Sorry... but a backer, unless he is on a blitz, has to read the play correctly.. run or pass, based on that decision, they either fill and attack or drop into coverage responsibilities.. how on earth is one to avoid the decision at the linebacker level each play?

There are telltale signs on every play, what the play is and where the play is going.. IMO, it is a coaches responsibility to teach his players how to effectively read a play, attack said play and make in turn make a play. When one talks of instincts, IMO, this is where they come to play.. experience and a natural feeling of where the play is going.. but there are things that can be taught presnap and during the first few moments of a play that tell the story, assist you in making a quick read and reacting properly.. that seems to be missing at this point with this group..

How many times this year did we see a backer make a impacting play on the opponents side of the LOS in the running game? How many times did they make a solid yard saving open field tackle? How many times did they effectively make a play on a drag route or a running back flare? Granted, there I will say more to the scheme being an issue than not.. but make a freaking play will someone.

I agree, the scheme didn't help them or might not have put them in the best position to make plays... but there were opportunities to make plays be nothing short of luck..

Don't get me wrong, the defensive downfall wasn't because of the linebackers, but they as a group certainly didn't help stem the bleeding either. Long and the short, they didn't play well.. to his credit, Moss called them upon in at the end of the year.

I don't remember Moss saying it was a scheme problem.

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I think another parodox with this type of defense is you need a guy like Barnett with his cover skills in man to man but then again he isn't the strongest MLB when it comes to the run. We've seen how that can hurt.

Conversely, you have the other kid who is very good against the run but isn't great in man coverage.

These are the areas where I see the scheme asking to much of the player. VERY FEW MLB's out there that are stout against the run but can also stay with TE's and RB's against the pass.

The universe produces one of those about every ten years. Not great odds if you catch my drift and cotrary to the concept of "putting players in a the best position to be successful." Almost the opposite in reality.

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those telltale signs are what a player reacts to. that decision is not what i'm talking about. what i'm talking about is the "OK, I see the RB flowing strong side. Can I go after him? Yes. Oh wait, no, because I have primary A-Gap responsibility. wait. wait. wait.... OK, he is now two gaps away from me, and my backside help should be here now. I'm going to start pursuit now!".... no good.

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