It seems that even with Roof leaving the concept of playing defense still eludes some.
In every game and on every team football is played the same way. The winning team gives up less than the losing team. Generally speaking every defensive player around the world, in any sport you pick will tell you that it’s on them when the other team scores. Through turnovers, starting field position, special teams or blown calls in officiating you will still here the same attitude from defensive players — it’s their job to stop the other team.
The only time the defense isn’t responsible for giving up points is when the offense gives up a pick 6, a scoop and score, ST gives up a return or a TD on a blocked kick. Every other point scored is scored on the defense - period.
If you accept that the offense is who losses the games then you accept that you do not have the expectation that the defense will ever stop a score. Be it giving up long drives or simply giving up 10 yards and a first down it’s always on the D to stop the other guys. It starts with the first play from scrimmage - the desire is to stop the other offense on each play, it is not your offensive failure that prevents this .
The concept that short fields or any other situation allows for an exception to the rule is nothing more than a misnomer . I would also challenge any of you to find a defensive coach who would make exceptions to the rule.
Roof is gone for not living up to this rule - it’s a football issue not a personal one and even if the next DC fails in this rule we will see he is treated the same way. Perhaps if there is a need for another DC after the new hire, CPJ will be leaving also but make no mistake that DC will be leaving b/c his defensive consistently failed to do its purpose, regardless of what occurred on offense or special teams.
Teams all over the land face various reasons that their offenses sputter and the DCs on everyone of them are expected to coach basics and create schemes that fill the offensive voids, when they don’t they are allowed to move on, as in this case.