What's wrong with JA?

[Oakdale63]

He's had slow years before, but he had always been able to get sacks. This year I see nothing that made JA what he was. His snap count timing is ####, his burst off the line isn't there, his speed around the corner is completely gone, and most of all, when tackles get their hands on him he is locked up for the entire play. He can't find his way to the quarterback and lacks all the strength and explosion to get off blocks. What's the deal?

[Laserman]

father time has caught up to him. I see DEs that can only rush from the same spot on every down as old school and too easy to figure out. his day is over

[PurpleKoolaid]

His is struggling this year, with only 1 guy on him. Last week, it was a rookie. He isn't the same JA.

[LesSteckellives]

Father time seems to be catching up with him. The effort is there, but the production is lacking. Last week he got owned by a rookie 4th-round draft pick and today he was invisible. Same thing seems to be happening to Julius Peppers, btw. Perhaps one day you wake up and find out you just can't do it anymore.

[VikingPaul73]

Hopefully it's the miles and not the age because Robison is the same age and was just signed to an extension

[Canuck]

Hopefully it's the miles and not the age because Robison is the same age and was just signed to an extension

Terrible signing, he got 2 sacks today, but other then that he hasn't been worth what his new contract is.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Terrible signing, he got 2 sacks today, but other then that he hasn't been worth what his new contract is.

It was a bad sign. Because of his age, and what if we switch to a 3-4?

[Demi]

He's old. And ever since his chase for the record all he cares about is going for sacks. Throw in being on a team with no hope for team success and this is what you get. Should have traded him two years ago.

[DanAS]

He's had slow years before, but he had always been able to get sacks. This year I see nothing that made JA what he was. His snap count timing is ####, his burst off the line isn't there, his speed around the corner is completely gone, and most of all, when tackles get their hands on him he is locked up for the entire play. He can't find his way to the quarterback and lacks all the strength and explosion to get off blocks. What's the deal?

I agree what the majority is saying. He is past his prime because of age. That's not to say he can't get better than he is now, particularly if next year's team is in the hunt, but I do strongly believe that his best days are behind him.

[The Breeze]

Hopefully it's the miles and not the age because Robison is the same age and was just signed to an extension

This concerns me. If Griffen walks we will have the same issues up front as we do everywhere else on the defense. Big holes.

[VikingLord]

Allen seems to be freelancing a lot this year. I don't know if he's trying too hard to get sacks or he's getting frustrated, but it was especially obvious against the Packers as Allen would try to beat the LT with those wide sweeping end runs and just take himself completely out of contain. Easy for a guy like Rodgers to exploit that and he did several times.

Yesterday was the first game all season where I felt like the entire defensive line played with a strategy and had the discipline to stick with it. They were the most effective I've seen them all year and Romo is decent at escaping pressure. neither of the DE's gave Romo easy escape routes and they both did a solid job of staying home. They even managed a few sacks playing like a unit instead of a bunch of individuals.

Depressing that Williams called them off on that final drive, but the tape doesn't lie. If the front four of the Vikings stick together, they can cover for a lot of what ails the LBs and the secondary. Allen is a HUGE part of that, so hopefully he keeps playing like he did yesterday.

[mondry]

Allen seems to be freelancing a lot this year. I don't know if he's trying too hard to get sacks or he's getting frustrated, but it was especially obvious against the Packers as Allen would try to beat the LT with those wide sweeping end runs and just take himself completely out of contain. Easy for a guy like Rodgers to exploit that and he did several times.

Yesterday was the first game all season where I felt like the entire defensive line played with a strategy and had the discipline to stick with it. They were the most effective I've seen them all year and Romo is decent at escaping pressure. neither of the DE's gave Romo easy escape routes and they both did a solid job of staying home. They even managed a few sacks playing like a unit instead of a bunch of individuals.

Depressing that Williams called them off on that final drive, but the tape doesn't lie. If the front four of the Vikings stick together, they can cover for a lot of what ails the LBs and the secondary. Allen is a HUGE part of that, so hopefully he keeps playing like he did yesterday.

Yeah, they were talking about freelancing on the radio a lot, like once a team is beyond contention and the coach is probably gone, guys start worrying about what their tape is gonna look like and their own future. Other teams aren't going to know who was responsible for what perfectly on any given play so if there is a point where you can kind of free lance and maybe play man instead of zone you can be like "hey look i stayed with my guy!"

I could see how a DE might also give up his run responsibility to sack hunt.

[Mothman]

Yeah, they were talking about freelancing on the radio a lot, like once a team is beyond contention and the coach is probably gone, guys start worrying about what their tape is gonna look like and their own future. Other teams aren't going to know who was responsible for what perfectly on any given play so if there is a point where you can kind of free lance and maybe play man instead of zone you can be like "hey look i stayed with my guy!"

I could see how a DE might also give up his run responsibility to sack hunt.

If I recall correctly, Alan Williams (or perhaps it was Frazier) was just talking about the need for players to stay disciplined in their assignments last week. Freelancing can get a zone defense into big, big trouble.

[Mothman]

Depressing that Williams called them off on that final drive, but the tape doesn't lie.

No, it doesn't. I just watched the drive again and guess what it shows? Williams didn't call them off on the majority of that drive. He rushed 3 on just three of the drive's nine plays and on one of those plays, the rush was effective and Romo was forced to throw the ball away. On 2 plays he sent more than 4 defenders after Romo.

[chicagopurple]

Uh, anyone consider the fact that JA is surrounded by crappy players?
We should trade him while he still has value, we need like 4-5 new guys in the secondary, 2 DL, at least 1 OL, a QB, etc