Deadrick's release is just symptomatic of how far the re-building of the Defense has come.
I know that not all good players were high draft picks, but Rick Gosslin once used the following type of analysis to reveal that everyones favorite breakout team from last season was a flash in the pan; and would not duplicate their previous record. He said you can't continue to make chicken salad from chicken feathers.
Defensive Line:
During Rebuild: 1 #1 and 1 Probowl defensive lineman Wilfork. 1 UDFA, Love; 1 #5, 1 #7 Deaderick
Now: 3 #1s Wilfork, Jones, Kelly and 3 #2, Collins, Cunningham, and #3 Bequette, and #5 Ninkovitch and 2 UDFA
LBs:
During Rebuild: 1 #1, Probowl,Mayo and 1 #2 Cunninham, and 1 #5 Ninkovitch and 2 UDFA
Now 2 #1 Mayo, Hightower and 2 #2, Spikes, Cunningham and 1 #5 Ninkovitch and 3+ UDFA ST LB
Secondary:
During Rebuild: 1 #1 Devin McCourty and 2#2 Dowling, Butler Chung and #4 Wilhite and 2+ UDFAs
Now: 3#1s Aquib, McCourty, Dowling, and 1 #2 Wilson and 3 #3 Ryan, Harmon, A Wilson and 2 #6 Ebner, Dennard and 1 UDFA Cole and 2+ ST UDFAs
The quality of the entire Defensive personnel roster has increased markedly. Results can be expected and should soon follow.
You can't compare the quality of a Defensive line with Wilfork, Love, Deadrick and Pryor (IR) to a defensive line of Wilfork, Kelly, Jones, Ninkovitch, and Armstead, with prospective reserves Francis, Cunningham, Bequette, Collins, Scott.
