Btw- this is NOT a keep flus post. I just think the defence gets a lot of blame because of the stigma of last year sticking to it. Some of which is misdirected.
Since Flus has been calling plays in week 2, the DEFENCE has given up
20 points vs tampa (-7 from pick 6)
41 points vs chiefs (easily could have been more tbf)
24 points vs broncos (-7 fumble 6)
20 commanders
Vikings 12 (-7 fumble 6)
Raiders 13
Chargers 30
Saints 24
Panthers 6 (-7 punt return TD)
= 21.11 defensive points allowed per game.
Do I like soft zones? No. Is this skewed by getting to play some garbage teams and kc taking mercy? A little. Is the defence as bad as it looks? No. Giving up the underneath routes for free gets you picked apart by good qbs, but pressure should change that, and even still, the defence is serviceable. It looks bad with missed tackles, easy completions, and no pressure, but it has been keeping the offence in games the offence can’t finish.
This defence gets blamed a lot. Situationally, doesn’t pass the eye test, but it probably isn’t as bad as you think when you account for scores the offence spotted them. I also think the green bay game left a bad impression, but alan williams isn’t calling plays anymore after he made peanut cry.
I’m actually on the other side of it since I’ve heard nothing lately except how good our run defense is. There are several factors that can contribute to it, be it the pass defense being very low end, us being the absolute worst for turnover differential (contributes to potentially shorter fields to defend), even Gill being 25th in punt average shrinks the field a little. It’s still all in all good that anything is looking better for the defense. Slowly but slowly.
They really haven’t played a team with a great running game all year.
The Chiefs mostly ran whenever they wanted too until they let up and coasted. Jaleel McLaughlin on Denver gashed us.
Ekeler is a big name but hasn’t had any success running this year outside of one game against Miami. Same thing with Jacobs while McDaniel was still in charge.
Lets see how the Bears run d looks against Detroit with Monty and Gibbs or Atlanta/Cleveland. Though Cleveland hasn’t looked as good since the Chubb injury.
The Bears have really played a pretty cupcake schedule.