Our Defensive Future

This is effectively the status of our football team. The offense, while less talented, is probably going to be intact for a while. The most that'll happen is battling along the line, reserves in and out. I'd be surprised if we started guys on the O that aren't on this team now.

The D, our strength, our power, doesn't look that much like last year. It doesn't look like it'll look like this next year. It's really been in a constant state of change.

And whether I agree with it or not, there's always talk of "core players". I don't think, this year, it's as much a matter of who we'll try to re-sign - there aren't that many free agents. I think at this point it's a matter of who to keep, and who that isn't a core guy that's cheap enough to keep.


The more you watch him, you know that Richard Marshall is a core guy. This is a football player who happens to play very good corner as well. Peppers is obviously a keeper. Jenkins. Lucas when healthy, and he costs too much to not give another couple years of that contract.

Rucker was, and damn he looked good the game he got hurt. Davis is getting there, and is obviously a part of the future of this team.

Who else?

 

Everybody wants to bash Chris Draft. Granted he is not a premier MLB but has been a solid player. I realize he is not the answer but has played hard all year and made the best of his talents. Solid backup.

Maybe move Gamble to safety where his lack of cover skills could be hidden.

Really need some solid backup in the LB corps. And a solid LB coach.

Total overhaul of special teams. Good bye Chewie,Hankton,McAdams. And a new ST coach.

 

Gamble's lacking of tackling would hurt him at safety, IMO.

Draft's been ok.

Williams and Minter have been the biggest problems. Kemo is what he is, an inconsistent space filler.

Pep is of course the core of our D. I'm warming to taking a top DE if one is available in the draft. We need that identity. That, plus another option at safety.

 

I'd put Lucas at safety long before I put Gamble there. That position needs to get better somehow, though.

 

Draft's good enough. I've praised his blitzing, and now he's got 6 sacks on the year. He stops the run allright, he's active in pursuit. When he doesn't do that overpursue thing that all our LBs wanted to do early in the year, he's good enough and certainly good to go on first and second down.

 

Minter should restructure, stay, and compete for a starting job. He would be an asset on ST, regardless.

Williams is just not that good. We should look elsewhere.

Foster, Williams together will be strong next year. We have finally figured it out with those two.

Can't say it enough....if Hartwig, Delhomme, Wharton, Wahle were all healthy down the stretch, we would have been in the playoffs. They weren't, so we should prepare better next year for that.

 

McClover against a real NFL tackle couldn't hurt to see but as of right now, it looks like he, Anderson could join Lewis as liberal subs on nickel. Hell, if we used Seward at LB and brought him out with Draft for the pass, I could deal with that.

 

Anderson has looked pretty decent today.

 

Doesn't look to me like much will change, but hopefully health will make a big difference.

LDE: Julius Peppers
LDT: Ma'ake Kemoeatu? (overpaid and ineffective, but too costly to cut)
RDT: Kris Jenkins
RDE: Mike Rucker? (injury and contract may necessitate a replacement)
SLB: Thomas Davis
MLB: Dan Morgan? (will Fox move on or try one more time?)
WLB: ___________
LCB: Richard Marshall? (Gamble might start, but you need 3 talented CBs anyway)
SS: Mike Minter? (he'll be back and he won't be a backup)
FS: ___________
RCB: Ken Lucas


The other CB, Anderson, Seward, Lewis, McClover, and presumably Wallace give us some depth that can contribute situationally. Although I agree with magnus that he shouldn't be considered a potential starter, I imagine that Salley will be in the mix at safety. We don't have as many dominant players as we thought, but even with the question marks it seems like our only big needs will be a pass rusher at RDE, a solid safety with range, and a stud linebacker.

 

I've grown to love the Marshall pick more and more as the season has progressed.