Bettcher and the defense

[Cbus cardsfan]

I read through the HB injury thread and there's a lot of concern about Bettcher calling plays, the defense in general, and how we'll have to outscore teams to win.

Losing Mathieu is a blow, but let's give the DC and the defense overall some credit. I saw on ESPN yesterday where over the last 5 weeks, the Cards are #1 or #2 in about every major defensive category, including first in PPG at 13.3. And, it's not like they have been playing the weaklings of the league either.

To me, the Cards are still the best team in the NFC. Losing Mathieu will not change that and Bettcher has been doing a fine job of late, especially as a 1st year DC.

 

[Stout]

I read through the HB injury thread and there's a lot of concern about Bettcher calling plays, the defense in general, and how we'll have to outscore teams to win.

Losing Mathieu is a blow, but let's give the DC and the defense overall some credit. I saw on ESPN yesterday where over the last 5 weeks, the Cards are #1 or #2 in about every major defensive category, including first in PPG at 13.3. And, it's not like they have been playing the weaklings of the league either.

To me, the Cards are still the best team in the NFC. Losing Mathieu will not change that and Bettcher has been doing a fine job of late, especially as a 1st year DC.

I cannot disagree more with this. The fact that his players step up and bail him out does not mean he is doing a good job. I really don't think he's figured it out yet.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

I read through the HB injury thread and there's a lot of concern about Bettcher calling plays, the defense in general, and how we'll have to outscore teams to win.

Losing Mathieu is a blow, but let's give the DC and the defense overall some credit. I saw on ESPN yesterday where over the last 5 weeks, the Cards are #1 or #2 in about every major defensive category, including first in PPG at 13.3. And, it's not like they have been playing the weaklings of the league either.

To me, the Cards are still the best team in the NFC. Losing Mathieu will not change that and Bettcher has been doing a fine job of late, especially as a 1st year DC.

+1

 

[cardpa]

I read through the HB injury thread and there's a lot of concern about Bettcher calling plays, the defense in general, and how we'll have to outscore teams to win.

Losing Mathieu is a blow, but let's give the DC and the defense overall some credit. I saw on ESPN yesterday where over the last 5 weeks, the Cards are #1 or #2 in about every major defensive category, including first in PPG at 13.3. And, it's not like they have been playing the weaklings of the league either.

To me, the Cards are still the best team in the NFC. Losing Mathieu will not change that and Bettcher has been doing a fine job of late, especially as a 1st year DC.

PPG is what matters the most. As long as the defense is not giving up a lot of points and as Cbus said they have not played weak teams the last few weeks then I am okay with the defense. I don't buy the argument that the players are bailing the DC out. Are the players changing the defensive signals and alignments once they are called in? I really doubt that.

 

[Goldfield]

I'm still on the fence about Betcher. But we have also been spoiled with Bowles and the guy before him.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I cannot disagree more with this. The fact that his players step up and bail him out does not mean he is doing a good job. I really don't think he's figured it out yet.

...but if the players are making plays, doesn't that mean that the scheme is putting them in the right place at the right time? Or are you saying we've been enjoying a season of incredible defensive luck?

 

[Cardsfanstl]

I read through the HB injury thread and there's a lot of concern about Bettcher calling plays, the defense in general, and how we'll have to outscore teams to win.

Losing Mathieu is a blow, but let's give the DC and the defense overall some credit. I saw on ESPN yesterday where over the last 5 weeks, the Cards are #1 or #2 in about every major defensive category, including first in PPG at 13.3. And, it's not like they have been playing the weaklings of the league either.

To me, the Cards are still the best team in the NFC. Losing Mathieu will not change that and Bettcher has been doing a fine job of late, especially as a 1st year DC.

Lately they have been playing a lot better but still see them giving up a lot of yards to TE's. Look at what the Vikings Rudolph did against us. I am interested to see how the DC is going to adjust with HB out.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Lately they have been playing a lot better but still see them giving up a lot of yards to TE's. Look at what the Vikings Rudolph did against us. I am interested to see how the DC is going to adjust with HB out.

Yardage to TE's is actually down this season vs the 2 previous seasons...Still an area of concern, but it has been addressed, to a certain extent.

 

[Brak]

Jeez, I get up this morning, check ASFN, and the first 2 threads are calling out BA & Bettcher. Bulletin: the Cards are 12-2, kids! Wake up and realize it. That's not Jim Tomsula or Mike Pettine out there roaming the sidelines, giving the same old excuses in their post-game presser. These guys are winning week in and week out, and just laid a 40-burger, on the road, on the east coast (where we NEVER used to win), on a team playing for a playoff spot. Are we THAT spoiled already that we have to second-guess our coaches at this point? Wow.

 

[DVontel]

Really think if Bettcher inherited the talent Bowles did with Dansby, Daryl, & Abraham, he would be getting the same amount of praise.

Outside of the Pitt & Minnesota game, Bettcher has been doing a fine job.

I believe in him.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Jeez, I get up this morning, check ASFN, and the first 2 threads are calling out BA & Bettcher. Bulletin: the Cards are 12-2, kids! Wake up and realize it. That's not Jim Tomsula or Mike Pettine out there roaming the sidelines, giving the same old excuses in their post-game presser. These guys are winning week in and week out, and just laid a 40-burger, on the road, on the east coast (where we NEVER used to win), on a team playing for a playoff spot. Are we THAT spoiled already that we have to second-guess our coaches at this point? Wow.

Interesting stat: Pre BA the Cards Easter Time Zone winning percentage was .250...With BA they are like 6-3 or 7-3...

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I cannot disagree more with this. The fact that his players step up and bail him out does not mean he is doing a good job. I really don't think he's figured it out yet.

+1

Way too many blown coverages or having guys out of place. Guys so wide open there aren't any of our players on the screen. Too many series where we hold them for the first 2 downs and then give up big yards on third. Lack of pass rush really hurts his game plan but he needs to game plan to over come this.

Still learning in my eyes.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

+1

Way too many blown coverages or having guys out of place. Guys so wide open there aren't any of our players on the screen. Too many series where we hold them for the first 2 downs and then give up big yards on third. Lack of pass rush really hurts his game plan but he needs to game plan to over come this.

Still learning in my eyes.

12-2 with a top 5 defense would suggest they have overcome their deficiencies.

 

[imaCafan]

+1

Way too many blown coverages or having guys out of place. Guys so wide open there aren't any of our players on the screen. Too many series where we hold them for the first 2 downs and then give up big yards on third. Lack of pass rush really hurts his game plan but he needs to game plan to over come this.

Still learning in my eyes.

I'll take a "still learning" coach that is part of getting us to 12-2 ANY DAY!

 

[kerouac9]

I cannot disagree more with this. The fact that his players step up and bail him out does not mean he is doing a good job. I really don't think he's figured it out yet.

I think that another way to say this is that the talent on the defense is outplaying the scheme. Look at the number of times that Badger has come off his assignment to make a play. Alternatively, look at the number of times that Bettcher has "sent the house" on a designed blitz and no one gets through to the passer.

One thing that people have said all season was "Well, Bettcher is still learning how to do his job. He'll be way better at the end of the year." Is that true? He's going to have to scheme his behind off over the next six weeks, because his movable chess piece is gone — and while some still believe that Honey Badger is a liability in coverage, he papered over a lot of holes in zones with his play.

 

[football karma]

Last five games--

they have played one really good offensive team -- Cincy

two average offensive teams-- Philly and Minn

two bad offensive teams -- Stl and SF

I would say they broadly "met expectations" in those games -- meaning, they kept those offenses within what we would expect, and allowed the offense to win those games

so -- i just dont expect the defense to lock down good opposing offenses to 17 points or less --- I expect them the get enough stops, a turnover or two, etc that puts the offense in a position to win the game for you

 

[Capital Card]

Interesting stat: Pre BA the Cards Easter Time Zone winning percentage was .250...With BA they are like 6-3 or 7-3...

I saw that stat the other day too. While there are a number of things that lead up to it, I think that Pre BA... we just weren't that good.

Go Cards!!!

 

[Stout]

+1

Way too many blown coverages or having guys out of place. Guys so wide open there aren't any of our players on the screen. Too many series where we hold them for the first 2 downs and then give up big yards on third. Lack of pass rush really hurts his game plan but he needs to game plan to over come this.

Still learning in my eyes.

Yep. Let's look at this last game. We were getting shredded--absolutely shredded--by Philly's offense. He went with the game plan that he should have gone against Minny with--he wasn't sending a ton of blitzes, and looked to be hoping that Bradford wouldn't be good enough to beat the coverage. This clearly--CLEARLY--wasn't working. Any adjustments? No, Bettcher kept doing the same damn thing all game long, with almost no adjustments. What changed? Our pass rushers began winning individual battles. In the first half, we weren't getting any pressure from them. In the second half, without a change to scheme, our pass rushers turned it on. Thus the players bailed Bettcher out. They stepped up when it wasn't working and did it themselves. Even then, the defense didn't look good, but did enough in the right moments. We didn't suddenly start getting after Bradford because Bettcher learned and adjusted; we did it because the players stepped up. Bettcher hasn't shown that he can adjust well in-game. He just hasn't, sorry.

And on the 'people are being negative' front--I wouldn't be commenting if people weren't saying what a great job Bettcher is doing when it is CLEARLY not Bettcher who should be getting the credit. Our defense is playing well despite him. I mean, I remember when our defense would get the job done at certain points under Pendy and Davis, and people would want to heap praise on them. It's like, duh! Come on, look past the surface to what's actually going on

I think that another way to say this is that the talent on the defense is outplaying the scheme. Look at the number of times that Badger has come off his assignment to make a play. Alternatively, look at the number of times that Bettcher has "sent the house" on a designed blitz and no one gets through to the passer.

One thing that people have said all season was "Well, Bettcher is still learning how to do his job. He'll be way better at the end of the year." Is that true? He's going to have to scheme his behind off over the next six weeks, because his movable chess piece is gone — and while some still believe that Honey Badger is a liability in coverage, he papered over a lot of holes in zones with his play.

Very well said, K9.

 

[MrYeahBut]

Jeez, I get up this morning, check ASFN, and the first 2 threads are calling out BA & Bettcher. Bulletin: the Cards are 12-2, kids! Wake up and realize it. That's not Jim Tomsula or Mike Pettine out there roaming the sidelines, giving the same old excuses in their post-game presser. These guys are winning week in and week out, and just laid a 40-burger, on the road, on the east coast (where we NEVER used to win), on a team playing for a playoff spot. Are we THAT spoiled already that we have to second-guess our coaches at this point? Wow.

I think a lot of this is fans are just over-hyped(myself included) It's like it's so close they can smell the Super Bowl and don't want it to get away.


.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

Yep. Let's look at this last game. We were getting shredded--absolutely shredded--by Philly's offense. He went with the game plan that he should have gone against Minny with--he wasn't sending a ton of blitzes, and looked to be hoping that Bradford wouldn't be good enough to beat the coverage. This clearly--CLEARLY--wasn't working. Any adjustments? No, Bettcher kept doing the same damn thing all game long, with almost no adjustments. What changed? Our pass rushers began winning individual battles. In the first half, we weren't getting any pressure from them. In the second half, without a change to scheme, our pass rushers turned it on. Thus the players bailed Bettcher out. They stepped up when it wasn't working and did it themselves. Even then, the defense didn't look good, but did enough in the right moments. We didn't suddenly start getting after Bradford because Bettcher learned and adjusted; we did it because the players stepped up. Bettcher hasn't shown that he can adjust well in-game. He just hasn't, sorry.

And on the 'people are being negative' front--I wouldn't be commenting if people weren't saying what a great job Bettcher is doing when it is CLEARLY not Bettcher who should be getting the credit. Our defense is playing well despite him. I mean, I remember when our defense would get the job done at certain points under Pendy and Davis, and people would want to heap praise on them. It's like, duh! Come on, look past the surface to what's actually going on

Seems to me the players started doing their jobs and beating their man?
Yeah they gave up yards but very few points. I'll take it

 

[GuernseyCard]

The Bettcher plan, not having actually seen it, mind you - seemed to be designed to ensure shutting down Sproles, who can be a game changer. If so, it worked. 17 points, 7 on a complete breakdown in coverage, which might not have happened if Johnson was there to set the back-end "D".

And, I thought the game of football was predicated on winning one-on-one battles.

 

[crisper57]

We went from the best DC any of us have ever seen to a first-year guy. We were spoiled. I think the new guy has acquitted himself rather well as he continues to learn on the job. The stats don't lie. If the D is giving up 13.3 ppg, our offense can beat anyone in the NFL.

 

[crisper57]

The Bettcher plan, not having actually seen it, mind you - seemed to be designed to ensure shutting down Sproles, who can be a game changer. If so, it worked.

And, I thought the game of football was predicated on winning one-on-one battles.

His game plan every week seems to be isolating their game-changer and bending against the rest of the contributors. It's not always been pretty, but it has been effective.

 

[Cardsfanstl]

The Bettcher plan, not having actually seen it, mind you - seemed to be designed to ensure shutting down Sproles, who can be a game changer. If so, it worked. 17 points, 7 on a complete breakdown in coverage, which might not have happened if Johnson was there to set the back-end "D".

And, I thought the game of football was predicated on winning one-on-one battles.

So this week who do you try to stop this coming up week. Not like Green Bay has one good person on offense. Do you concentrate on Rogers, Lacy, Cobb, or Jones? My pick would be Rogers but then that might leave Lacy to run free. This is going to be a Bettcher real test.

 

[DVontel]

So this week who do you try to stop this coming up week. Not like Green Bay has one good person on offense. Do you concentrate on Rogers, Lacy, Cobb, or Jones? My pick would be Rogers but then that might leave Lacy to run free. This is going to be a Bettcher real test.

I thought Bettcher's "real test" was against Cincy, who was pretty much the best offense we'll face all year.

Peterson will most likely be on Cobb. Bethel on Jones. Tony Jeff on Richard Rodgers. Deone on Starks/Lacy is how I think it'll play out.