What the hell is wrong with our Defense?

[Jason72]

The linebacker play is awful, they get blocked often and miss many tackles.

The secondary can't cover.

The d-line can't get any pressure.

Pretty much they all stink! The loss of players for two straight years finally caught up with them. The question I have is why say you can't afford Pierce, then turn around and give Archeleta similar money? Letting Pierce go has been our biggest mistake so far.

[Gmanc711]

Originally Posted by Jason72

The linebacker play is awful, they get blocked often and miss many tackles.

The secondary can't cover.

The d-line can't get any pressure.

Pretty much they all stink! The loss of players for two straight years finally caught up with them. The question I have is why say you can't afford Pierce, then turn around and give Archeleta similar money? Letting Pierce go has been our biggest mistake so far.

As much as I tried to turn my head to losing Peirce and Smoot in 04....

That really was the backbreaker....I cant even being to think of what our defense would look like...

I know "Hindsight is always 20/20", but I know a good amount of us were pissed when we did this, so I think we're allowed to point it out.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Gmanc711

As much as I tried to turn my head to losing Peirce and Smoot in 04....

That really was the backbreaker....I cant even being to think of what our defense would look like...

I know "Hindsight is always 20/20", but I know a good amount of us were pissed when we did this, so I think we're allowed to point it out.

Smoot really wasn't that huge a loss I don't think. Yeah Rogers is struggling and has taken a huge step backward this year, but Smoot really isn't playing any better.

As for Pierce, yeah that hurt us more. But he wasn't here last year either and we seemed to be ok. I think among the several problems we have on D, it all starts with a weak interior line. Griff and the Samoan probably overachieved the past couple of years and now they're running on fumes.

[jamf]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

Smoot really wasn't that huge a loss I don't think. Yeah Rogers is struggling and has taken a huge step backward this year, but Smoot really isn't playing any better.

The part that bothers me is that we let smoot go and used a top ten pick to replace him.

The problem with the defence is team speed. Springs was once one of the fastest players in the league, But that was along time ago.
Rogers is quick but not fast.
Marshall isnt that fast, he gets caught up in traffic.
Holdman is too damn slow.
Carter is fast, well he should be but he sucks.
Wynn, daniels are too old and slow to put pressure.
Vincent and Fox are not speed burners.
Taylor has good speed, amazing speed if you consider his size.
Wright and Rumph are slow for cornerbacks.


We dont have guys that can fly around the ball or use their catchup speed when they make a mistake.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by jamf

The part that bothers me is that we let smoot go and used a top ten pick to replace him.

Well I can understand that. I just think that we're making Smoot out to be better than he is because we lost him. We tend to do that with a lot of players. I don't think we'd be markedly better if Smoot was playing corner for us right now. Slightly maybe, but a huge upgrade I don't think so.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

As for Pierce, yeah that hurt us more. But he wasn't here last year either and we seemed to be ok. I think among the several problems we have on D, it all starts with a weak interior line. Griff and the Samoan probably overachieved the past couple of years and now they're running on fumes.

Pierce was the unquestioned leader on defense, he brought a huge chip on his shoulder to each and every game and played with extreme intensity. I honestly think Pierce's loss was the biggest F-up this organization has made since 2000.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Gmanc711

As much as I tried to turn my head to losing Peirce and Smoot in 04....

That really was the backbreaker....I cant even being to think of what our defense would look like...

I know "Hindsight is always 20/20", but I know a good amount of us were pissed when we did this, so I think we're allowed to point it out.

I not convinced that Smoot is much better than we have and that Pierce would make much of a difference all by himself. I do think Pierce is clearly an upgrade over Marshall but lost in the sea of underwhelming talent at we have he'd probably look pretty average too. He isn't a super talent so it'd be hard for him to over come. Kinda like ST has to do in the secondary.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I not convinced that Smoot is much better than we have and that Pierce would make much of a difference all by himself. I do think Pierce is clearly an upgrade over Marshall but lost in the sea of underwhelming talent at we have he'd probably look pretty average too. He isn't a super talent so it'd be hard for him to over come. Kinda like ST has to do in the secondary.

If everybody is playing uninspired, then you're right, no one man can turn them all around. but Pierce was the signal caller & was praised by the coaches for knowing the playbook & getting all the guys in position. Remember how many times he'd tap a d-tackle on the but to slide them to one side? he was always active before the snap, yet always ready. Compare that w/now, guys are standing around looking at each other & pointing here & there before the snap, but rarely seem to look like they're ready for the play. This D lacks on field leadership & passion. I'll throw in talent as well, but since GW got here, we've never had a really talented D.

[B.F. SKINner]

I not convinced that Smoot is much better than we have and that Pierce would make much of a difference all by himself. I do think Pierce is clearly an upgrade over Marshall but lost in the sea of underwhelming talent at we have he'd probably look pretty average too. He isn't a super talent so it'd be hard for him to over come. Kinda like ST has to do in the secondary.

Let me tell you:

1. Smoot is much better. He is at worst an adequate CB. He was actually a good CB most of the time.

2. Pierce would have made a huge difference. He is the QB of the defense, responsible for making the calls and audibles. He has greatly improved the Giants D. With him, Lemar could still be playing WLB, his natural position. So you get two positions upgraded.

3. We don't need Super Talent. What we need is competent players. We had them, we let them go.

4. Think about this: We spent our high draft picks to address areas of need:

Carlos Rogers when Smoot left
Rocky as a replacement for Lavar when Marshall could have just as easily played WLB if we had kept Pierce.

We could have used those picks to draft quality players for our D line. We might have a better defense than we had in GW's first year, if we had kept Smoot and Pierce and built the D line!