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Yes, it's a head coaching issue. When Steichen kept Bradley in 2023, I understood it. I viewed Bradley as a holdover that pre-dated Steichen, and it was my hope that he'd hire a different DC this season. When Steichen kept Bradley in 2024, it became Steichen's decision to own, whether it worked or failed. And yes, part of this is on Ballard, and whoever else is making decisions in the building (Irsay, etc.) But I don't think the GM is sitting in gameplan meetings. I'm not even calling for them to fire Bradley. I think that's where this is headed (or should be, IMO), but a guy who has been coaching football his entire life has to have some answers. But this is how Bradley calls the defense: https://youtu.be/DndE4mV9MSE?si=B7ehWJmkxVbx33cJ He's ultra conservative, and his defense still gives up big plays. I know the defensive backfield is not super exciting, but it's also not totally bereft of talent, as some people claim. We've seen the guys in our secondary that everyone spent all summer hating on make several plays already this season. But Gus is completely uninterested in defending the first ten yards of the field in the passing game. And then he runs a scheme that frequently results in LBs and safeties getting matched up on the other team's best receivers well down the field (like EJ Speed and Nick Cross vs Rome Odunze; even a rookie QB can figure that one out). Outside of yesterday's game, the strength of this defense is the pass rush. (And yesterday, they were without 3 of their 5 best pass rushers, and one who did play is a rookie.) But we refuse to let the DBs engage in the first five yards, so the pass rush gets nullified by the quick passing game. It doesn't take a dramatic change, we shouldn't need a different DC, all we need is to let the corners play closer to the line of scrimmage. We gave up 8.7 yards per play yesterday (not per pass play). Trevor Lawrence has been a mess this season, and he was an all star against us (again). Steichen can't tell Gus that he needs to make some simple adjustments to give the defense a fighting chance? He's not just in charge of the offense, he's in charge of the entire team. That includes game plans, strategy, player development, etc. At this point, the results of this defense are a reflection of Steichen's choices, as much as anyone else's. (Not to mention the tackling, which is partly personnel, but also goes back to this team's choices in training camp and preseason, which are a reflection of coaching.) There's little point in firing Bradley right now, but he cannot be the defensive coordinator next season. If he is, I'm as out on Steichen as I will be on anyone else connected to this operation.
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By Restinpeacesweetchloe · Posted
So Ballards philosophy of relying on CB coming back from injury has flat out failed. Brents got injured and flowers never recovered. -
I’m not defending Flowers but I’m hoping he didn’t just become a scapegoat for the biggest problem in the room Gus Bradley.
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By richard pallo · Posted
There are still some veteran FA corners still available. I think Xavier Howard. Maybe Witherspoon too. More likely to sign someone off a practice squad though.
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