A Few thoughts about the defense

[CATCH17]

I felt this offseason that the defense had a chance to be good if a lot of things went right.. It's looking like we're headed that way.


Randy Gregory looks stupid good. It's looking like it could be a race as to who gets to the QB first between Gregory and Lawrence.

Our DT's look solid and I think Woods can be a solid 1 tech for us.

The linebackers look great and that's without Lee and LVE showing off his coverage skills.

The corners look improved. People keep asking whats wrong with Lewis but I don't think anything is wrong with him. We're just deep at corner.

Safety is an issue and while I think Heath is a good safety we really have problems next to him. I wish they would pull off the Earl Thomas trade because I really feel like we potentially have a defense with a mix of Zeke that could carry us and he would just be the cherry on top.

 

[Stash]

I felt this offseason that the defense had a chance to be good if a lot of things went right.. It's looking like we're headed that way.


Randy Gregory looks stupid good. It's looking like it could be a race as to who gets to the QB first between Gregory and Lawrence.

Our DT's look solid and I think Woods can be a solid 1 tech for us.

The linebackers look great and that's without Lee and LVE showing off his coverage skills.

The corners look improved. People keep asking whats wrong with Lewis but I don't think anything is wrong with him. We're just deep at corner.

Safety is an issue and while I think Heath is a good safety we really have problems next to him. I wish they would pull off the Earl Thomas trade because I really feel like we potentially have a defense with a mix of Zeke that could carry us and he would just be the cherry on top.

Here's the deciding factor on any potential Earl Thomas trade:

You have to ask yourself if you think this year's team could compete to win it all if you acquired Earl Thomas?

If so, you pull the trigger. If you think the offense overall and the given Frederick situation can be resolved well enough to compete for a championship, it makes sense.

But if you think there are too many questions elsewhere, it makes little sense to give up a premium draft pick and pay a huge contract just to have Earl Thomas a year earlier than when you could freely compete to sign him for zero draft compensation.

And this doesn't even factor in the seemingly strong vindictiveness being shown by the Seahawks. They look to be acting emotionally and with spite when it comes to their handling of the situation. They don't "win" anything by forcing a player back who doesn't want to be there.

 

[MCMetal69]

If Thomas is acquired , my only question(s)/worry(s) are the pass catchers on this team...............I have a good feeling about Gallup ; but outside of him there isn't much and the tight end position is looking like a season long nightmare.............

 

[CATCH17]

Here's the deciding factor on any potential Earl Thomas trade:

You have to ask yourself if you think this year's team could compete to win it all if you acquired Earl Thomas?

If so, you pull the trigger. If you think the offense overall and the given Frederick situation can be resolved well enough to compete for a championship, it makes sense.

But if you think there are too many questions elsewhere, it makes little sense to give up a premium draft pick and pay a huge contract just to have Earl Thomas a year earlier than when you could freely compete to sign him for zero draft compensation.

And this doesn't even factor in the seemingly strong vindictiveness being shown by the Seahawks. They look to be acting emotionally and with spite when it comes to their handling of the situation. They don't "win" anything by forcing a player back who doesn't want to be there.

I don’t know if they can or can’t.. All I know is Earl Thomas could potentially put the defense over the top.

I never would’ve thought we would be as good as we were in 2014 or 2016..

If we find ourselves in the playoffs I want Earl Thomas on our team.

Dallas could potentially have a really well built team..


Strong run game, strong defense, and efficient pass game that doesn’t turn the ball over.. Many teams have won it all with that exact recipe.

Garrett’s always going to be in the way but if the defense is good and Oline can impose their will we can potentially overcome Garrett as well.

 

[Stash]

I don’t know if they can or can’t.. All I know is Earl Thomas could potentially put the defense over the top.

"Over the top" means a championship. Anything else is wasting resources.

I never would’ve thought we would be as good as we were in 2014 or 2016..

If we find ourselves in the playoffs I want Earl Thomas on our team.

Dallas could potentially have a really well built team..


Strong run game, strong defense, and efficient pass game that doesn’t turn the ball over.. Many teams have won it all with that exact recipe.

Garrett’s always going to be in the way but if the defense is good and Oline can impose their will we can potentially overcome Garrett as well.

If things line up, I can see that too. But as of today, and given some uncertain situations with injuries and unknowns, I'm not certain enough to where I think Thomas makes enough of a difference to override everything else.

 

[Mactin]

I actually feel optimistic for the team's defense this season. Optimistic to the point where I feel they're being at in the top 10 at best. Not top five, but at least in top ten.

 

[Aven8]

Gregory looked good, but I'm curious to see what happens when they run right at him.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I felt this offseason that the defense had a chance to be good if a lot of things went right.. It's looking like we're headed that way.


Randy Gregory looks stupid good. It's looking like it could be a race as to who gets to the QB first between Gregory and Lawrence.

Our DT's look solid and I think Woods can be a solid 1 tech for us.

The linebackers look great and that's without Lee and LVE showing off his coverage skills.

The corners look improved. People keep asking whats wrong with Lewis but I don't think anything is wrong with him. We're just deep at corner.

Safety is an issue and while I think Heath is a good safety we really have problems next to him. I wish they would pull off the Earl Thomas trade because I really feel like we potentially have a defense with a mix of Zeke that could carry us and he would just be the cherry on top.

I think the defense overall is better. what worries me is safety and slot CB and teams will exploit that specially in middle of the field, which often leads to 3rd down conversions. at this point, if we think we are solid, lets make a trade for earl Thomas since heath maybe solid but not spectacular. he is complementary safety.... and hope brown or white are adequate in the slot.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Here's the deciding factor on any potential Earl Thomas trade:

You have to ask yourself if you think this year's team could compete to win it all if you acquired Earl Thomas?

If so, you pull the trigger. If you think the offense overall and the given Frederick situation can be resolved well enough to compete for a championship, it makes sense.

But if you think there are too many questions elsewhere, it makes little sense to give up a premium draft pick and pay a huge contract just to have Earl Thomas a year earlier than when you could freely compete to sign him for zero draft compensation.

And this doesn't even factor in the seemingly strong vindictiveness being shown by the Seahawks. They look to be acting emotionally and with spite when it comes to their handling of the situation. They don't "win" anything by forcing a player back who doesn't want to be there.

On the flip side, even if you don't believe the offense can win it all this year, haveing Thomas play the year with our Defense would allow him to assimilate into our scheme and with our personal making the defense that much better next year.

 

[Stash]

On the flip side, even if you don't believe the offense can win it all this year, haveing Thomas play the year with our Defense would allow him to assimilate into our scheme and with our personal making the defense that much better next year.

In my opinion, Earl Thomas knows Richard's plays well enough to hit the field today and know exactly what was going on. Any difference between this year and next is neglible in my mind, and certainly nothing worth paying $8.5 million or more and a second round draft pick for.

 

[jazzcat22]

I felt this offseason that the defense had a chance to be good if a lot of things went right.. It's looking like we're headed that way.


Randy Gregory looks stupid good. It's looking like it could be a race as to who gets to the QB first between Gregory and Lawrence.

Our DT's look solid and I think Woods can be a solid 1 tech for us.

The linebackers look great and that's without Lee and LVE showing off his coverage skills.

The corners look improved. People keep asking whats wrong with Lewis but I don't think anything is wrong with him. We're just deep at corner.

Safety is an issue and while I think Heath is a good safety we really have problems next to him. I wish they would pull off the Earl Thomas trade because I really feel like we potentially have a defense with a mix of Zeke that could carry us and he would just be the cherry on top.

What eventually will happen, if the race to the QB between Gregory and DLaw is really good. One will get double teamed, which frees up the other more. And, it can free up Jaylon, as the plan, from what I read. Use him as a pass rusher more. And Jaylon wants to do that as well. If the Dt's can do their jobs, and one of the DE's gets double teamed, we can have a free run to the QB at times.

 

[Doomsday101]

What eventually will happen, if the race to the QB between Gregory and DLaw is really good. One will get double teamed, which frees up the other more. And, it can free up Jaylon, as the plan, from what I read. Use him as a pass rusher more. And Jaylon wants to do that as well. If the Dt's can do their jobs, and one of the DE's gets double teamed, we can have a free run to the QB at times.

I felt Crawford played very well at DT alongside Woods.

 

[jazzcat22]

I felt Crawford played very well at DT alongside Woods.

Yes he did much better at DT then he did at DE in the 1st two games.

 

[Denim Chicken]

 

[Sydla]

Outside CBs - Very good
LBs - Very good
DE - Very good

S - Ehhhhh
DT - Ehhhh, specifically behind Woods. Price has been a big disappointment. I fear they will play Collins at the 1 Tech more again this year because of shortcomings at that position.

Slot CB - I think it will work itself out.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Really like what Marinelli and Richard are doing with this defense. Part of it's just that some young talent we've had is coming of age (Jaylon, Gregory, D-Law, Chido, etc), but this defense is flying to the ball and playing way more aggressively than I've seen in the past.

It's really early, but I'm already giving Richard a bunch of credit. For one - he walks in the door and goes "Byron is a CB" in about 5 minutes. And so far, he's turned a guy who was a mediocre FS and good role player vs TEs into a bona fide outside corner. And him and Chido especially are just all over the ball, in a way we haven't seen in a decade. The improved pass rush is helping them, but Chido is breaking up passes like no one's business back there and that ain't the pass rush causing that. Give Richard some real safeties to coach up and we may have our own Legion of Boom really soon.

 

[CATCH17]

What eventually will happen, if the race to the QB between Gregory and DLaw is really good. One will get double teamed, which frees up the other more. And, it can free up Jaylon, as the plan, from what I read. Use him as a pass rusher more. And Jaylon wants to do that as well. If the Dt's can do their jobs, and one of the DE's gets double teamed, we can have a free run to the QB at times.

Then factor in David Irving on top of that who is elite at getting pressure up the middle.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Outside CBs - Very good
LBs - Very good
DE - Very good

S - Ehhhhh
DT - Ehhhh, specifically behind Woods. Price has been a big disappointment. I fear they will play Collins at the 1 Tech more again this year because of shortcomings at that position.

Slot CB - I think it will work itself out.

Price has been disruptive. He blew up a couple of runs yesterday and did more of the same the previous games. There was only one time I've seen him blown off the ball and that with a DT he didn't react to quickly enough
.

 

[Clove]

Connor Williams
Chidobe Awuzie
Jaylon Smith
Randy Gregory
DeMarcus Lawrence

Those are our 2nd round draft picks over the last 5 years. Add a second rounder in Earl Thomas and you've got a beastly defense.

 

[Sydla]

Price has been disruptive. He blew up a couple of runs yesterday and did more of the same the previous games. There was only one time I've seen him blown off the ball and that with a DT he didn't react to quickly enough
.

By most accounts from those around the team and seen practices, Price has not played well.