Who are the top 5 players that are key to defensive improvement

5. Diggs - you need at least one guy in the secondary who can step up. If Diggs doesn’t take that year 2 leap, you could be in trouble.

4. Donovan Wilson - Who knows what you’ll get out of Kazee or if he’ll even start. It’s past time someone actually entrenched themselves at this position, the revolving door doesn’t have many hinges left.

3. The DT’s as a group. Just 1 guy getting cycled on and off the field isn’t enough to worth mentioning. Every DT on the roster must play as if their jobs depend on it (which sometimes with Jerry it doesn’t seem as if they do), attack that position as a faceless unit.

2. Demarcus Lawrence - the pass rush will go as he goes. Allow opposing QBs to score 40, and you create the unreasonable predicament Dak has been in the last 3 years.

1. Ezekiel Elliot - He’s the best defensive player you’ve had since Demarco Murray ran for 1800. Keep your D off the field and you’ll give up fewer points. And that doesn’t mean you score less either, Zeke can rack up the carries and keep trucking, he’s proven that. Last year was a down year, but you also only gave him 240 carries. He should get at least 50% more than that.

We need our young homegrown players to play better, up the middle.

LVE
J.Smith
T.Hill
N.Gallimore
D.Wilson

Whomever starts along the DL and parsons

darthseinfeld said:

1: Randy Gregory: A lot can fall into place if he can be a double digit sack DE

2: Micah Parsons: Him living up to his potential would go along way to improving our run defense. He could potentially be a boost to the pass rush as well. Him being a plus in coverage is probably a ways off. However his current skill set could go a long ways to improving our defense

3A: Donavan Wilson. Provides a diverse skill set at SS. His TO production was very good last year. If he just maintains that pace, its a boon to critial turnover category

3B: Trevon Diggs. Like Wilson, Diggs showed a penchant for getting his hands on the ball with 3 INTs and 14 PD's. Those two keeping that up and even improving on it will go a long way in the W/L column

5: Neville Gallimore. We didn't do a whole lot at DT in the offseason, however Gallimore's play in the 2nd half 2020 was encouraging. We need improved play on the inside, and Gallimore is most likely to provide it

Click to expand...

Mine pretty much same as yours:

1) Gallimore
2) Parsons
3) Gregory
4) Diggs
5) Wilson

1) we need to immediately solidify that interior. Stopping run starts there and dominoes to others. Gallimore has physical tools, but also has growing pains to hurdle.
2) Gregory- has Robert Quinn like explosive edge skills but a much all around end;
3) Parson gonna be counted on for unique QB blitzing, vs run, turnovers, maybe even leadership.
4) Diggs - need sound, lead CB with TO skills, Charles Peanut Tillman type - an opposite complement would be nice.
5) Wilson -displayed blitzing, INT skills and physical tone; still inconsistent but could begin displaying leadership with more game experience.


Comments:
- I was trapped with Gregory/DLaw/Wilson- but having one as tools gifted as Randy is a now must have vs luxury.
- DLaw paid handsomely to be "War Daddy "; yet has placed 2 subpar seasons in a row; he's just not Garrett, Chandler Jones, Mack or a Bosa, ..
- Osa is a rookie that would have to adjust to NFL trenches;
- Hill faces health questions with recovering ACL among others
- LVE ? flat don't expect/rely on him to stay durable,
- Damontae Kazee ? - at least i expect to Kazee to be what he was in ATL- serviceable to above average. His pure coverage and tackling was already up and down

Here's one!

Tangle_Foot said:

Actually I don't think there's any wrong answers, if we can get five players on defense to step up, we're in good shape.

Click to expand...

well said

Risen Star said:

Besides the obvious. The greatest LB to ever play in our uniform, Mr. Micah Aaron Parsons. That's low hanging fruit.

1. Randy Gregory
2. Quinton Bohanna (could be really important if he moves the needle)
3. Neville Gallimore
4. Damontae Kazee
5. Leighton Vander Esch

Honorable mention: Keanu Neal

I'd play Cox from the jump but they won't. So they need at least one of those LBs to play well.

Click to expand...

My man, Like all your comments above.
With all the clamoring for a big boy, no one but us is mentioning him. Don't understand it.
If those first three can shore up the front, it will certainly make it easier for the guys behind them.

JoeKing said:

Lawrence
Gregory
LVE
Parsons
Diggs

Click to expand...

Parsons, Gregory, Kazee, LVE, Urban

Neal, Kazee, Parsons, Urban, Joseph (or another Corner that rises). Pretty much all the top new blood on Defense. All those guys + Quinn have to improve the team over last season. Just don't see how they couldn't.

Killerinstinct said:

1. Defensive Line
2. Linebackers
3. Secondary
4. Defensive Coordinator
5. Head Coach

Click to expand...

Seriously, if our DLine play continues to be as attrocious as it has been, none of the secondary players will matter.

1. Galley
2. Diggy/Golston/Bohanan/Urban
3. Gregory
4. Parsons(Can transform this D, but only w/ a good DLine in front of him)
5. Wilson/Kazee/Kearse/Muke or SOMEONE who can actually play S.

Players aside we need much better play in the run game and more pass pressure
If we can stop the run and pressure the QB we will be a good team
No one player is the answer in the run game but Gregory and Dlaw are keys to pressure