How great would this defense be if Seymour gets back to form?

[14thDragon]

Seymour and his buddies in the front 7 should be a top 3 run defense. Thye should be in the top 5 in sacks. Pass defense will have to prove themselves obviously.

I think if Seymour can command two blockers per play and really returns to form, then the defense can then stop the run with 7 in the box. That is even for the run heavy teams like the Jags or the Steelers. The guards and center can be eaten up Wilfork and Seymour and allow the ILB clean up the FB and let Mayo finish off the runner.

Against a pass-first team, like the Colts, I could see the defense switching up to the 3-3-5 for most of the game. (Again) Really use the power and athletism of the front three to stop the run game with 4 jokers on defense to bring pass rush with 4 guys, but a different guy each time. You can have Thomas or Vrable come off the edge and change the launch point, or drop them into coverage. If the outside guys drop out because the TE's and the RB's are split out to stop the OLBs then pressure can come from Mayo up through the A gap and hit the QB as he steps up, or if it looks they are keying on Mayo, drop all the LBs into coverage and bring Rodney down hill. I am also wondering if L. Sanders can stick, with his larger size, perhaps bring him on a corner blitz with 3 CB formations.

If the front three can each legitimitly command both gaps unless you get two guys on him then it really opens up how many ways you can attack the pass and the run without leaving guys on islands.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Its well documented on this forum that a knee takes 2 seasons to fully heal. For the guys jumping on Sey last year, were you on CJ too?? CJ didnt even make a catch! Remember Rodney took 2 seasons to come back from his problems too. This is the NFL, and when you are scheduled to make the kind of $$ Sey does EVERY year is a contract year! Every year a team has to justify that HUGE salary, and that applies to everyone with a big salary. He has gone through this rehab quietly, so please stop comparing him to Manny!!

 

[stinkypete]

Now that Seymour is healthy, the key will be too keep him healthy. IMO, Seymour has not been fully healthy since the San Diego game in 2005 when he was hurt in an offensive goal line formation. Is it any coincidence that the defense has lacked the consistent swagger of the '03-'04 teams since?

If the front 3 can remain healthy, every aspect of the defense will improve. A healthy front 7 made Randall Gay, Hank Poteat and Troy Brown look like world beaters against the Colts and Steelers in the 2004-2005 playoffs. With Thomas, Vrabel, Mayo and Crable, we finally have a team that can potentially match that group in terms of pass rush ferocity. Our corners are, by far, better than the 2004 group.