Game 9...Here We Go Again...Los Angeles Rams!

[Scooter]

I’d have to really study it to come to that conclusion, which would be torture. The long pass to Woods was most definitely a player mistake. The safety was in the correct position until he decided to break on the sideline route. Joseph was playing outside and there is absolutely nothing he can do to defend that pass.

I don't mean to discount player mistakes, they're certainly happening too frequently. Just that I don't think they're the only problem.

 

[TexansSeminole]

I don't mean to discount player mistakes, they're certainly happening too frequently. Just that I don't think they're the only problem.

You might be right, and I’m speaking in too absolute of terms.

Watch here at the 45 second mark and beyond:

The safety and Jackson break on the sideline route and leave Joseph on an island. That can’t be designed. Somebody didn’t understand their role on that play from pre-snap, probably the safety. If not, it’s no surprise that the play resulted in a touchdown.

 

[Scooter]

That's similar to what I've been seeing, a safety being too far forward (often on top of Kareem inside). Both DB's had their eye on that receiver the entire time, so either one of them got the assignment wrong or Vrabel is being too aggressive with his safeties and their matchups.

 

[TexansSeminole]

That's similar to what I've been seeing, a safety being too far forward (often on top of Kareem inside). Both DB's had their eye on that receiver the entire time, so either one of them got the assignment wrong or Vrabel is being too aggressive with his safeties and their matchups.

The safety definitely thought he was supposed to be playing inside out on that receiver that broke to the sideline. Whatever Jackson thought he was supposed to do is unclear, but it appears that he thought either he had that same receiver in man or he was to cover the area that the receiver broke to. If that’s the design, it’s definitey a coaching issue, but it’s hard for me to believe that that was the design. Woods could have run several deep routes and been wide open.

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

That's similar to what I've been seeing, a safety being too far forward (often on top of Kareem inside). Both DB's had their eye on that receiver the entire time, so either one of them got the assignment wrong or Vrabel is being too aggressive with his safeties and their matchups.

This what happens when you have physically deficient and mentally deficient poor safeties............overcompensation and aggressiveness..............all or nothing.

 

[TxnsJuggernaut]

Poor OL play, which leads to even worse QB play (already poor), and poor safety play.

Yes you are right we do also need to address the OL. On the defense I did not say safeties in general but I addressed the secondary.

I still don't like our Qb situation outside of DW. I know the O-Line has had it's struggles blocking but I thought they did a solid job yesterday. TS can not exclusively blame the O-line. I know run blocking is not very good either but our backs can't exclusively blame the O-line just the same. I know there are weaknesses that need addressed but there is still enough talent to win more than the 9 games we won the last three seasons. What sucks is had the injuries not taken place these last two seasons I feel we could be a much better team than the 9-7 ceiling we reached for the three years of BO'b and what appears a weaker record this season.

However I saw enough of DW this season to know that he a BO'b have chemistry and they can do good things together even with O-Line issues. BO'b gets a pass from me this season for sure and looking back I like him much better than I used to.

 

[Scooter]

The safety definitely thought he was supposed to be playing inside out on that receiver that broke to the sideline. Whatever Jackson thought he was supposed to do is unclear, but it appears that he thought either he had that same receiver in man or he was to cover the area that the receiver broke to. If that’s the design, it’s definitey a coaching issue, but it’s hard for me to believe that that was the design. Woods could have run several deep routes and been wide open.

I have to backtrack to it's the coach's job to get his players on the same page and lined up correctly. As I said this is far from the first time we've had too many men forward and on top of eachother - at some point it cant just be a serial case of brainfarts. Without Watt and Mercilus we've lost our pass rush, however with Clowney we retain our run defense. So, why do our safeties need to be up in support? Kareem and Kevin are both great tacklers at the the CB position. What sense does it make to ever go without at least a deep center (or at least schemed cover 1) safety? Our current strength is Clowney, Kareem and Joseph, with Hal lurking. Vrabel needs to take a page from his mentor's book and play a better 'bend but don't break' approach that allows those players to play to their strengths without asking them to carry the entire defense through impossible aggressiveness.

 

[thunderkyss]

Dj Reader is handling his sht too.