My overall assessment at this point is that I expect the defense to improve. Obviously, this doesn't have to happen. Any of the groups could perform worse that these early expectations.
DEFENSIVE LINE about even
INISDE LINEBACKERS better with a healthy Mayo, and Spikes/McKenzie for Seau
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS even to a bit worse
CORNERS better with the addition of McCourty and some maturity
in the rest
SAFETIES a bit better with Chung in his second yer
I think that is at least fair.
To expand on your answer (which you gave in the first post btw) by position, I am looking at what is likely. Of course likely doesnt mean IS, WILL, or HAS TO BE, but then again show me any NFL team that performed exactly as expected at more positions than not in any season.
2009...............2010
DL
Warren (not 100% healthy).......Warren
more likely to have a more heathy season than a less healthy season therefore an improvement
Wilfork (not 100% healthy)........Wilfork
see above
Wright............Wright
Green.............Warren or Lewis
We all have fond memories of Green but he was downright terrible last year. It will be very difficult for the player who wins this spot to play worse than he did, although anything is possible. If we are comparing to Green at his peak, its a different story, but he was a shell of himself last year
Pryor.............Pryor or Warren/Lewis or Deadrick
It would seem Pryor year 2 ought to be better than Pryor year 1 and therefore if he is beaten out that would be improvement as well
Brace............Brace
Overall, it is extremely more likely that this unit plays better in 10 than in 09, and unlikely that the difference is immense.
ILB
Mayo...................Mayo
Again, if healthy an imporvement and when a player was not healthy last year it is likely he will be more healthy this year
Guyton..............Guyton/Spikes/McKenzie
It is hard to imagine that bringing back the starter and adding 2 players that appear to be more talented to compete with him does not make a likely improvement at the position.
Seau/Alexander.........Guyton/Spikes/McKenzie
no comment needed
OLB
TBC................TBC
It is more likely that TBC will decline from his career year than improve upon it. I will mention however, that career year is only measuring the number of sacks which is a small part of his job, and his overall play has seemed to steadily improve over the years.
Thomas..........Cunningham/Crable/Woods/Nincovich
I am in the camp that says it would be hard for whoever lines up in that position to be worse than Thomas. So narrowly defined as compared to last year, or compared to possibly the worst OLB in the NFL, it is likely we improve. Of course, the Raiders could have had Mark Sanchez at QB instead of Russel last year and it would have been an improvement but would anyone have noticed. In a broader definition, this was a huge trouble spot last year, and a dramatic imporvement is attainable. The possibility of a dramatic improvement is encouraging, the liklihood though is not given the inexperience that we will be relying upon.
Backups...................Backups
Most likely the same JAG-itude wearing the same or a different number.
Sub Package Pass Rusher
Burgess.............Burgess
Common belief is year 2 in the system will help. IMO, you don't need to learn a system to line up and rush the passer. Age makes it likely we are worse rather than better here, while past production leaves the blimmer of hope of improvement.
Overall, you can say it is likely to improve only because Thomas was so bad, but moderate improvement, which is likely would still be disappointing given how low the bar was set.
Corner
Bodden..............Bodden
Now this is a case where I would say year 2 in the system will help because there will be less of those lost split seconds thinking it through. Some would say big payday leads to decline in play, I don't believe that concept.
Butler...............Butler
Rookie to year 2, especially for a corner, especially for BB usually marks an improvement in play. (most starting corners for BB became starters late in year 1 and much better players in year 2)
Wilhite...........Wilhite/McCourty
Wilhite played 345 snaps as a rookie and 573 in year 2. More experience typically equals improvement. My view of Wilhite is that only playing in passing downs will make his pass coverage better (to me he struggled more in run/pass situations and took run responsibilities very seriously, sometimes to the detriment of his coverage) Of course, McCourty is a much more talented corner, so if he surpasses Wilhite, there is certainly improvement
Springs............Wilhite/McCourty/Wheatly
Kinda hard to compare because Springs is really being replaced by more playing time from the top 3 than by the 4th. I'd say most likely here is no change.
Overall, it would be foolish to say improvement at corner is not likely.
SAFETY
Meriwether...........Meriwhether
Probably the same, but more consistency could elevate his play.
Sanders..............Sanders/Chung
Either the same guy, or one that is supposedly more talkented and beat him out
McGowan............McGowan/Sanders/Chung
Again, either the same #3 or the guy who beats him out for it.
Chung................McGowan/Sanders/Chung
For whatever a 4th safety will play, I guess we call it a draw.
Overall likely to impore based upon the liklihood that Chung contributes more.
I don't think its even possible to conclude the most likely result is improvemet. Sure there are a lot of variables that could go in either direction, but we are talking about what is likely.
Finally, the fact that it seems that BB will be more heavily involved in the innerworkings of the defense is a strong consideraton that imporvement is likely.