Maine-iac

There's just no room for anyone to play other than perfect. We don't have a guy who erases mistakes on defense. If you have a Bosa or Watt and your coverage isn't perfect they're still going to bring the QB down a couple times a game or drop a rb in the backfield. Miller was our swing. No way of knowing he'd get injured but the fact that we made that swing was and is an admission that we were missing that piece.

Silver lining, that has us better against the run than I thought we'd be.

No I agree. Now enter Hamlin and Rapp's back ups. The guys that couldn't beat out Hamlin or Rapp who are essentially playing at retirement aged Poyer and Hydes level. I think with Hamlin, Rapp, and Douglass out there we are keeping our heads above water. LB's start getting hurt or starters start getting hurt and coverage suffers and then the pass rush and run support go with it. I'd say especially against good teams but minus the turnovers the Pats were looking pretty good against us as well.

I'm certainly not a DC. Just firing off because this is a message board and that's what you do. The A gap blitzes get picked up 90 percent of the time and leave guys open over the middle. I for the life of me can't figure out why we don't bring a DB off the edge more often. We have so many DB's out there it would be easier to disguise. They're faster, can't out maneuver a rb, and it's harder for the QB to side step a DB coming down the LOS.

Unfortunately I'd bet it's not having Hyde and Poyer. They still knew the defense and generally how to play coverage. They were slowing down and run support wasn't what it used to be. Hamlin and Rapp are on par with where we were with them last year. Not greatly improved but not worse. Throw in Hamlin and Rapp's back ups, Spector, and Elam and now we can't cover and we already had trouble stopping the run. The D line is going to look like garbage because we play light boxes, have no run support and we can't cover so even decent pressure is wasted because there's usually a guy open.

A catchy nick name gets you 2 to 3 jersey grabs before they call anything.

I'd also add that my general feeling is that 2 out of the last 3 games the pass rush has been there. Either they can't get the QB on the ground, the coverage is so soft that the QB gets the ball out for some positive gain or someone in the secondary gets a penalty. Groot, AJ, and Miller have been moving the QB off his spot but we're not getting any sacks.

Call me crazy but the need to put Groot back on the left side. Sorry Miller either rush from the right side or back up AJ and he can start at RE. I think Groot sets the edge better on the left side and AJ rushes better from the right side. Also what is the point of blitzing and then playing some really soft zone that lets them get the ball out quickly and pick up 7 or 8 yards?

I mean the biggest difference between him and Sauce was basically Sauce gets his head around more often with a fist full of jersey and Elam didn't. When I was watching Elam I was left thinking maybe he could play his way into being decent. Like if he was on the field more he'd tighten up the coverage a little bit and learn to get his head around and find the ball a little quicker. I don't think he's trash but you can certainly see why Benford and Douglas have always been the starters.

I think Johnson did some great things in his limited touches. Love all 3 of our backs. Dorian seemed like a difference maker. He just brings more pop and seems to be around the ball all the time. Oh .......... and of course the O line. Running game was strong all game even when they knew we were running and Josh had all night to throw.

When it's 6 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of -2 I am not surprised when guys don't make all the usual catches. I was preparing myself mentally for the sneak not working and NE getting the ball with 8 seconds left on our side of the field. I'm just going to say I'm glad it worked and leave it at that.

I'm not sure if they just aren't running short routes but I can say for sure Josh isn't looking at them.

Allen throwing everything 5 yards short.

He finds someone for 10 yards and we kick a field goal there and we're trying to take the lead before half time.