Our overall talent on defense...

[Jangler]

Is it whining or the truth?

It's whining. Next year it might be the truth, but this year it's just whining.

[ItsPantone278]

How good would Ravens d be with Lewis and Suggs on IR? How did the Steelers fair with Woodley and Farrior on the sidelines? We'd be winning games if we had at least one of either Beason or Davis.

[Swarly]

I definitely wouldn't mind us grabbing a big time DT early on, but it's still very possible that prospect will take 2 or 3 years to develop.

yeah damn shame Suh's are once in a decade+ type talents. why I wouldn't mind trading down if Kalil isn't available

I mean I know a lot of people bitch about our cap room, but we really do have a lot of talent locked up for 5 years.

Kalil - arguably the best center in the league and we have him signed long term

Beason - at worst top 3 at his position, signed long term

C. Johnson - borderline elite DE, signed long term

Anderson - decent player signed to a decent, long term contract

Godfrey - gets poo on by this forum but IMO is AT WORST average, by no means is he a liability in the secondary and I think he's above average. also signed long term

Olsen is awesome and is signed long term

and most importantly Cam

We're definitely not as talented as many fans with the homer goggles glued to their heads seem to think, but the foundation is there and we found the most difficult piece..

:cam:

The people who think we're only one or two guys away though are completely wrong. It's not just starters either, we gotta have depth.

[koolkatluke]

You're right, there is Ron Edwards. I was trying to point out the importance of depth, not neglecting the talent we already have.

Not trying to get in some pissing match bud ;)

We are pretty much playing with our depth. Plus it doesn't help that everybody is learning a new system. So we are pretty much trying to play in a new system with back-ups.

What do people think was going to happen??? Top 10 defense???

[thunderraiden]

When you have just 2 or 3 players that are really bad on defense the other 9 to 8 players put it in their hands to make up for their slack and that leads to big plays for the opposing offense. Its a snow ball effect, it sucks but there is nothing they can do about it until the 2 to 3 players just play average and just do their job, nothing special just do their job.

Now instead of 2 or 3 players imagine 5 or 6 players.

[davos]

We are pretty much playing with our depth. Plus it doesn't help that everybody is learning a new system. So we are pretty much trying to play in a new system with back-ups.

What do people think was going to happen??? Top 10 defense???

nope...my expectations were continuously "meh" as I would put it for about 2 1/2 years now.

We were apparently pleased with who we acquired both as starters and depth from an already solid D last year. We had a tremendous amount of cap space and I don't believe spent wisely (Hurney).

The limited off season did not help out any defense in the league and that has shown all over the league this year. So, I'm not giving up on anyone and I'm thinking Rivera could develop quite a strong defense either by next year or in two as guys learn the system and we continue to acquire new talent.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

TBH, I think Martin is better than Godfrey. Godfrey is flashier, but he overruns way too many plays.

[koolkatluke]

nope...my expectations were continuously "meh" as I would put it for about 2 1/2 years now.

We were apparently pleased with who we acquired both as starters and depth from an already solid D last year. We had a tremendous amount of cap space and I don't believe spent wisely (Hurney).

The limited off season did not help out any defense in the league and that has shown all over the league this year. So, I'm not giving up on anyone and I'm thinking Rivera could develop quite a strong defense either by next year or in two as guys learn the system and we continue to acquire new talent.

Yes we were but no one thought you would lose Beason,Edwards (who hadn't missed a game in 3 years) and Davis. He could have went the Philly route but how has that worked out?? Plus how do you know who he went after?? It's not like we are a FA 1st choice after a 2-14 season.

[MadHatter]

I think so too..

I find it extremely hard to believe Rivera went to Chicago, put together a #2 defense, then went to San Diego and put together a #1 defense and yet can't put together a top 10 defense (at leeeeeast)..

It took him two full seasons to build the SD defense into a top unit. It will take him a season or two to get the right players in for the scheme.

[MadHatter]

nope...my expectations were continuously "meh" as I would put it for about 2 1/2 years now.

We were apparently pleased with who we acquired both as starters and depth from an already solid D last year. We had a tremendous amount of cap space and I don't believe spent wisely (Hurney).

The limited off season did not help out any defense in the league and that has shown all over the league this year. So, I'm not giving up on anyone and I'm thinking Rivera could develop quite a strong defense either by next year or in two as guys learn the system and we continue to acquire new talent.

It really would be interesting to see what the defense would have been with Edwards, Beason, and Davis all playing.

Personally, I think it would have been night and day.

[Toundra]

Give this team a year just a single year to improve and and recover from injuries.

The coachs are new, most players are new and those not new are injured.

Of course the defense is playing poorly but tell me how many players are veteran in this defnse?

With CJ, Hardy and Applewhite we have a pretty good squad of DEs.

LBs with Beason, Davis, Williams out we still have Anderson so we have 4 good LBs.

DBs, we know what to do with our draft picks.

DTs with Edwards out we still have a promising DTs with MacClain, he is fast for a big guy, i have a very good feeling with this kid, Fua may need a litle more time and they both need to stay focused on the ball carrier despites the blockers.

[davos]

Yes we were but no one thought you would lose Beason,Edwards (who hadn't missed a game in 3 years) and Davis. He could have went the Philly route but how has that worked out?? Plus how do you know who he went after?? It's not like we are a FA 1st choice after a 2-14 season.

spending wisely does not equal what the iggles did to themsleves

The Texans are a good example imo

[Cyberjag]

It really would be interesting to see what the defense would have been with Edwards, Beason, and Davis all playing.

Personally, I think it would have been night and day.

I don't think we would have been much better, but hopefully we would be playing with more discipline.

What I feel like we need is a solid CB in the draft and another good DT. Next season we'll have CJ and Hardy on the edge, and our current rookies in their second year, along with Ron Edwards. If Edwards doesn't make it back, I expect Hurney will find another guy in a similar mold to help bring some consistency and veteran leadership to the position to help the young guys.

Our LBs will be better with Beason in the middle, and if we get a solid CB and stick Munnerlyn back in the nickel, that should give us a solid unit overall, from a talent standpoint.

[davos]

I don't think we would have been much better, but hopefully we would be playing with more discipline.

What I feel like we need is a solid CB in the draft and another good DT. Next season we'll have CJ and Hardy on the edge, and our current rookies in their second year, along with Ron Edwards. If Edwards doesn't make it back, I expect Hurney will find another guy in a similar mold to help bring some consistency and veteran leadership to the position to help the young guys.

Our LBs will be better with Beason in the middle, and if we get a solid CB and stick Munnerlyn back in the nickel, that should give us a solid unit overall, from a talent standpoint.

A solid CB as in a ballhawking, tight coverage, & fast CB.

I think we could definitely use another LB in the draft but later on and go after the BDPA throughout unless we really think an offensive weapon is available somewhere.