Add Middle Linebacker to the shopping list.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

Our lineback core consists of Marcus Washington, "Worthless", and "Useless" (referring to Lamar Marshall and Warrick Holdman not necessarily in that order). Holdman is a reject from the Browns. Nuff said. Marshall was most effective as a situational linebacker for pass coverage. He doesn't seem to have the strength or skills to play run or blitz. This would also add support to why Williams is so hesitant to blitz this year.

[wilsowilso]

Marshall was the worst player on the field today! I have no idea if it's his fault.

[soccercycbk]

There's a pretty nice free agent class for LB's. Can anyone say LONDON FLETCHER..lol he's gonna be like 32 or something but he's never missed a game and is very solid. Personally i'd like to see us go after C. June.

[soccercycbk]

I take that back, i meant briggs..he's big and plugs holes..i just hope the bears don't slap him with the ftag.

[saden1]

"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so."

--Shakespeare

[skinsguy]

You might as well play all the youngsters on Defense and see if they play with a little more fire and hunger than our starting 'D'. Our defense goes further past middle linebacker. Our DL, LBs, secondary...everybody needs a big kick in the pants.

[GTripp0012]

Marcus Washington is a huge liability in coverage. This year, he's had some difficulty tackling (as the rest of the team). He's a good pass rusher, always has been, but whatever the reason, he isn't doing any pass rushing. If you are going to take a guy with glaring weaknesses in his game and not use him to his strengths, why even have him?

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Marcus Washington is a huge liability in coverage. This year, he's had some difficulty tackling (as the rest of the team). He's a good pass rusher, always has been, but whatever the reason, he isn't doing any pass rushing. If you are going to take a guy with glaring weaknesses in his game and not use him to his strengths, why even have him?

Lol. If we cut Washington the NFL should move the franchise. Do you honestly think for one second that cutting Washington makes sense on any level?

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Marcus Washington is a huge liability in coverage. This year, he's had some difficulty tackling (as the rest of the team). He's a good pass rusher, always has been, but whatever the reason, he isn't doing any pass rushing. If you are going to take a guy with glaring weaknesses in his game and not use him to his strengths, why even have him?

Um, Marcus Washington is our cover LB, he was signed to play over the tight end because LaVar freelanced too much to be trusted to cover anyone. He's our best cover LB. He's our best defensive player, I would say Sean Taylor but the Beast hasn't had his best year thus far.

We definitely need a LB, but lest we forget, Pierce struggled some initially as well when he subbed for Arrington and now look at him. Marshall will get it, he's just got to learn to take blocks on the shoulder and not directly in the chest. I give up on Holdman, I fear he may be playing for the enemy because I've yet to see him do anything at all.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Marcus Washington is a huge liability in coverage. This year, he's had some difficulty tackling (as the rest of the team). He's a good pass rusher, always has been, but whatever the reason, he isn't doing any pass rushing. If you are going to take a guy with glaring weaknesses in his game and not use him to his strengths, why even have him?

First, as others have noted, Marcus is our best cover LB. Second, Marcus has been blitzing a lot, he's just not getting to the QB.

[B.F. SKINner]

Lemar Marshall should move to WLB. Rocky can back him up until he is ready. Then all we need is a MLB to have a fairly good group.

Put Daniels back at Left DE and Wynn back at Right DE. Carter can be an overpaid third down specialist. We obviously need to draft a quality DE.

We need to find a starting quality CB. Move Rogers to nickel corner.

We need to find a complement to Sean Taylor. Maybe Prilou can be that guy next year. Vincent can be a good backup safety.

What we need to make this a good enough defense are three or four players:

1. a starting MLB
2. a starting CB
3. draft a DE
4. a complementary safety for Sean Taylor

Now, we had those pieces but we let them go:

MLB Pierce,
CB Smoot,
safety Ryan Clark

We could have kept all of these pieces, and could have used the draft pick that we spent on Rogers to draft the best DE available. Wow. That would have made a HUGE difference.

If only we had a competent GM / Front Office then.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by B.F. SKINner

Lemar Marshall should move to WLB. Rocky can back him up until he is ready. Then all we need is a MLB to have a fairly good group.

Put Daniels back at Left DE and Wynn back at Right DE. Carter can be an overpaid third down specialist. We obviously need to draft a quality DE.

We need to find a starting quality CB. Move Rogers to nickel corner.

We need to find a complement to Sean Taylor. Maybe Prilou can be that guy next year. Vincent can be a good backup safety.

What we need to make this a good enough defense are three or four players:

1. a starting MLB
2. a starting CB
3. draft a DE
4. a complementary safety for Sean Taylor

Now, we had those pieces but we let them go:

MLB Pierce,
CB Smoot,
safety Ryan Clark

We could have kept all of these pieces, and could have used the draft pick that we spent on Rogers to draft the best DE available. Wow. That would have made a HUGE difference.

If only we had a competent GM / Front Office then.

nice post, but we should have used the rogers pick on shawn merriman instead . smoot could have been let go and dyson could have been signed for the same price as rogers, more or less... GW prefers tackling cbs (that's why he let smoot go and why we probably didn't sign dyson), but come on.

[dmek25]

the problems start of front returning wynn to the starting unit could help. during the eagles game, any time wynn was on the field, the defense just generally looked better. definitely better against the run. but why do we keep doing the same things? why no adjustments?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Maybe let's try replacing Carter with Wynn since that's what worked so well for us previously.

[The Zimmermans]

MLB and SS, two extremely important positions.....must be replaced. The D-line might take a little while to revamp. I hope we don't change anything on offense, except maybe replace one of the aging tackles.