I got to agree with wpr. This Offense better be polific because if the starters don't tighen up the packers are going to need those points.

---

Some teams are going to match up better talent-wise to this defensive scheme. I can live with that but please no more Brad Hoover like talents lighting up the packers for all world numbers. Brad Hoover???? please make the bad thoughts go away!!!! Somebody?????

---

On their second to last drive in the first half, I think, I noticed Woodson and Harris in press man coverage, which seemed like an adjustment by Capers to the quick hits Warner was throwing. It's nice to know that we can fall back on that if teams are playing the blitzes/zone coverage well.

---

That is great to hear. Since you were very "on" in the sense that it was noticeable that you were noticing stuff (Raji in on a tackle I completely missed) I will defer to your observational skills..all the while with a semi-mostly-humorous jab at your prediction and resultant jinxing skills noted.

:thumbleft:

Something else that is a bit of a concern was the 'pressure" that GB put on the QB from the outside. Several times Kappy on the left side and I missed who it was on the right came roaring into the backfield. The OL simply kept them moving deeper and deeper into the backfield and yet they got no closer to the QB. Warner just stepped up and threw the ball.

---

I saw that also.

I'm going to give a prop to their o-line for that one.

That is how it's done.

Agreed but that is technically a blitz package with two of our defenders. If the blitzers can not get pressure on the QB even a hurried pass that is asking for a big gainer to happen.

---

That is what I was referring to when I stated that our blitzers were overpursuing. I don't know if it was caused by poor technique or simply blazing speed, but I'm sure it can be corrected with practice. We hardly blitzed at all last year.

---

You also have to give credit to the Cards offense a bit. They did put up 20+ points against the Steelers D. As well as many other good D's last year.

Kurt Warner is one of the better QB's with handling crazy 3-4 blitzing teams. I think we were in a lot of zones in the middle of the field. Woodson said the bad plays had a lot to do with communication. I noticed a lot of times when we blitzed, they were sticktly to get to Warner, a lot of times a blitzer would run right by the RB with the ball.

3-4 can be exploited through the air at times. We weren't getting the pressure there in times so some WR's were able to finish their routes. But the thing is even if you're not getting there it creates un easy times for the QB knowing that any one of these plays a blitz could hit home and cause a bad throw or fumble.

We seen him make a few sensational spot on throws that could have easily been picked off if the throw was any longer or shorter. We also seen him throw a pick and get knocked down and fumbled. I think the risk is worth the reward. Their O-Line played well enough for Warner to unload the ball. What we'll see is a lot of mixed coverages. It seemed like the middle of the field was covered in zones, that will change up to cause confusion once the season starts.

---

There is always work to be done. Obviously, the main thing is we need to get sacks by someone other than a cornerback. With all those blitzes last night the only time anyone touched Warner it was Woodson. There is definitely something to be said for pressure, but Warner handled it perfectly last night.

The zone defense is what seemed to cause us the most problems last night. Rather than running across the field with the WR's , the corners would drop back into their zone on the side of the field, if there was anyone close or not, and would leave it up to the LB to cover the streaking WR across the field. There was a good 10 yard gap behind the LB's to where the safeties were sitting for the WR to run wide open. That can't happen.

Hopefully, when the defense is back up to full strenght (knock on wood) we'll have most of these kinks worked out, and it will allow our defense to shine. These turnovers have gotten me excited. The potential we have is enormous. I just hope we can reach it.