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My favorite part of that:



That is a BIG issue with the D this year, in my opinion. Players are so concerned about their assignments that their football instincts have been squashed.

That and the pass rush, of course.

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Hmmm, the past two seasons to finally come out an say what has been obvious all along.

Moss has been in charge of this group, it shouldn't take the media beating the defensive staff up to get this type of reaction.

I glad he came out an said it.. at least someone this side of the Fox is starting to hold players accountable in the press and to this fan base.

Expand the conversation to about 5 or 6 more in that front seven and then turn over to the oline as well.

For all those that keep saying, calling players out might hurt there feeling, well Hawk didn't seem hurt by it.. almost as if he is saying, finally the kick in the arse.

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The thing is, I'm sure Hawk has heard far more from his coaches in private. Moss was simply answering a question posed by the media. I'm still against going to the media and presenting an unprovoked gripe about a player (i.e. calling him out) instead of dealing directly with the player.

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Well then, if Hawk has heard far more than this in private, which I would suspect is true.. then something else has to be done because the message isn't hitting home.

I think Hawk has a world of talent.. I think the coaching staff isn't utilizing that talent properly, but I also believe that Hawk isn't making plays on the field regardless.

Does this press coverage scheme with the Backers being responsible for diagnosing the play (run/Pass) then picking up their man in a straight man coverage putting additional stress on them... yes, but a backer covering in a man up situation isn't all that uncommon either.. we seem to give this group a pass.. and personally we seem to want to give Moss that pass as well.

This is an under performing group for the past two years... the accountability has to fall on the players, the position coach and the DC.

Like I said.. I am glad he (Moss) came out and said what needed to be said.. I am glad Hawk agreed, that gives me a little renewed faith.. Hawk actually stepping up his game this week, engaging and attacking, would give me more.

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I've heard the same from Hawk all year. The LB's were the biggest disappointment for me this season. All these are are words - to the media, to Hawk.. it doesn't mean anything, like you said, unless it's translated onto the field. I just don't see the confidence in their play for it to change because of a little media attention. I think he knows where he has to be. I know he has the fundamentals to be a good LB. It's the confidence (and this goes for most of the Defense) that is lacking. I don't know if it was a slippery slope after a few broken plays, or them focusing on assignments too much, or what, but they're playing uphill and they're letting offenses dictate to them. I don't see it changing over a week's time unless there is some kind of major revelation.

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So Moss is a good guy because he threw one of his guys under the bus?

I'm disappointed in our LB play, too. But, c'mon Winston - how about taking a little blame yourself? Our LB corps should be a strength given the talent level, but they can't really do anything well. They can't blitz. They can't stop the run. They can't function in coverage.

Hawk, specifically, isn't allowed to play the kind of game he played in college. He's not allowed to "make plays all over the field". This "scheme" is all about gap control, as if our guys were too slow to react to something 10 feet to the side.

I'm having a really hard time believing that coaching and scheme aren't at least part of the problem.

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Did A.J. Hawk's chest injury heal?

It doesn't appear on the Injury report.. but to that point, if it hasn't healed enough where he can stick his nose into the fray and attack the ball carrier.. then he should be playing linebacker.. let alone the lynch pin spot of the middle.

By the way, when Hawk was trying to tackle Slaton around the shoulders and being drug down the field.. he was putting considerably more pressure on that chest than if he would have just made a tackle to form as he should have.. lead with your shoulder, wrap up and drive the cat to the ground.. no playing tickle tickle with him around the arm pits.

And what do we attribute his under performing last year too?

The lights haven't come on completely for him yet.. either that or his upside isn't nearly what it appeared coming out of Ohio State.

He is a solid player.. not an impact player a #5 player should be.

*Hey Foster.. great question though.. makes one wonder. * Edit

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I read my posts, and one may think that I pin this seasons defensive struggles on the backers.. not really.

No doubt they are part of the problem, but my ax here to grind is that this by all appearances should have been the strength of this defense.. yet for the second year in a row.. they haven't lived up to that billing.

That is why I have questions about Moss and why I have quit hounding the oline (They still need a ton of work, but a year of railing on them got old).. and turned my keyboard upon this task.

If we fix the issues along the dline.. we still will have a group of backers that take bad angles, poor tackling techniques, mental lapses, and coverage issues..

I want this defense to be a tone setter.. behind the Dline, I believe we have the talent to be that.. we just have to get them into a position to become that and playing to their talent.

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