Let's look at the defense

[Joelist]

So after exhausting ourselves on the offense let's look at the D.

In some ways this year's edition seems like a fusion between the old cardiac cats and Zim's 2009 unit.

Issues first:

TACKLING! True this seemed somewhat better against the Hags but still problematic. Fix the tackling and a lot of the run defense issues stop.

Losing receivers in the zones / blown coverages. I hope this is just a symptom of our having so many youngsters in the secondary and over time it will stop.

Backside issues and also blowing contain. This has dogged them all season even a little against the Hags (but it was MUCH improved in that game).

The Good:

The young secondary are playing with a lot of heart and showing their talent. Dax Hill is a treat to watch as is CTB. Hilton seemed to get into a groove last Sunday and I hope it lasts. DJ Turner looks like a keeper. Battle looks to be making the case to take over as safety opposite Hill.

The DL has had three games where they seemed off. True. But the other three they just took over the game and made the opposing QB look bad. And the linebackers are doing their parts too.

The D in 6 games has 19 sacks, 8 INT and 3FF. Over 17 games that projects to 54 sacks, 22 INT and 8 FF - obviously it doesn't work that way but it shows the general trend.