05-09-2020, 12:12 PM
(05-09-2020, 11:41 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Good thread. Bates definitely regressed with tacking in 2019, so let's hope he can be better. My beef all along is a defense is defined by it's ability to be in the right place, but then execute the tackle or pass break up. We looked a college team at times in 2019, weak and soft. It also is not just missing a tackle, it is win you miss it. It seemed to me we gave a lot of first downs on 3rd down due to missed tackles which mentally kills a defense and also keeps them on the field (rest).
Since we have some talented players on our defense a lot of people don't realize just how epically bad our defense has been these last two seasons. I challenge anyone to find a worse two year stretch even in the deep darkness of the 1990's. And our defense has also been very balanced. We have managed to be shitty at everything. Sometimes teams gamble with blitzes and give up more big plays but also get more sacks. Or DBs give up big plays going for interceptions but also get more interceptions. But just look at where the Bengals defense ranks over the last two years.
32 total yards
32 rushing yards
32 third down conversions
31 third down conversion %
30 passing yards
29 points
29 sacks
28 rush yards per carry
27 fourth down conversion %
27 rushing yards
27 turnovers
26 passer rating
24 interceptions
There are multiple different issues that could contribute to bad tackling numbers and we failed on every level.
