I attribute a lot of this to over handballing.
How would you lead to a 5 handball clearance?
I know you're probably being tongue in cheek but I can't help myself!
It's mainly when we are trying to slowly progress by foot up the ground.
The lack of leading by our forwards is a different issue and probably partly caused by what you say but also because we have so many inexperienced forwards and our best two, Daniher and Stringer, like to play from behind anyway. It's why Fantasia was so bloody important in 2017 - he knew when to lead AND could get separation. Hooker to an extent too, because his presence demanded the footy.