Quote:
Originally Posted by txhawk
Outside of the young dbacks, this defense is screaming for an identity. The existing talent is marginal at best. Tamba Hali is flat out a bust this far. Sorry, the guy's just not that good. For where he was drafted, 6-8 sacks a season is weaker than snake shit.
And I think it's safe to say that DJ is underperforming for his salary and draft position.
Dorsey, based on one season, was terrible. But he at least has upside and perhaps trade value.
Point being in this all said is SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO CUT YOUR LOSSES. The way things have been are unacceptable, and this old regime way of thinking some of you have is really quite unfortunate. THIS WILL NOT BE THE SAME TEAM. New management wants to show their merit and worth, and falling back on what was done here in the past equates to jack shit! Get used to it, because that's just the way of today's NFL.
But to suggest the 3-4 defense is not quickly becoming the best style of Defense is absurd. The confusion it creates for an opposing offense is wonderful thing to watch.
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How many LDEs give you more than 8 sacks a year? It's a small list. Aaron Kampman, Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse way back in the day. I'm not saying that Hali is a pro bowl LDE, but he is an above average player at that position. No, he's not Reggie White, but defenses don't have 11 pro bowlers on them.
Johnson is again best suited as a downhill player. He led the league in TFL two years ago, it's not like he doesn't have talent. But when you are in a read and react defense, it causes you to lose your aggression. It's not a coincidence that guys like Kawika Mitchell leave and then become productive players elsewhere. Our coaching has been horrible for over a decade on the defensive side of the ball.
And I can show you the results. The average finish of the 3-4 defenses vs. the 4-3 defenses are virtually identical.
Schemes don't win games. Players do. The only reason the Ravens D was worth a shit was because of Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed.
Pittsburgh's D is carried by Harrison, Woodley, Polamalu, and Hampton.
Those teams have an embarrassment of riches. It's the same for the old Bucs teams, 6-7 PBs on one side of the ball, or the 2000 Ravens, a 4-3 team loaded with talent.