If you think having Ware out there didn't help the defense regardless of his injuries you are mistaken. Sean Lee too, if you think that the defense is better or even as good without them well, let's just end this conversation now and agree to disagree.
The hope for this defense is for the mediocre players to always be in the right spot. And to not be hurt so much. We keep up offensive pressure more or less constantly, and make the opposing offenses make the tough plays to beat us. Instead of the blown coverages from Safeties and the getting sucked in play action and the missing our run fits that we saw all of last season.
I think that's a realistic goal. If we can do that, we'll have a legitimate shot in the NFCE. If we can't, we're going to get what we've seen the last two years.