How bad is the defense?

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(11-26-2023, 11:01 PM)casear2727 Wrote: No reason to make excuses.  Safeties dont cause RBs to gain 4 yards before contact. 

This revisionist memory that Bates was some Ed Reed ballhawk is comical.  He was not a good tackler and gave up both TDs in the AFCCG.  He is a good player but had one really good season for us, laid down the next, and then was ok.  He did have a grasp of the defense.

Bell was unathletic and limited the defense's flexibility.  He had one interception in his first 2 seasons here.  Again, he knew the defense.

Players come and go in the NFL.  It would had been stupid to have paid Bates.  Bell wanted more guaranteed money that would cause issues next season.

Lou was given a 1st Round safety with excellent athleticism.
A Super Bowl starting vet, who has played like shit.
A 3rd round safety from a national power.

He needs to work with what he has if he is to live up to his reputation.  If he needs a bunch of stellar players then he isnt a great DC.

Great post. Lou has a ton of good players, we shouldn't be this bad with what he has to work with.

Lou has had a very poor season as DC no doubt about it. Dax Hill is very talented and could be better than Bates. Battle 
took far too long to get the start over Nick Scott in my opinion, was calling for this early in the season and Lou waited far
too long to make the change. With Reader, Hubbard, BJ Hill and our LB's in Wilson and Pratt we shouldn't be near this bad
at stopping the run.

These guys are all quality vets and have played not nearly up to their standard this year against the run. Trey has never 
been a great run stopper which is why I excluded him. Lou has a lot of work to do with this Defense to get it back to where
it should be.