A pass rush is great as long as you can stop the run. Right now we still can't. Hopefully they have some tricks up their sleeves that they just aren't showing because what we are seeing now is not good.
Murrell has been great this preseason. I really wrote him off as AFL material last year and he's proving me wrong with every game.
I tell you what's really hard about all this is learning a complete new team. Guys I never heard of looked like KGB, Kampman and Barnett & Co. last night. Need a running back bad. Favre's passing will open up the box but a real runner would keep the DBs and linebackers home and then Favre would just feast on that.
I am glad they ran some blitzes. A lot of teams save this stuff, but you have to try them out. I am sure they will have even better ones for the Pats.
We gave up less than or just at 100 rushing yards. Our rush defense, 1st unit, has been good. Our D is going to be outstanding.
The majority of their rushing yards came off two plays. The first was a 19 yard counter play where Gholston made a rookie mistake biting on the counter and losing contain. He will get better as the season progresses, but hopefully he's not out there at OLB in likely running situations until he's ready. The second was a 17 yard rush up the gut when the Giants were in their 2 minute drill and we had a nickel or dime package out there. That was 36 of the Giants 62 yards against our starters. Their other 8 runs against our starters netted 26 yards. I'm not saying the long runs are acceptable, we can't keep giving up big chunks of yards. Last year teams would consistently gauge (sp?) us for 4-5-6 yards which wore down the defense, kept the chains moving, and controlled the clock. The Giants were not able to consistently run on us.
