Two words:

It's Preseason.

Actually, 2 more words.

Calm Down.

That being said... if you think these guys are playing 100% right now on D, and if we're showing our playbook on D... I've got some beachfront property on Pluto to sell you. Interested?

Finally... can we at least wait until we get to the ****ing regular season before we start wanting guys fired around here? Haven't we learned by now that firing guys every few months or whatever... doesn't work in this league? Come on...

 

I do wonder why the vet from another team and our prize free agent was playing twice as hard as everyone else, and then called everyone out afterword..

I love Lawrence Timmons.

 

Yeah, not a fan of Vitt. He's been in the league a long time, and obviously knows football, but that doesn't make you a great coach.

I live in Saints country, and saw what he did down here. Nothing groundbreaking.

 

He also never been an NFL DC has he? We'd be better off promoting Frank Bush, or Lou Amaruno, though I do not like that idea either. The end of training camp is not the time to switch DCs. Maybe one could say we should have hired an experienced veteran DC when Vance Joseph left, but making a change at this point would be unprecedented. Nope, we are going to sink or swim in 2017 with Matt Burke.

 

Me too. Puked against the Dolphins, puked against the Texans, no questioning his effort. I'm glad he is already speaking up.

 

Like was said, its the preseason, man. Calm down. Burke is a first year coordinator to boot. Give the guy a little time.

 

I suspect we're going to see a little of the same as last year: a feast or famine defense.

There were times last year where the D just absolutely dominated. They got to the QB with frequency and even injured a few. It's the consistency with this D. With Burke being an LB guy, maybe we'll see some more consistency on that end helping with the run D.

We'll see.

 

I'm really worried about our secondary, apparently Maxwell was humiliated in practice everyday last week. Yikes.

 

I think that you're right, especially in the wake of losing McMillan for the year. We're very skilled with our starters at DT and LB, but very thin as well. And our corners look to have a very high upside, but are young and learning on the job. I've seen 2017 as a developmental year on defense since the Spring, and its no different now.

We're likely going to be in a lot of shootouts, and hopefully the fact that we have a lot of guys who can make game changing impact plays will turn the tide in our favor, even if we give up a bunch of yards again. If we don't suffer any more season ending injuries to key people, I think that we'll get better as the season moves along, and will be ready to again supplement that side of the ball next offseason.

At the end of the day, I expect a ranking in the 15-20 range, with some good days, and a few real stinkers thrown in. And I want to watch the whole season before I throw anyone under the bus.

 

They replaced one experienced OC with another. He was already on the staff too. You may think you know Burke is substandard but the only opinion that matters is Gase's.
We also replaced Foerster in 2004 with Trestman mid season.

 

You really don't see the insanity in this idea? Ok.

 

Judging Burke in preseason is beyond silly. Additionally, what makes you think Joe Vitt can do a better job?

 

Preseason is preseason. Don't want to show all you got. Besides, D was alomst bottom of the barrel last season, I find it hard to believe Burke can do much worse. Hold the faith and let's see what he does when it counts. Not saying he is the savior by any means, but at leat give the guy a chance.

 

I don't think that our defensive woes are necessarily indicative of Matt Burke. In all fairness, he has been dealt a pretty bad hand by the injury bug. Before the third preseason, he's already lost Lippett, McMillan, and Misi. He is entering the season thin at LB, and with the suspect play of Maxwell, we are currently looking for answers for a starting CB. I think our front four is solid, but we are spotty after that. I think that this is personnel issues - not a play calling issue.

 

How can anyone know that the defense is substandard based on the preseason, though? Its very likely that the games are not being called in a way designed to limit the other team to as few yards a possible, but rather to see how the players perform in different formations and personell groupings.

 

No, insanity is trying to judge him based on 3 pre-season games and justify firing the guy based on that.

December is the better time for this type of conversation, you know, after we've had time to actually evaluate the guy's performance when it actually matters, not when they're half assing it in pre-season with vanilla playcalls and guys going out of their way to not get hurt.

I mean, come on..

 

We suffered through 3 and half seasons of Kevin ****ing Coyle, who got progressively worse with each passing year, so I am willing to give Burke one season before declaring him incompetent for the job.

 

I hereby decree that whenever we reference Kevin Coyle, it must be in the form, "Kevin ****ing Coyle".

 

Yessir! Just like
Eddie F.N. Moore
Spray Mucus
Bye Bye Buckley
Little Debbie Satan
The Pornstache and oh so many more.

 

**** me - can the season start already?

 

If I have to **** you to make the season start today, I will, but only cuz I play for the team coach!

And you are kinda cute when your angry :tt1:

 

In his first season we still had Dansby and Burnett at LB, and while neither was anything great in coverage, both were damned good run stuffers. The defense by my recollection was middling that season.

So, instead of guessing, I looked it up on Pro-Football-Reference. We were 7th in points allowed and 21st in total yards allowed. In 2013, we were 8th and 21st. Still not much difference. In 2014, we dropped to 20th and 12th. In 2015, with Coyle and Anarumo we were 19th and 25th. Last season with Vance Joseph, we were 18th in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed. Our last season under Mike Nolan, 2011, we were 6th and 15th. That is the sort of range we need to return to on defense.
The story I heard was the idea of switching out Dansby and Burnett for Ellerbe and Wheeler originated with Coyle. He said he needed more active LBs to run his defense properly. Big expense for little to no gain. SMDH. :(

 

Are you offering? I dunno if I can. Are you anal retentive? ;)

 

Not here attacking you or calling your thoughts silly. You are entitled to an opinion on this board just the same as everyone else. I am just simply saying that while it looks bleak, give it a few meaningful games before we look at making drastic changes. Gase obviously has a plan for this team, and in my opinion, he is doing a good job changing the culture here for the better. If he is comfortable going into the season with Burke, then I will be as well.