What are the weakest points in our Defense?

[DragonCowboy]

Here's a breakdown of the Defense:

Projected Starters:

DE: Ellis
NT: Ferguson
DE: Canty or Spears?

OLB: DeMarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter
ILB: Bradie James, Akin Ayodele

CB: Terence Newman
CB: Anthony Henry

FS: ?? (I'll pencil in Keith Davis, since he was there last year.)
SS: Roy Williams

The obvious weak point there is FS.

Backups

DE: Ratliff, Hatcher
NT: Thomas Johnson, Montavious Stanley
DE: Spears or Canty

OLB: Al Singleton, (Rocky Boiman?) any others?
ILB: Shanle, Parham? any others?

CB: Aaron Glenn
CB: Jacques Reeves?

FS (if K. Davis is starter): Coleman, Watkins
SS: Beriault, etc

So basically, our 1st stringers look strong, other than the FS position. However, the more important part of the defense is the ability to withstand injuries. When we had injuries aplenty last year, our defense started to crumble. The thing I'm worried about is, will we be able to survive the season defensively?

IMO, the LB position is the most important on the defense. Could someone please tell me if I'm missing Linebackers at the backup position, because if that's all we have, IMO, we will not be able to survive the season. The same thing will happen like last year.

[BigDFan5]

OLB Kalen Thornton, ILB Reggie Fowler

[DragonCowboy]

OLB Kalen Thornton, ILB Reggie Fowler

How important will they be to this team? Will they be able to step in and play? I think Fowler was the one who replaced Shanle and played well, right?

[BigDFan5]

Fowler outplayed Shanle yes, and Thornton backsup Ware

[DragonCowboy]

Fowler outplayed Shanle yes, and Thornton backsup Ware

Great! That means that our LB team should be good.

DL is great (backups good)
LB is great (backups ok)
CB is awesome (backups good)
FS is bad (backups worse)
SS is great (backups good)

thanks bigdfan!

[TwoSteppinJJ]

CB Depth in my opinion. God forebid a cornerback goes down this year what do we do! Jacque reeves would become the nickel cornerback or #2 and we be in trouble.

[koolaid]

i thought spears and canty would be the starting ends and ellis would be *situational*

[rusteezcuz]

You're leaving out Kevin Burnett! How can you remember Shanle and Parham yet forget about our 2nd round pick from only a year ago?

Based on articles and reports, I highly doubt Ellis starts over Canty. I see Canty and Spears being our starters with Ellis substituting in prime situations. Then, Hathcer and Ratliff backing up.

[MichaelWinicki]

Here's a breakdown of the Defense:

Projected Starters:

DE: Ellis
NT: Ferguson
DE: Canty or Spears?

OLB: DeMarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter
ILB: Bradie James, Akin Ayodele

CB: Terence Newman
CB: Anthony Henry

FS: ?? (I'll pencil in Keith Davis, since he was there last year.)
SS: Roy Williams

The obvious weak point there is FS.

Backups

DE: Ratliff, Hatcher
NT: Thomas Johnson, Montavious Stanley
DE: Spears or Canty

OLB: Al Singleton, (Rocky Boiman?) any others?
ILB: Shanle, Parham? any others?

CB: Aaron Glenn
CB: Jacques Reeves?

FS (if K. Davis is starter): Coleman, Watkins
SS: Beriault, etc

So basically, our 1st stringers look strong, other than the FS position. However, the more important part of the defense is the ability to withstand injuries. When we had injuries aplenty last year, our defense started to crumble. The thing I'm worried about is, will we be able to survive the season defensively?

IMO, the LB position is the most important on the defense. Could someone please tell me if I'm missing Linebackers at the backup position, because if that's all we have, IMO, we will not be able to survive the season. The same thing will happen like last year.


Canty and Spears don't play the same spot on the defensive line.

[aznhalf]

CB Depth in my opinion. God forebid a cornerback goes down this year what do we do! Jacque reeves would become the nickel cornerback or #2 and we be in trouble.

I though Reeves was excellent last year when he was in. I know he had a couple break ups including that one where he was in man to man with no help in the Eagles game (against Brown?). He knocked the ball out at the last second and sealed the game for us. And I don't ever remember him getting beat.

Of course we don't have enough tape to properly evaluate him, but I think he is pretty solid. When Glenn is gone I think Reeves will be the man to step up and take his spot, maybe even challenge for a starting spot one day.

[AsthmaField]

DE: Canty or Spears?

Hate to beat a dead horse here... but Spears is our LDE and Canty is our RDE, and both are starters. Ellis will back up Canty at RDE and unless I'm mistaken, Hatcher will back up Spears at LDE, with Ratliff probably being a swingman wherever they need him.

[TwoSteppinJJ]

I though Reeves was excellent last year when he was in. I know he had a couple break ups including that one where he was in man to man with no help in the Eagles game (against Brown?). He knocked the ball out at the last second and sealed the game for us. And I don't ever remember him getting beat.

Of course we don't have enough tape to properly evaluate him, but I think he is pretty solid. When Glenn is gone I think Reeves will be the man to step up and take his spot, maybe even challenge for a starting spot one day.

Yeah you might be right. Whenever he was on the field he gave me the mario edwards heebi jeebis though.

[burmafrd]

I think if Hatcher shows good stuff during camp then Coleman is gone; Stanley is almost certainly going to be the backup NT; so Ratlief and Johnson will be fighting to be the tackles when we play the nickel. in the nickel BP is looking for quickness and pass rush ability- that is not Fergusons area, and probably not Stanley's either. SO we will need at least 2 and probably 3 DT's that can do that. Canty could be used inside since he is pretty quick; Hatcher maybe as well- we shall see. Its nice to have those kind of problems.

[WoodysGirl]

What are the weakest points in our Defense?
--------------
Going back to the original question of the thread... My guess it would be inexperience at the LBer spot. Got a lot of talent at the position, but experience is slim. DL and our DBs, I'm not as worried about. Got a good rotation on the line, and I think our DBs except for the question mark at FS is solid.

As far as Carpenter starting, I don't think it's a given that he starts at the beginning of the season. I think Uncle Al will hold the spot to ease Carpenter's transition...

[rusteezcuz]

Hate to beat a dead horse here... but Spears is our LDE and Canty is our RDE, and both are starters. Ellis will back up Canty at RDE and unless I'm mistaken, Hatcher will back up Spears at LDE, with Ratliff probably being a swingman wherever they need him.

I agree totally!

[DragonCowboy]

Ok, I apologize for getting the DE spots mixed up.

[ghst187]

Weaknesses:
1) FS spot
2) lack of creativity scheme-wise and blitz package-wise, I expect it to be a lot better this year as the players have developed some from last year, more familiarity both for Zimmer and players, and much more talent, esp at LB. But I do want to see guys immediately in the QBs face on all 5 step drops
3) NT play, needs to be better this year
4) Thin at CB

[SkinsandTerps]

What are the weakest points in our Defense?
--------------
Going back to the original question of the thread... My guess it would be inexperience at the LBer spot. Got a lot of talent at the position, but experience is slim. DL and our DBs, I'm not as worried about. Got a good rotation on the line, and I think our DBs except for the question mark at FS is solid.

As far as Carpenter starting, I don't think it's a given that he starts at the beginning of the season. I think Uncle Al will hold the spot to ease Carpenter's transition...

Great points. I agree. The expectations for this young LB corps will be high and with youth comes mistakes. Hopefully the scheme will be strong enough to mask some shortcomings.

[RiggoForever]

Great points. I agree. The expectaions for this young LB corps will be high and with youth comes mistakes. Hopefully the scheme will be strong enough to mask some shortcomings.

What man?! LOL

[SkinsandTerps]

Great points. I agree. The expectations for this young LB corps will be high and with youth comes mistakes. Hopefully the scheme will be strong enough to mask some shortcomings.

What man?! LOL

:laugh2:


:sshhh:

They will have some problems against teams like the Redskins and Eagles.

[braw]

The only weakness I see on Defense is the DC. The players are in place. The depth is there and they have the front 7 that the 90's had.

Zimmer is the only question left to be answered because every position was addressed. Youth will be served on defense. This D can go 3-4 or 4-3 different variations(speed and power all over the field). The packages that the DC will or better do are limitless

[whcarm]

I'm as worried about FS as the next fan, but if you have to have a weakness on defense, I think FS is a pretty good spot to have it at. Look at our great teams in the 1990's, we never had a great FS (that I can remember). I think Watkins will eventually take over at the FS position. But until he does, Davis, Coleman and Beriault are decent options.

I'm more worried about our depth behind Ferguson, and even Ferguson himself. He needs to play much better this year. And if he got hurt, we would be in big trouble. I don't think guys like Stanley, Thomas or Ratliff would be up for starting for long periods of time.

I like our CB depth. We have a great top three and when Henry went down last year, Glenn showed he could still start and Reeves showed he was an up-and-coming talent. If we got desparate, we could even put Coleman in as a third or fourth CB.

We are set at our DE position. And I really like our linebackers. I think Ware, James, Ayodele and Carpenter will be a great starting linebacking group for a long time for us. And I like Singleton, Fowler, Shanle, Thornton and Burnett as backups.