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The Random Thought Thread

I said this a while back and i still mean it… mike macdonald the best defensive play caller ive ever seen.
He is the only coordinator under Harbaugh to make mid-game adjustments. If he continues his success, I’d argue he’s just as valuable as a Shanahan or a McVay.

Both defenses were fun to watch even though the Patriots’ back broke eventually. They both attacked relentlessly. A game like this really cements to me how bad Zach Orr really is. The Ravens defense never attacked anyone, every game felt like they were reacting instead of attacking.
 
He is the only coordinator under Harbaugh to make mid-game adjustments. If he continues his success, I’d argue he’s just as valuable as a Shanahan or a McVay.

Both defenses were fun to watch even though the Patriots’ back broke eventually. They both attacked relentlessly. A game like this really cements to me how bad Zach Orr really is. The Ravens defense never attacked anyone, every game felt like they were reacting instead of attacking.
Not trying to defend Orr, but when you have a top notch D line that regularly wins one on one battles it opens up tons of possibilities and makes every player better. Williams and Murphy are truly game wreckers.
 
Not trying to defend Orr, but when you have a top notch D line that regularly wins one on one battles it opens up tons of possibilities and makes every player better. Williams and Murphy are truly game wreckers.
Right and I get that to an extent, but I would also say a large chunk of the defensive core was the same with MacDonald. Mads loss was big, but I guess my frustration lies is there was no counter punch ever.

There was no disguises and created no confusion for other defenses. At least with Wink, there were 8-9 guys on the line to create confusion on who’s coming. Not often a real threat of a nickel not named Hamilton blitzing, even though Marlon shines with those as well.

I understand the idea that you can’t fire Harbaugh after a 13 win season and being the #1 seed, but it has been clear as day that MacDonald was the only coach since Gary Kubiak on this staff that was a brilliant mind. Macdonald always has his guys in the right place, and Orr really has not helped his players be in a position for success.
 
If you have a 4 man rush that can win, you can do anything. And obviously Mac is better at getting juice out of the horses he has than Orr ever will be. But I still struggle to see Mac taking the horses we had this year and being overly successful with them.
 
If you have a 4 man rush that can win, you can do anything. And obviously Mac is better at getting juice out of the horses he has than Orr ever will be. But I still struggle to see Mac taking the horses we had this year and being overly successful with them.
Kinda what i’ve emphasised this year. Defensive struggles largely to do with a lack of pass rush. It’s really bad. When you have a four man rush that can get home then you can do anything, the opposing side is pretty much cooked.
 
Kinda what i’ve emphasised this year. Defensive struggles largely to do with a lack of pass rush. It’s really bad. When you have a four man rush that can get home then you can do anything, the opposing side is pretty much cooked.
Yeah I mean, it's hard to say guys wouldn't have been better with Mac compared to Orr. I'd venture to guess the edge guys - Green, Oweh, and KVN - all have better seasons. But the interior rush once Madubuike got hurt was abysmal and I don't think there were going to be answers from a coaching perspective for that regardless of who was at the helm. That was a pure on-field personnel issue. Travis Jones took doubles all year because the ghost of John Jenkins was the only other meaningful player at the position, and he understandably faded down the stretch.
 
If you have a 4 man rush that can win, you can do anything. And obviously Mac is better at getting juice out of the horses he has than Orr ever will be. But I still struggle to see Mac taking the horses we had this year and being overly successful with them.
Mike wouldve been successful with them. Proof is there already imo. Idk about number 1 defense but our defense wouldve been successful for sure.
 
Kinda what i’ve emphasised this year. Defensive struggles largely to do with a lack of pass rush. It’s really bad. When you have a four man rush that can get home then you can do anything, the opposing side is pretty much cooked.
We didnt have a pass rush even when mike was here tbh. Everything was schemed and disguised. He took what we had made the best out of it! Our guys werent good pass rushers at all yet we lead lg in sacks. Orr took that same defense and made them thr worst in the nfl.
 
Mike wouldve been successful with them. Proof is there already imo. Idk about number 1 defense but our defense wouldve been successful for sure.
I think we definitely would have been better but I still don't see "success" in the grand scheme of things. Just not near enough interior talent once Madubuike went down.
 
I think we definitely would have been better but I still don't see "success" in the grand scheme of things. Just not near enough interior talent once Madubuike went down.
I think he would have used players better than Orr and absolutely believe we would have been in a better place to succeed, especially in 2024. He definitely would have had some issues with Madubuike going down, but we'd have a better chance with Mac.
 
I think we definitely would have been better but I still don't see "success" in the grand scheme of things. Just not near enough interior talent once Madubuike went down.
In my mind, mike the best ever so i think he wouldve figured it out lol. I mean he the reason for jmad contract and 13 sack season. Most likely wouldve made travis jones look a little better too. He really had the whole fan base thinking clowney and van noy where good pass rushers lol. Our secondary was and is better than seattles so thats gonna benefit us… on that defensive touchdown by hawks, it looked like all 11 players were in backfield so as the ball snapped
 
The more things change the more they stay the same. Stout defense, a proficient running game and ball security are the most important pieces in competing for championships.

i mean MM is the first defensive playcalling HC (other than bill belichick) to appear in the superbowl since Dan Quinn in 2017 and the first defensive playcalling HC to win the superbowl since Mike Tomlin in 2009

and that doesnt describe the vast majority of winners of the last decade+
most have been high-powered offences led by elite QBs with opportunistic defences (generally with decent defensive fronts) and low injury reports
running games have had very little to do with it
 
Yeah I mean, it's hard to say guys wouldn't have been better with Mac compared to Orr. I'd venture to guess the edge guys - Green, Oweh, and KVN - all have better seasons. But the interior rush once Madubuike got hurt was abysmal and I don't think there were going to be answers from a coaching perspective for that regardless of who was at the helm. That was a pure on-field personnel issue. Travis Jones took doubles all year because the ghost of John Jenkins was the only other meaningful player at the position, and he understandably faded down the stretch.

think we would have seen more LB picks and stunts to generate space on the interior
think there are still a ton of things schematically and with coaching you can do to create pass rush opportunities better than what the ravens had going on
 
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