Add Middle Linebacker to the shopping list.

[soccercycbk]

As for blowing up the front 7, that's a horrible idea. While they may not be great, adding 5 new starters would kill that front (not that there is much to kill, but it would destroy whatever chemsity they have/are building). They would play about the same way next year that they are right now. They'd all have to get reacclumated to each other. It's just not feasible[/quote]

That's not true, look at the 2004 season...all those defensive pick ups resulted in the #3 defense in the NFL. And what would u suggest we do then?? It would make no sense to try and build on something that's just not there. We need to see some changes.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by NYCSkin

Marshall has regressed big time this year. Seems like he has not been around the ball much at all. Lately I have heard commentators remark that the defense has not been running to the ball well. Seems like that was a previous trademark of this defense.

What player on defense has improved this year? They've all regressed.

[jdlea]

I would suggest starting Rocky, drafting/signing a real MLB, and then drafting a D Linemen or 2, but I would just rotate our D line the way the Broncos do. They don't have 1 dominant linemen, but they always have a fresh guy coming after you. I think adding guys would be a good idea, but I wouldn't cut 6 guys. That's a bad idea. On that note, I don't think they could afford to cut all those people.

[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

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by jdlea

I liked him in San Fran. Not so much what he's done here. He doesn't look like the same player here. He looks like he's thinking about the game too much. Not just playing. I've been really disappointed. I still think if he were on the other side of a really good pass rusher he could make plays. I don't think he's made to be a #1 Defensive linemen. When he was in Frisco you had Bryant Young as the dominant guy and Carter flying under the radar and making plays. I think he could do that in Washington too. That's just my opinion, I could be totally wrong.

As for blowing up the front 7, that's a horrible idea. While they may not be great, adding 5 new starters would kill that front (not that there is much to kill, but it would destroy whatever chemsity they have/are building). They would play about the same way next year that they are right now. They'd all have to get reacclumated to each other. It's just not feasible

I know they can't blow up the whole front 7. But there is really no one that is any frickin good. With that being said in SF Carter was playing linebacker in a 3-4. According to him he was playing out of position. But he just can't hold up against the run as a 4-3 end. So basically he is of no use. TB's TE just wore him out all day long.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.