I don't expect our D to play well when they are on the field for extended periods of time. I have no delusions of this offense being anything close to the 85 Bears.

The offense has to do it's job by putting up 25+ points and holding the ball for around 30 mins.

:banghead: CAN :banghead: NOT :banghead: IGNORE :banghead: CERTAIN :banghead: PARTS :banghead: OF :banghead: THE :banghead: GAME!!! :banghead:

They aren't perfect. I'm not ignoring that one drive or one carry. Even with those other carries we still did a good job.

You left out the number of plays on the drives. You bet the offense gets some of the share for the ToP numbers. But when you have that huge of a gap in the numbers, the defense has to be involved as well. And they were. 3 plays, 3 plays, 1 play, 3 plays, and 5 plays is pretty efficiant work by the defense, IMO.

I'm not discounting the offense at all. I thought AS called a brilliant game. I just think the defensive performance was equally impressive. Just as the offense was keeping the defense off of the field, the defense was putting the offense right back out there. That is what some of us have been waiting to see for a long time.

I'm well aware most are going to wait to jump on the bandwagon for at least 3 more games. It is going to boil down to how we do against Vick and his Falcons, and Manning and his Colts.

In the mean time, I am going to enjoy the progress I have seen from the defense over the past two or three weeks.

Let us give some credit to the O for stepping up, too...
 

An additional load to carry...
 

yep, that's the ticket all right...

we can forgive the d for allowing a long drive or two and even for allowing a couple of touchdowns - so long as the o scores like they did last year (or somewhere close to it)...

of course, it would also help if we didn't give up a td to the enemy's special teams...

and having trent NOT throw td's to the other team's defense helps quite a lot too...

as usual... :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

I'm definately gonna say our special teams coverage units needs work. And a lot of it. Punting is a weakness, imo, if we decide to keep Baker around. If Cheek comes back we'll probably be alright. I think our kickoff's are a little inconsistent, they have to be a bit better. I'm still holding the defense accountable. There slowly getting better with time, and looks like a work in progress. I still think we have to improve our run defense, and our 3rd down defense. Sorry, I'll be a little more specific, the 3rd and long defense is hurting us right now, and we have to improve upon it. Another thing I'd like to see us do, is, apply a better pass rush, we're not applying enough of a pass rush. Holliday is not getting it done, Browning, is not much of a pass rusher, Hicks has to step up. I'd like to see more and more of Jared Allen, and Gary Stills on 3rd down defense, those guys are quick around the edge and have the ability to get to the QB better than anyone else we have on defense.

I'm not worried about our offense. Priest is Priest. we all know that. Our O-line is one of the best in the league. Trent is coming on. Tony G is Tony G. I was concerned about our WR's, but, I don't think we'll be that bad. Morton has impressed me of late, and Chris Horn is really suprising. Hall is Hall. And once we get Kennison and Wilson back I think this area will be real strong. I'm definately concerned about our team discipline, too many penalties, cut back on the penalties we'll be ok.