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- Sep 13, 2004
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Last year we played the same defense as we will play this year. Burgess, Pryor and Brace should all know the system better. Green is the only player gone. His absence will mean some shifting of roles among the returning six defensive linemen and his roster placement (G. Warren, Lewis or Deaderick).
But make no mistake, Burgess isn't an OLB staying back in coverage or even setting the edge on a run. He is a defensive end with his hand on the ground. At least that was his role when he played in OVER 50% of the defensive reps in 2009.
When spending the months on rostes last year, we often recognized the reality.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN - 6
DE/OLB's 2 (Banta-Cain and Burgess last year)
OUTSIDE BACKERS 3
INSIDE BACKERS 3
SPECIAL TEAMERS 1
BOTTOM LINE
There will be lots of competition for these spots, as there should be. But there is no reason to have one fewer defensive back in order to have an excess defensive lineman.
My only disagreement with Greer on the defense was his insistence on the 7th DL instead of the 6th corner (really the 5th since Arrington isn't really a corner). Of course, if Arrington is really able to play corner at a reasonable level, we could go with 5 and add a special team like Slater.
But make no mistake, Burgess isn't an OLB staying back in coverage or even setting the edge on a run. He is a defensive end with his hand on the ground. At least that was his role when he played in OVER 50% of the defensive reps in 2009.
When spending the months on rostes last year, we often recognized the reality.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN - 6
DE/OLB's 2 (Banta-Cain and Burgess last year)
OUTSIDE BACKERS 3
INSIDE BACKERS 3
SPECIAL TEAMERS 1
BOTTOM LINE
There will be lots of competition for these spots, as there should be. But there is no reason to have one fewer defensive back in order to have an excess defensive lineman.
My only disagreement with Greer on the defense was his insistence on the 7th DL instead of the 6th corner (really the 5th since Arrington isn't really a corner). Of course, if Arrington is really able to play corner at a reasonable level, we could go with 5 and add a special team like Slater.