In the (cold) air of the next day..

[cochise]

It’s funny such a perspective can be.
I saw the game at the ground and then saw the first half again on TV.
All year I’ve noticed how our third and forth man into the tackle (and thus not at marker for the next play) don’t push back into the correct side of the defensive line ie we’d put and extra number on the blind and leave the open one shorter or visa versa and thus this leaves our edges short, it was noticeably again on Friday night but what was promising was there was a lot more talk across the line, players were calling there inside man out and pushing their outside man out, the scramble was also really good it seems as though they were making an extra effort to get into the right position. Towards the back end of the game, it looked like the proactive approach to defence left the players due to the physical and mental fatigue so it looked a lot more like they were reacting on the run. As a result the defence in that last quarter was fairly poor.
We are still yet to move in one motion like the really strong defensive teams, but we are obviously improving and a heap of focus is going into this area.
On TV there appeared to be extra effort from our edge players to rush up and pressure the shift but viewing it on the ground our defence still looked out of sorts.
Comparatively the dragons were noticeably moving much better in defence across the line.
Ironically we made all the line breaks so a good effort against a pretty good defensive team.
Side note noticed Joe Offa defending behind the line a couple of times and pushing across and plugging holes like a second fullback.
Is that common for the lock to do?

The lock defending in that kind of role is actually a very old fashioned tactic and one I haven't noticed in a very long time. I will keep an eye for it over the next couple of weeks.

 

[hank37w]

Don't be fooled, Saints are an average side and were missing a fair chunk of their top squad. Every other side in the comp with the exception of Brisbane and Canterbury would have put at least 30 on St. George tonight.

Same team week before less Sims got beaten by a point v Sharkies..

And I believe Sims was one of their most dangerous players, not to mention grubbiest.

 

[Needaname]

It’s funny such a perspective can be.
I saw the game at the ground and then saw the first half again on TV.
All year I’ve noticed how our third and forth man into the tackle (and thus not at marker for the next play) don’t push back into the correct side of the defensive line ie we’d put and extra number on the blind and leave the open one shorter or visa versa and thus this leaves our edges short, it was noticeably again on Friday night but what was promising was there was a lot more talk across the line, players were calling there inside man out and pushing their outside man out, the scramble was also really good it seems as though they were making an extra effort to get into the right position. Towards the back end of the game, it looked like the proactive approach to defence left the players due to the physical and mental fatigue so it looked a lot more like they were reacting on the run. As a result the defence in that last quarter was fairly poor.
We are still yet to move in one motion like the really strong defensive teams, but we are obviously improving and a heap of focus is going into this area.
On TV there appeared to be extra effort from our edge players to rush up and pressure the shift but viewing it on the ground our defence still looked out of sorts.
Comparatively the dragons were noticeably moving much better in defence across the line.
Ironically we made all the line breaks so a good effort against a pretty good defensive team.
Side note noticed Joe Offa defending behind the line a couple of times and pushing across and plugging holes like a second fullback.
Is that common for the lock to do?

The lock defending in that kind of role is actually a very old fashioned tactic and one I haven't noticed in a very long time. I will keep an eye for it over the next couple of weeks.

Cheers for the info.
It’s not all the time, but I have noticed it in a couple of games now. Never saw it with Twal at lock but Joffa, whether it’s been brought into our defending movements or it’s more just Joffa himself defending with some instinct to push across and help out the line.

 

[cochise]

It’s funny such a perspective can be.
I saw the game at the ground and then saw the first half again on TV.
All year I’ve noticed how our third and forth man into the tackle (and thus not at marker for the next play) don’t push back into the correct side of the defensive line ie we’d put and extra number on the blind and leave the open one shorter or visa versa and thus this leaves our edges short, it was noticeably again on Friday night but what was promising was there was a lot more talk across the line, players were calling there inside man out and pushing their outside man out, the scramble was also really good it seems as though they were making an extra effort to get into the right position. Towards the back end of the game, it looked like the proactive approach to defence left the players due to the physical and mental fatigue so it looked a lot more like they were reacting on the run. As a result the defence in that last quarter was fairly poor.
We are still yet to move in one motion like the really strong defensive teams, but we are obviously improving and a heap of focus is going into this area.
On TV there appeared to be extra effort from our edge players to rush up and pressure the shift but viewing it on the ground our defence still looked out of sorts.
Comparatively the dragons were noticeably moving much better in defence across the line.
Ironically we made all the line breaks so a good effort against a pretty good defensive team.
Side note noticed Joe Offa defending behind the line a couple of times and pushing across and plugging holes like a second fullback.
Is that common for the lock to do?

The lock defending in that kind of role is actually a very old fashioned tactic and one I haven't noticed in a very long time. I will keep an eye for it over the next couple of weeks.

Cheers for the info.
It’s not all the time, but I have noticed it in a couple of games now. Never saw it with Twal at lock but Joffa, whether it’s been brought into our defending movements or it’s more just Joffa himself defending with some instinct to push across and help out the line.

Brad Clyde used to do it back in the 90s

 

[Enmoretiger 0]

I got the feeling that, even allowing for the Saints missing a few players, there was something different about how we played, eg Brooks had the best game I've seen for years; Luciano looked dangerous wit the ball; even Luke Garner hit the line straight and hard. However, and I put it to the better football brains in this forum, do you think that during the week there were things during training that were worked on, that were different on the field last night? Or is it just a case that we are on the week when we are "on" and next week we'll be back to "off"? I'd like to think that small changes were made, but then again, I live in (eternal) hope!

We have been building to this, even when were beaten the week before I thought we played well, but got out to a bad start and played catch up.
Madge's adjusting of the half's is the answer, Mbye is great for Brooks and Adam D. seems devoid of ego and has played just as well in the center.
In all last three games Brooks has run and when he runs we win.
The forwards are all ticking over just nicely too, plenty of depth and some new players starting to find their feet.
I predict a run for the 8 is on the cards, but our form for getting their is predictable. Hope I am wrong.

 

[tiger_scott]

If we can make the 8, we'll certainly be match fit by then. We may not go all the way, but should be on enough of a roll that we may surprise some teams. There's certainly a couple, like the Roosters, that should make the 8, but may be missing enough players that an upset is possible.


 

[happy_tiger]

Last week means nothing if we can't back it up

Penrith will be real keen to get a fast start against us ...so the 1st 20 minutes will be crucial

 

[TigerSJ]

Definitely had better line speed in D and there was a concerted effort to defend in one line or as a group rather than one out or individually. We dropped off this in the second half and had to scramble a bit.
In A we moved the ball to the edges quickly which gained us some line breaks and had them back peddling.
It is simple footy - If your forwards run with intent and put in the metres, then your halves have space and time to get your backs going.
We still lack the relentless waves of attacking plays that the top teams have, so when we get into attacking field position we waste tackles with poor one out runs trying to get organised. With more playmaking options and willingness to work off the ball, this should hopefully improve.

 

[Devon Head]

Our defence was pretty similar. We played a really bad, depleted Dragons team we know we can beat. It was so predictable that I wouldn't chalk it up to anything really 'changing' other than the fact we played the Dragons and not any other team. They've yet to surprise me with a win all year.


IMO our defence was very different to all year. For the first time our defence was "up and in" with the outside racing up to shut down options rather than sliding flat. Looked great, just head scratching why its taken this long.

I disagree, our biggest weakness all season has been the outside backs racing in and missing the mark or going for the intercept and missing, leaving and unmarked overlap. Biggest difference this match was most of the time when they raced up and in to shut down the attack the tackles stuck. Against a better team we would have been ripped apart once again.

Re-watch the Cows, Titans and Warriors matches in particular and you will see most of the tries scored were due to the center jamming in and leaving the winger with a choice to jam as well and expose the overlap or slide wide and leave a massive gap on the inside.

 

[Tiger5150]

Our defence was pretty similar. We played a really bad, depleted Dragons team we know we can beat. It was so predictable that I wouldn't chalk it up to anything really 'changing' other than the fact we played the Dragons and not any other team. They've yet to surprise me with a win all year.


IMO our defence was very different to all year. For the first time our defence was "up and in" with the outside racing up to shut down options rather than sliding flat. Looked great, just head scratching why its taken this long.

I disagree, our biggest weakness all season has been the outside backs racing in and missing the mark or going for the intercept and missing, leaving and unmarked overlap. Biggest difference this match was most of the time when they raced up and in to shut down the attack the tackles stuck. Against a better team we would have been ripped apart once again.

Re-watch the Cows, Titans and Warriors matches in particular and you will see most of the tries scored were due to the center jamming in and leaving the winger with a choice to jam as well and expose the overlap or slide wide and leave a massive gap on the inside.

WHat you are saying is basically agreeing with me.

Previously we were sliding, laterally and where required jamming in and as you say it would often result in a player racing up to try to cut it off.

Against Saints we abandoned the sliding defence and utilised an up and in style, meaning the whole team pushes up outside so the defensive line comes up in an umbrella shape rather than a line. From memory we used this in the Sheens years.