Our top offseason need should be: NNAMDI ASOMUGHA/becoming an elite defense

I think you have it backwards a bit TP, in the pass happy NFL, your passrush is more important than your Db's, that is to say they feed off of each other, this yr we can pretty much be sure Cam Wake will be doubled and chipped and what have you, now where will the pressure come from?

Nolan is a genius at developing good blitz packages and unorthodox looks, something that he rarely did in 2010 BTW, but we need that bookend to Wake, which is why I've advocated for Ryan Kerrigan (or whomever) and point out that Will Allen is possibly the most effective Corner Blitzer I've seen play, far more effective than anyone we had in 2010 coming off of the edge.

We can hope Misi develops, or we can add a passrusher, personally I prefer to add someone, maybe Odie shines but imho, we should not take that chance heading into 2011.

 

TBH, as long as your Cornerbacks can tackle well, and do not blow assignments, they just are not as important as one would think, that is the lesson from 2007's SB, as long as your passrush lives in the opponent's backfield, you can win a SB with mediocre Cornerbacks.

 

Agree. Since the line is always busy at 1-800 FranchiseQB I think our quickest path to contention is the defense-run game-game manger QB model that NYJ and Baltimore are using.

Asomuga puts our defense on another level b/c he makes everyone's job easier. More safety help for the other DBs and the run game. More time for the pass rushers to get to the QB. Instead of covering the opposing 1&2 WRs, SS and VD are covering 2&3. Like you said, Vontae in the slot is a fascinating possibility, given his speed, quickness and physicality.

I figure Asomga can give us a couple years of elite CB play, then a couple good years, and perhaps a yr or 2 of FS a la Rod Woodson. Not sure what kind of numbers he's looking for, but if we could sign him without throwing our cap structure out of wack, then I'd be all for it.

 

Well if you're a Cover 2 defense like the Bears and Colts, or a fire-zone team like Pittsburgh, then yeah, the pass rush is more important. But if you're a man-blitz heavy team like Philly or NY then you absolutely need CBs who can can play. Two different philosophies, both can work.

 

Sure, and we have invested heavily in our Cb's, but that was under Pasqualoni, Nolan for his part typically did not have top flight Cb's on most of his Defenses, probably Champ Bailey is the most accomplished Cb he has worked with as a DC.

I'd almost argue that Free Safety, a ballhawking FS, is more important than lock down Cb's, for the Saints the unheralded Tracy Porter had a pick 6, for the Pack, their pick 6 was a relative unknown as well, however the 4 teams in the last 2 SB's had excellent passrushes.

 

Well, what I've noticed is Ireland and Sparano can find excellent talent and develop it..as long as they know beforehand they have to have it, that is the one thing from 08 that never really carried forward, the ability to find plug and play guys inseason.

I just hope they do not think that Odrick coming back will be the end of the need..that would be just like them btw..until the problem bites them, they concentrate on other things, they are poor at predicting needs, good at filling needs they have identified.

 

Which is how SS24 was used, with Carroll filling in at Boundary Corner, where he did a really good job.

My point is, all things being equal, you take the passrusher over the cornerback.

Put it this way, VD or Clay Matthews?

That is the choice they made in 09, VD is good, Matthews was runner up for DPOY, that is why I'd take the passrusher every time unless you have it filled.

Guy I really like is Dontay Moch, think he has some Adulios Thomas to him.

 

Bailey-Goodman-Dawkins-Hill was a pretty good group in Denver, with Dumervill up front its somewhat similar to the group we have in Miami. Pasqualoni screwe up b/c he had SS & VD in bump and run man, Quarters, and Threes type looks, but he had no safety to erase the inevitable mistake and our secondary was destroyed by big plays all year. Nolan used alot of the same coverages, but he rarely had the corners in press coverage and when he did it was mostly press-bail, which is a lot less risky. Clemons was a much better FS in coverage, though not a ball hawk by any stretch.

A ball hawking FS is important but by my count there are 2 of them in the hole league now that Sharper is gone. Reed and Polamalu are hawks and thats it. Bethea, Atogwe & Berry are in that next group but they're not hawks IMO. Overall I think S is more important for Cover 2 teams and CBs are more important for everyone else.

 

That is why I say a ballhawking FS is such a huge addition GMJ, they are that difficult to find.

 

Everything depends on what the schemes are though. If you're running a Cover 2 or 3 deep zone then your passrush needs to be stellar. But when you're in a scheme like Nolan's the Db's are sometimes left out on an island so they had best be good because you just don't know if the blitz will be picked right up or slowed down.

I'm actually happy with the secondary though. Would I like Nmandi? Who the heck wouldn't but the secondary as it is, pretty darn young and, imo, will get much better this year. I know people hate Sean Smith but he has the tools, just like Chad Henne, to develop into something pretty good.

 

Some Cb's are burners and some, like Smith, are not. He needs to learn to flip his hips better when he's coming out of his backpedals. It's something that can be taught. He just needs to work his *** off to get more fluid when he turns. That's where you see so many of his problems. When he's hit with a double move, or if someone with some burst gets to his outside, you'll see him naturally drop his hips big time while he's turning. It creates an instant yard or two between them....

And of course we all know he should spend some time catching footballs cause he showed he can't catch worth a damn. BUT being in the position so much like he was is a good thing if he could learn to

 

Which is why it matters so much that a D can generate pressure from a base formation without blitzing, your 5 guys beat their 5 blockers, and everything works off of that, then when you do use the exotic blitzes the blocking scheme has headaches, that has been the Ravens key to success, and the Stealers.

Think about the Stealers drafting Larry Timmons with a #1 pick, when they already had Harrison and Woodley.

Ziggy Hood when they already had Keisel and Smith.

Would have liked Atogwe, CC is a youngster so is RJones, sometimes you just use what you got.

What would help the situation is if one of the fleet of no name/young Wr's on the PS or roster turned into something, but even then to make room for such a passrushing OLB we'd also need to retain Ronnie B and hope Lexxy is Hillis jr.

 

Last I checked our offense was ranked at the bottom of the league while our defense was ranked near the top. Maybe we should take that money it would take to bring in Asomugha and use it on guys like Robert Gallery.

 

The defence should be better this season,we need to score TDs.The offence needs work.

 

Just for reference, the statement that "Will Allen hasn't played in 2 years so how can we believe he's healthy" is a bit misleading. Allen was injured halfway through the 2009 season, against the Saints IIRC. So from that standpoint alone, we are about 7 months and half a season away from that point in the timeline since his injury. I'm not saying it is agregious to say 2 years, but you get the idea.

Also, the reason didn't play a snap in 2010 had nothing to do with him. The FO put him on IR, or whatever and effectively ended his season. There were numerous reports that Allen was finally healthy about 4-6 weeks into the season to have probably played some snaps. He couldn't come back in and play in 2010 because of the FO, not his own new injury, set back or whatever. The likely reason he took a pay cut to me is so that he still has a job. There is no CBA, no way of knowing whats going to happen and he should walk away from some guaranteed money on the table? How many players are signing tenders right now? Why? Same reason, get something owed to me right now as I don't know what the future holds, and this at least means I am talking to one team once this all plays out. To me him signing that deal means he is covering his *** for the future. He sees we are using two other players to start, Nolan Carrol is an acceptable backup player and we traded for Benny Sapp - himself an established veteran. If you're a former starter looking at the fact you're likely not going to get your starting job back now, and that you'll be fighting for something between the 3rd -5th DB spot is it smart not to restructure or to restructure?

My ink would be dry by now.

And lest we forget this is the first offseason we haven't had serious (as in who the **** will play position x) questions in the secondary and how we'll use high draft picks. 2 years ago we need to use 2 of the first 3 we had to get bodies there let alone talent. We could always use more talent at every position, but Reshad Jones flashed a bit last year when called upon, Carrol wasn't atrocious and was a rookie and Clemons began to come on as the season progressed - himself a very inexperienced player. It's a young, decent secondary for the most part. It isn't hall of fame worthy, but it isn't bottom of the barrel either.

 

I would rather go defense in FA and the draft. That is a proven path to the playoffs year after year.

Plus Ireland hasn't really shown he can evaluate offensive players worth a damn. He might be one of the best in the league on the defensive side. So defense = low bust rate.

If we sign Asomugha, draft a free safety or linebacker in the first, our defense reaches nasty heights

 

I think we are fine at CB, spending this much money on something that is not a weakness doesn't make any sense. Get a QB !!

 

I don't disagree with anything you've said, BUT

Without R&R our offense can only decline--if it gets worse than last year, we're in trouble.

Defense gets many teams to the playoffs, but if we're unable to put up points, it won't get us very far.

We can sign Asomugha, I have no problem with that, but we're close to being a shutdown defense... we're nearing the point where we have to focus the draft on offense.

 

Did you just call Nick Collins an unknown?

 

A) And those were seventeen years without winning a Super Bowl.
B) Okay draft expert, please, tell me why Mallet is the QB of the future. Mallet at 15 is a HUGE reach. He's a great prospect for a team like NE. Not so much Miami. Mallett has even slid down draft boards with some calling him un-draftable. Mallet is 50/50 at this point and I'd hate to let Tony Sparano get his hands on a young QB again.
C) What does that have to do with the lack of Franchise QB's?

 

He also called Tracy Porter a FS. Who knew?

 

Unfortunately there are limited resources in this game. There is not enough value-added from signing someone like Asomugha, especially at this point in his career. The front office has done a pretty damn good job getting bad contracts off of the books, and all things considered, Asomugha's contract will likely undo a lot of that work.

For all the talk about the Packers defense, it seems like most CBs they plug into that defense play pretty well, no?

 

Tramon Williams was a waiver wire pickup from the Texans.

 

I don't disagree you said either, BUT

Ireland is gonna bust at evaluating offensive talent 4/5s of the time, be they free agents or draft selections

I'd rather build the sure-thing young defense so the next coach and GM can work on the offense

 

Let me clarify a bit. Ireland is twice as good with defense as offense.

If we focus on the offense heavily, we'll probably spin our wheels and finish 7-9 again. That's a job for another front office. Check the numbers below.

The path to the playoffs, for the next few years at least, is through the defense. Add to it, don't ignore it.

OFFENSE 6/18 or 33%

Draft picks 3/12
Jake Long (pro bowler)
Shawn Murphy, G (miss)
Donald Thomas, G (miss)
Andrew Gardner, G/T (backup, roster bubble)
John Jerry (backup)
Jalen Parmele, RB (poached, backup)
Lex Hilliard, RB (backup, on roster bubble)
Patrick Turner, WR (bust)
Brian Hartline, WR (good)
Chad Henne, QB (mediocre)
Pat White, QB (bust)
Davon Bess, WR (good)
John Nalbone, TE (bust)

Free agents: 3/6
Justin Smiley, G (injury problems)
Jake Grove, C (injury problems)
Ernest Wilford, WR (horrible)
Brandon Marshall, WR (pro bowler)
Chad Pennington (excellent, for one year)
Richie Incognito, G/C (good)

DEFENSE 10/14 or 71%

Draft 6/9
Vontae Davis, CB (excellent)
Sean Smith, CB (good)
Chris Clemons, FS (good)
JD Folsom, LB (bust)
Phillip Merling, DE (backup)
Kendall Langford, DE (excellent)
Lionel Dotson, DE (backup, roster bubble)
Nolan Carroll, CB (good)
Reshad Jones, S (indications are good)

Too soon to tell:
Chris McCoy (unknown)
Austin Spitler, LB (unknown)
Jard Odrick, DE (unknown, but indications are good)
AJ Edds, LB (unknown)

Free Agents 4/5
Randy Starks (awesome)
Karlos Dansby (awesome)
Reggie Torbor (backup quality)
Koa Misi (excellent
Cam Wake (pro bowler)

 

Which is exactly why QB and our passing game is more of a concern than spending an *** load of money to get a moderately better in the secondary.

 

1. Why do so many fans worry so much about the money? It's NOT YOUR MONEY. You don't manage the cap. Don't worry about it.
2. Did you...naw, I must have read it wrong.
3. No, you really did...you said that Asomugha is only "moderately better" than Sean Smith.
4. 

 

In a vaccuum, any time you can get hold of someone like an Asomugha that's a good thing.

Unfortunately, NFL off season decisions aren't made in a vaccuum. You can't have everything. Grabbing a Nnamdi Asoumugha absolutely means foregoing a number of other options that could help the team in other more important ways.

First off, when the salary cap comes back I doubt they'll even have the room to do it period, now that they've franchised Paul Soliai and he's signed his tender. A decision not to go after Nnamdi or someone as expensive as him has therefore in all likelihood already been made, otherwise Soliai would be walking around untagged.

Where the rubber meets the road of this CBA negotiation is in the salary cap, which will in all likelihood be LOWER than it was the last time we saw it. After that $1 B of revenue sliced off the top, I believe players were getting 58% in salary cap. That's looking to be down to about 50%, and if the owners have their way, it'd be more like 43%.

That has to be accounted for when you're thinking about adding a Nnamdi Asomugha...who will cost quite a bit of money.

And why do it? Coverage wasn't a big issue last year, and is really only going to improve as Will Allen comes back, and young guys like Nolan Carroll, Sean Smith and Vontae Davis keep progressing. They were ALREADY good, and they've yet to plateau. Miami has been doing some real good things in the secondary with the players they've drafted. They spent some resources there. No need to overkill it at the expense of other units/positions that are screaming for help.

And no Sam Shields did not play better than our guys in 2010.