If McClain and Carter are healthy this can be a dominating defense

[Parcells4Life]

This can be a dominating defense by the end of the year. We can shut down Philly/Seattle/other teams who rely on speed and running game. The only difficult team for us to matchup with IMO is Chicago. We don't have big enough corners to cover Bennett/Marshall/Jeffery.

That being said, it's a HUGE IF. Carter and McClain can only stay healthy for about two weeks at a time.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Safety play has to get better. Too many missed plays where they should have stopped the ball carrier and didn't, allows to big gains. I mostly blame Wilcox. Other than the Foster TD, Church is a very sure tackler and I think has improved quite a bit in his coverage. I think Wilcox has some good speed and can make up for mistakes, but tends to make too many mistakes. We also need for a better pass rush. If Lawrence comes back and is somewhat close to what has been advertised, then we could be a very good defense. I'm not so sure I would label it dominating, but I could see us being a tough defense to score on.




YR

 

[Zimmy Lives]

This can be a dominating defense by the end of the year. We can shut down Philly/Seattle/other teams who rely on speed and running game. The only difficult team for us to matchup with IMO is Chicago. We don't have big enough corners to cover Bennett/Marshall/Jeffery.

That being said, it's a HUGE IF. Carter and McClain can only stay healthy for about two weeks at a time.

They can be good but not dominant; they lack an elite edge rusher.

 

[Carolina Cowboy]

They can be good but not dominant; they lack an elite edge rusher.

This. If we are playing ifs and buts, can you imagine D-Law turns out to be who we think we drafted, we do a long term deal for Ro, and Sean gets healthy = Lee, McClain, Carter as LBs and our current line + another pick in the draft + D-Law... way ahead of myself, yes.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I was actually thinking along those same lines this morning. Not so much dominant but what it would be like to have them both on the field and 100% at the same time this year. The last two weeks you could really tell a difference after both left the field. Just give me one full season of Lee, Mc, Carter healthy for an entire year.

 

[Ken]

Dominant is WAAAY to strong of a word...lol Competent or Sound would be a better word to describe it.

 

[conner01]

i don't think this personal even with them back can dominate many teams. i do think they can be good and thats all we may need. one thing that has really saved this defense is TOP. we have dominated the clock.in order for them to remain good we have to continue that and thats hard to do every game

 

[Stash]

No way this defense is ever described as 'dominating', that's ridiculous.

Get a pass rush and then we can talk about being 'solid'.

Until then, they're still a 'liability'.

 

[Cowboys22]

This defense will never dominate anyone as long as Carr is at CB. The other team will eventually figure it out and have success going after him. They can still be good and hold most teams down enough for the offense to win the game, but dominate is a strong word that I don't see applying to this defense as currently constructing. Still too many holes to exploit.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The pass rush won't be upgraded enough for this defense to be considered dominate even if everyone is healthy.

 

[DBOY3141]

Your right, it is a big if. I think they will spend the rest of the year going back and forth on injuries. Just the way it is, you get healthy in the off-season. This defense is average at best, I think they are still one more draft away from being in the area of top 10.

FA will be big next year for this team. What they do with Carter, McClain will be interesting.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

No way this defense is ever described as 'dominating', that's ridiculous.

Get a pass rush and then we can talk about being 'solid'.

Until then, they're still a 'liability'.

I don't know what you've seen these first 5 weeks that would make you call the defense a liability. Looks like to me they've played a huge hand... At a minimum.... In 3 of our wins (titans Saints and texans).

 

[ConstantReboot]

I think we have an underrated but solid defense even with both Carter and McClain in the lineup. I can't say dominant because I don't see them imposing their will on other teams just yet. However, this defense is very young and seems to taking to coaching pretty well. We just need to make sure we sign McClain and Carter, get healthier and find a passrusher off the edge. Then I think were going to be pretty good.

 

[Stash]

I don't know what you've seen these first 5 weeks that would make you call the defense a liability. Looks like to me they've played a huge hand... At a minimum.... In 3 of our wins (titans Saints and texans).

I'll certainly give you the Saints, I never would have predicted that level of performance.

But in the others, I've seen good first half performances disappear quickly and average quarterbacks move their teams up and down the field in the second half.

How quickly did that 17-7 lead disappear yesterday?

At that point, it looked like there wasn't a defense on the field. That's what I'm talking about and I've seen way too much of that to feel confident in them.

Overall, they look better than I thought they would, but there are too many easy points and second half comebacks for me to have any faith in them yet.

 

[CATCH17]

If by dominant you mean a little better then average then I agree.

 

[conner01]

i would be thrilled with average. an average defense with this offense can win

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

This defense is surprisingly good this year, but they're not going to dominate anybody until we figure out a way to get more rush. They have to blitz to get decent pressure most plays, and they need to get some sacks. I can't wait to see McClain/Carter/Lee all on the field together, but they have to upgrade the DE position too. Hopefully Lawrence is a catalyst.

 

[nalam]

This can be a dominating defense by the end of the year. We can shut down Philly/Seattle/other teams who rely on speed and running game. The only difficult team for us to matchup with IMO is Chicago. We don't have big enough corners to cover Bennett/Marshall/Jeffery.

That being said, it's a HUGE IF. Carter and McClain can only stay healthy for about two weeks at a time.

Middle of the defensive line has to be stout for stopping run, Hayden is a liability , also our pass rush is poor, not even average. If those get a minor improvement we can be middle of the pack defense

 

[Doomsday101]

Defense will have it's ups and downs but I will say this defense is managing to come up and make big stops and critical moments. Harris fumble on the punt return giving Houston great field position and Dallas shut them down. Lot of work still ahead for this unit but they play hard they hustle and never quit.

 

[Direwolf63]

Middle of the defensive line has to be stout for stopping run, Hayden is a liability , also our pass rush is poor, not even average. If those get a minor improvement we can be middle of the pack defense

When McClain is healthy and playing, he covers up the deficiancies of 1-tech tackles this team is forced to use. If McClains groin were to fully heal (highly questionable), and Brent can return and clog the middle for 15-20 plays a game (also questionable), this team will be tough to run against up the middle.

But at least one big DT will be needed in the next draft. Probably 2.