I'm not denying that they improved last year, in some ways.
Overall, as I stated in another thread, I would take the 32nd ranked defense in 2011 over this 24th ranked defense. That defense did one thing very well -- force turnovers. A whopping 31 INT's in 2011 vs. 6 so far this year. The 2011 got shredded up and down the field, but they could force turnovers better than anyone else. This defense is terrible in every aspect. Going 15-1 with the 32nd ranked defense doesn't happen by accident, it took the defense doing that.
Were they terrible when they were on their 4 game winning streak? Go look at their rankings just before the Chicago game. Terrible in every respect? I'd say turnovers only. What happened?
Sorry, but you don't pay a guy $8M dollars to "eat up blocks". Especially when he doesn't even do it very well. 3-4 DE's should typically demand double teams to be effective, regardless of gap assignments. Do you think there's any coincidence that while the defense has been atrocious, the sight of Raji being singled by a opposing guard has been common?
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Sorry adambr, I shouldn't have said "eat up blocks".
3-4 DE's do not need to demand double teams. It's completely wrong. Think of the math. The offense always has at least 5 guys blocking right? So a 3-4 is 5 with the DL and the OLBs right? If the OLBs occupy the tackles, that leaves the guards to play straight up with the DE and the center to play straight up with the NT right?
So now you have all the blockers occupied, but what if the offense leaves in a TE to block? What if the RB is there to block? You see where I'm going with this? Do the math with the 4-3 and you'll see the same.
There are eight gaps. Two A's on either side of the center, two Bs outside of each guard and two C's outside of the tackles. In the run game you want to maintain gap integrity. You want those gaps filled. It's called "contain" for the OLBs in the C gaps. If you over pursue you can leave a gap for the RB to go through. Johnny Jolly was noted for this back in the day. He'd shoot the gap. Lucky for him he was often right. It's undisciplined but it looks good to the fans if he gets a tackle for a loss. RBs who find those open gaps by having patience while the blocking unfolds are said to have "vision".
Doing the math you say: "but Devil, there are 6 gaps and only 5 guys on the D filling. Yep, here come your ILBs. Those guys are to fill whatever gap is left open.
So the OCoordinator of another team says: Let's leverage Raji to the B on this play and we'll hit the A. The O lineman will play weak with one arm and strong with another. But Raji's a disciplined D lineman. He maintains his gap. The RB sees he's maintained gap control and looks for another way. He's not going to go right at Raji and give him a tackle. Someone else gets the "stat" because the RB didn't run at a waiting monster.
This post is already too long but if you wish, I can tell you how it works in the passing game. The point is, people recognize that a lack of stats for a CB can be because he isn't targeted. Can you accept a lack of stats for Raji is because he's avoided?
There is a billion nuances to this of course but one thing is certain. B.J. Raji is among the most athletic huge guys in the NFL and there will be teams who will covet him and will pay him large stacks of cash. Once he is gone there's no getting him back. I'll never underestimate the value of a player like this because of stats.