The Rushmen

[BIGDen]

I totally agree with the DE approach (FA DE, draft DE, Lawrence and Mincey). I think guys like Crawford and Lawrence will be better next year. Lawrence was injured too much to see what he could really do but he certainly flashed. Crawford played very well and is probably ready to play at his highest level next season. This was Crawford's return-from-injury year and first as a full-time starter. He should be better next year based on health and experience. If we could add two disruptive DLs in the offseason, including at least 1 pass-rushing DE, this D could become good. If the offense stays comparable and we have a good D, we'll be very strong contenders again if health doesn't derail our season. We could've won it all this year with a below average defense. Add some talent and another year of experience in Rod's system (fewer mental mistakes theoretically) and hopefully we can finish the fight next year. Man, after that nightmare the other day, we really need to...

One more thing. How about Mincey huh? What a great FA pick up. He was a leader who got better as the season progressed. Such a smart signing. We all loved Ware and I hated seeing his sack totals as the year went on, but he faded as usual. I also don't believe Ware was ever much of a leader (personal opinion based on what I saw/read). My hat's off to the scouting dept and Jeremy Mincey.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If you sign Suh...you cannot spend a premium pick on the DL.

This makes no sense to me. By far the biggest need is rushmen. We need to upgrade the talent on the DL any chance we get.

 

[xwalker]

I was watching Talking Cowboys and it almost appears ridiculous how they all basically wanted everyone back next year.

I'll be upset if we don't have at least 50 percent turnaround in The Eight.

I'll let Marinelli decide what he wants to do with Spencer, but Selvie should be gone, and Hayden should be gone. Similarly under a new deal I'd let Marinelli decide what he wants to do with Melton who should have a full offseason this year. That said we can't forget about Okoye and his potential contributions. Terrell McClain should be gone, and Josh Brent should probably be gone as well.

If you aren't Crawford, Lawrence, or Mincey, you should probably be gone. And Mincey should be our 4th defensive end by the end of things. Crawford should probably be our 2nd or 3rd best defensive tackle.

I don't want Suh, and think it is pretty silly of people to want him. Unlike Josh Gordon who I suggested would be okay to "rent", you'd have to make a long term commitment to a guy like Suh. I wouldn't mind getting any other linemen from Detroit, but would prefer to pick some pieces up from Buffalo. We should definitely come away with one of their defensive ends. JPP is also an option. I'd love to see what Marinelli could do with JPP.

My thinking on this is you'd want to do the following

Draft a defensive end high and draft a 1 technique fairly high, you'd also want to bring in a free agent defensive end pretty high, but going into the draft without adding a free agent defensive end.... would be a tragic mistake, just as it was this year.

1. Free Agent DE
2. Lawrence
3. Rookie DE
4. Mincey

The one position we need to splurge on a bit in free agency is defensive end.

I always find your posts amusing. I guess you have a lot to think about when you're without internet access. I'm expecting 2 more new threads from you today.

They always need to bring more bodies to camp than can make the roster. That includes both veterans and rookies. Guys that are under contract like T. McClain and Josh Brent need to come to camp. If other players can beat them out fine, but they have to be prepared for injuries and other issues. You don't just cut everybody in the Spring. FYI, T. McClain was a strong contributor this season and would have been even better if he had been 100% healthy which he never was from what I've heard. I agree that they can move on from guys that are not under contract like Selvie and Hayden; although, if they want to sign for no guaranteed money, then some of those types can come to came also.

I wouldn't have any reservations about signing Suh. He has always been all-in on the field. Josh Gordon is a low probability of being available for games. I'm not against taking a few risk on players like Gordon is the price is right, but I wouldn't get carried away with adding those types of players. I would much prefer Greg Hardy over Gordon if signed a character risk guy.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Here's what I've seen from the All-22 this season:

1. We blitz at an extraordinarily low rate. I'm not in favor of blitzing a lot as I would rather just send 4 rushmen up field. But, we were at too low of a rate.

2. When we blitz it is almost exclusively with a cornerback. And usually it was with Scrandrick was better than average for a CB at blitzing.

3. Often times (particularly come December), the DE's would get some decent pressure, but Crawford would either be double or triple teamed (RB coming in to help the guard and center). So the front of the pocket would be clear for the QB.

4. Melton was coming along nicely, but is weak against the run and didn't have the stamina to play many reps

5. Hayden must be well liked for his tremendous hustle because he basically just takes up space when he's not hustling. So on plays where the DE's got good pressure and moved the QB up in the pocket and Crawford was getting doubled (or tripled), Hayden couldn't get any pressure and Melton was playing too sparingly to make a difference and didn't play a lot on 1st down.


Spencer - would love to keep him at another 1-year deal. I wouldn't even mind seeing him get a little more money. He really came on in December when his knee was getting healthy.

Crawford - We should look at him as a star player on the defense and protect him from getting injured. He's fantastic. He needs to learn how to wrap up the QB better, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a Suh like season next year if we can get him some help.

Hayden - I personally hope he is gone although I can see why we would keep him as Melton is likely gone. However, we need to get him to be more of a backup to spell people.

Lawrence - We will see on him as he looked good in the playoffs. I will say this, our training staff tends to do a great job and re-creating player's bodies and make them perform better. They can't keep players healthy, but if they do...guys like Randle, Leary, etc. looked like totally different football players this year. Perhaps Lawrence could do the same thing.

Mincey - I would like to keep him around as he's a good leader and is a decent lil' Defensive End. He plays the run well and is pretty solid at getting to the QB. However, he needs to be more of a backup.

T. McClain - Way too inconsistent. He would look very good in 1 game and then look quite bad the next. The ability and athleticism is there. I didn't watch him in Houston, so I don't know if he was doing more of the same there. If he was, then I think that's just the type of player he is (athletic but inconsistent). If he just didn't play well at all in Houston, then I get the feeling that he was trying to re-adjust himself to Marinelli's system and it may take a year to 'get it.' He should be brought back and see if he's getting it in next year's camp.


I don't believe the scheme is designed for many safety blitzes, but we basically didn't blitz the safeties at all. Not sure why. Also, the league is using more 3 safety personnel to help stop 2 TE sets and those spread formations where the ball will be thrown quickly and you need guys to tackle and fight thru WR blocks well. I really think we could use another safety in the draft. I'm not nutty about Heath, but he does show some upside as a 3rd safety that plays special teams and can play in 3 safety personnel. Church looked the best he's looked to me, but he's very limited in coverage. Wilcox I like a lot....strong man-to-man cover skills and seems to know where everybody needs to be. His tackling in open space is often times...horrendous.

So while I think we need to acquire some talent at the DT and DE spots, we also need to look at the secondary in order to help with the pass rush.









YR

 

[The Realist]

This makes no sense to me. By far the biggest need is rushmen. We need to upgrade the talent on the DL any chance we get.

Zero sense

 

[Galian Beast]

With Marinelli being retained, we may very well want to go big on defense.

Sign a free agent defensive tackle and a free agent defensive end. Draft defensive end and corner early in the draft. Re-sign the linebackers that Marinelli wants to retain.

We could put together a top 5 defense next year to go with this top 5 offense.

You bring 3 more guys into this 8, combine with the 3 we already have, and 6/8 isn't bad.

 

[burmafrd]

we need a real DE pass rush threat; problem is that we do not know if Lawrence can be that. BUT it never hurts to have multiple pass rushers so it should still be the TOP D priority in the offseason. Give me that over SUH anytime