Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
It was most apparent in his run defense.
For all the shit that Ford took as a run defender, he was at least an outstanding pursuit defender against the run. Houston, OTOH, jaked it BADLY last year in run defense.
You can flip a switch as a pass rusher and give effort when you want to. As a run defender, you're either engaged every down or you're ineffective. Last season Houston was clearly ineffective.
That raises some obvious red flags with regards to effort and intensity.
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This! I don't remember Houston not sealing his edge being an issue, but he was pushed to the outside very often, opening huge running lanes inside. Even his pass rushing was off. Maybe he just finally had enough of Sutton and decided to play when he felt like it.
I think having the intensity of a Frank Clark and getting rid of Houston's "only play hard on some downs" attitude will be huge in the run game.
Not having Berry lingering around on the sideline scratching notes on a candy wrapper should help moral too. Bottom line- we got rid of two high paid, nonimpact guys in Berry and Houston and replaced them with high-intensity vocal leaders that play hard every down. This in itself, should help change the culture of the defense where last year it was oklay to dog it when you wanted too and nobody would say anything.