How will you judge the defense?

painekiller · #1 07-23-2008, 02:24 PM

I am not huge on just Mario getting sacks. We need to have all the guys helping out. I am looking for them to get to 40 sacks, they had 31 last season also 38 would have put them in the top 8 last season, that would be considered elite.

INTs- I would love to see them get to 20 for the season, but that is most likely pushing it. We only had 11 last season tied for last in the league, with 20 being top 4.

FF - We had 18 last season which is respectable, I am looking for 20, which would move us to the top 10.

Lastly can we get the points per game below 20, last year he had 24.0 ppg, Indy lead the league with 16.4. Having a offense that can run the ball should help lower that number for us.

papabear · #2 07-23-2008, 03:08 PM

The big thing I want to see is for us to be better against the run and to get consistent pressure on the QB. If those two things happen, all of the stats will fall into place.

painekiller · #3 07-23-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papabear

The big thing I want to see is for us to be better against the run and to get consistent pressure on the QB. If those two things happen, all of the stats will fall into place.

You know the two stats that really mean anything for a team and a defense is avg pts allowed and wins, if you only allow x amount of points and you give your offense a chance to utulize their entire playbook, read run and pass, your team has a much better chance to win.

nero THE zero · #4 07-23-2008, 03:37 PM

Our schedule is very run-heavy this season. If we can end up in the 10-15 range in run defense, considering the backfields we will be up against, I will be more than happy. I am also looking for a good turnover ratio from our team, though that is not exclusively a defensive statistic.

So, ultimately, I would like to be ranked in the top half in run defense and have a respectable turnover ratio. I think those are our two major keys to finding a spot in the playoffs.

Bigtinylittle · #5 07-23-2008, 05:40 PM

I will start to believe in the defense when they start to get CONSISTENT pressure on the QB. Way too many times last year they would get a sack, then on the next play, which everyone in the stadium knew would be a pass, the d-line would get no penetration at all. Even if there was a blitz, there still would usually be no pressure. The general result was a long pass for a first down, and the sack was totally wasted.

edo783 · #6 07-23-2008, 08:24 PM

I doubt Mario gets 14 again. I think he kind of snuck up on some folks last year and they will pay a great deal of attention to him this year.. I do think he will be in the 11-12 range. I see Amoby getting in the 6-8 range. TJ should be in the 4-6 range. Okam will MAYBE get 1-2. Weaver should be in the 4-6 range and Colvin should be in the 6-8 range. That would give us a range from 32-42 sacks. Right about where we should be. Add in a few from LBs and a DB or two and that would be a VERY good season. Will it happen...... I doubt it as things are seldom that easy to define and something will happen to at least one of those guys to prevent them from being that effective.

Bigtinylittle · #7 07-23-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edo783

I doubt Mario gets 14 again. I think he kind of snuck up on some folks last year and they will pay a great deal of attention to him this year.. I do think he will be in the 11-12 range. I see Amoby getting in the 6-8 range. TJ should be in the 4-6 range. Okam will MAYBE get 1-2. Weaver should be in the 4-6 range and Colvin should be in the 6-8 range. That would give us a range from 32-42 sacks. Right about where we should be. Add in a few from LBs and a DB or two and that would be a VERY good season. Will it happen...... I doubt it as things are seldom that easy to define and something will happen to at least one of those guys to prevent them from being that effective.

I hope you are right, but I am not nearly as optimistic. Except for Colvin, who I assume will only be in on third down, we essentially will be using the same personnel as last year. Since Weaver will apparently be out of the game on third down unless you see him moving to tackle, I could see him getting almost no sacks at all.

Concerning Mario, if he is as improved this year over last year as Kubuak is saying, then his production may not go down at all.

Concerning Amobi, Kubiak says he is improved, but what troubles me is that last year his production went way down during the last half of the season. People say "he hit the wall", but frankly, I'm at a loss for what caused it. The thing that bothers me is how do we know he isn't going to hit that same wall all season this year? Very puzzling to me.

KJ3 · #8 07-24-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edo783

I doubt Mario gets 14 again. I think he kind of snuck up on some folks last year and they will pay a great deal of attention to him this year.. I do think he will be in the 11-12 range. I see Amoby getting in the 6-8 range. TJ should be in the 4-6 range. Okam will MAYBE get 1-2. Weaver should be in the 4-6 range and Colvin should be in the 6-8 range. That would give us a range from 32-42 sacks. Right about where we should be. Add in a few from LBs and a DB or two and that would be a VERY good season. Will it happen...... I doubt it as things are seldom that easy to define and something will happen to at least one of those guys to prevent them from being that effective.

great deal of attention? jeez, i remember mario getting quite a few double teams...

i think you're drastically overrating weaver. i know i'm biased about him but he isn't that good.