Your Thoughts on the Cover 2
 

I hate it.

I hated it in Tampa, and I hate it here. I can't imagine a worse scheme for any defensive coordinator to design. It's not a "scheme" at all, basically it says--go make a play. It's the easiest defense to exploit for weak-armed quarterbacks (due to the soft middle). The Cover 2 requires so much talent to work correctly that unless you are coaching the NFC Pro Bowl roster, you're fucked.

I'm also infuriated by the fact that we are implementing a system that does not fit the talents of our players. We don't have Cover 2 LBs, and we don't have Cover 2 DT's.

Look at the difference between the Bears D and the Philly D. Philly can switch out nearly anyone and their defense still gets it done. The Bears lose Tommy Harris and Mike Brown and now they are a sieve.

No...but I believe we have a Head Coach that is going to stubbornly stick to whatever he likes...no matter if it works or not.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the system provided you have the players to run it. We need to upgrade the DTs and LBs aside from DJ. So, that's at least 4 players needed in the offseason to really run it like it needs to be (maybe 3 if Keyaron Fox can learn to tackle and take Bell's spot).

The Spinner is much more entertaining.

John Lynch, Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, a young Booger McFarland, Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice....

Brian Urlacher, Mike Brown, Nathan Vasher, Tommie Harris, Lance Briggs, Alex Brown....

Do you realize how much talent you need to make this scheme *work*??

I didn't mind it this week, because we actually played up on the WR and occasionally even attempted some bumping. But lining 10 yards off of the guy is awful no matter how you do it.

Yeah, I get it, and we have talent. DJ, Hali, Allen, Page, Pollard, Surtain, Law... that's 7 of the 11 players you need. Yes, we'll need some fresh blood on the corners within the next 2 years, but Law and Surtain are more than capable of starting and playing well provided we get a decent pass rush out of our front 4 on a consistent basis.

And given DJ's speed in blitzing situations , Bell's proven ability to rush the quarterback (but liability in coverage), and Law and Surtain's ability to man up against a WR, wouldn't it stand to reason that this team is constructed to play a man-blitzing scheme so that the DT's don't cause us to get gashed in the passing game??

But Herm runs a cover-2 defense.

It works if you have the players but to use Cover 2 regardless is insane. Thats Herms problem...he bought the system but no speakers. Herm would buy dvds and no player, hold em up to the light and say he can see the movie.

It was designed to stop yards after catch for West Coast offenses. To a large degree, WCO do rely on that. It just leaves the middle of the field to wide open. Cover-2 defenses look really good when the DTs get pressure. If they don't, you get Indianapolis, who only look good against teams that don't use playbooks.

Defensive schemes are down-and-yardage dependent. The cover 2 is great for 1st downs. This weekend, Indy got a whole ton of them! It should be renamed "Five out, slant in!"

I LOVE zone defense.

The problem is that zone defense requires INTELLIGENCE and DISCIPLINE, and we don't have it.

I personally hate Gunther's blitz scheme...it's smoke and mirrors.

Best defensive scheme we've had in years. And it showed in the playoffs.

We get a defensive tackle and an outside linebacker and we'll get this rocket ship goin' up!

Getting rid of Wesley and Bell will make a big difference...and probably Lenny Walls, too.