Until we get a good Nose Tackle

[SteelCrazy]

We will be at the bottom of the league in run defense. The Steve McClendon project is over and never even got started. He cannot rule the middle, as a NT has to in a 3-4 D. He may be better suited at end, who knows, but he definitely isnt the man in the middle we need. Big Dan would be a force if he was consistent. I think they should throw him to the wolves and see if he can survive.

I dont have the answers, but I do know what I see. Steve McClendon is holding this Defense back. Cam too....

[Ghost]

Surprised to see McCullers as an inactive. Understanding he's raw, seems like getting him some snaps to see what he can do would make some sense. He could not have been worse in the 2nd half.

[Mr.wizard]

Nose tackle? Nobody is running the ball up the middle on us, its all zone stretch.

[SteelCrazy]

It makes no difference. If your NT isnt doing his job in a 3-4 D, there will be an extra blocker free to block down your LB

[NorthCoast]

Nose tackle? Nobody is running the ball up the middle on us, its all zone stretch.

Spoken for truth. 84 yds gained over RT.... that has little to do with the NT.

[SteelCrazy]

Put 6 year Veteran Casey Hampton in the middle of this D and no one runs over a hundred....

[K Train]

McClendon played an ok game. Cam Thomas was made into a little bitch but McClendon was not bad at all, he wasn't even on the field for most of the no huddle rushing plays, you really want McCullers defending against that?

[K Train]

Nose tackle? Nobody is running the ball up the middle on us, its all zone stretch.

Which negates the NT unless you are dontari poe

[SteelCrazy]

lol....NT is essential in the run game whether its RUTFM or stretch plays. If we get better play from the NT you'll see a better run D.

[Discipline of Steel]

Troy and Cortez led the way with 6 tackles each, followed up by a crowd of LBs. It would be nice if our LB could lead the team in tackles, that means they are getting free and making the hit. Regarding NT, something is not right. Good players find a way to make an impact on the game.

[K Train]

lol....NT is essential in the run game whether its RUTFM or stretch plays. If we get better play from the NT you'll see a better run D.

Zone stretch definitely takes the NT out of the play. Even with Casey here they struggled against it with zone teams and there's way more of them now

Niners are stifling against the run and haven't had much at NT. Jets are HEAVILY invested in their DEs rather than a NT who they plug a body in for (Kendrick Ellis is huge, but he's not very good)

[SteelCrazy]

"Casey's job," explained LeBeau as he broke down film, "is to disrupt the flow of the play. If two guys have to block one, that means somebody should be free someplace."

You'll not see 2 blocking McLendon and that means somebody isnt free someplace. K Train, what you're saying is relevant. I may be wrong, but until I see good, consistent play out of McLendon and we still fail, I'll remain convinced I'm right.

[K Train]

We'll McCullers will play once he can disengage blockers with more than just his arm strength.

McClendon is far from an ideal NT, maybe like jay Ratliff in wade Philips 34, but I don't think he's terrible either. When a team would run zone on us with Casey he would never get blocked by 2 guys, the point of the zone is for the oline to work together and gain the running back 4 yards, after that it's up to the runner and the blocker run down field. The NT can't disrupt and occupy 2 blockers if they can't move laterally with the oline, otherwise they are taken out of the play all together

[RuthlessBurgher]

How many rushing yards were against the 3-4 base and how many were against nickel/dime?

[pittpete]

While i agree that having a stout NT would help, the fact that Cam Thomas can't hold his ground coupled with the fact that our LBers were missing tackles makes for what we witnessed Sunday.
Also that no huddle killed us. The camera panned to our sideline at one point and LeBeau and Tomlin were looking at each other in disbelief.
Not sure if anyone else saw or remembers that?