I'll start with the DL:
1) McCoy. I'm certainly in the "he's a great player boat." However, here is who McCoy is; Russell Westbrook. Elite acceleration/get-off. Blows by people. What is Westbrook's problem? He can't finish with any consistency. McCoy is the same. He is an incredible disruptor and play-maker (for other guys), but he often doesn't make the play himself. This is why an elite finisher at the Edge position is so important in this game and why it would be so huge for this team. If this team would have traded for Mack, our defense would be a very different beast entirely.
We have no elite, edge-bending speed-rush. Curry and JPP are good at what they do (convert speed to power, disengage, make play). But they aren't edge-bending, speed-rushers. We have to throw as many resources at this in the next draft as we can.
2) Kwon. I've covered him in other threads. He is utterly lost in coverage...all the time. I just don't think he possesses the spatial awareness and processing speed/accuracy to handle all of the responsibilities of a modern day MLB.
3) MJ Stewart. I have been saying it since he was drafted. I don't see how he is ever going to be able to play CB in this league (boundary or nickel). He doesn't possess the size and the ability to play the ball in the air down the field and he certainly doesn't possess the quicks/lateral agility/long-speed to handle dynamic slot players. He has been getting killed and its not because he doesn't understand what he's doing. Run support, blitzing Bunches/Tight Stacks and things like Flat and Hook/Seam Zone is what he is going to be able to do at this level. Let him play inside on Dime (take Kwon off the field and let him play that position) or 3 Safety sets.
Anyone but Stewart at the Nickel position right now. He is a liability (to be exploited...and he has been) as a cover-man.
4) Start Ryan Smith. Grimes appears to either be done or he has checked out and is just interested in cashing paychecks without getting hurt. The effort the last two weeks have been pretty clear.
5) Justin Evans has_got_to_stop_jumping_double moves in Man coverage. He has to be aware of and understand his underneath responsibilities in Zone coverage when he's playing SS. He gave up so many plays last year because of failures in these two things. You saw more of the same yesterday.
Onto scheme:
I've made no bones about the fact that I hate a base Quarters scheme in the NFL. In the modern NFL you win by getting IMMEDIATE PRESSURE to force a QB off his spot. This is done by unique fronts that confuse the OL and allow free-ish rushers + a stable of pass rushers to rotate. Just as important is (a) presnap coverage disguise to stall post-snap processing for just a moment and (b) early route disruption (doesn't have to be Press Man, but there has to be some kind of getting your hands on receivers happening...early...and if its subtle).
None of these things are base features of this scheme. In fact, our scheme's base features are almost the exact opposite. We run a ton of base fronts and slow-developing Twists/Stunts. We don't disguise our coverages well at all. We rarely disrupt receivers. We're playing bail all the time and not getting into receivers. What this does is draw the eyes of officials (because its a perceptual anomaly) when we actually DO get into receivers and disrupt their routes/get physical with them. So we tend to draw more flags than other teams because of that.
When we change defenses, we need an aggressive/myriad front that attacks and we need disruption and physicality with receivers...every play...every single one. That is how so many teams get away with Illegal Contact/Defensive Holding, yet we get rung up on it regularly. They do it ALL THE TIME. Officials get used to seeing it as a part of the visual signal of a defense so it doesn't draw scrutiny.
