Meeks says defense needs to regain its swagger....

[bleys]

I think both points hold truth..

I do not feel comfortable in thinking our defense is going to tighten up leagues better than it is now... Our DLine just isn't dominate and I fail to see how that is going to change. Brayton, Johnson, Pep, Brown, Taylor are going to have to step it up A LOT for that to be the case and our DTs, well, do I even need to point out the obvious?

That means to me, our back 7 are either going to have to have extremely great coverage to ensure our DLine has time to get to the QB (in the form of coverage sacks), or our LBers are going to have to help generate that pressure.. Which is not how are scheme is said to work.. Going back to our DLine being the center piece to that pressure...

However, it was never thought that our defense was going to be at peak performance at this point early in the season due to a new scheme and grasping it. We knew going in that it was going to take time for the players to settle in and feel comfortable... To react rather than to think...

[Gman was right]

That's as ridiculous a statement as any ever made on this board :nonod:

We've only been missing two starters all season. Harris and Kemo. AGAIN, both are solid but neither are the difference between a good defense and a shitty one. That is a fact!!

[Mr. Scot]

I think both points hold truth..

I do not feel comfortable in thinking our defense is going to tighten up leagues better than it is now... Our DLine just isn't dominate and I fail to see how that is going to change. Brayton, Johnson, Pep, Brown, Taylor are going to have to step it up A LOT for that to be the case and our DTs, well, do I even need to point out the obvious?

That means to me, our back 7 are either going to have to have extremely great coverage to ensure our DLine has time to get to the QB (in the form of coverage sacks), or our LBers are going to have to help generate that pressure.. Which is not how are scheme is said to work.. Going back to our DLine being the center piece to that pressure...

However, it was never thought that our defense was going to be at peak performance at this point early in the season due to a new scheme and grasping it. We knew going in that it was going to take time for the players to settle in and feel comfortable... To react rather than to think...

We've carried over one major problem from last year, but it wasn't by choice.

Lack of interior pass rush was a big deal last season. Even if you have the world's greatest edge rushers, it's meaningless if the opposing QB can comfortably step up into a nice, safe pocket and throw. Having an interior pass rush with Damione Lewis and Corvey Irvin in rotation with kemo would have made a difference there.

I'd add that anybody doubting whether a starting DT can make a difference should watch the Falcons game. Last week they looked pretty good against interior runs. This week, minus Peria Jerry in the middle, Fred Taylor is running all over them.

[Gman was right]

Our defense was at full strength last year with a much easier schedule and still finished only 18th in the league. What makes you think they would be better at full strength this year with a brutal schedule and a MUCH worse DC?

[Mr. Scot]

We've only been missing two starters all season. Harris and Kemo. AGAIN, both are solid but neither are the difference between a good defense and a shitty one. That is a fact!!

How exactly does "only missing two starters" on an eleven man defense equate to "full strength"?

Beyond that, Beason was hurt preseason and may not yet be fully recovered. Diggs was out most of the last game and will likely be out for the coming game. Harris' backup is a guy who was only expected to be a special teamer but who sadly might be the best choice because other options like Martin are also hurt. And not only are we missing Kemo, we're also missing the guy who was signed to be his backup and another guy who was drafted to be a rotational pass rusher.

Full strength?

[Gman was right]

Yes...Full strength Because we are not missing anyone important. Harris is solid but he is not a difference maker. Kemo is the best out of a average group of DT's but he is still just that...AVERAGE! None of Kemo's backups were worth a poo! The defense was terrible when Diggs did play. Are you really suggesting he is a difference maker? Seriously, you are so desperate for excuses but the fact is there are none! This defense is just BAD! Plain and simple!

[CRA]

We've carried over one major problem from last year, but it wasn't by choice.

Lack of interior pass rush was a big deal last season. Even if you have the world's greatest edge rushers, it's meaningless if the opposing QB can comfortably step up into a nice, safe pocket and throw. Having an interior pass rush with Damione Lewis and Corvey Irvin in rotation with kemo would have made a difference there.

I'd add that anybody doubting whether a starting DT can make a difference should watch the Falcons game. Last week they looked pretty good against interior runs. This week, minus Peria Jerry in the middle, Fred Taylor is running all over them.

Kemo and Lewis proved to be that liability last year generating no pressure. I sede how we can assume that trio would have been effective this year.

[HGG]

No one cares about the Panthers defense anymore.

Not opposing teams, not the media, and not even the players on it.

It's a fossil whose time has past.

[Mr. Scot]

Yes...Full strength Because we are not missing anyone important. Harris is solid but he is not a difference maker. Kemo is the best out of a average group of DT's but he is still just that...AVERAGE! None of Kemo's backups were worth a poo! The defense was terrible when Diggs did play. Are you really suggesting he is a difference maker? Seriously, you are so desperate for excuses but the fact is there are none! This defense is just BAD! Plain and simple!

Sounds like you're pretty desperate to be negative no matter what, so much so you're willing to argue a point that's a reach even Mister Fantastic couldn't make.

Starters are starters for a reason. Likewise with backups. Being down starters makes a difference, even when they aren't star players.

[Gman was right]

Kemo and Lewis proved to be that liability last year generating no pressure. I sede how we can assume that trio would have been effective this year.

BAM! Case closed!

[Gman was right]

Sounds like you're pretty desperate to be negative no matter what, so much so you're willing to argue a point that's a reach even Mister Fantastic couldn't make.

Starters are starters for a reason. Likewise with backups. Being down starters makes a difference, even when they aren't star players.

Starters are starters because they are better than the backups. Kemo is better than our backup DT's but that still doesnt change the fact that he is an average player who provides no pass rush whatsoever. Harris is a hard hitter and a major liability in coverage. Having those two would not make this defense suddenly good. Like I said, we were at full strength last year with a much easier schedule and still finished in the bottom third in defense. What leads you to beleive we would be better at full strength this year?

[Mr. Scot]

Kemo and Lewis proved to be that liability last year generating no pressure. I sede how we can assume that trio would have been effective this year.

Kemo and Lewis being out is what turned our run defense into a doormat against the Giants late last season.

The plan this season would have been to rotate Kemo out on passing downs, but that plan is out of the picture now. We now have starters who would normally be rotational guiys or special teamers if not for circumstances.

But on Bizarro World, this equates to "full strength"

[Gman was right]

Just because our backup DT's were doormats doesnt mean Kemo and Lewis are good players. It just means we have two average starters with even worse backups.

[bleys]

We've carried over one major problem from last year, but it wasn't by choice.

Lack of interior pass rush was a big deal last season. Even if you have the world's greatest edge rushers, it's meaningless if the opposing QB can comfortably step up into a nice, safe pocket and throw. Having an interior pass rush with Damione Lewis and Corvey Irvin in rotation with kemo would have made a difference there.

I'd add that anybody doubting whether a starting DT can make a difference should watch the Falcons game. Last week they looked pretty good against interior runs. This week, minus Peria Jerry in the middle, Fred Taylor is running all over them.

Precisely... and it's going to be the reason our defense stays average at best. I have to say even without the injuries at DT, we would still face the same issues at the interior of the line (especially with the pass rush). But with our lack of depth and talent there, I can't see how our scheme depending on the front four is going to do anything but hurt us.

Edit: I'm hoping that we do, but by logic, I can't say it feels too comforting....