Defense - Think We'll Be Better?

[casmith07]

What do you think, Zoners?

2014: 28.0 Sacks, 18 INT (2 TD), 15 FF (13 REC, 1 TD)

Main Lineup:

DL: Mincey, Hayden, Crawford, Selvie
LB: Hitchens, Ro. McClain, Durant/Carter
DB: Scandrick, Carr, Moore, Church, Wilcox, Heath (Yes, I know this is more than 11 -- these guys got significant reps)

2015: Sacks? INTs? FF?

Projected Lineup:

DL: Hardy, Hayden, Crawford, Lawrence [Gregory]
LB: Lee, Ro. McClain, Hitchens [Gachkar, Wilson]
DB: Carr, Claiborne, Patmon, White, Church, Wilcox, Heath [Jones]

 

[JoeBoBBY]

They should be; on paper you would think they are better. But I never count on rookies for much. And I am taking a show me type attitude. ---- I wouldnt "count" on the Defense being better, and disregard the importance of the running game which we had last year.....

Having said that. Man, did they look good the other night. Just the speed at which they were playing. I like it....I like it alot.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think we will be better vs the pass but taking wait and see how we fair against the run.

 

[TX_Yid]

They've done ALL the right things to improve the pass rush, no reason it shouldn't be better.

 

[casmith07]

They should be; on paper you would think they are better. But I never count on rookies for much. And I am taking a show me type attitude. ---- I wouldnt "count" on the Defense being better, and disregard the importance of the running game which we had last year.....

Having said that. Man, did they look good the other night. Just the speed at which they were playing. I like it....I like it alot.

I'm hoping that the coaches play Gregory in a Bruce Irvin type role when Pete Carroll first drafted him -- stick him out there on passing downs, slide Hardy into the 1T spot, and then just tell him to do nothing else except get the quarterback. That'll help him get his feet under him and get some confidence in real games, and I think he'll be a wrecking crew with his size/speed combination.

He was putting the Vikings LT on skates a few times - and I think it was Matt Kalil.

 

[DeaconMoss]

What do you think, Zoners?

Projected Lineup:

DL: Hardy, Hayden, Crawford, Lawrence [Gregory]
LB: Lee, Ro. McClain, Hitchens [Gachkar, Wilson]
DB: Carr, Claiborne, Patmon, White, Church, Wilcox, Heath [Jones]

Games 1-4
DL: Lawrence, Hayden, Crawford, Mincey [Gregory]
LB: Lee, Gachkar, Wilson----I could be wrong but what's Hitchens' injury status for game 1?

 

[Future]

Of course it will be better...

 

[xvendettax914]

There really is no reason for it not to be, just getting some of these guys back in itself is a huge boost. If guys coming off injury like Lee, Mo (yea i know, i know) Demarcus lawrence having health and an actual camp this time, can contribute in addition to the new toys Marinelli got this offseason, sure they will be better, again, no reason it shouldnt be.

 

[jaybird]

I think we will be better vs the pass but taking wait and see how we fair against the run.

They're directly proportional. A stout run defense improves the pass defense.

Early on you might not see significant improvements. By mid season we will look like a totally different defense

 

[casmith07]

Games 1-4
DL: Lawrence, Hayden, Crawford, Mincey [Gregory]
LB: Lee, Gachkar, Wilson----I could be wrong but what's Hitchens' injury status for game 1?

I think Hitchens will likely miss Game 1. They say he should be ready, but I don't know.

That linebacking group for week 1 doesn't exactly excite me, but Lee and Gachkar looked good on Saturday night. Wilson is hit or miss right now, but he's also a rookie. He'll get better.

 

[Aven8]

I hope so. I love the TO's myself and hope even more of them come this season. Especially INTS.

 

[jazzcat22]

I think they will be better. But also go with the show me approach. I said last year they would be better by just staying healthy, even after Lee went down.
I think they make another jump this year. They have better front line players, better depth. 3rd year with this defense, though with so many injuries with Kiffin there, and new players. It is really the 2nd year in the system for a good part of the D.

It will still be a transition. The 1st 4 games without Hardy and McClain, will be adjustments, but still should be solid. When they return, there will be a few games to see what could become a very good defense.
By game 6 to 8 we should see or start to see the full effect of the D. By the end of the year in the playoff push. hopefully they are showing to be a top D. I don't care overall where they end up in the rankings. They should improve upon the 19th, maybe not even finish in the top 10. but by the end of the year, they may be playing like a top 10 Defense.

 

[casmith07]

I think they will be better. But also go with the show me approach. I said last year they would be better by just staying healthy, even after Lee went down.
I think they make another jump this year. They have better front line players, better depth. 3rd year with this defense, though with so many injuries with Kiffin there, and new players. It is really the 2nd year in the system for a good part of the D.

It will still be a transition. The 1st 4 games without Hardy and McClain, will be adjustments, but still should be solid. When they return, there will be a few games to see what could become a very good defense.
By game 6 to 8 we should see or start to see the full effect of the D. By the end of the year in the playoff push. hopefully they are showing to be a top D. I don't care overall where they end up in the rankings. They should improve upon the 19th, maybe not even finish in the top 10. but by the end of the year, they may be playing like a top 10 Defense.

I don't care about the rankings at all - as long as they do enough to help us win more often than not (and then win and not lose at all come January).

 

[DogFace]

Top 15 easlly. Probably top 10. Maybe better.

Marinelli and the additions will make the difference. He won't let any d be bad for long. Times up on long This year.

 

[big dog cowboy]

What do you think, Zoners?

No question it will be better. Instead of being a part of the problem maybe this year they will become part of the solution.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Miles better....Miles.

 

[RS12]

Boils down to pass rush. Therefore should be much better. Run D still a concern though IMO.

 

[xwalker]

What do you think, Zoners?

2014: 28.0 Sacks, 18 INT (2 TD), 15 FF (13 REC, 1 TD)

Main Lineup:

DL: Mincey, Hayden, Crawford, Selvie
LB: Hitchens, Ro. McClain, Durant/Carter
DB: Scandrick, Carr, Moore, Church, Wilcox, Heath (Yes, I know this is more than 11 -- these guys got significant reps)

2015: Sacks? INTs? FF?

Projected Lineup:

DL: Hardy, Hayden, Crawford, Lawrence [Gregory]
LB: Lee, Ro. McClain, Hitchens [Gachkar, Wilson]
DB: Carr, Claiborne, Patmon, White, Church, Wilcox, Heath [Jones]

Yes, if they stay healthy.

They could start out a little slow due to so many changes. It could take some time to gel on things like run defense. The Scandrick injury was bad not only because he was a good player, but because he instructed other players on what they should be doing. Back when Claiborne played in the past, Scandrick was always coaching him up.

The pass rush has the potential to be overwhelmingly good. That can cover up and lot of other issues.

 

[Derinyar]

We should be better because the best DE last year, Mincey who was pretty average, looks to be #3 or #4 on paper this year. T Crawford has a full year under his belt as a 3 tech and has been getting pretty consistent penetration when he's been in. If Coleman can stop being a nucklehead and just play that helps out the 1 tech also. The DLine should get pressure which will make the defense better. I am a little worried about giving up a few gash runs because our DEs seem to be pretty aggressive in getting up field, but I think that can both be cleaned up by the LBs and will just hurt the rankings of the defense more then it will hurt the team.

 

[Silver N Blue]

What do you think, Zoners?


Is a frogs arse water tight?