Wow, it's crazy when a 2 paragraph snippet sums up what keeps us from being a playoff/SB caliber team. Really hope this gets addressed asap
There are other problems as well but the 4th quarter defense is a glaring one. How can it be fixed, where do you start? LB is a logical choice, the Dolphins have always seemed to have a good middle linebacker and Crowder just doesn't fit that mold. A couple of good young linebackers would go a long ways toward helping the situation. I can only dream at what Patrick Willis could have done for our defense.
I have never seen a defense consistently play this bad in the 4th quarter. EVER. It is truly baffling.
This may convince a few people we need a couple LB's and safety before a WR. Our offense is decent this year, our defense is a major disappointment. They make two stops and give up a 3rd and 12. Unacceptable if we are to make the step up to perennial contender.
We also play the most man coverage in the NFL, with two rookie CBs. I think thats the biggest factor that people overlook.
Unfortunately, I don't see this being fixed this year. It's been happening too long to think that we'll magically fix it this season. I only hope it's been at least addressed. Obviously there is a major problem on defense and hopefully the coaches can pinpoint it and fix/get rid of the problem(s).
No pressure in the 4th quarter....they sit back and drop all these backs and dont get any pressure. You can only cover a WR for so long sooner or later they are going to get open. On that note, we need to have a MLB that might be able to get the the QB every now and then.
year one we loaded up on offensive and defensive linemen year two we loaded up on secondary and receivers (lol) year three i hope we load up on linebackers, inside and out (and if you feel lucky take a stab at a WR or TE)
I attribute the 4th quarter atrocities to a complete hunger for athleticism out of all 4 linebacker positions, none of them can cover the blood zone in coverage, none of them can run sideline to sideline, and none of them can get to the flat in time to make a tackle for loss. On top of that, both insidelinebackers, whom's job it is to tackle, do not do very well, they do not shed well, cannot diagnose quickly, and cannot hit with impact.
There is pressure but it's not consistent. You can't collapse the pocket every time. If you think back to the Carolina game instead of focusing on the latest disaster, you see that of the problems here is inconsistency. We need a nose tackle, two inside linebackers and a free safety. Most of all, these guys need to suck it up and hit in the fourth quarter instead of laying down and accepting being hit. A lot of the problem is intestinal fortitude.