Padre, I know you've been harping on getting a new OLB to replace Misi, one that has better pass-rushing skills to complement Wake. But, IMO, Misi will develop into a pretty decent-but not great pass-rusher, and if he dominates the other aspects of OLB position, then why should we upgrade the position?

and like I stated this morning, if we stay healthy, this defensive unit will be dominating. We have a dominating front 7 (well 6 out of 7 if you exclude Crowder) + 2 young stud CBs + good, but not great safeties.

 

I had us drafting all defense with our first 4 picks for the very reason this article depicts...

The guy is a little late to the party but I respect his projections, we are on the cusp of an elite defense, and Misi did have a very solid year with lots of ways to jump to a higher level.There was no reason to take an outside linebacker with any of our first 4 picks, not with what you spent on Misi and what kind of flashes he showed, it just didn't make sense to take reps away from this young player..

I only hope that wake has taken this kid under his wing..If he can learn a few moves from the beast to add to his already solid skillset then that initself can elevate his game and confidence..

The only thing I disagree with is saying that Cam wake is a stud pass rusher...That comment does not do this Stud Football player justice..He's the complete package baby..Yes, he is the premiere pass rusher in the NFL, but this dudes overall game was hi level man.

This teams identity will be our defense, they are that good, the draft and free agency is about creating balance for them, {run game, return game, better offensive production} so they can dominate football games..

I really want to sign MCD to a contract once free agency begins, if I can have just 1 signing, he would be it, if not him, then the best inside linebacker available, Dqwell jackson would be a nice fit.

I like that people are underestimating our team this year..

 

superbowl!!!

 

It didn't work back then, and I highly doubt it will work now. If it does, it will be because Chad Henne gets it together, not a RB, IMHO.

 

Hopefully this will disspell the notion that Koa Misi is going to be moved inside. I'm not sure where that notion ever came from, but Misi should be left on the outside opposite Wake.

And DJ, I think they're going to have to to bite bullet with regard to McDaniel and hope for a compensatory pick for him - depending on the rest of free agency - unless they end up doing something drastic and trade Randy Staks for example. I also think they like Crowder right where he is at ILB as well. I still think there's more pressing needs on the offensive side of the ball, running back, quarterback, tight end, left guard, than to be worrying about trying to find an upgrade to Channing Crowder. I just don't think there's one out there in free agency.

 

Pod, am I missin somethin, not sure what your tryin to say?

 

Agreed, and chances are the new HC would want to put his stamp on the D, and then the great defense will take some steps back

 

i have waited for a dominating D for quite a while ... since the 70s really -- but don't view this D as 'dominating' .... i can't drink that kool-aid yet ... it should be good, top 10 at least ... but dominating is something else, and i don't see us there yet.

we absolutely DO need a compliment to Wake and Misi is not that guy. Take nothing away from the dude, i agree he should be even better this year -- but he isn't going to get faster ...

if this regime didn't think we needed to improve on D, then we wouldn't have spent as much time looking for a stud OLB with speed as we did during the draft process. maybe the cards didn't fall right -- namely, Smith got taken ahead of us ... who knows. regardless, i am positive that we will sign 'a' SOLB (maybe even bring back Roth) when FA opens for sure. He isn't the answer we are looking for, but we at least need a 'real' SOLB better than Moses and with IKE still a big ????

the DL will be good, even without McDaniel .... with a true back-up to Soliai the only question.

Smith and Davis should continue to develop ... Amaya, Carroll and now Wilson will continue to add depth to the secondary and experience to their resumes ... Edds and Odrick are coming off of injury ...

we did take a couple fliers to help on 'D' with scooping Rivera off of GBs PS at ILB and signing the CFL dude Restelli at S ...

all things considered, i think we are a 'push' from last year .... certainly not any worse, for sure -- but not so sure we will be all that much better; absolutely nothing to wring our hands over -- but just not seeing 'shut down' or 'dominating' quite yet.

 

I see where your coming from, I think Sparano is not the coach that people perceive him to be, I think he is willing to do anything from a schematic standpoint as long as it doesn't fu$# with his core football values..

I happen to agree with his philosophy on building a team, I think once you got your prototypes in place, you add your flash and skill...last year we dominated teams from a physical standpoint, the biggest example I have of that is the beginnings of football games when both teams are hyped, we come out and we win the battle at the LOS on both sides, we just didn't have enough skill to close deals and to get our defense some easy scores and good field position, and Hennings vision and stubbornness just sabatoged the team..

I believe that the players have coach's back, and when you get that contunuity thru some rough times, and persevere, you create intangibles that can impact the future of the franchise..

To me, it all points to what is really fair considering what this coach inherited from a talent standpoint,{ and,including parcells henning baggage}, and understanding that this was not a 3 year project, it was a 4 year one...

Its why I posted that thread about offseason participation..I think the players have his back, and thats a good thing when the whole NFL is underestimating you, including part of your fanbase..

 

couldn't agree more.

 

Outside linebacker tackles
Greenway...144 tackles
Anderson...130 tackles
Beason...121 tackles
Hawthorne...106 tackles
Harrison...100 tackles
Smith...97 tackles
Witherspoon...92
Briggs...89 tackles
Angerer...88 tackles
Haggan...87 tackles
Boley...86 tackles
Roth...86 tackles
Peterson...83 tackles
Diles...82 tackles
Hayes...82 tackles
Nicholas...78 tackles
Rivers...77 tackles
Cushing ...76 tackles
Shanle.....76 tackles
Maualuga ...75 tackles
Curry ...73 tackles
Johnson...73 tackles
Levy...72 tackles
Suggs...68 tackles
Ware...66 tackles
Spencer...63 tackles
Ninkovich...62 tackles
Black...61 tackles
Hunter...61 tackles
Wheeler...61 tackles
Matthews...60 tackles
Clark...59 tackles
Hagler..59 tackles
Lawson...59 tackles
Peterson...59 tackles
McRath....58 tackles
Wimbley...58 tackles
Alexander...57 tackles
Conner...57 tackles
Wake....57 tackles
Orakpo...56 tackles
Durant...55 tackles
Palmer...55 tackles
Phillips ...55 tackles
Sims...55 tackles
Foku...51 tackles
Hali...51 tackles
Pace...51 tackles
Porter...50 tackles
Woodley...50 tackles
Applewhite...48 tackles
Vrabel....48 tackles
Haggans...47 tackles
Lebar...46 tackles
Carter...44 tackles
Allen...42 tackles
Haralson...42 tackles
Weatherspoon ...42 tackles

Koa Misi....41 tackles

 

new HC wouldn't necessarily change everything ... such as a Cowher ...

as much as i don't appreciate fat Tony ... i do think they will be successful enough this year (barring injury) that they will be back a few more ... this business about us getting the #1 pick next year is laughable .....

 

I am gonna answer you as honestly as I can, and I'am sure most are going to disagree, I've been a fan for a long time, I never believed in any defense we've ever had, regardless if some thought we were really good.

This defense, I believe in..all they need is some balance from their offense, and improved special teams play, and I project you will see the best defense we have ever had since our undefeated season, which I was too young to witness.

 

Cowher would change everything because Cowher wants to win with Cowher's team. The only coaches that wouldn't change everything is the Cam Cameron type coaches who want the opportunity, however do not have enough clout to own everything.

 

what a completely useless stat. so according to this, Cam Wake is the 40th best OLB in the NFL? this stat doesn't take into consideration the type of defense each LB plays in and what their responsibilities are within each defense. Misi had a lot of coverage responsibilities.

 

In our defense, and most 3-4's, the SOLBs job is to force plays inside so that other players can make the tackle so that stat doesnt really tell you much. Lamar Woodley is the best in the league IMO and he only had 50 tackles.

 

I see the desire for a counterpart to Wake, its like what detroit is doing with Suh and Fairley, however, I think balance is more important in our case... now if Von miller was avaliable at 15, then sure, I would go for that.

 

totally agree. our past defenses had some elite "elements" to them, but I believe this defense has the potential across the board to be the best since the 70s defenses. but I think we have to fix either Crowder or have one of our young safeties step up to the "Very-good" category.

 

dj, i think everyone believes in this 'D' ... it 'should' be very good ... why wouldn't it be based off of last year.

right or wrong, i base 'elite' and 'dominant' against the Raven D of the early to mid 2000s ... which was both ... we are not there yet (and no i'm not asking for a young Lewis or Reed).

can we be as 'effective' as the best years with Thomas and Taylor ... sure ... top 5, very good - not elite ... with the DPOTY no less (oh, say like WAKE) ... the good news is that this 'D' is better in the trenches.

 

you are probably right, I just can wrap my arms around, trading for a young player, developing his skillset until he becomes very good, and letting him go in his prime shortly thereafter without compensation, thats not how its supposed to work.

 

One thing to also remember about tackles is that they are not an official stat.

 

Dup, totally disagree .... yes, coaches want 'their' players - sure .... but the base philosophy is there - it really isn't much different if you look at PIT through the Cowher years ... so no - can't buy that. about the only very slight difference in philosophy is in LBs - continuous big emphasis, and still is there

 

i don't claim to be an 'evaluator' ... but what i see in Misi is a younger version of Dansby ... and that is how i'd like to see him used - inside and outside, all across the formation. Misi IS going to be a very good player ... i just think he is miscast where he is. can he be successful - sure ... he showed that last year. so, picking up a big, fast speedy SOLB actually would help Misi in my book. i don't think anyone wants to get rid of the dude ..... just put him in a better position to be an impact player.

 

as you know, setting the edge is somethin this kid did very well for a rookie, he handled his business.

 

I didn't say elite like the ravens, no way Phin, I said on the cusp of being elite, which to me means, relative to whats out there now, I said that I think we will have the best defense we have ever had, where that fits into the spectrum of elite, I will leave to the persons interpretation..

I usually consider players who are top 5 at their position as elite...Cam wake is elite..Jake, elite, Marshall, on the cusp..I believe our defense can be overall in the top 5, so for me, considering what we have had here over the past 35 years, I really dont know how to quantify it.

 

Curious about your comment re MCD.

Starks is very very young relative to his NFL experience, he may have a fair bit of value . Straight up , on last years performance , I take MCD. You have to factor in character , if money may change the player , but I really think MCD is on the cusp of being a pro bowl player. Starks was close , but I think not at the level MCD is poised to reach ,if he continues to work at the level he did last year.

IMO losing MCD for a compensatory pick isn't fair value , so I would look to the alternatives.

 

That's the name of the game in the NFL. At least it was only a 7th round pick surrendered for McDaniel. Perhaps they can do the same with Frank Kearse. I doubt they will, but if McDaniel leaves, he might net us a higher compensatory round pick than a 7th, depending on the rest of free agency.

 

But aren't you forgetting the element of scouting a player, seeking him out, trading for him, developing him into a good player with hi upside, this is Irish's baby..It was one hell of an evaluation, projection, and action to go get him, Iam hopin that he's not gonna let him go that easy.

 

The only thing i think this D needs is some more depth. I'm excited about what they can do this year though.

 

Sticking with DLine , who would you take ahead of MCD to keep?

This is our strength , so we have depth , but the only player I select ahead of MCD is MAYBE Soliai.

Odrick? nope? Merling? not a chance , Langford? like him a lot , but no , Starks? again good player , but I'd take MCD. So , we can't trade MCD right ? I would not lose him for little to no value.

 

Edds my man. Im hoping he surplants Crowder. Getting Odrick and Edds back fit will be like 2 extra draft picks this season. Im rooting for Edds to show up.

 

Slight different philosophy on LBs and DTs. Enough to change it around, fire Nolan and bring in his own defensive coordinator.

 

How come it's on the NFL site?