Canty, Spears and Ware

[BIGDen]

I would be very surprised if Canty, Spears and Ware are not noticeably better this year. Canty basically was not allowed to work out much of last offseason because of his eye surgery, which affected his ability to rehab his knee injury. Canty was essentially an out-of-shape, rookie attempting to recover from injuries last year. That was basically him at his absolute worst and he did ok. Spears missed valuable time with an injury in training camp and took much of the season to get into any kind of rhythm. By the end of the season he was playing some solid football. He now has a full NFL offseason of training under his belt, plus experience. Ware had a very impressive rookie campaign and he was learning a totally new position, in a new defense, at the NFL level. The game will slow down for him considerably this year and he will be able to let his considerable natural talent shine through. Our defense played pretty well from the start last year and there was much more learning going on. This year, there should be less thinking and a lot more playmaking from our D. Throw in an offense with Owens, Glenn, Witten, Jones and Bledsoe and we've got a legit contender as long as our O-line is decent. And, if the game is close at the end, we actually have a kicker that can make a FG. September can't come soon enough!:lombardi:

 

[COWBOYFAN]

Agreed. I'm also expecting even better things from Bradie James. I'd like to see Burnett turn the corner in his development. I am very pleased to have both Henry and Newman. Our increased beef up front (from those you mentioned and our rookies) should make us quite formidable for 16 games.

As you say, the O-Line will be the determining factor in our overall success, simply because we look pretty good in all other facets (except FS where we have a reasonable chance to improve).

 

[big dog cowboy]

Throw in an offense with Owens, Glenn, Witten, Jones and Bledsoe.....

......and Fasano.

 

[tyke1doe]

Aside from the added defensive experience, I'm also interested in seeing how well Montavious Stanley and Jason Hatcher progress. I know they won't get much playing time, but I expect them to see spot duty. I'll try to focus on them in the pre-season and monitor their progress during the regular season, as little as it may be.

But I'm not worried so much about the defense. It's the offensive line that concerns me. I think our season rises or falls on the offensive line play.

 

[ConcreteBoy]

Look at the size of Carpenter and Hatcher day 1 draft.

Parcells is adding BIG football players on defense. Time to impose on offenses - not read and react.

 

[WilmingtonHeel]

We're getting really close to where we want to be...... really close

 

[Sandyf]

Parcells is adding big and "fast" football players. Players that are dedicated football players. That is a big difference.

Our defense, I suspect, will be top five if not the best rated defense in the NFL this year. Our offense will not only surprise but be a nightmare for defensive coordinators somewhat abeit to the time when the West Coast offense was brought into play.

Most of we fans do not understand the two tight end offense and the matchup it will force on a defense. It is simple yet very complicated from the sets you can run from it, it will be fun to watch. And if you want a real treat watch it from the end zone in a game, it will be just an event to watch.

 

[ghst187]

Spears is the dude on defense that I'm anxious to see play next year....i was rewatching some of last year's games and the guy didn't get to the QB a whole lot but he was always in the backfield and pushing the OT back there.
He reminds me a LOT of "the big cat" before the knee injury...because of the way he can get knocked down but spring back up and get back in a play and the way he can shed a block and then turns on the burners towards the ball carrier. He was really becoming a force towards the end of last season. This guy is gonna be a player.
Canty is going to be pretty good too. I was watching him closely too and he is pretty tough to block...probably because he is as BP described him "angular". He is big and strong enough to stand up his guy but he's also able to knife into gaps and make the tackles. He is also huge...like 6'7 with a ridiculous wingspan. If Stanley and Hatcher turn into something special and Ratliff and Pepper J continue to develop....we're going to have a ferocious and dominant DL.
As far as Spears and Canty, I think Spears is going to make the big and more dramatic plays but Canty is probably going to consistently get more tackles.
Man, even without Ellis (which I anticipate we will be in '07)...we're looking good longterm on the DL.
With Ware and Carpenter bringing the heat on the QB....lookout.

 

[Sarge]

We're getting really close to where we want to be...... really close

Let's play some ball first. Seems like we heard this same thing last offseason.