D-Line.

[Daseal]

By reading what you wrote it makes me believe that you think Smoot was the main reason we were one of the top Defenses in the league??? You think he is worth 7 spots statiscally...NO WAY.

Also, what do you think people were saying when we let go of Champ and Fred "Country" Smoot had to fill his shoes?? I bet it wasn't pretty. I say we will be solid. For sure top 10.

Dont sleep on Lavar making a difference, and dont' sleep on a second year Sean Taylor, and don't sleep on Bowen coming back!

That's right, I think Smoot coupled with a few more factors will drop our defense. First of all, defensive rankings are ranked on total yards. I expect our offense to produce at least a bit more this year. That means that the opposing team will have longer fields to drive. Which means they will have a chance to accumulate more yards.

Second of all, when Champ left we brought in a guy who had a great season. I feel Springs and Griffen MAY have had career seasons. I don't know if they can replicate the same type of intensity. Be it through injury, or not having the drive. Both of those players had that problem where they were before. I also feel that if we start Bowen full time we're going to be opposed in coverage a lot. The only thing Bowen's good for is knocking Trung out in practice.

I feel our defense will slip, those are just some possible reasons why. Let's not forget that our friend LaVar isn't exactly the most fundamental player ever. So he's been known to overrun a play or a dozen in a game.

We have questionmarks at CB, MLB, RDE, and to a lesser extent, SS. While I think Greg Williams (and our D coordinator/dline coach who never gets credit, Blache) have done an amazing job, I feel that our defense WILL slip a bit and could be out of the top 10.

I hope I'm wrong, but I can definitely see it happening.

So no - it's not just Smoot. But he's a big part of it.