DEfense 2010

[disciplineandpunish]

Frankly, the defense didn't look ready to play. They looked slow, gassed, and sloppy the whole game, and particularly during the second half. We had no pressure on Durant because our D-line was ineffective, and Burke refused to switch to more blitz packages to force Durant into bad decisions (which worked, incidentally, on the occasions when we did blitz).

I'm not going to panic just yet. One awful game for the D doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. The litmus test will be next week against Edmonton. If they come out and play like the 2009 defense, we can rest easy that this week was just a blip on the radar. If, however, they mess the bed again, it is definitely cause for concern.

[BertDaChef]

In my opinion, too many missed takles by our Dline(i'll give it to DD, he is one evasive qb). also, the player that disappointed the most during that game was Mathieu Proulx, he seemed out of sync on many many plays. However, if I recall, he started the same way last year and came back on top. I loved his comments on rds after the game, when asked about the defense, he said: ''c'était de la marde'' et ''j'ai joué comme un pied'' LOL... at least, he noticed.

[HfxTC]

Pierre Vercheval made a heads up Hypotomuse as he usually does. He wrote on RDS (I'm just paraphrasing because it is in French)The Starting defense only played a quarter of football in the two pre-season games and in his opinion that hurt them. While he agrees with the choice Trestman had to make if he wanted to evaluate some rookies.

http://www.rds.ca/alouettes/chroniques/301908.html

[RichardVeilleux]

Like you, I did read Pierre Vercheval's comments and wondered which rookies they "were looking at"; to me,there was basically no competition both offensively and defensively, during training camp. The only competition was between Chad Owens and Tim Maypray for return specialist. On the defense, only 1 rookie-Marc-Olivier Brouillette- made the team; once Estelle was injured,another rookie,Tanard Davis, was added.

Had there been defensive competition players such as Eric Wilson and Stanford Samuels would not be starters on defense. Eric Wilson had 12 tackles in 2008 and 13 in 2009 and 1 sack in each of these years. We can't find a better player? Why teams such as BC,Winnipeg,Hamilton and Toronto can find good defensive linemen and we can't? Last night,BC had 15 rookies,including 7 on defense, on their roster and they did beat Edmonton, thanks mostly on pressure put on Ricky Ray. He won't have the same pressure from us next Sunday. He may have a "field" day/game.

Presently, I don't expect us to win the next 2 games; I hope to be wrong.

Season could be long and like someone wrote before, there may not be too many sell-outs.

Richard

[idealsheldon]

I don`t think the sky is falling but there are some concerns. Keep in mind Sask.is a very good offensive team - strong O line and Dressler did not play in the Grey Cup. To my untrained eyes Proulx, as has been mentioned, very slow in reacting, Guzman and Samuels seemed very hesitent, and I don`t like the DL rotation using Bekasiak, MacDonald and Robertshaw. I realize it was hot in Regina, but I don`t think a rotation allows the top DL playmakers to get into a rhythm.
On the other hand, I thought Chip Cox played an amazing game - was all over the field and even blocked a punt.
My main concern is the boundary corner with Dix until Estelle returns. He will be tested against Edmonton.
Also see where the Als released Ivan Brown and Greg Middleton from the practice roster. Other moves to follow?

[HfxTC]

Chip Cox IMO has become the best outside linebacker in the league. Probably the only linebacker with possibly Knowlton who can run with anyone in the league and his tackling is top notch.

[disciplineandpunish]

Eric Wilson had 12 tackles in 2008 and 13 in 2009 and 1 sack in each of these years. We can't find a better player?

WIlson doesn't get the glory because he faces all the double-teams as the big lineman. But he's an important component of our defense, and particularly our ability to stop the run. Sacks and tackles don't reflect his importance on the line.

Why teams such as BC,Winnipeg,Hamilton and Toronto can find good defensive linemen and we can't?

We had one named Keron Williams. McElveen also did pretty well against Saskatchewan.

[als4ever]

There's something I haven't seen mentioned yet: This is nothing new!

Last year The Roughriders, Eskimos, Ticats, and Bombers had HUGE passing games against the Alouettes.
How'd they do it? They went DEEP!!!
Have teams around the league woken up to this vulnerability...made even worse by the loss of Keron Williams and Davis Sanchez?

It's early....and just like the foolish talk of a "perfect season" last year (after 3 games)...it's equally absurd to panic....yet.

But if that's all the pressure we're going to get on Ricky Ray next week and (shudder) Casey Printers in week 3, and somebody doesn't have the good sense to sack Dix and and put Woldu in on the other corner from Estelle...Herb's dire warnings of a possible 0-3 homecoming may well come true.

Watch them try to fill those extra 5,000 seats after THAT.

Not so nice to see you back Senior. For almost four months you have been hiding under a rock nder your troll bridge and come back with another dumb post. It would have been nice if you had stayed there.

This team has won 17 out of its last 21 games...its doing ok.

[LeStaf]

Je ne sais pas si vous êtes d'accord avec moi, mais la défensive des Roughriders n'a pas été tellement meilleure que celle des Alouettes. Après 60 minutes de jeu, c'était quand même 40-40. Rien pour se péter les bretelles. Là où elle a eu plus de succès, ça a été dans la poursuite du quart. Il est évident que les réguliers étaient rouillés, particulièrement la tertiaire qui était pitoyable. Que la présence d'Estelle change quelque chose, ce n'est pas ça qui est inquiétant. C'est que les nouveaux ne puissent prendre la relève efficacement. On va voir contre Edmonton si les Alouettes peuvent se regrouper et aligner les victoires comme l'an dernier. Il demeure qu'après avoir vu 3 des 4 parties jouées la semaine dernière (il me reste BC-Edmonton), il est clair que les autres équipes se sont améliorées et que les Alouettes, au mieux, sont un peu moins forts que l'an dernier. Attendons-nous à une saison entre 11 et 14 victoires cette année. Pas plus.

[HfxTC]

Absolument d'accord, un club qui aspire a la Coupe Grey se doit d'etre capable de gagner son "home opener". Si les Als revienned de l'Ouest avec une victoire en trois matchs, ils seront bien places pour le reste de la saison.

C'est peut etre une bonne chose qu'on ait pu identifier la plupart des problemes aussi tot.

[LeStaf]

There's something I haven't seen mentioned yet: This is nothing new!

Last year The Roughriders, Eskimos, Ticats, and Bombers had HUGE passing games against the Alouettes.
How'd they do it? They went DEEP!!!
Have teams around the league woken up to this vulnerability...made even worse by the loss of Keron Williams and Davis Sanchez?

It's early....and just like the foolish talk of a "perfect season" last year (after 3 games)...it's equally absurd to panic....yet.

But if that's all the pressure we're going to get on Ricky Ray next week and (shudder) Casey Printers in week 3, and somebody doesn't have the good sense to sack Dix and and put Woldu in on the other corner from Estelle...Herb's dire warnings of a possible 0-3 homecoming may well come true.

Watch them try to fill those extra 5,000 seats after THAT.

Not so nice to see you back Senior. For almost four months you have been hiding under a rock nder your troll bridge and come back with another dumb post. It would have been nice if you had stayed there.

This team has won 17 out of its last 21 games...its doing ok.

Mon ami, avec tout le respect que je te dois, CETTE équipe des Alouettes a perdu la seule partie qu'elle a jouée. Et il n'est pas déraisonnable de dire que la tertiaire a été au mieux complètement pourrie, et que la ligne défensive a été incapable de mettre suffisament de pression sur Durant en deuxième demie.

[hassall]

As Richard V noted, defensive tackle was not a position that the Als concentrated on this year, despite the loss of Kenron Williams. There were huge holes in the defensive line against Regina. I thought Claybrooks played well at defensive tackle in the Stamps game. I liked Claybrooks when he was with the Als, he was always good at stuffing up the run. It will be interesting to observe Marcus Smith tonight. Unless he makes a good impression, defensive tackle could be an area of concern for the team.

[HfxTC]

They are trying to give an opportunity to our Ni dlinemen who have been working hard for two years. I don't have a problem with that. The coaching staff has my admiration for showing fairness, patience and loyalty to these guys. Davis will get a shot and this week it looks like as well. If our outside guys were having problems it would be worrisome but the inside can be fixed by bringing guys in worst case...

[disciplineandpunish]

Going to be a long season, folks, this D is pathetic. Can't stop the run, can't stop the deep pass, can't stop the intermediate pass. Blitzes don't get there on time and our DBs are just getting schooled left, right, and center. They got fat and complacent in the offseason and Burke has evidently not taken the defensive schemes further. Yes, the losses of Keron Williams and Davis Sanchez should hurt, but not to the extent that we are suddenly the softest, easiest defense to play against in the league. It's pitch and catch right now for Ray and his receivers.

[disciplineandpunish]

Nobody can cover. Absolutely nobody. Campbell and Stamps are just running roughshod over our secondary. The blitz timing is pure crap and nobody's getting through. Duval is, as expected, playing like absolutely garbage when we need him most. The offense looks sloppy, and as usual, we're not running the ball.

I fully expect to start the season 0-3, this team is junk the way it's currently playing.