Jessie Bates puts it bluntly

[HarleyDog]

(09-24-2020, 02:50 PM)JSR18 Wrote:  Meaning exactly what??

It seems easy to figure out. Until/Unless you get a DC who has moxie and who has a personality that permeates through the entire defense, then its up to the players to change the atmosphere to 11 badasses walking on the field with the mentality of: "We don't give up yards-ever".

Then go out and make it happen...

I love this. Yes.

(09-24-2020, 08:32 PM)BengalChris Wrote: Tackling has gotten worse since the new coaching staff arrived.

Run defense has gotten way worse since the new coaching staff arrived.

Running game has gotten worse since the new coaching staff arrived.

Passing game has gotten worse since the new coaching staff arrived.

Special teams has been about the same, good. Oh, that coach wasn't part of the new coaching staff who arrived. What'ya know about that?

Flush these newly arrived bums and bring in some actual NFL caliber coaches!

I will kindly disagree with the bolded. Tackling was a problem long before ZT and crew got here. As a matter of fact, we were praising the tackling and how refreshing it was after the Seattle game #1 last year. It slowly declined with each loss. I chock that up to lack of confidence and frustration in the players to try and make big things happen.

Passing game has not declined. Burrow is killing it and the only other QB was Dalton, who threw footballs away more than Waste Management. That's a Dalton trait and also the result of inheriting a bad OL and injuries.

I won't argue with the rest because your valid there.

(09-25-2020, 04:00 PM)Synric Wrote: Even with 4 or 5 missed tackles Bates still lead the team with 10 tackles against Cleveland. I think that says something about how bad the front 7 played.

Exactly. Great point. Yet, for naysayers, we should look at what we have there right now. That DL is not 100% and when you let momentum through it, momentum is difficult to stop and missed tackles will pile up. Not trying to sound P&R but you have to build that wall!

(09-25-2020, 04:51 PM)J24 Wrote: Not disagreeing with that but if Bates is going call  everyone else out then he has to perform better week in an week out. No matter the circumstances! I have I hopes for the Kid.

I agree. And I think he knows that. Calling out others to do their job when your lacking in yours can be either counter productive or a mental challenge of calling yourself out. I think he's trying to be a leader and hold everyone including himself to a higher expectation. End of day he's right. If you don't perform, your not going to be here in ZT's locker room.

(09-25-2020, 04:52 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Unrelated to Bates or the defense, but more to your part about the offense and defense putting together complete games.  I certainly hope that Turner, Callahan and Taylor were able to get the OL calmed down, and that 10 days of practice has Fred Johnson feeling a little more comfortable and settled at RG.  It was obvious that he whiffed on several plays last Thursday.  That has to be a bit unnerving, especially after we saw that he can hold his own at Tackle last season.  I don't think that FJ is physically incapable of playing the position, as much as he was just thrown in there and seemed a bit confused.

I've been clinging to this. To lose on Sunday and then to travel on Wednesday to play Thursday is tough. Theirs no emtional high from the 1st victory to get you over the hump and you surely haven't had the time to prepare and regroup. Hell, I think that's true even for the coaching staff.

(09-25-2020, 07:22 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: True, it was one game against the Browns with their good OL and badazz RB duo.

Browns suck and we are going to put their heads through the wall in week 7. Bet on it!