If some of his true principles is man to man while creating pressure, I believe we have the corners to play that style, which is my favorite style, and something ive been wanting.
While the D certainly needs more talent to succeed, and FA and the draft hope to give such an infusion, Nolan will have the opportunity to show improvement in this D, even if we don't get all the holes filled. If Fergy comes back, Soliai has improved enough to man the middle be it on a part time basis. There certainly has to be someone brought into ILB position beside Crowder. Even a guy like Larry Foote could do. The two young CBs have had some real playing time to continue their development and Will Allen should be back giving us a solid, but improving set of CBs. Clemons has had some PT and coupled with the venerable Jones and Bell and Wilson make the entire secondary, at the least, adequate. There are a stable of young DEs to push along and as I said, there will be at least two or three new players brought in via FA and the draft to infuse some additional talent. There is room for hope that he can come in, even with the mediocre talent he has and make some improvements. The middle of the field was wide open this year for opposing offenses. I see that hole closing under Nolan...
While I think they have proven they have talent we need to see them grow up pretty fast. We need to give them some help but they need to grow. I think we will have a better secondary next year but we will still give up some big plays unless the safety and Linebacker issues are addressed.
I for one thought both Smith and Davis played very well for rookies. Specially considering that they were almost always on an island because our safeties were either in run support or helping the LB in coverage. For as much as everyone says Smith was disappointing, I have a totally different opinion. I don't remember the ball being thrown to Smith's side of the field very much during the year. Atleast not nearly as much as they threw to Davis. When opposing QBs don't throw your way and choose to throw in the direction of another player taken in the first round rather than your direction I think that speaks volumes about your play. Davis also took on a lot of one on one coverages in his rookie year. YES he got beat sometimes and YES he made some great plays and INTs while single covering some very tough competition. Improve the safety play and I think the rookies' performance become much more impressive.
yes I know we need a linebacker that can cover, but when you have 2 corners that have the potential to play man to man, then nolan's defense is on track. Its what he likes.
I for one was actually quite impressed with Davis and Smith both. Sure they got beat from time to time, but all CBs get beat, even Revis can get beat, and hated Jet or not, he is the best cover corner in the game. Look at the teams we played, and the talent level at reciever and QB, you can't be too disappointed with what these two kids did this year, and they're only going to get better.
Taken as a Rookie performance, with a Rookie starting opposite of them, and for the first half of the year no help over the top from the safeties, Vontae and Sean did a decent job, and showed promise at times. At the end of the day that's all you can really ask for. For the majority of the season they didn't have backup, they had to rely on their god given skill. Now it's time for them to sit down, watch the tapes, and figure out how to play football. This year coming year, and into next are when they should be judged. Any sooner and it's just pure speculation based on rookie performance with a subpar defense
