a talent issue..we have talent. We aren't elite by any means but there's enough there to be a middle of the pack defense.
The scheme is the issue. His players lapse in coverage and we play a TON of soft zone coverage that is SUPPOSED to be bend don't break but we end up doing both.
Our third down defense is atrocious. Our fourth down defense sucks. Our third and long defense sucks.
Bowles has consistently been out coached on defense.
Every big moment late in the game his defense fails after the offense has kept them in it.
He's failed to be aggressive on offense via fourth down analytics because he believes fool-hardily in his defensive scheme.
Losing is never on one person but I feel pretty confident in saying 80% of it is on Bowles as a head coach... Whether that is time management, aggressiveness, defense, or just collecting time outs for the off-season
First Neal and now Whitehead...these players didn't forget how to play safety. Even Winfield Jr. looks off this year so yeah the scheme is too problematic on the backend.
Tbf, Bowles isn't making Winfield play the ball poorly ok a deep ball or miss key tackles. He's just playing bad and I don't think it's coaching.
However, Bowles DID leave him in vs Washington in a blowout and he got hurt. A theme of Bowles this year.
Now we will get fool's gold down the stretch vs bad offenses and maybe sneak into the playoffs... And possibly lose Coen.
Coen will be here next year as the HC.
However, Bowles DID leave him in vs Washington in a blowout and he got hurt. A theme of Bowles this year.
Completely forgot about that.
3 score game with like a minute to go in the game and he had Winfield out there on the hands team for an onside kick.
If only we were up 50-0, then he might’ve considered pulling him.
First Neal and now Whitehead...these players didn't forget how to play safety. Even Winfield Jr. looks off this year so yeah the scheme is too problematic on the backend.
This ^^
The defense seems to require a very fast ILB (drop off from Dennis to Britt is catastrophic) and is too complex for dropping down to lesser players in the backfield.
Certainly agree it is possible that Winfield and Whitehead look lost because they are not trusting the guys around them.
One thing about the Tampa 2, still needed that dropping LB but basically disciplined tacklers could play most of the other posiitons
@donkey_hunter I don’t disagree with many kf these criticisms. I’ve complained about them, too.
I don’t think he’s a bad DC, his scheme works with the right personnel - and my point is we don’t have them. Some of that is on him, some of that is on Licht.
Sure we started JAG’s at these positions, but everyone knew they were JAG’s.
A decision will be made, based on how the head coach has handled these issues by the end of the year. But another consideration will likely be whether the owners/GM want to allow this head coach to pick the talent needed to maintain the scheme.
I also think if posters on a message board can figure whether we’re winning garbage-time fading teams at the end of the season - but get eliminated quickly (should we make the post-season - the experts at OBP will know it too.
We have to have a strong defense to become a SB capable team. Right now we’re no where near that level.
Now, he did pretty well against Detroit & Philly - and was able to adjust enough to be better than average. The rest of the season will have some unexpected games - his future depends on the defensive performance in those games.
Health has not been with us this season - so it’s going to be interesting.
I don’t think he’s a bad DC,
That could be true, but he’s a bad HC.
And, getting “the right personnel” will not change his passive ways, his shitty situational awareness, his horrible clock management, and his penchant to not know when to take key players out of games.
But, hey, maybe it’ll work out for you and the brass keeps him.
I’ll be fine if he’s retained another year, but I have already said I think the logical path will be a transition.I don’t think he’s a bad DC,
That could be true, but he’s a bad HC.
And, getting “the right personnel” will not change his passive ways, his shitty situational awareness, his horrible clock management, and his penchant to not know when to take key players out of games.
But, hey, maybe it’ll work out for you and the brass keeps him.
Last season, when some of us brought up the defense had a major problem brewing - and that we needed to add some players - you told us the defense was fine. In fact, when many posters were tossing around defensive FA options - you didn’t think they’d be worth the investment/cap impact.
Now you’re living through the reality of being wrong, so it’s the coaches problem that he can’t make JAG’s into Suh, JPP or Shaq at their peak. You wanted this, now we’re living it.
You weren’t wrong about the impact, but you’re no longer talking about the cap constraints impacting the roster. You’re pretending it’s all about the scheme. Enjoy it, this is what you wanted
Maybe you could remind us about your stellar take on Mayfield being less than average, inability to be consistent, and that he was going to regress?
Do you also check in with that same law firm?
Last season, when some of us brought up the defense had a major problem brewing - and that we needed to add some players - you told us the defense was fine.
Top 7 scoring defense, the "only stat that matters."
It is NOT coincidence that some (not all) of the "loudest" anti-Bowles posters here were ALSO the loudest, game day trolling Mayfield posters last year.
Those same posters set up this season as "10 wins and deep in the playoffs or its FAILURE"-- even while later acknowledging that front office is not spending $ on FAs. It think some who questioned the WISDOM of such preseason claims mentioned schedule and injuries. I forget the name calling back then, was it "schedule humpers" or soemthinf like that LMAO or "Bowles nut gobblins."
Anyway, it is NOT coincidence that those posters are the same over the seasons because those posters are PRIMARILY trolling the board, setting up false and often hypocritical takes ("top 7 in scoring!") for the pointing of flaming the board, telling others how "dumb" they are etc.
Its comical at some level because there is PLENTY of legitimate criticism of Bowles as a HC, so the trolling is unnecessary.
But, it exists because trolling is the purpose. last year there were plenty of legitimate reason to criticize Mayfield, but the board was home to posts about Mayfield sending the RB the wrong ways and film showing WRs running all over.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
