JPP - Relentless hands and great technique/not his young self
McCoy - Powerful burst from his stance/lacks conditioning
Allen - Understands gap integrity/Anchoring is questionable
Curry - Dominate when on his game/Inconsistent
Glanton - Sideline to sideline player/Over pursues often
Alexander - Great energy and tenacity/lacks clean technique
David - Aggressive and downhill player/Doesn't have a feel for m2m coverage
Grimes - Understands route trees/Lacks the physicality due to rule chagnes
Smith - Can fly and hang with any WR in league/lacks feel for zone coverage/boundary
Evans - High points passes and improved tackler/Still sucked in by window dressing
Johnson - Aggressive in the box/Also sucked in by window dressing
All defensive players on NFL teams have flaws but they also have pros to them. Coaching staff needs to recognize this.
Help the players out and throw them a bone.
DL lacks a rotation due to injury? Need to blitz LB's more.
LB's exposed in coverage? Go to more nickel and dime formations and/or blitz Kwon/David
MJ Stewart not explosive enough in slot? Put MJ Stewart in big nickel situations and let Elliot handle the shiftier guys in the league.
Nassib having more success rushing the passer? Play him more.
Gholston better rushing on the inside? Let him rush from inside more.
Vea is going to have to rotate with McCoy if McCoy lacks the conditioning.
Smith and Davis should be the starting outside boundary CB's.
Use Grimes in the slot with Elliot and MJ Stewart
Play more cover 3, cover 2, tampa 2.
Go away from off coverage until the defense masters the basics of cover 3.
etc, etc, etc.
A lot of these issues are easy fixes like being at the right spot pre snap. Gap integrity. Tackling. etc.
What I am saying is that you don't need elite defenders to have a competent defense. Defense is 50% cerebral and 50% athleticism. This is because defenders are reacting to the athleticism of offensive players. That is where cerebral prep and thinking comes in. Tandy would sure be nice to have back right now.
Pre game prep, studying film, technique matter way more for defense than offense IMO.
