No Pass Rush

[Blueforlife]

We need more pressure but it's far from our biggest issue
Our D have been average and has had a few good games
Not worried about our D
Need the OL to click,get healthy at QB and get 100 yards rushing per game

[The Fresh Prince Of Belair, MB]

2 consecutive games without a sack.
1 sack in the last 4 games.

[dd]

2 consecutive games without a sack.
1 sack in the last 4 games.

Wow, I didn't realize it was THAT brutal!!

[Ducky]

Jefferson is washed. Still gets his mitts in the way of the Qb but he gives up on numerous plays every game. He is no longer an every down player. Yet he still might be the best D line player on the team.

[buckzumhoff]

They must be the bottom in the league in the sack department .

[Blueforlife]

Jefferson is washed. Still gets his mitts in the way of the Qb but he gives up on numerous plays every game. He is no longer an every down player. Yet he still might be the best D line player on the team.

Not washed in any way imo.  His stats were near the top of the league last year.  He has evolved and is still effective.

[Tecno]

Jefferson is washed. Still gets his mitts in the way of the Qb but he gives up on numerous plays every game. He is no longer an every down player. Yet he still might be the best D line player on the team.

Go check out ancient Riderforum posts from when Willie was there.  Willie has been "giving up on numerous" plays his entire career.  It's what he does.  Sometimes gives up on whole games too.  Rider fans noticed this waaaay back when, and nothing has changed.

If you don't accept that, you'll never accept Willie.  Mafia knew this before signing him, and they condone it every year they re-up him.

And it's ok.  It's part of why Willie is never hurt when Jeffcoat spent 75% of his time in the tub and was eventually canned.

Willie saves it up for when it really counts, like the post-season.  How many times have we seen that?

I'm perfectly fine with it, as long has he keeps getting the batdowns and FF's when it counts.

[Jesse]

Go check out ancient Riderforum posts from when Willie was there.  Willie has been "giving up on numerous" plays his entire career.  It's what he does.  Sometimes gives up on whole games too.  Rider fans noticed this waaaay back when, and nothing has changed.

If you don't accept that, you'll never accept Willie.  Mafia knew this before signing him, and they condone it every year they re-up him.

And it's ok.  It's part of why Willie is never hurt when Jeffcoat spent 75% of his time in the tub and was eventually canned.

Willie saves it up for when it really counts, like the post-season.  How many times have we seen that?

I'm perfectly fine with it, as long has he keeps getting the batdowns and FF's when it counts.

He always has, but also always came up with 10+ sacks and multiple turnovers. He's not doing that anymore. Only thing he goes for is the bat down now.

[jdrattops]

The biggest flaw with this style of defense is the lack of creativity when we do finally do blitz.  Bomber blitzes have been getting picked up all year long, and the D is getting burnt anytime we do.  My biggest beef with this style of defense is your not wearing down any offensive line as the game goes on, and you're not forcing OLines to make decisions at the snap.  Drop back block 3 with 5, wait for a soft spot in the zone, complete the pass.  Nothing organic on defense or offense this season, both coordinators can be shown the door come seasons end.

[Blueforlife]

He always has, but also always came up with 10+ sacks and multiple turnovers. He's not doing that anymore. Only thing he goes for is the bat down now.

Last year he was top three in distractions to the QB or something like that.  Was featured on TSN month or so ago.  More one way to skin a cat.  He's an old cat but still has a few lives left imo.  He still goes for the sack and pressures but yes uses his wings as good as anyone ever.

The biggest flaw with this style of defense is the lack of creativity when we do finally do blitz.  Bomber blitzes have been getting picked up all year long, and the D is getting burnt anytime we do.  My biggest beef with this style of defense is your not wearing down any offensive line as the game goes on, and you're not forcing OLines to make decisions at the snap.  Drop back block 3 with 5, wait for a soft spot in the zone, complete the pass.  Nothing organic on defense or offense this season, both coordinators can be shown the door come seasons end.

3 man front very normal last few years across the league

[Sir Blue and Gold]

We have the lowest number of tackles for a loss this season (11) and second fewest sacks made (16).

How far are we off of the pace? The Riders have 34 sacks and Ottawa has 27 tackles for a loss.

Further, we've forced 8 fumbles, third fewest and have 10 interceptions, again, third last. Not surpringly, the Riders lead the leage with 18 interceptions which is a direct result of the amount of pressure they generate.

If we're not more aggressive on defense since better pass rushers this year seems out of the question then we have little chance to improve those categories.

[bunker]

We have the lowest number of tackles for a loss this season (11) and second fewest sacks made (16).

How far are we off of the pace? The Riders have 34 sacks and Ottawa has 27 tackles for a loss.

Further, we've forced 8 fumbles, third fewest and have 10 interceptions, again, third last. Not surpringly, the Riders lead the leage with 18 interceptions which is a direct result of the amount of pressure they generate.

If we're not more aggressive on defense since better pass rushers this year seems out of the question then we have little chance to improve those categories.

As a fan, its pretty frustrating watching a defense that generates no pressure, and generates very few turnovers. And yet the most important defensive category is offensive points allowed, and we are fourth in offensive points allowed (24.5), not far behind third place Montreal (24.2) and second place Sask (23.5). We are second in offensive touchdowns allowed. We are middle of the pack in yardage given up, and actually first in first downs allowed. We are third in passing yards given up, and actually first in completion percentage against (62%).
Not saying we have a great defense, I think its middle of the pack, but maybe improving, especially if we can get Parker and Houston in at corners. It looks worse than it is because its such a strange mix of passivity and bottom line success...sort of like being flogged with a wet noodle.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

As a fan, its pretty frustrating watching a defense that generates no pressure, and generates very few turnovers. And yet the most important defensive category is offensive points allowed, and we are fourth in offensive points allowed (24.5), not far behind third place Montreal (24.2) and second place Sask (23.5). We are second in offensive touchdowns allowed. We are middle of the pack in yardage given up, and actually first in first downs allowed. We are third in passing yards given up, and actually first in completion percentage against (62%).
Not saying we have a great defense, I think its middle of the pack, but maybe improving, especially if we can get Parker and Houston in at corners. It looks worse than it is because its such a strange mix of passivity and bottom line success...sort of like being flogged with a wet noodle.

I agree that points allowed iand some of the other points you mentioned are better than you might think but they're also averages and therefore only so helpful.

What I mean is we held a pretty bad out of the blocks team in BC to 20 and 14 points. The second of which Rourke was knocked out of the game. Then we had a run at Tre Ford and he put up 23. More recently we held a 4th stringer in Montreal to 13 points. That's all wonderful for the average but doesn't mean we had an outstanding defense effort, it can mean we enjoyed easier competition.

When we've played better teams and more capable quarterbacks?

Calgary scored 37, 41 and 28.
Toronto put up 31 and 31.
Riders had 34 and 21.
Hamilton put up 32.

And of course there's the very real and fair counterpoint that special teams and offensive turnovers also very much impact what happens on defense but at the end of the day if you can't pressure the good quarterbacks and force them to make mistakes, they probably won't. And tha leads to an even or negative turnover margin (we're deadlast at -13, by the way) and you lose football games because  you can't get stops in the forth when you need it because you can't get home.

Maybe there is some "off the beaten trail" defensive system that wins despite a super long coverage time per play but it's a heck of an exception. If you look at really good defensive teams in the CFL, NFL or college ( including ours when we won Grey cups) they relentlessly attacked the QB, caused mayhem, mistakes and were physically punishing. We can't even make an open field tackle with this group. Everyone is covering for far too long. Everyone gets tired. All reaction. Never dictating. It's exhausting and requires perfection every play.

It is flawed defensive strategy that won't win over the long term unless we can find some defensive lineman who not only want to eat double teams all day but can win and get home against them with some regularity. Good luck.

[dd]

Last year he was top three in distractions to the QB or something like that.  Was featured on TSN month or so ago.  More one way to skin a cat.  He's an old cat but still has a few lives left imo.  He still goes for the sack and pressures but yes uses his wings as good as anyone ever.
3 man front very normal last few years across the league

3 man front was normal when you had a secondary that could make plays and interceptions. We don't have that secondary anymore. Our secondary is weak, and our DL is weak and when you combine those 2, you get a defense that is last in most defensive categories.

But as frustrating as our defense is, they aren't the ones turning the ball over 5 times a game and gifting the other team 15-20 points a game. The offense has got to stop turning the ball over. I don't care if we don't score more points than presently, just don't give teams the easy points and ultimately wins.

[Blueforlife]

3 man front was normal when you had a secondary that could make plays and interceptions. We don't have that secondary anymore. Our secondary is weak, and our DL is weak and when you combine those 2, you get a defense that is last in most defensive categories.

But as frustrating as our defense is, they aren't the ones turning the ball over 5 times a game and gifting the other team 15-20 points a game. The offense has got to stop turning the ball over. I don't care if we don't score more points than presently, just don't give teams the easy points and ultimately wins.

Our secondary with Parker back is above average imo
3 man front are used widely across the league and for a few years