Boyd can fire for Broncos at wing or centre: Hodges

[ivanhungryjak]

Some of the shapes these teams are throwing at defensive lines these days confuse me. After I’ve watched the replay. In slow motion. Three times.

 

[Sproj]

the shapes these teams are throwing

 

[rnabokov]

You can have the correct formations and structures in place but at the end of the day defending on an edge hinges on your decision making.

Again, maybe I am more naive than Isaako, however the only decision you and your fellow defenders have to make is not to leave a runner unmarked. This is not rocket science

 

[Russellk]

not if Isaako is switched to fullback ... which i'm still not convinced of ...

If Milf is going back to 6 then I would moved Bird to the back, Boyd at center, if and only if Farnworth is not ready for full time NRL yet

I would give bird a run at fullback as well but would need to get some kilometres under his belt by seasons beginning.

 

[Viti]

Again, maybe I am more naive than Isaako, however the only decision you and your fellow defenders have to make is not to leave a runner unmarked. This is not rocket science

If people were running in straight lines up and down the field this would be the case.
But teams don’t do that, they design plays to isolate defenders and force them to make decisions.

Isaako’s defensive decisions are often (not always) a product of the people inside him.

 

[rnabokov]

If people were running in straight lines up and down the field this would be the case.
But teams don’t do that, they design plays to isolate defenders and force them to make decisions.

Isaako’s defensive decisions are often (not always) a product of the people inside him.

The problem is the lack of any cohesive line based on communication and technique which largely accounts for poor decision making. There are a finite number of plays to isolate defenders. Good coaching deals with this. Look at any of the best defences and they deal with all the shapes thrown at them without players having degrees in 3 dimensional geometry. and decision theory. Of course there will be mistakes but they are not the norm as was the case with our right edge.

Anyway, our edge defence needs to be fixed, and getting the line in place and working is the 1st step. Also, as far as I am concerned, the only place for Boyd is out wide. In fact as wide as possible, ideally in the stands.

 

[Kooly87]

The problem is the lack of any cohesive line based on communication and technique which largely accounts for poor decision making. There are a finite number of plays to isolate defenders. Good coaching deals with this. Look at any of the best defences and they deal with all the shapes thrown at them without players having degrees in 3 dimensional geometry. and decision theory. Of course there will be mistakes but they are not the norm as was the case with our right edge.

Anyway, our edge defence needs to be fixed, and getting the line in place and working is the 1st step. Also, as far as I am concerned, the only place for Boyd is out wide. In fact as wide as possible, ideally in the stands.

It's no secret that sides with well developed combinations and lots of experience playing together on their edges tend to defend well out wide.

The fact we've had a revolving door of Halves, Edge Backrowers and Centres last season, really does make forming these combinations difficult, and I think that lack of experience and understanding definitely compounded our problems. We also happened to have both our Wingers also have their worst seasons ever at the same time too, so I think our edge defence never really had a chance last year.

Hopefully with a full preseason together, as well as players being back in more familiar roles, we should see a significant improvement in this area for 2020.

 

[rnabokov]

Great post and absolutely agree with everything you say.

 

[Marty Deutschmann]

It's no secret that sides with well developed combinations and lots of experience playing together on their edges tend to defend well out wide.

The fact we've had a revolving door of Halves, Edge Backrowers and Centres last season, really does make forming these combinations difficult, and I think that lack of experience and understanding definitely compounded our problems. We also happened to have both our Wingers also have their worst seasons ever at the same time too, so I think our edge defence never really had a chance last year.

Hopefully with a full preseason together, as well as players being back in more familiar roles, we should see a significant improvement in this area for 2020.

Exactly