How Do We Fix the Offense?

[Boltjolt]

What do you mean least problematic? 2-13 on 3rd downs does not sound like least problematic to me. The defense is worse no doubt and there shouldn't be any
argument about that.

The issue is that yesterday the offense lost the game. The D gave the offense all the chances they needed to win the game in Q4 and the offense failed. It's that simple.

Now going forward I worry about the defense more than the offense. But that does not excuse the offense. They failed against the Jags for a whole half and they failed
yesterday as well. You're not going to win many games going 2-13 on 3rd down. We should be concerned about both.

They say defense wins championships.

It also goes the other way. It gets you a losing record, fired, and a high draft pick.

[Maniaque 6]

Wow. Last Browns time started the season coach 2-0, Bill Belichick was the coach.

Bernie Kosar was the QB !

[jaguarmanftype]

I can't believe this thread is still ongoing. How can the offense be the problem? We've never been anywhere close to the bottom of league statistically on offense, even with Lombardi as play caller. Yet, the defense is consistently ranked as a bottom 5 unit throughout Staley's entire tenure. You'd think that a coach who's all about metrics and analytics would be able to see the glaring problem that everyone else seems to already know.

Fact is the older players that Staley has brought in are tuning him out, and don't buy his messaging. They're overpaid, old and probably about ready to not give a fuck. That one hot streak last year when most of the defensive starters went out suggests this to be the case. Whether the younger players have not yet developed entrenched tendencies and opinions, or are simply more hungry to get their big contract, fact is Staley needs to look at what he has, and what he's doing with the talent he's utilizing (or underutilizing). Also, he needs to keep the gameplans and scheme simple. I'd imagine if we ran versions of the defense we deployed against the Dolphins last year against every team, the defense would be a lot more successful.

[charger1_sj]

They say defense wins championships.

It also goes the other way. It gets you a losing record, fired, and a high draft pick.

Sure but we're not talking about championships. We're talking about the Chargers. Stupid plays, bad coaching, also leads to a losing record.
NE has a good defense, but they are not winning a championship with that offense. NYJ have a great defense, they are not winning a championship
with that offense.

[richpjr]

What do you mean least problematic? 2-13 on 3rd downs does not sound like least problematic to me. The defense is worse no doubt and there shouldn't be any
argument about that.

The issue is that yesterday the offense lost the game. The D gave the offense all the chances they needed to win the game in Q4 and the offense failed. It's that simple.

Now going forward I worry about the defense more than the offense. But that does not excuse the offense. They failed against the Jags for a whole half and they failed
yesterday as well. You're not going to win many games going 2-13 on 3rd down. We should be concerned about both.

I'm not worried about the O at all. The offense wasn't perfect but somehow when the D allows a journeyman QB like Tannehill to complete the second highest percentage of his entire career and failed to hold on the last drive of overtime it's the offenses fault.

[charger1_sj]

]I can't believe this thread is still ongoing. How can the offense be the problem?[/B] We've never been anywhere close to the bottom of league statistically on offense, even with Lombardi as play caller. Yet, the defense is consistently ranked as a bottom 5 unit throughout Staley's entire tenure. You'd think that a coach who's all about metrics and analytics would be able to see the glaring problem that everyone else seems to already know.

Fact is the older players that Staley has brought are tuning him out, and don't buy his messaging. They're overpaid, old and probably about ready to not give a fuck. That one hot streak last year when most of the defensive starters went out suggests this to be the case. Whether the younger players have not yet developed entrenched tendencies and opinions, or are simply more hungry to get their big contract, fact is Staley needs to look at what he has, and what he's doing with the talent he's utilizing (or underutilizing).

That's easy. It was a problem yesterday. (By the way so was the defense).

The defense has been THE problem for over 2 years.

See the difference? If not pay attention to the game. Hint 2-13 on third downs.

[mudwhistle]

The offense is enough to win in the postseason. The problem is the defense and it has been that way throughout Staley's tenure.

The problem has always been that Tom Telesco doesn't draft the biggest and the fastest. He's doing the same thing he did when he was in Indy. He drafts good players, but they usually end up being shoved all over the field by teams like KC, Pittsburgh, Dallas, SF, Tenn. We have edge rushers but no pressure up the middle. And we always draft slow WRs and small RBs. Management isn't doing everything they can to win now. They just want to compete. That's about it.

[jaguarmanftype]

That's easy. It was a problem yesterday. (By the way so was the defense).

The defense has been THE problem for over 2 years.

See the difference? If not pay attention to the game. Hint 2-13 on third downs.

It's only one game, not a series of, which doesn't suggest a pattern (yet), unlike the defensive performances which are consistently horrible for the most part.

[charger1_sj]

I'm not worried about the O at all. The offense wasn't perfect but somehow when the D allows a journeyman QB like Tannehill to complete the second highest percentage of his entire career and failed to hold on the last drive of overtime it's the offenses fault.

You should be. The O line pass blocking doesn't look so hot. Third down conversion rate is in the cellar. Herbert has not impressed. Play calling looks suspect.
Ekeler is out, indefinitely. Did I miss something? Oh yeah Staley is our HC.

[charger1_sj]

It's only one game, not a series of, which doesn't suggest a pattern (yet), unlike the defensive performances which are consistently horrible for the most part.

Going back to last year it's actually 2 games. Way to early to call it a pattern. But warning signs are there.

The Vikings defense is bad, very bad. Let's see how we do.

[mudwhistle]

It's only one game, not a series of, which doesn't suggest a pattern (yet), unlike the defensive performances which are consistently horrible for the most part.

Number one problem of losing teams is lack of defense. We can score, but we can't protect the lead. No lead is safe with this defense. Same thing happened in Jacksonville. 4 TD lead and we couldn't seal the win.
That's bad coaching.

Frankly, I don't see anyone out there that will make any difference. Harbaugh isn't the answer either.

[jaguarmanftype]

Number one problem of losing teams is lack of defense. We can score, but we can't protect the lead. No lead is safe with this defense. Same thing happened in Jacksonville. 4 TD lead and we couldn't seal the win.
That's bad coaching.

Frankly, I don't see anyone out there that will make any difference. Harbaugh isn't the answer either.

If Harbaugh was here now, the defense would be much more sound in my opinion. Now when it comes to next year, hard to say because a lot of this talent is going to be on the chopping block and the organization needs to hit majorly in the draft to replace most of it. But I have no doubt that Harbaugh would make Tuli and Henley star players in this league if he was here, so there's already a starting base of players to build around.