Let's Fix this Defense, Here's How

[dantheman41]

Hey guys! Haven't posted in a long time. I know the common thing to do is rip the defense. (Trust me I have my worries too)

But there are reasons for optimism. ESPECIALLY if they listen to me I am going to focus this post on the beginning of the season when they won't have Spencer or Scandrick.

Here is step by step what they need to do:

Defensive Line in Base Defense

• The starter at RDE should be the better performer between Selvie and Mincey
• The starter at LDE should be Crawford
• The starter at 3 tech should be Melton
• The starter at 1 tech should be the better of Brent and McClain in the last 2 preseason games. (They should serve at the audition)

Obviously these things are dependent on some circumstances. Brent needs to come back. McClain needs to get healthy.

I am going a little bigger in the base D to prevent teams from running all over us. People are really underestimating Josh Brent. If he is healthy, and doesn't get suspended, he is an absolute monster. Was playing outstanding before the accident in 2012. I would argue he was best player on defensive line in multiple games that year.

If Nick Hayden has to start this season, we are in BIG trouble. We NEED either McClain or Brent to start.

The Nickel Defensive Line

• RDE should be ..... NOT ON TEAM. No it isn't Wilber. We need to trade, or sign an after cuts young guy who is explosive and can generate some pass rush. Someone in the Victor Butler mode. We don't have an answer on this team. All this guy has to do is rush the passer. That is it! Strictly a nickel pass rusher.
• LDE should be Selvie
• Interior DTs should be Mincey and Melton. With McClain rotating in at times as well.

Linebackers

• Bruce Carter at weak
• Justin Durant in the middle
• Better of Wilber, McClain and Holloman at strong
• Hitchens as backup weak
• Loser of strong competition can be primary backups for middle and strong

Safeties

• Church as one starter
• The winner of Hamilton, Dixon and Wilcox
• Don't think Wilcox should just be given job. I think the winner should be the one who makes the most plays in the final preseason games.
• Dixon is raw in coverage, but has the physical tools to do it. Be nice to have 2 physical presences at safety.

Corner

• Claiborne and Carr start
• Moore as slot corner and 3rd corner on field
• Mitchell has proven enough to be 4th corner
• Keep Patmon until Scandrick comes back
• Webb should be cut

I know a lot of you are ready to jump off the cliff, but I do believe we can be OK. Very excited to see the competition on defense, and I think some guys are going to really show up in these final preseason games.

Just need an edge rusher, and I believe we will find one after final cuts to strictly rush on 3rd downs.

 

[CCBoy]

I like that Justin Durant has been showing up more in a leadership role at linebacker. Myself, I still want Renaldo McClain to grow into the position of MLB. That would give the entire bunch a little more flexability. If McClain brings more punch up the middle, I think that Carter on the outside, steps up even more.

 

[casmith07]

I like your plan, and I pretty much agree with it all.

Here's one question for you, though -- where DOES Spencer fit in when he returns (if he isn't ready to go Week 1)? I already have a handle on where Scandrick goes upon his return.

 

[Aven8]

I'm not n love with Durant at MLB.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I think you need to find another end somehow. I wouldn't be surprised to see Melton and Mincy the tackles on third down passing situations with selvie and crawford at ends.

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I'm not n love with Durant at MLB.

Me either. I really hope Rolando ends up playing for us.

 

[Setackin]

Im just hoping we can rank In the mid 20s... with this offense that could be enough for a playoff birth.

 

[xwalker]

Hey guys! Haven't posted in a long time. I know the common thing to do is rip the defense. (Trust me I have my worries too)

But there are reasons for optimism. ESPECIALLY if they listen to me I am going to focus this post on the beginning of the season when they won't have Spencer or Scandrick.

Here is step by step what they need to do:

Defensive Line in Base Defense

• The starter at RDE should be the better performer between Selvie and Mincey
• The starter at LDE should be Crawford
• The starter at 3 tech should be Melton
• The starter at 1 tech should be the better of Brent and McClain in the last 2 preseason games. (They should serve at the audition)

Obviously these things are dependent on some circumstances. Brent needs to come back. McClain needs to get healthy.

I am going a little bigger in the base D to prevent teams from running all over us. People are really underestimating Josh Brent. If he is healthy, and doesn't get suspended, he is an absolute monster. Was playing outstanding before the accident in 2012. I would argue he was best player on defensive line in multiple games that year.

If Nick Hayden has to start this season, we are in BIG trouble. We NEED either McClain or Brent to start.

The Nickel Defensive Line

• RDE should be ..... NOT ON TEAM. No it isn't Wilber. We need to trade, or sign an after cuts young guy who is explosive and can generate some pass rush. Someone in the Victor Butler mode. We don't have an answer on this team. All this guy has to do is rush the passer. That is it! Strictly a nickel pass rusher.
• LDE should be Selvie
• Interior DTs should be Mincey and Melton. With McClain rotating in at times as well.

Linebackers

• Bruce Carter at weak
• Justin Durant in the middle
• Better of Wilber, McClain and Holloman at strong
• Hitchens as backup weak
• Loser of strong competition can be primary backups for middle and strong

Safeties

• Church as one starter
• The winner of Hamilton, Dixon and Wilcox
• Don't think Wilcox should just be given job. I think the winner should be the one who makes the most plays in the final preseason games.
• Dixon is raw in coverage, but has the physical tools to do it. Be nice to have 2 physical presences at safety.

Corner

• Claiborne and Carr start
• Moore as slot corner and 3rd corner on field
• Mitchell has proven enough to be 4th corner
• Keep Patmon until Scandrick comes back
• Webb should be cut

I know a lot of you are ready to jump off the cliff, but I do believe we can be OK. Very excited to see the competition on defense, and I think some guys are going to really show up in these final preseason games.

Just need an edge rusher, and I believe we will find one after final cuts to strictly rush on 3rd downs.

Most of this is reasonable.

Josh Brent being ready for game 1 is highly unlikely. T. McClain might have a high ankle sprain which normally takes a long time to heal. Hopefully, it's was a mild version and he can get back to practice soon.

They're highly unlikely to find an upgrade at the cut date for a Nickel pass rusher. Hopefully, one of the young guys steps up (Boatright, Bush, Wilson, Rayford). They do have Wilber taking snaps at DE and he looked decent in a few snaps in the game against SD. Now they also have Bruce Carter practicing pass rushing.

R. McClain has only practiced at MLB. If he is on the team, he is highly likely to be the MLB. Durant can play all 3 positions. The MLB is more important in this defense than the SLB and McClain has a very high upside. Garrett made a statement about Durant being able to play all 3 spots on the same day that Carter started practicing pass rushing. Durant had originally moved to WLB prior to Lee's injury.

Crawford can also take some snaps at DT in the Nickel.

I don't think you would be happy if Dixon had to start at Safety in game 1. He's a great hitter in the run game and a great hitter/tackler after someone catches a pass, but his coverage was not known to be that great in college and we've yet to see him really be tested in a game. Wilcox is the overwhelming favorite to win the position.

They traded for a CB from New England that has actually playing in some NFL games. He is likely to make the roster over Patmon.

Top concerns:
Slot CB until Scandrick returns
1-tech DT (McClain needs to come back. Hayden is terrible. Bishop has upside but is raw. Josh Brent in game 1 seems unrealistic)
Nickel pass rushing RDE until Lawrence come back.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I know the common thing to do is rip the defense. But there are reasons for optimism.

Trust me when I say it's very clear that you have been away for a while. But welcome back!

 

[BAT]

Interesting thread. IMO Marinelli should go away from his familiar 4-3 Under and play more 4-3 Over, like Seattle, and focus on stopping the run FIRST and foremost. And continue to stress creating tunovers. The pressure would have to come from the edges instead of inside and our DEs are nothing special so I am actually advocating something a bit out of the box, play a variant of the nickel D as your base.

Go small on the outside (but lightning fast) and monstrous (and pain inducing) in the middle, and play physical on the boundaries:

RDE: Bruce Carter
RDT: Terrell McClain
LDT: Ken Bishop
LDE: George Selvie

SAM: Justin Durant
MIKE: Rolando McClain
WILL: Barry Church

RCB: Terrance Mitchell/Jeff Heath (whoever is less penalty prone)
LCB: Brandon Carr
SLOT: Mo Claiborne
SS: Ahmad Dixon
FS: J.J. Wilcox

Passing downs DTs: rotation of Melton, Crawford, Rayford, Mincey
Goal Line DL: Hayden, Mincey, Spencer, Brent

3rd and long FS: Jakar Hamilton

Marinelli needs to think radically to make this bunch of castoffs and injured players (mentally and physically) not just average but playing at a high level.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Hey guys! Haven't posted in a long time. I know the common thing to do is rip the defense. (Trust me I have my worries too)

But there are reasons for optimism. ESPECIALLY if they listen to me I am going to focus this post on the beginning of the season when they won't have Spencer or Scandrick.

Here is step by step what they need to do:

Defensive Line in Base Defense

• The starter at RDE should be the better performer between Selvie and Mincey
• The starter at LDE should be Crawford
• The starter at 3 tech should be Melton
• The starter at 1 tech should be the better of Brent and McClain in the last 2 preseason games. (They should serve at the audition)

Obviously these things are dependent on some circumstances. Brent needs to come back. McClain needs to get healthy.

I am going a little bigger in the base D to prevent teams from running all over us. People are really underestimating Josh Brent. If he is healthy, and doesn't get suspended, he is an absolute monster. Was playing outstanding before the accident in 2012. I would argue he was best player on defensive line in multiple games that year.

If Nick Hayden has to start this season, we are in BIG trouble. We NEED either McClain or Brent to start.

The Nickel Defensive Line

• RDE should be ..... NOT ON TEAM. No it isn't Wilber. We need to trade, or sign an after cuts young guy who is explosive and can generate some pass rush. Someone in the Victor Butler mode. We don't have an answer on this team. All this guy has to do is rush the passer. That is it! Strictly a nickel pass rusher.
• LDE should be Selvie
• Interior DTs should be Mincey and Melton. With McClain rotating in at times as well.

Linebackers

• Bruce Carter at weak
• Justin Durant in the middle
• Better of Wilber, McClain and Holloman at strong
• Hitchens as backup weak
• Loser of strong competition can be primary backups for middle and strong

Safeties

• Church as one starter
• The winner of Hamilton, Dixon and Wilcox
• Don't think Wilcox should just be given job. I think the winner should be the one who makes the most plays in the final preseason games.
• Dixon is raw in coverage, but has the physical tools to do it. Be nice to have 2 physical presences at safety.

Corner

• Claiborne and Carr start
• Moore as slot corner and 3rd corner on field
• Mitchell has proven enough to be 4th corner
• Keep Patmon until Scandrick comes back
• Webb should be cut

I know a lot of you are ready to jump off the cliff, but I do believe we can be OK. Very excited to see the competition on defense, and I think some guys are going to really show up in these final preseason games.

Just need an edge rusher, and I believe we will find one after final cuts to strictly rush on 3rd downs.

That's the most rational approach that I've seen, though I still remain skeptical. I would add that it's imperative that this team have its ear to the ground on what's happening in other camps. The reason: The waiver wire. You can get some help from it. There's always a reason a player gets waived, of course. However, sometimes the reason is the camp team simply has too much talent at that position. That was the case with Laurent Robinson, cut by San Diego and signed by us. He played outstanding for us. We need to keep our eye on the Rams who have too many good D-line players in camp to keep.

Am I holding my breath that this D is going to be outstanding? No. I suspect it will be pretty bad. However, the team has to do everything in it's power to field a good team, and no one ever knows for certain.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

The McClain-Durant question brings me back to the OL last year in training camp.

Remember early on there was some speculation that Frederick might be considered at guard with Costa at center if that pairing overall was better than Frederick at center and anyone else at guard. Frederick turned out to be so good at center that it made the rest of the equation moot and he didn't look as effective at guard as he did at center.

I see the Durant and McClain situation in a similar light. The question isn't solely whether Durant is better than McClain. The question is whether Durant at MLB and someone else at OLB is better than McClain in the middle with Durant outside. McClain isn't an OLB. To me it's a no brainer. You get the two best guys in the lineup. Right now, that would be McClain in the middle with Durant outside. Try Carter as a pass rusher. He and Wilber can rotate there and we need to find a way to get Holloman playing time.

 

[dantheman41]

I like your plan, and I pretty much agree with it all.

Here's one question for you, though -- where DOES Spencer fit in when he returns (if he isn't ready to go Week 1)? I already have a handle on where Scandrick goes upon his return.

Ease him in on nickel situations. Put him on strong side in nickel

 

[dantheman41]

I'm not n love with Durant at MLB.

Im not in love either... But he will at least be solid. Let's face it, we aren't going to be in love with any positions on defense. But my adjustments IMO will at least make us decent

 

[dantheman41]

I think you need to find another end somehow. I wouldn't be surprised to see Melton and Mincy the tackles on third down passing situations with selvie and crawford at ends.

That's exactly what I said. We need another explosive edge pass rusher. Young guy who can turn the corner.

 

[dantheman41]

Most of this is reasonable.

Josh Brent being ready for game 1 is highly unlikely. T. McClain might have a high ankle sprain which normally takes a long time to heal. Hopefully, it's was a mild version and he can get back to practice soon.

They're highly unlikely to find an upgrade at the cut date for a Nickel pass rusher. Hopefully, one of the young guys steps up (Boatright, Bush, Wilson, Rayford). They do have Wilber taking snaps at DE and he looked decent in a few snaps in the game against SD. Now they also have Bruce Carter practicing pass rushing.

R. McClain has only practiced at MLB. If he is on the team, he is highly likely to be the MLB. Durant can play all 3 positions. The MLB is more important in this defense than the SLB and McClain has a very high upside. Garrett made a statement about Durant being able to play all 3 spots on the same day that Carter started practicing pass rushing. Durant had originally moved to WLB prior to Lee's injury.

Crawford can also take some snaps at DT in the Nickel.

I don't think you would be happy if Dixon had to start at Safety in game 1. He's a great hitter in the run game and a great hitter/tackler after someone catches a pass, but his coverage was not known to be that great in college and we've yet to see him really be tested in a game. Wilcox is the overwhelming favorite to win the position.

They traded for a CB from New England that has actually playing in some NFL games. He is likely to make the roster over Patmon.

Top concerns:
Slot CB until Scandrick returns
1-tech DT (McClain needs to come back. Hayden is terrible. Bishop has upside but is raw. Josh Brent in game 1 seems unrealistic)
Nickel pass rushing RDE until Lawrence come back.

I disagree with the fact that they won't be able to find another nickel pass rusher. Teams don't have time or the patience for players who can simply rush the passer. They are a dime a dozen. A lot of good pass rushers will be cut. And I believe a guy on the streets at that point will be better then Boatwright, Rayford, Bush or Wilson.

Not too worried about slot corner. I think Sterling Moore can be OK. Good coverage player. Similar to Scandrick in that he doesn't always play with awareness, but solid in coverage.

I agree with your concern at 1 tech and nickel rusher at RDE. Those are the two biggest worries for me. Hayden is an emergency situation only.

 

[dantheman41]

Trust me when I say it's very clear that you have been away for a while. But welcome back!

Thanks! Comments like that make me wish I had more time to spend on this board.

 

[conner01]

i think it's wishful thinking to think you could go out and find a better RDE than we have be that by trade and even more so by releases. people don't trade or release pass rushers at the end of camp. atleast good ones

 

[dantheman41]

I don't think you would be happy if Dixon had to start at Safety in game 1. He's a great hitter in the run game and a great hitter/tackler after someone catches a pass, but his coverage was not known to be that great in college and we've yet to see him really be tested in a game. Wilcox is the overwhelming favorite to win the position.

They traded for a CB from New England that has actually playing in some NFL games. He is likely to make the roster over Patmon.

I disagree with the comments about Dixon too. I watched several games of his. He got exposed at times playing in the passing big 12, but he has tons of experience.

I rather have a guy on the field who makes plays and AT TIMES makes mistakes too, as long as he makes plays. I am worried with Wilcox, we will simply have a guy who can make some tackles in run game and thats it.

Dixon is a playmaker, and can get better in coverage. He has the physical tools for it.

 

[xwalker]

I disagree with the comments about Dixon too. I watched several games of his. He got exposed at times playing in the passing big 12, but he has tons of experience.

I rather have a guy on the field who makes plays and AT TIMES makes mistakes too, as long as he makes plays. I am worried with Wilcox, we will simply have a guy who can make some tackles in run game and thats it.

Dixon is a playmaker, and can get better in coverage. He has the physical tools for it.

No, based on college game footage and the 2013 Senior Bowl practices, Wilcox is as good as I've seen in terms of 1-on-1 coverage against WRs by a Safety. He was better in the practice drills than several of the CBs.