Now that Thomas is going to be tagged...

[StanleySpadowski]

I'm stunned that so many people are so adamant about adding another edge rusher. The problem with the pass defense is one ILB who can't figure out where to be and is too slow to recover when he finally decides combined with absolutely no push inside.

You could clone Ware and have WareII coming from the other edge and it wouldn't matter if the tackle can ride them high, having the QB step up into an open pocket until he can locate who that ILB was supposed to cover.

Collapsing the pocket from the inside would solve almost all of this defenses problems.

The options are to assume that Zimmer was the problem and the three starters were limited by him or realize that Spears and Canty are approaching bust status and Ferguson is physically incapable and replace them.

I think it's telling that during the Lions game a friend asked "Who's that #72?" and it took me a minute to think of who it was yet he provided more inside pressure in one half than the three DL starters had all year.

 

[theogt]

why are u people so inclined for another OLB? u people do know how much money is already put into this LB core right?

james and akin will be in the middle, and carp and ellis will be manning the strongside. if they get another OLb i think its the draft. never fails every yr people cry and complain about the offense. but come offseason all they want to talk about is the defense.

Actually, there isn't a whole lot of money tied up in the LB corps.

Total base salaries over the next 2 years are around $6 million.

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm stunned that so many people are so adamant about adding another edge rusher. The problem with the pass defense is one ILB who can't figure out where to be and is too slow to recover when he finally decides combined with absolutely no push inside.

You could clone Ware and have WareII coming from the other edge and it wouldn't matter if the tackle can ride them high, having the QB step up into an open pocket until he can locate who that ILB was supposed to cover.

Collapsing the pocket from the inside would solve almost all of this defenses problems.

The options are to assume that Zimmer was the problem and the three starters were limited by him or realize that Spears and Canty are approaching bust status and Ferguson is physically incapable and replace them.

I think it's telling that during the Lions game a friend asked "Who's that #72?" and it took me a minute to think of who it was yet he provided more inside pressure in one half than the three DL starters had all year.

I agree a lot of the pressure problems was a lack of collapsing the pocket

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The guy I don't really understand is Burnett. He's a guy that I would think can fit in real nicely as an ILB into the 34. Especially the way we like to play cover2 but can't. He has the natural agility to play coverage on the inside. He could probably take the TE or slot and cover them middle to deep middle. It's only his second year but I really hope he shows he can be this guy. If he can be that guy, then I really like What we have at LB.

 

[theogt]

Hmm.

Bradie James: 5 YRs $20M with a $8M signing bonus. (20+8)=28/5 = $5.6M/yr
Akin Ayodele: 5 YRs $17M with a $5M signing bonus. (17+5)=23/5 = $4.6M/yr

My guess is Akin is more likely to get cut unless he plays much better than James. One way or another I think Carp is going to take someones job just because he can pass rush better than either of them!

He played better than James all season. I don't see why that would change this offseason. Neither is getting cut. James might see the bench, though, and he'll damn sure see it before Ayodele does.

 

[theogt]

I'm stunned that so many people are so adamant about adding another edge rusher. The problem with the pass defense is one ILB who can't figure out where to be and is too slow to recover when he finally decides combined with absolutely no push inside.

You could clone Ware and have WareII coming from the other edge and it wouldn't matter if the tackle can ride them high, having the QB step up into an open pocket until he can locate who that ILB was supposed to cover.

Collapsing the pocket from the inside would solve almost all of this defenses problems.

The options are to assume that Zimmer was the problem and the three starters were limited by him or realize that Spears and Canty are approaching bust status and Ferguson is physically incapable and replace them.

I think it's telling that during the Lions game a friend asked "Who's that #72?" and it took me a minute to think of who it was yet he provided more inside pressure in one half than the three DL starters had all year.

If I hadn't seen what we were able to do with Ware and Ellis at OLB this season, I might be inclined to agree with you.

 

[theogt]

The guy I don't really understand is Burnett. He's a guy that I would think can fit in real nicely as an ILB into the 34. Especially the way we like to play cover2 but can't. He has the natural agility to play coverage on the inside. He could probably take the TE or slot and cover them middle to deep middle. It's only his second year but I really hope he shows he can be this guy. If he can be that guy, then I really like What we have at LB.

Parcells may think he's too small/weak to take on guards inside.

 

[Rack]

Hmm.

Bradie James: 5 YRs $20M with a $8M signing bonus. (20+8)=28/5 = $5.6M/yr
Akin Ayodele: 5 YRs $17M with a $5M signing bonus. (17+5)=23/5 = $4.6M/yr

My guess is Akin is more likely to get cut unless he plays much better than James. One way or another I think Carp is going to take someones job just because he can pass rush better than either of them!

So your guess is we'd cut the BETTER player who's making LESS money?


Yeah, that's smart.

Neither are getting cut, but if for some reason one of them WERE to get cut, it would be James. You know, the LESSER player who's taking up MORE cap space.

 

[smarta5150]

So your guess is we'd cut the BETTER player who's making LESS money?


Yeah, that's smart.

Neither are getting cut, but if for some reason one of them WERE to get cut, it would be James. You know, the LESSER player who's taking up MORE cap space.

I agree 100%.

James has been a waste of a player this season and taking up more cap.