Evaluation Time

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by barrett

DC - fire richard smith. I said it last week and people said he had saved his job with the good stretch of play. But to me the good stretch doesn't save it and the bad game yesterday doesn't get him fired. I fire him simply because I don't think we'll ever put a GREAT defense on the field with him as our coordinator.

I thought that once we got Frank Bush Jr. on board, he was going to be the man. Well, that didn't happen.

The Eagle's Secondary coach Sean McDermott would be my first choice. This is based upon what the NY Giants were able to do with their Jim Johnson-Disciple.

[TexicanMexican]

According to Pro Football Weekly, a Texans insider is saying that Smith has probably done enough to return next season.

I don't see how he can save his job based on the whole body of work vs. the last few weeks.

[nunusguy]

Kubiak should be back and almost surely will be brought back. And I'm not in favor of bringing him back because I think he's done a great job because any success the offense has had needs to shared by him with little Shanny and most of all Gibbs. And frankly I wouldn't mind if Gibbs was made the HC, but realize that won't happen. But for the second year in a row Kubiak will have atleast a medorce record which by Texan historical standards ain't bad.
The thing is Kubiak just hasn't been that steady in my book, especially on the sidelines on gameday and I don't really think Smith is any less steady than Kubiak. I still can't get over the HC turning away from the field on key plays ?Not exactly the reassuring kind of gesture one wants from their commander-in-chief on Sunday ?

[nero THE zero]

Good post and I agree on most points.

You guys have really started to sell me on drafting a safety. Provided that we think one of these guys will be a game changer in the NFL, I think we have to draft them. I would set that as my draft priority and set my FA priority to doing whatever I can to sign Asomugha. We have the cap room, so we need to do whatever we can to sign him. Those two improvements will change the face of our secondary and, thus, our defense.

[WMH]

All in all, I am happy with the offense. Brown progressed enough for me not to bitch about the pick.......Schaub, when healthy, is pretty damn good, Slaton needs some Thunder but is more than we ever expected, and out recieving group has got to be among the league leaders.

Defense - I am looking for a Polamalu type, head hunting, fear of God bringing safety, and someone to make people think twice about doubling Mario.

Oh yeah....can we officially end the Jacoby Jones experiment? The guy has talent, but if he only catches the damn ball 50% of the time, that doesn't do us much good.

Given the current regime's draft record, I am pretty excited about next year, especially with us having all of our picks available.

We are a Rosencopter and coin flip from being a 10-6 team. Still out of the playoffs (according to this season), but playing meaningful games in December would be pretty damn fun!

[coloradodude]

I must say, I'm pretty happy with how the season turned out. We won 5 of our last 6 games...not bad.

I would like to see us address:

1. the secondary

2. DE

3. either supporting cast of LB to Demeco

4. a bruiser for an alternate RB, thinking converted LBer that can run hard for 6 to 10 yards

Now I realize this is list is too much but if we went after one or two late round DE's just think of how they would affect the secondary, LB's and Mario's play. I say two because of injury probability.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by TexicanMexican

According to Pro Football Weekly, a Texans insider is saying that Smith has probably done enough to return next season.

I don't see how he can save his job based on the whole body of work vs. the last few weeks.

Jay Glazer reported on Fox Sunday that Kubiak is safe but the "defensive staff is gone." I'm wondering if Richard Smith is the only one who will be fired or if they will clean house with the position coaches too. Would we be interested in Rod Marinelli if he's no longer the head coach in Detroit? Would Kubiak bring in Jim Bates?

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Jay Glazer reported on Fox Sunday that Kubiak is safe but the "defensive staff is gone." I'm wondering if Richard Smith is the only one who will be fired or if they will clean house with the position coaches too. Would we be interested in Rod Marinelli if he's no longer the head coach in Detroit? Would Kubiak bring in Jim Bates?

Mangini would be an interesting thought too......

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by WMH

Mangini would be an interesting thought too......

Just as long as he doesn't want to run a 3-4 defense.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by WMH

Mangini would be an interesting thought too......

I doubt any of the 3-4 guys would be considered right now. This is a young defense that has spent 3 years gathering very young and definite 4-3 type players. I don't see Kubiak or McNair discarding the core of guys they have.

I think Kubiak keeps Smith. I think he knows the trouble is personnel, and they can draft defense heavy, getting younger yes, but getting more athletic also.

It's time for the last of the Casserly FA to let go, and time to finally upgrade the LBs, and get a true stud safety, not a late round special teamer, street FA guy.

[NBT]

OH, then it was personnel on the defensive side of the ball that didn't bother to show up until the second quarter. All of a sudden the same group became headhunters, and did a better job of holding Chicago somewhat in check. NO I still think Richard Smith is to blame, and should go.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by NBT

OH, then it was personnel on the defensive side of the ball that didn't bother to show up until the second quarter. All of a sudden the same group became headhunters, and did a better job of holding Chicago somewhat in check. NO I still think Richard Smith is to blame, and should go.

Yes it was players that decided to be big boys and tackle.

Only 3 plays on our defense could be unquestioned starters on all the playoff teams. That is a dearth of talent on that side of the ball.

Now a few of the 7 other guys are young and still learning, so they will get a pass by me, but we have to upgrade the talent. Why? Because players play, and if you sub par talent no coach can correct that.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I doubt any of the 3-4 guys would be considered right now. This is a young defense that has spent 3 years gathering very young and definite 4-3 type players. I don't see Kubiak or McNair discarding the core of guys they have.

I think Kubiak keeps Smith. I think he knows the trouble is personnel, and they can draft defense heavy, getting younger yes, but getting more athletic also.

It's time for the last of the Casserly FA to let go, and time to finally upgrade the LBs, and get a true stud safety, not a late round special teamer, street FA guy.

I don't get this.

What about our personnel is strictly 4-3?

Mario is your prototype 3-4 DE. Bulman, Cochran, and Weaver are as well. DelJuan is a legitimate NT. Ryans is a star LB in any system. Adibi and Thompson are legit 3-4 OLB. The only question I have about a hypothetical transition is Okoye and (1) he's been underperforming in the 4-3 as it is and (2) LZ thinks he's a great fit for a 3-4 for what that's worth.

We would need more depth at LB and NT, but we need that as it stands anyway. I see no reason to shy from a 3-4 DC if we think he gives us a shot at a great defense.

Plus, both the Colts and Titan offenses struggle against 3-4 D's, so that's another reason to seriously consider it.

Draft a 3-4 OLB in the first and you can roll out this front seven:

Weaver - Robinson - Williams
Adibi - Ryans - Diles - Stintim/Brown/Curry

Seems like a nice front 7 to me.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

I don't get this.

What about our personnel is strictly 4-3?

Mario is your prototype 3-4 DE. Bulman, Cochran, and Weaver are as well. DelJuan is a legitimate NT. Diles is a star LB in any system. Adibi and Thompson are legit 3-4 OLB. The only question I have about a hypothetical transition is Okoye and (1) he's been underperforming in the 4-3 as it is and (2) LZ thinks he's a great fit for a 3-4 for what that's worth.

We would need more depth at LB and NT, but we need that as it stands anyway. I see no reason to shy from a 3-4 DC if we think he gives us a shot at a great defense.

Plus, both the Colts and Titan offenses struggle against 3-4 D's, so that's another reason to seriously consider it.

I think Mario is closer to a 3-4 OLB than a DE. Most 3-4 DE are really just quick 4-3 DTs, think Gary Walker. As for DelJaun as a 3-4 NT, not really IMO. I look at most 3-4s and see the 320+ guys at NT. Guys like Okam.

Our LBs are all 4-3 types, way top small to play in the 3-4. Adibi is not bigger than most teams SS. The LBs in a 3-4 are prototypically the larger less athletic type LBs. BTW this draft as a lot of 3-4 OLB types in it. Also the 3-4 usually is not rookie friendly in the front 7, so drafting takes time and numbers.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

I don't get this.

What about our personnel is strictly 4-3?

Mario is your prototype 3-4 DE. Bulman, Cochran, and Weaver are as well. DelJuan is a legitimate NT. Ryans is a star LB in any system. Adibi and Thompson are legit 3-4 OLB. The only question I have about a hypothetical transition is Okoye and (1) he's been underperforming in the 4-3 as it is and (2) LZ thinks he's a great fit for a 3-4 for what that's worth.

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.

[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?