Free Agency Begins in a Week, Whats the Plan?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

With regards to Byrd, is there a question of philosophy meaning do you believe that coverage more benefits the pass rush or the pass rush more benefits the coverage? Can we spend less on the back end considering we just spent $11+ on Rak, plus will have to spend at ILB & DE (either by retaining or replacing Carriker/Bowen) and still get improved results?

Coverage and pass rush certainly benefit each other. But for the specific defense that Haslett likes to run, even if the pass rush is great the coverage will break down regardless. Orakpo and Kerrigan both had good years, yet our defense left a lot to be desired. Sure you could get more pass rushers from the DL spot, but the way Haslett likes to get pressure is by blitzing in various forms.

Here's how a very fast FS allows Haslett to do his thing:

- the fast FS is capable of covering the gap left behind when a SS blitzes

- the fast FS is capable of covering the gap left behind on the seam route when a middle LB blitzes - the fast FS can successfully walk the line between covering the deep middle and covering the seam route, whereas a slower FS really has to choose either/or

- the fast FS lets the CBs play an off-zone the way it's meant to be played, with eyes on the QB ready to jump the route. Inevitably some of those gambles will go wrong, and the safety needs to be there to save the day.

- the fast FS just straight up reduces the risk of the long ball when a CB just gets flat burned

These are all reasons why we still miss Sean Taylor dearly. We'd be an entirely different defense.

If Haslett played a Tampa 2 then safety's not that important a position. Or if he played a conservative stop-run-first scheme like Blache always did, safety isn't as important. But to blitz and play soft-zone coverages, it's crucial.