Why the 2007 defense will be in the top 10

[jdlea]

Good to see it took all of 3 seasons for Sean Taylor to become LaVar Arrington to everyone on the board...

[skins009]

I couldn’t disagree with this post more. I think our defense will be average at best next year. I say again, who is gonna rush the passer? Who is gonna stuff the run? In order for us to be a successful team next year, our offense is gonna have to immerge as a top 5 SCORING unit. Then hopefully teams will be one dimensional. That’s the only hope our D has at stopping anyone. I remind everyone that our D was second worse in the entire NFL last year. This would be like an Oakland Raiders fan saying their offense is gonna be dynamic next year.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by skins009

I couldn’t disagree with this post more. I think our defense will be average at best next year. I say again, who is gonna rush the passer? Who is gonna stuff the run? In order for us to be a successful team next year, our offense is gonna have to immerge as a top 5 SCORING unit. Then hopefully teams will be one dimensional. That’s the only hope our D has at stopping anyone. I remind everyone that our D was second worse in the entire NFL last year. This would be like an Oakland Raiders fan saying their offense is gonna be dynamic next year.

I gotta agree with you. We were 31st overall last year. To move into the top 10 would be a huge, very rare jump statistically. If we stay healthy and the new additions pan out, then I can see us maybe getting into the top half of the league. I just hope we run the ball 40 times a game to help keep our defense off the field....

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I gotta agree with you. We were 31st overall last year. To move into the top 10 would be a huge, very rare jump statistically. If we stay healthy and the new additions pan out, then I can see us maybe getting into the top half of the league. I just hope we run the ball 40 times a game to help keep our defense off the field....

But weren't we top 10 in 2005? So if we can drop so much in one year why can't the opposite happen?

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But weren't we top 10 in 2005? So if we can drop so much in one year why can't the opposite happen?

Becuase its much easier to be bad than to be good. It takes no effort to fall, you simply have to do nothing, it takes a lot of effort to climb.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by BrunellMVP?

Becuase its much easier to be bad than to be good. It takes no effort to fall, you simply have to do nothing, it takes a lot of effort to climb.

Exactly.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BrunellMVP?

Becuase its much easier to be bad than to be good. It takes no effort to fall, you simply have to do nothing, it takes a lot of effort to climb.

Well New England was 26th in 2005 and 6th in 2006; Oakland was 27th in 2005 and 3rd in 2006.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But weren't we top 10 in 2005? So if we can drop so much in one year why can't the opposite happen?

Never said it couldn't happen, I just said it would be a rare jump. You very seldom see teams go from nearly dead last in overall D all the way to top tier-caliber in one season. Don't get me wrong, I hope it happens, I just don't think it's probable.

[holmester]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I gotta agree with you. We were 31st overall last year. To move into the top 10 would be a huge, very rare jump statistically. If we stay healthy and the new additions pan out, then I can see us maybe getting into the top half of the league. I just hope we run the ball 40 times a game to help keep our defense off the field....

You agree with him yet how much more rare is it for a team to drop from the top ten to 31st then vice versa. I dont think Ryan Clark and Walt Harris were that important. I know in 05 Clark and Harris played better then Arch and Wright(due to springs being out) in 06 but I see Landry being an up grade over Clark and an improved Rogers being alteast on par with Harris, more then likely better. Then figure in Fletcher whos degree of leadership this D hasn't seen in a long time, Carter's play in the second half of the season which should carry over, and 2 young up and coming interior D-lineman in Montgomery and Golston to add into the DL rotation. I think this defense is definitely capable of making the same leap it did from 05-06 but in the opposite direction if healthy.

[holmester]

Dammit Smoot you quick postin jerk.

[T.O.Killa]

Well I am glad that we did what we did. Every year we come out and take players that fill perceived holes. This year they did the right thing taking the best player available. I remember that every time some one asked Bobby Bethard what position he would pick his standard answer was "We are not good enough to take a specific position, we have to pick the best player available". If we are one dline man away from a championship, then we will do pretty well anyway. I think that people are under estimating Andre Carter and I think that there will be a player that will come out of nowhere to help out. Maybe Evans or Skykes. Both are pass rushers.

[LINEBACKER]

I think the biggest key to a turnaround next year is upping our turnover ratio. I'm afraid we are still gonna be gashed by the run game and game again. But with speedy Landry blitzing or even helping the run that allows ST to be the ball hawk... I beleive ST will display the coverage skills that he was acclaimed for when he first entered the league.

I would love our defense to have some gaudy stats like 50yds rushing 150yds passing /game but its amazing how much more turnovers equate to wins. Tenesee's late season surge last year was just as much a product of Pacman's picks as the much acclaimed heroics of Vince Young.

[Drift Reality]

Lets be realistic here:

1. There is no reason to say HB Blades is going to be a top NFL MLB in three years. He has not played one snap in the NFL.
2. Who are Justin Hickman and Byron Westbrook? I'm being sarcastic here. These guys are UDFA man. They may be good athletes but lets reserve judgment before penciling them in as NFL starters.
3. Golston and Montgomery are marginal starters. We may have a potential starter in Golston but no way is he going to be an impact player.
4. Our defensive line is the least talented in our conference.

Now, I do agree that LBF and Smoot are solid acquisitions. I'm also optimistic that Landry can become an impact-type player, but I think we have to be realistic here in saying that our front seven is average to below-average when you compare it to the front-seven of most other teams that made the playoffs last year.

[over the mountain]

i actually read all the posts!! probaly the only one on here to do that . . .

i would bet my dog that the skins D will be better next year b/c of the upgrades mentioned but i still see some areas of concern:

1 - can the O sustain some drives and not go 3 n out (2nd year for saunders and campbell so that should improve)
2- when we only rush the front 4 are we going to have any pressure or are opposing qbs going to have all day like last year (yes i know now that we have the secondary fixed GW can use other positions to produce pressure like he used to do but that brings me to my next point)
3 - our secondary was down right confused last year, will they be able to line up and play the right assignments this year? (i hope fletch can help read the plays and that gray is gone, dont know if it was true that he had the safeties not wathcing what the o line does right after the snap but he has failed imo)

on the plus side we get to play dallas, giant, eagles 2 times each and i really dont think highly of any of their offenses (unless mcnabb gets back to form, dallas is a threat of romo is a fake) so the nfc east is wide open . . i see us closely winning the nfc east with a balance of O and D this year

go skins

[BrunellMVP?]

does anyone know how to change you name? mine needed to go a long time ago...