Re: New Look Defense
 

Last year:
[IMG]https://www.profootballfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-depth-update-WAS.png[/IMG]

Re: New Look Defense
 

I don't know about all this depth chart coloring book stuff...

There hasn't been much talk about Keenan this off-season but I really think he's going to have a borderline pro-bowl year. With the bolstered d-line he should find himself running around unblocked a lot.

Re: New Look Defense
 

they rated ryan clark as a good starter? I'm not sure i'm all in on their rating system.

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=That Guy;1114311]they rated ryan clark as a good starter?[/quote]Yes based off the 2013 season.

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=Kindoy;1114309]I don't know about all this depth chart coloring book stuff...

There hasn't been much talk about Keenan this off-season but I really think he's going to have a borderline pro-bowl year. With the bolstered d-line he should find himself running around unblocked a lot.[/quote]
I agree about Keenan.
As long as he stays healthy I expect him to be Pro Bowl caliber every year. Very underrated player IMO.

Re: New Look Defense
 

I think its fair to say the personnel on defense has taken huge steps forward from last year.

Up front going from: Jenkins-Cofield/Baker-Hatcher to: Paea-Knighton-Hatcher is a huge upgrade.

Corners going from: Breeland-Amerson-Biggers to: Cully-Hall-Breeland is an upgrade

ILBs: Status Quo

OLB/Edge rush: Preston Smith should add something to the pass rush

Now Safety going from: Clark-Meriweather to: Dash-Duke appears at a minimum to be an upgrade at SS with Dash at least being a push with Clark but there are reasons to believe he could be better

Re: New Look Defense
 

In terms of projected talent levels alone, the defense clearly improved on the DL and in CB's. The LB's are a bit of a wash but may improve with Murphy and Robinson continuing there growth and with the addition of Smith.

S seems improved but it's pretty speculative at this point. Duke's coming back from an injury, Goldon's coming off a horrible couple of years, and Johnson hasn't been a regular starter. While I [I]think[/I] they are an improvement, they could end up being just a continuation of the sorry state of the D's back-end. To me, this is both the biggest question mark and the area most likely to end up sabotaging the otherwise improved defensive talent. If the safeties can't get turnovers and can't stop the big plays, one or two big plays will undo a game's worth of solid play in the trenches and force the offense to make long scoring marches.

Crossing my fingers.

Re: New Look Defense
 

DL:We've gotten more stout against the run with proven trench guys.

LB:More of the same. I wont believe Smith's addition will add anything special to the pass rush until i see it.

CB:Going from a D to a C, IMO.

S:A Wash

So if you held a gun to my head, id say our run defense is stout in '15, but we will continue to struggle to pressure the qb, and due to our weak center field, we will get blown up down the middle 1-2 a game.

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=30gut;1114340]I think its fair to say the personnel on defense has taken huge steps forward from last year.

Up front going from: Jenkins-Cofield/Baker-Hatcher to: Paea-Knighton-Hatcher is a huge upgrade.

Corners going from: Breeland-Amerson-Biggers to: Cully-Hall-Breeland is an upgrade

ILBs: Status Quo

OLB/Edge rush: Preston Smith should add something to the pass rush

Now Safety going from: Clark-Meriweather to: Dash-Duke appears at a minimum to be an upgrade at SS with Dash at least being a push with Clark but there are reasons to believe he could be better[/quote]

Not sure that ILB will stay the same. Will Compton looked really good at times last year and a new staff may be the opportunity for him to see more snaps.

I havent seen much coverage on that group during OTA's

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=DYoungJelly;1114347]Not sure that ILB will stay the same. Will Compton looked really good at times last year and a new staff may be the opportunity for him to see more snaps.

I havent seen much coverage on that group during OTA's[/quote]

Like you, I sense that we'll improve at ILB this season.

Keenan Robinson could have a breakout season. He has the talent but his progress was slowed by injuries. He is only 25 years old.

Will Compton is at least a solid backup IMO.

I also have hopes that Martrell Spaight will turn out to be a good depth player at some point this season. He'll probably stick because he's a good ST player. He is a very hard worker and watches a lot of film, so I think he might be able to make himself a good player in time.

Perry Riley is a better player than most of us give him credit for being. He is weak in coverage but perhaps he won't need to cover as much in our new defense.

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=DYoungJelly;1114347]Not sure that ILB will stay the same.[/quote]Status Quo in as much as they didn't add new personnel that is slated to start.

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=Monksdown;1114346]...So if you held a gun to my head, id say our run defense is stout in '15, but we will continue to struggle to pressure the qb, and due to our weak center field, we will get blown up down the middle 1-2 a game.[/quote]I agree with a lot of what you said. But I disagree about the lack of pressure. Stephen Paea alone adds a lot of pressure and Knighton provides interior pass rush pressure. And interior pressure or lack thereof was a major weakness in the pass rush from my view.

Not sure if you're a metrics guy (I am) but where do you think the D will rank this year say as far as rush or sacks or pressures go?

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=30gut;1114377]Status Quo in as much as they didn't add new personnel that is slated to start.[/quote]

Yea, but what do you think about not drafting a QB?

Re: New Look Defense
 

[quote=DYoungJelly;1114382]Yea, but what do you think about not drafting a QB?[/quote]The discussion about the defense is dried up already? Lol

Re: New Look Defense
 

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