QB or defense: what's the bigger problem?

[Schneed10]

Defense is the bigger problem. Brunell is playing the way he played last year, ultra conservative, high completion percentage, low turnover rate, low yards per attempt.

He continues to throw the ball away rather than force things. This strategy works OK when you have a great defense (10-6 last year). It works terribly when you hand the ball to the other team and allow them to march downfield for a TD.

With a better defense we would have beaten both Minnesota and Tennessee, both games were lost on the last drive. Stop Travis Henry, contain Troy Williamson, and all of a sudden we're 4-3.

Brunell is still the same QB. Won't turn it over but is conservative to a fault. Give him last year's defense and we probably win 9 or 10 games. But you can't count on a defense to dominate every year, you need a QB who can not only avoid turnovers, but also make plays.

Defense is the bigger problem, but Brunell isn't far behind.