Next to Congress, I think the NFL Coaching fraternity has the most political correctness spoken to MASK what they truly want to say.

Time will tell soon enough who the NEXT ring leaders of this franchise will be....we all expect move changes than same ol' same ol'. Its wait and see for sure, AND TRUST NO ONE!

 

It's been covered before, but I will reiterate that Cowher simply said he had no 'plan' to coach next season. All that really means to me is, he has not had any serious discussion about any particular head coaching position.

I believe he and Gruden are both still in the discussion until they 'officially' say no to Ross and/or Miami. I also believe neither one would ever comment directly on their intentions... so, the media should respect that, and not badger them on it any more until next offseason, or at the very least, until Sparano is officially let go. I don't think any serious discussion is going to start until then, anyway, so why bother asking a question when you already know the answer?

 

The lack of pass rush is disturbing for a number of reasons, but mainly because the team has invested heavily into the front seven with both money, and draft picks, only to have just about nothing to show for it. Assuming we get the number one pick and Andrew Luck, it almost seems as if the rest of the draft is going to have to be used on picking playmakers for defense and thus, taking away from other problem areas like safety, offensive line, etc.

 

If the pass rush is so miserable why is it that with similar guys they were kicking *** in 2009. Starks had an excellent year, Langford was himself despite often taking on a big role in the running game, and Porter was miserable. It's very hard for DL to read and react and beat any decent lineman. With the three guys inside doing that and Wake coming off the edge every time the pass rush is so incredibly predictable and slow.

 

As long as we have Luck and can win 48-42.....who needs a pass rush!?!? Amirite Patriots?

 

2 reasons: 1) mike Nolan's scheme has been countered effectively by opposing O-coordinators and he's not adjusting/tweaking very well
2) our secondary isn't giving the Dlineman that extra second of coverage because the stink
( or does secondary stink because of lack of pass rush?)

I'm inclined to lean towards the first reason

 

It's really simple. In base package, Soliai pops up reads and reacts and then has the job of pushing towards the QB over the next three seconds to four seconds. Soliai has never been a pass rusher and any time he has it's best he gets it off of his initial jump. Eliminate one pass rusher. Starks is the second best pass rusher but it only takes one guy to hold up Soliai in the pass rush so Starks can be doubled and also has to take on that same challenge. This is a crushing blow to Starks especially because what makes him so good is his explosion off the ball, his strength, and his quick moves. Langford isn't much of a pass rusher to begin with but he's certainly not helped by what he has to do. Wake is predictable that he's going to go against your right tackle.

There's the problem in the base package.

In the nickel package the lineup usually is Odrick, Olshansky or Starks, McDaniel, and Wake. Yes Jared Odrick is edge rushing, Olshansky isn't a great pass rusher although he's been alright, McDaniel shouldn't be in this lineup as Starks should, and yes Wake again off the same edge.

Compare to the Giants whose lineman fire off the ball, rotate in fresh pass rushing DEs, perform slants/twists everything you can name. Oh and their secondary isn't a disaster.

 

Keep in mind we still need a playmaking WR. Brandon Marshall just isn't that guy.

 

He can make plays.

 

While I usually don't argue your bashing of Marshall, because some of it is warranted, IMO, his play correlates with the level of QB. He's not Calvin Johnson by any means, i.e., he won't elevate crappy QBs. But, I would like to see him with someone like Andrew Luck

 

Issues.


You gots em

 

We lack playmakers. I don't get why ireland getsd a free pass for this. Why isn't there weekly speculation on who will replace him. I mean that article damns ireland far more than it does sparano and yet its sparano and not ireland who faces the weekly media questions about his future

 

i was one of those blaming nolan but not anymore. not after watching playbook on thursdays and tony dungy breaking down the cruz td last nite. per dungy will allen had cruz in the slot man under cover 2 whatever allen does don't let cruz have the middle of the field because there is nobody there . at the snap allen opens his hips to the sideline and gives cruz the middle with no problem why? who knows? then he whiffs on the tackle and cruz scores.totally inexcuseable.dungy was amazed.

 

Keep in mind we have had one and a half years of crap throwing to him

 

Would love to see Miami add Courtney Upshaw at OLB in the Draft. I know CK has alluded to it in other threads, but an ILB (or MLB if we switch to a 4-3) like Vontaze Burfict would do wonders for the defense. Whoever you can move for more picks to address the LB position, by all means do it.

 

I'd think adding a FS counts as adding a playmaker on defense after having Gibril Wilson, Chris Clemons, and Reshad Jones manning the position. I think Jones is more of a SS anyway (Bell's long-term replacement perhaps?). Clemons is solid, but I'd like it if he were the 3rd S that comes in in certain packages.

 

I'm hoping that Vontaze stays for his senior year. There have been rumblings of him contemplating staying. That way he can play with his boy Brandon Magee who had to redshirt this year. And he really needs to stay. Guy still needs to iron out a few kinks and definitely needs to mature. He still gets flagged 2-3 times every game for rediculous un-necessary roughness penalties.

 

From the few ASU games I've seen and from what I've read, it sounds like he plays out of control at times. If you can harness that, though, he seems like he could be the real deal. Doesn't he chat with Ray Lewis every so often? I think I remember seeing something about that on College Gameday the weekend of the Oregon game. I could be mistaking it for someone other than Vontaze, I can't really remember. But hey, if you can get Luck and Upshaw this year, along with another LB, and get Burfict the next year; I'm perfectly fine with that. Might phase out Karlos Dansby (and his contract) by 2013 if Burfict stays.

 

Cowhers comments are expected ... if you anticipate anything less -- then you did not pay attention last year ... and still fully expect him to be our coach as soon as we turn the page on this season.

on defense, i have been clammoring for a bonifide OLB opposite Wake for 2 years now ... we don't have that and our lack of pressure is directly proportionate to that - regardless of our DLs inability to get to the QB. At MLB, we all hoped Burnett would be an improvement over Crowder ... which hasn't been the case to date -- albeit, it seemed he had a better game last SUN against the G-MEN.

many still harp on the secondary ... but to me we are still limited by our front 7 ....

 

Yea and when you lose Luck to injury, without that pass rush you lose 42-3.

Just ask the Colts. They based their entire team around one man and now that he's out for the season, they're done.

And with as sh1tty as our OL is playing Luck would be out by the third game of the season

 

[QUOTE/] with as sh1tty as our OL is playing Luck would be out by the third game of the season[/QUOTE]

good point

 

Im not sure why anyone would be surprised Cowher said what he said, there is still a coach in place here and he still has a contract to do TV, only a moron would come out and say he wants the job---right now. He's respecting his current employer and the current coach, he'd be classless to do otherwise.