Grading Del Rio

[burgold]

This is Jack Del Rio's fourth year as DC. You can make an argument that he has had more invested in the defense and more than enough time to shape the defense as he wants it. Now, some of that is qualified by Rivera, the front office's draft skill, and Dan Snyder's cap restrictions, but Del Rio has had more than enough time for us decide what we have in him. All that said, I actually can't decide if he's good, overrated, or a bum. I mean even in the Denver game he somehow allowed a multiscore lead to disappear in the last five minutes. We were a two point conversion from losing. Not to mention, it took Sam Howell's heroics to come back from 25 down. Then last week, I thought the D actually did quite well against the Bills (until the fourth quarter). I didn't get to watch today's show because I was at a book event all day, but it feels like the D let us down. That Del Rio was outschemed or failed to adjust when the Eagles found a weakness in Forbes.

In the first three years, the D has vascilated a lot. It seems to play well most of the time against bad teams and gets crushed by good teams. So, what do we think about Del Rio? What do we think about his play calling, his scheme, etc.? Do you trust him with a game on the line? Do you trust him to force a three and out when the team needs one? Do you trust him to shut out Chicago on Thursday? If you were Harris is he someone you want to hold onto?

And any other insight or Del Rio opinion you want to offer.




My grade? I think Del Rio is a C-level coach. He's not bad, but he's too conservative and too vanilla. He doesn't play to the moment and it doesn't feel like he really game plans differently depending on the opponent. I think he's too predictable and in that way easy to beat. I think his scheme is really reliant on every player doing everything perfectly, but doesn't try to stress the opponent or force them into making mistakes. He's not bad, but if I needed the D to prevent a score to win a game I would never feel confident that Del Rio could do it.

 

[Canadian Hog]

I think if Jack was more aggressive and we brought more pressure from all over the field, that defensive line would fall more in line in the perception that exists of it being "one of the most feared in the NFL." Until then, the d-line and the rest of the defense is just average to me. When we play well, it's usually because of great individual performances - guys taking over the game kind of like Payne or Sweat did against Denver or Arizona with talent alone. We all know though that individual talent in and of itself is not enough to win consistently in the NFL. Scheme matters and Del Rio doesn't have one that can compete with the big boys in the NFL.

He and Ron both need to be handed walking papers come year end...

 

[Primus Porcus]

At times this defense is elite, other times it's extinct.

Del Rio HAS to lose grade points given the fact that he's got 6 first round picks on his defense and it's still a question mark. I'm with CH... I'm not in favor of the two of these guys manning the sidelines next year.

 

[Neophyte]

I watch our defense week after week and I wonder what a guy like Steve Spagnolo, Demeco Ryans, or Dan Quinn could do with this talent because Jack isn't getting as much out of these guys as I there is to get.

I'd say he is a B-.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Currently watching Seattle vs NYG and Seattle is bringing the pressure to Daniel Jones. 6 sacks so far.

Just thinking that Del Rio would have his club sit back in coverage and let Jones run all over the place.....

 

[Boone]

I think in Year 4, the expectations outpace the performance by a wide margin. We have too much talent up front not to be giving every team a lot of trouble every week. But my real beef this year is that we brought in a replacement for Cole Holcomb who is not an upgrade over Cole Holcomb, and spent our two top picks on DBs who so far have been disappointments. Doesn't mean it won't eventually work out, but that's where we are right now, and the rest of the defensive backfield has taken a step back.

JDR doesn't seem to like to change the plan in-game. Too many times we see the team losing battles with no apparent response or change in the defensive approach.

I think JDR is a very stubborn coach. When his D is playing well, it's amusing. When they aren't it just pisses me off.

 

[Neophyte]

"What we do works!" - Norv Turner

Jack's epitaph.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I've been as critical as anyone regarding the soft shell zone coverage, but if this is correct.. I may have had it all wrong the whole time.

 

[burgold]

Maybe. But how difficult can it be to teach ma principles? You follow him. You follow him. You double him.