Quote:
Originally Posted by 70Chip
I just think that between Golston, Griffin, Montgomery and Salavea we ought to be able to put together a full season of decent enough play. I can't say that about the DEs without Adams or someone else new. I remember when we brought in Stubblefield and Wilkinson people were making similiar arguments. They were going to draw double teams and free up the LBers, collapse the pocket. I thought they played okay but they didn't make Rod Stephens any better.
I think we could get better play at Tackle but I don't buy the argument that they were the weak link or that their shoddy play is preventing other people from getting it done. Tackle will have to wait. And, I do think you are too bearish on Golston. He made a lot of plays last year. People always say, "Let's develop our own talent". I say that Kedrick represents on opportunity to do exactly that.
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I'm not saying Golston should be kicked off the team or anything. I think he's fine as a #3 rotation guy. But we already saw what he, Griffin, Salave'a and Montgomery were able to accomplish last year -- a #27 ranking against the run. Plus, they're all another year older and Salave'a has proved again and again that he's been vulnerable to injuries on a frequent basis. He was never meant to be a full time starter anyway. Griffin's getting to be the same way.
That brings up another point. Remember the flack we got when signing Griffin? The word on him was that he was a one-season wonder. He did great for his rookie year in NY, then gradually started to fizzle. There's a very similar pattern here. And this time, he's eight years older.
The Stubblefield/Wilkinson comparisons are irrelevant. Those guys just didn't work. Now, that's not to say if we were to draft Alan Branch or any other D-tackle that instantly shores up all defeciences in rush defense -- sure, he very well turn out to be a bust. That goes for every player out there.
We may disagree as to the percentage of blame the defensive tackles get for failing to stop the run in '06. Personally, I'd put it at around 60-70% -- the rest being the linebackers and ends. But the DTs are the guys in the trenches who are primarily responsible for clogging things up. They failed miserably. If we leave things as they are at that position, without even adding one player for insurance in case they get injured, expect more of the same in '07.
Bottom line, we already saw what these four guys were able to give us last year. What would give you the impression that there's some sort of magical turn-around in store?