Pass defense is just... I don't even know what to say

[AzPatsFan]

yah our defense is bad. gonna have to make a bunch of moves in the offseason to get a playmaker in there, plus a few other decent players.

In my opinion, the following players cannot be back

1) Bruschi, Vrabel, Sanders, O'Neal, Seau

at least not in a starters capacity.

In case you hadn't looked, all but Vrabel were starting only because someone else was hurt. Without an adequate Pass rusher on the opposite flank, Vrabel can't be effective. You didn't add Rodney Harrison, but he is gone and won't be back, too.

I suspect that Tedy, Jr., and Rodney are heading into retirement this offseason,and perhaps an import DB this offseason. Despite the complaints about O'Neal, he was signed one day and played the next, without any benefit of camp or exposure to the defense. In those circumstances, I will refrain until he goes through a full camp. But Wheatley will return as a Soph, as will Willhite and technically Richardson too, along with the coming secondary draftees in the up coming draft.

Sanders was starting because Tank wasn't there, having gone to IR in the late preseason, after being the SS for most of the preseason. He is a slightly better than average S, and more than adequate as a spot starter.

This Defense has essentially transitioned to a new generation. Add another draft of premium defensive players and let it play together for a bit, and the Defense already in the top dozen statistically, will leap into the top half dozen.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and the reconstructing a Defense while still winning is a tremendous achievement for the coaching staff.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Huh?

Merriweather is out there to "make plays". If Branch didn't get a fluke "great play", the game is over.

The difference between winning and losing is "making plays".

Pass defense breakdown

3/4 29 yards TD
3/4 40 yards TD

1/3 5 yards Punt
2/2 4 yards Punt
5/6 39 yards Punt
0/2 0 yards Punt
2/2 69 yards TD 63 yard fluke play
2/3 15 yards Punt
Sack/Fumble

If somwone wants to fault run D, that's OK.

 

[RayClay]

In case you hadn't looked, all but Vrabel were starting only because someone else was hurt. Without an adequate Pass rusher on the opposite flank, Vrabel can't be effective. You didn't add Rodney Harrison, but he is gone and won't be back, too.

I suspect that Tedy, Jr., and Rodney are heading into retirement this offseason,and perhaps an import DB this offseason. Despite the complaints about O'Neal, he was signed one day and played the next, without any benefit of camp or exposure to the defense. In those circumstances, I will refrain until he goes through a full camp. But Wheatley will return as a Soph, as will Willhite and technically Richardson too, along with the coming secondary draftees in the up coming draft.

Sanders was starting because Tank wasn't there, having gone to IR in the late preseason, after being the SS for most of the preseason. He is a slightly better than average S, and more than adequate as a spot starter.

This Defense has essentially transitioned to a new generation. Add another draft of premium defensive players and let it play together for a bit, and the Defense already in the top dozen statistically, will leap into the top half dozen.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and the reconstructing a Defense while still winning is a tremendous achievement for the coaching staff.

Could this be the year for that monster OLB rusher? I'm not a college fan, so I don't know what's out there, but we have a ton of picks, including two 2's and plus possibly two 3's, 4's and 5's due to compensation, plus our own 1, I think.

We could move Vrabel inside if necessary, but I'd love to see something approaching what McGinest could do. I can't think of anything that would make as much of a difference.

 

[bakes781]

Could this be the year for that monster OLB rusher? I'm not a college fan, so I don't know what's out there, but we have a ton of picks, including two 2's and plus possibly two 3's, 4's and 5's due to compensation, plus our own 1, I think.

We could move Vrabel inside if necessary, but I'd love to see something approaching what McGinest could do. I can't think of anything that would make as much of a difference.

Lauranitis is the best LB prospect, but he's built more for inside I think.