Defensive transition next season?

[TerriblePizza]

I don't see us changing anything, especially with how our defense played down the stretch. However, I wouldn't be suprised if we drafted an outside linebacker with our first pick. Diggs has shown his age, and it would be nice to have another dynamic guy opposite of TD.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

meeks made adjustments to his scheme the moment he got here.

anyone stop to consider meeks's choice in personell was a result of where in the draft they picked defensive players?

i'm willing to bet his scheme was more patchwork at indy than it is at carolina.

[TerriblePizza]

meeks made adjustments to his scheme the moment he got here.

anyone stop to consider meeks's choice in personell was a result of where in the draft they picked defensive players?

i'm willing to bet his scheme was more patchwork at indy than it is at carolina.

I'm also willing to be the scheme had a lot to do with Dungy too. Indy's defense seems SO MUCH better this year than it has under Dungy.

[bredy087]

I don't see us changing anything, especially with how our defense played down the stretch. However, I wouldn't be suprised if we drafted an outside linebacker with our first pick. Diggs has shown his age, and it would be nice to have another dynamic guy opposite of TD.

I don't know, I think we have ample depth when it comes to our linebackers. I would expect a DT or WR with our first pick. This is Fox's defense he will have final say on any players Meeks wants to bring in. Regardless of stupid decisions Foxy has made on the offensive side of the ball I love his defenses.

[scpanther22]

We need to keep a true NT.But Meeks defense is maddening at times because its designed to give up plays just not the big one.

But yes we will see more players taken to fit meeks scheme.Thats one reason why that LB(forgot his name..lol)that everyone wanted here was cut.It just will be with fox handcuffs..but thats nothing new

[Montsta]

I suspect that we have most of the guys we will use next year already on the team. The DT spot seems loaded already. We have Kemo, Louis Leonard and Corvey Irvin all coming off IR this year. All three could project in our plans. With Tank Tyler and Damione Lewis, Nick Hayden and Derek Landri on the squad as well there hardly seems room for anyone else. We might even bring Thomas back to camp for one more encore giving us 8 altogether. The DE spots seems set if Peppers returns with Brown, Brayton, and Johnson filling the other spots. Taylor might be the odd man out and got little playing time last year. So we might bring in one or two more DEs if Pepper's leaves but otherwise I don't see the liklihood that much will change. We seem to have a good mix of speed and size so I doubt we make wholesale changes or bring in many guys in the offseason or through the draft.

Edit: So I guess that means I agree with Jangler.

While you have valid points, I don't know that our DT positions are as sewn up as it seems. Kemo is due a sizeable roster bonus and is coming off a pretty big injury, so he may be gone. Leonard only played a few games with us before getting hurt, Hayden is a running joke (pardon the pun) around here, and Corvey Irvin I haven't seen enough of to feel one way or the other yet. Thomas came in and did very well, but he's really old and really big and who knows if he can hold up another whole season, although he did amaze me as far as durability goes.

That being said, I think DT is our biggest ? On D, assuming Pep stays. I'd say safety because I'm not sold on Martin or Godfrey, but they are young enough that it's hard to start drafting replacements or bringing in free agents for 2nd and 3rd year guys.

Just my .02

[pantherfan81]

I'd just take the best athlete available. Cover-2 isn't rocket science I think Meeks will coach em up fine.

[monstercat]

Wow, how can people still be saying that Fox is handcuffing this defense? The only time this defense was really bad was early in the year when they didn't have a NT on the roster. Once Hollis Thomas came here, things gradually improved. That right there should tell you that there will be a big NT type on this defense as long as Fox is here, and that's a good thing.

[csx]

I'm also willing to be the scheme had a lot to do with Dungy too. Indy's defense seems SO MUCH better this year than it has under Dungy.

Thats the line that the media seems to be selling but the Colts were better in nearly every single defensive category last season compared to this one.

[panthers55]

While you have valid points, I don't know that our DT positions are as sewn up as it seems. Kemo is due a sizeable roster bonus and is coming off a pretty big injury, so he may be gone. Leonard only played a few games with us before getting hurt, Hayden is a running joke (pardon the pun) around here, and Corvey Irvin I haven't seen enough of to feel one way or the other yet. Thomas came in and did very well, but he's really old and really big and who knows if he can hold up another whole season, although he did amaze me as far as durability goes.

That being said, I think DT is our biggest ? On D, assuming Pep stays. I'd say safety because I'm not sold on Martin or Godfrey, but they are young enough that it's hard to start drafting replacements or bringing in free agents for 2nd and 3rd year guys.

Just my .02

I would agree that Kemo is a question mark at this point and might be replaced by Thomas or Leonard who both have the size to play the nose. As for the other tackle spot we have Irvin, Landri, Lewis and Tyler in addition to Hayden who I agree is not the answer. But we have 3 guys for the nose and 5 for the other spot already on the roster. Given we had so many guys on IR and brought in others to replace them, we actually have a glut at that position. I can't see bringing in a draft choice unless we were relegating him to the practice squad as a project. I wouldn't see that requiring a high draft pick at all. Otherwise we bring in a guy who is almost guaranteed not to make the squad. We have done that too many times before and essentialy wasted a spot or let them go only to end on someone elses roster.

I never know what the FO is doing or what they are thinking but for my money I think that O line depth, cornerback, perhaps DE depending on Peppers and most of all WR are the most pressing needs. Given we usually draft BPA instead of need most of time, who knows what we actually do.

[panthers55]

Thats the line that the media seems to be selling but the Colts were better in nearly every single defensive category last season compared to this one.

For me there really is one defensive stat that matters which is points surrendered.

2009- 8th (19.2)

2008- 7th (18.6)

Seems they have been pretty consistent over the time with the slight edge going to last year as you suggested.

[monstercat]

For me there really is one defensive stat that matters which is points surrendered.

2009- 8th (19.2)

2008- 7th (18.6)

Seems they have been pretty consistent over the time with the slight edge going to last year as you suggested.

Also, both times the Colts have made it to the Superbowl, their defense stopped the run in the play offs. Meeks' defense was fantastic in the 06 play offs, while Manning actually struggled a little bit.

[csx]

For me there really is one defensive stat that matters which is points surrendered.

2009- 8th (19.2)

2008- 7th (18.6)

Seems they have been pretty consistent over the time with the slight edge going to last year as you suggested.

Yeah, the only noticable difference is the passing yards per game which went up by nearly 30 yards. I don't know if that is statiscally significant or not. In the end they are pretty much exactly the same defensively....not sure why they are getting the attention for improvement unless it's just a story to go with in the media.

[panthers55]

Yeah, the only noticable difference is the passing yards per game which went up by nearly 30 yards. I don't know if that is statiscally significant or not. In the end they are pretty much exactly the same defensively....not sure why they are getting the attention for improvement unless it's just a story to go with in the media.

Honestly, I was surprised that Indy had done as well as they had under Meeks when I was looking it up when we hired him. With their offense being so good it seems that outside of a few players, their defense has been underappreciated. With the going 14-2 this year and now in the Superbowl they are finally getting more attention. But frankly Meeks seems to be pretty solid despite the lack of recognition.