Around the NFL...Week 2 Style!

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by CultBrennan59

I think at the beginning of TC when Cofield and Rak were asked about how good this defense could be, when they said "No reason to not be a top 5 defense" they meant "No reason to not be a bottom 5 defense."

There really isn't a reason this defense could be Top 5 - if they played disciplined football and tackled. Our front seven has good talent, as good or better 2/3's of the teams out there (Rak, Kerrigan, Riley, Cofield). Bowen and Golston are both solid talent-wise and are legitimate starters (London no longer has the talent and is the obvious weak link).

From a purely talent perspective, other than Doughty, our DB's are servicable to average starters. No pro-bowlers, but speed, athleticism and enough ball skills to play in the league. If not on our roster, they would be either starting or first man-up on a significant number of NFL rosters.

What they lack is assignment discipline and tackling. Folks are clearly missing assignments and, just as clearly, missing tackles. Fix those things and they could be a top 5 defense (maybe). At the same time, playing fundamentally sound football is, well, fundamental to a top defense and it is, alas, not fundamental to the make-up of this D.