ExpatPacker
Cheesehead
You can merge this with the Off-Season Talk if you want but maybe it deserves its own thread.
I'm not real happy with the way in which MM is saying basically that the #1 problem with our defense is fundamentals, implying that we have the players and can get the rest through the draft. That to me is too much denial. Ok I get it. Policy is to build a winning team through the draft and not spend oodles of cash on FAs. It's a good policy but it shouldn't become a straightjacket that he and TT follow without exception. Fact is, this defense sucks, period. And it's not going to improve enough without some major surgery. If TT refuses to go the FA route altogether, then he's turning wise policy into a liability.
The weaknesses in our defense are many. Of course we lack fundamentals. Of course they need to improve the tackling, coordinating the assignments in the secondary...yes I know that. But there are major problems besides that with our starting players:
Safety: Peprah. WEAKNESS. He was terrible.
OLB: Walden. WEAKNESS. Same.
ILB: Hawk. WEAKNESS. Big mistake to sign him for a multi-year contract.
DE: who? WEAKNESS. Was there anybody there next to Pickett and Raji?
CB: Williams. WEAKNESS. Tramon was abused all season long and you can't just chalk that up to an anemic pass rush.
The result? No pass rush. A secondary that made a lot of picks but when it came to coverage, WRs were left wide open far too often. Poor tackling in the secondary leading to big plays after the catch.
We have two playmakers left on this defense, Matthews and Woodson. Bishop is very solid in the middle but isn't a playmaker.
To say that we have the players to overcome those weaknesses is playing ostrich and hiding your head in the sand. The only position I see that we can upgrade with our present players is at ILB. Sit Hawk's **** on the bench and let DJ Smith or Francois start. With their limited playing time they looked much better to me. As for the rest? I don't see anyone. And if Nick Collins is not coming back then we are really in trouble at the safety position.
So here is my dream draft and my recommendation for improving this wretched defense, which as it turns was the WORST by far of all the playoff teams, and last Sunday's game proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Even NE's defense stepped up and MADE PLAYS.
If we can get a high draft pick for Flynn, great. That will give us a chance to make serious upgrades. But if we can't, then we need a solid FA. If someone like Mario Williams is available without too high a price-tag, then we would be stupid not to go after him.
The Dream Draft:
1st round: #9 (from Miami sign and trade for Flynn) Courtney Upshaw, OLB.
The guy is everything we need. Power, speed, pass rush and he's ready to make an immediate impact.
#28: Mark Barron, Safety. Everyone is going gaga on CBs. Barron is the highest ranked safety in the draft. He should be available late in the first round. 6'2" 215. "12/31/11: Barron has had a strong senior season. Entering the BCS Championship, he has totaled 66 tackles (41 solo) with five passes broken up, four tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Barron played well against LSU, making six tackles and a pick. He is one of the hardest hitting safeties in the draft. Barron has excellent instincts. He stays around the ball and has the propensity to make clutch plays. Entering the NFL, Barron has a lot of experience in a complex defense and should be able to make a quick transition to the next level" http://walterfootball.com/draft2012S.php
2nd round: #56: Vinny Curry, DE. From the North Practice: "Marshall defensive lineman Vinny Curry, 6-4, 263, flashed quickness when he shot across the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble." Curry needs some development, but he has speed and explosiveness. He gets into the backfield where the Packer defense hasn't been all year.
I'm not real happy with the way in which MM is saying basically that the #1 problem with our defense is fundamentals, implying that we have the players and can get the rest through the draft. That to me is too much denial. Ok I get it. Policy is to build a winning team through the draft and not spend oodles of cash on FAs. It's a good policy but it shouldn't become a straightjacket that he and TT follow without exception. Fact is, this defense sucks, period. And it's not going to improve enough without some major surgery. If TT refuses to go the FA route altogether, then he's turning wise policy into a liability.
The weaknesses in our defense are many. Of course we lack fundamentals. Of course they need to improve the tackling, coordinating the assignments in the secondary...yes I know that. But there are major problems besides that with our starting players:
Safety: Peprah. WEAKNESS. He was terrible.
OLB: Walden. WEAKNESS. Same.
ILB: Hawk. WEAKNESS. Big mistake to sign him for a multi-year contract.
DE: who? WEAKNESS. Was there anybody there next to Pickett and Raji?
CB: Williams. WEAKNESS. Tramon was abused all season long and you can't just chalk that up to an anemic pass rush.
The result? No pass rush. A secondary that made a lot of picks but when it came to coverage, WRs were left wide open far too often. Poor tackling in the secondary leading to big plays after the catch.
We have two playmakers left on this defense, Matthews and Woodson. Bishop is very solid in the middle but isn't a playmaker.
To say that we have the players to overcome those weaknesses is playing ostrich and hiding your head in the sand. The only position I see that we can upgrade with our present players is at ILB. Sit Hawk's **** on the bench and let DJ Smith or Francois start. With their limited playing time they looked much better to me. As for the rest? I don't see anyone. And if Nick Collins is not coming back then we are really in trouble at the safety position.
So here is my dream draft and my recommendation for improving this wretched defense, which as it turns was the WORST by far of all the playoff teams, and last Sunday's game proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Even NE's defense stepped up and MADE PLAYS.
If we can get a high draft pick for Flynn, great. That will give us a chance to make serious upgrades. But if we can't, then we need a solid FA. If someone like Mario Williams is available without too high a price-tag, then we would be stupid not to go after him.
The Dream Draft:
1st round: #9 (from Miami sign and trade for Flynn) Courtney Upshaw, OLB.
The guy is everything we need. Power, speed, pass rush and he's ready to make an immediate impact.
#28: Mark Barron, Safety. Everyone is going gaga on CBs. Barron is the highest ranked safety in the draft. He should be available late in the first round. 6'2" 215. "12/31/11: Barron has had a strong senior season. Entering the BCS Championship, he has totaled 66 tackles (41 solo) with five passes broken up, four tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Barron played well against LSU, making six tackles and a pick. He is one of the hardest hitting safeties in the draft. Barron has excellent instincts. He stays around the ball and has the propensity to make clutch plays. Entering the NFL, Barron has a lot of experience in a complex defense and should be able to make a quick transition to the next level" http://walterfootball.com/draft2012S.php
2nd round: #56: Vinny Curry, DE. From the North Practice: "Marshall defensive lineman Vinny Curry, 6-4, 263, flashed quickness when he shot across the line of scrimmage and forced a fumble." Curry needs some development, but he has speed and explosiveness. He gets into the backfield where the Packer defense hasn't been all year.