Michael Vouches for Abundant Talent; How About You?

[GTripp0012]

I still think the DL is getting a really bad rap for what it is/isn't doing given the circumstances. We have great individual talent on the DL. Here's the problem: most of it is 29 or older. At DT, we are young, at least. We need a replacement for Griffin when his contract expires, but I think he will play out the deal here.

DE has actually been a strength for us this season, as weird as that sounds, even considering that Taylor has busted (although I think we could salvage his HOF pass rushing skills if we used him properly, he's a feather-weight against the run), but I could see it being a problem in the future. Jason Taylor is 34. Andre Carter is 29. Demetric Evans is also 28 (and a free agent). Chris Wilson, the new kid on the block, is actually 26. Rob Jackson is 23, but I have no idea if he can develop into our RE of the future.

So I do think it's a position that needs an injection of talented, reliable youth, much like the OL needs it. But, in my opinion, probably no more so than LB.

But yeah, the problems with the offense probably go something like this:

1. Rabach
2. Randy Thomas
3. Devin Thomas
4. Malcolm Kelly
5. Jon Jansen
6. James Thrash
7. Todd Yoder
8. Santana Moss
9. Fred Davis
10. Stephon Heyer
11. Jim Zorn

So obviously, we have much more to correct before it all falls on Zorn. Some need time to develop. Others will just have to be replaced. And others still can remain problems we can live with. I think Zorn falls into the first category.