Evaluation Time

[Nconroe]

I guess for this week my analysis is I'd keep as many guys as I could who were starting at end of the year, try to keep some consistency and let the young guys grow together, both in players and coaches into the 2009 season, they showed a lot of teamwork, hard work, got a lot done. And draft heavy on the defensive side, atleast first three rounds.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by papabear

Mario would be fine as a 3-4 End...I just don't know why you want to take our only pass rush threat and put at him a position that, by design, doesn't get many sacks or chances to make big plays. He's also the only end we have that I see even having a shot as a 3-4 OLB. I don't want to take a guy who has become a dominant end and start having him do something that he has never done before by playing with his hand off the ground and dropping back into coverage.

The key to a 3-4 is the NT. If you don't have a good one, then nothing else will work. We don't have one who can play that position right now, even in the much less demanding 4-3 version. All of our DT's are better as penetrating 1 gap players...even though Smith doesn't always let them do that. 3-4 NT's are not easy to find either. A rookie is going to need quite a bit of time to grow into it and 3-4 teams aren't going to let a good one go.

Okoye, Bullman, Robinson, and Weaver would all be fine in a 3-4 at end. I don't think any of them can handle NT. I think all of our LB's are undersized for a 3-4, and I don't see any of them as a big threat pass rushing from the OLB position except Mario. I don't feel comfortable moving him there.

We've already got one Dominant end for the 4-3. A great MLB, and a young LB in Adibi who should continue to Develop. Okoye played much better over the last few games, and I hope that the light started to come on for him this year and we will start to get some ROI from him next year. We need a big hog to anchor the middle, a speed rusher specialist, and maybe one more LB. That's much easier than the major overhaul that I think we would need for a 3-4, not to mention the painful transition period. We've got a good base for a good 4-3 defense right now, and I see no reason not to build our front 7 around what we already have.

Can't argue with that.

[NBT]

I don't think Weaver will ever be FINE in any defense again.

[Bigtinylittle]

Originally Posted by NBT

I don't think Weaver will ever be FINE in any defense again.

If I recall correctly, Weaver was quoted earlier in the year saying that he isn't 100% physically and may never be again. Wish I could remember where I hard it. Maybe a radio interview.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I doubt any of the 3-4 guys would be considered right now.

I'm not quite as confident that being a "3-4 guy" is an automatic disqualifier. Kubiak really emphasized that he wants a smart football coach. To me that means somebody who might be thought of as a 3-4 coach, but would be willing and able to run a 4-3. An example might be Ron Rivera who went fom coaching Chicago's Tampa-2 to now running San Diego's 3-4. Tomlin was a Tampa-2 guy but allowed LeBeau to continue with their 3-4. There are teams like the Patriots that will run both fronts during the same game. I believe Rex Ryan has ran both types of defenses.

My point is, if we were to sign Def Coordinator who was known as a 3-4 guy, it doesn't necessarily mean that we would be looking to change our scheme from the 4-3.

I won't go into how we just don't have the pieces, and how Kubiak doesn't have the time to completely overhaul what we already have in place. The 3-4 completely takes away the assets of Mario, DeMeco, and Amobi. This defense needs a blitzing OLB, a playmaking Safety like Adrian Wilson, a run plugger in the middle to keep DeMeco clean and allow Omobi to rush, and last but not least a DE who can get the QB when teams double Mario. If we don't get those needs addressed via FA, then the draft should be Defense heavy.

[NBT]

In other words Travis Johnson is not the answer for the run plugger? Will Okam ever wake up and realize he is not still in college? I really think that DeMeco could be better utilized as the outside blitzing LB if he were playing the Will. That is why I would like to draft a bigger MLB, who could better take on the blockers. And we still need to give Weaver the heave ho, and get that pass rushing DE we have all been longing for. Orakpo would be a natural, not only because he is the best DE coming out, but he is from Houston, and a TeaSip to boot. But I also know he will be long gone at #15.

How about B.J. Raji for the runplugger?