I know some will disagree, but iam more confident in how this defense projects next year than any other defense we've had since the glory days.. When we were statistically in the top 10 for several years with Jason/Zach/ surtain, madison, I just was never confident in the 4th Quarter or against big physical teams..We just weren't built to hold up, the result?, many late game collapses.. Killer B's....nope... This defense seems to be different..The front 7 is just outstanding, filled with size, youth, strength and versatility, also a little freak named wake...If Odrick and Edds can make impact at their positions, it totally lessens the need to address defense thru free agency and the draft, thus putting us in an enviable position to focus almost strictly to 1 unit...Thats pretty cool if you ask me, I cant recall such discrepency for any team, and has to have Irish feelin pretty damn confident...I know I would be if it was me.. So honestly, in your heart, would you trade this defense, and all their youth, for any other?
What I love is, as good as our defense was last year, they'll be even better next season w/o even touching them (provided we resign Soliai). My vision would be to see a monster sized, agile, nimble front 3 who take over every game <like Soliai, BJ Raji, and Ngata combined>...... or Soliai, Phil Taylor, and Kendrick Taylor. 6'4 340.... 6'4 355.... 6'5 340..... with a playmaking SS and another quality passrusher. That's what I'm talkin bout.
IDK Deej, JJ's Defense in say 1998, with Taylor, Thomas, Brommel, Mixon, Bowens, Gardner was fun to watch play, that D was fast and explosive and after a decade of Marino being saddled with a average or poor defense that one gave Dolfans a lot of hope moving forwards.
While personnel is key to this conversation, the Nolan factor can't be overlooked IMHO. A second year with him as DC, and with a few key additions in the off season (visa via the draft, and possibly FA), and we could have one of the league's best defenses next season. Now, if we could just fix the offense and ST's as easily as we seemed to have fixed the D.
The killer B's were very good, if a little small. It's difficult to make comparisons because the other defenses that came before ran their courses, and this one is just getting started. As Padre mentioned, I'm sure if you went back to 1998 there was a lot of excitement about that defense also. It was only years later that it would become apparent that that defense was missing a substantial component to make it elite. I'm excited about the defense we have now, but I'm not ready to make a definitive pronouncements until they accomplish a few things first.
Agreed. Nolan came into a "Kiddie Corps" and new players to try and fit in. Think about it. Odrick started with Nolan knowing little about him, and Starks was our NT. Change that. Odrick injured, Starks at DE, and enter Soliai. Wake at OLB with nothing showing he can do anything but rush the QB. Misi at OLB who played DE in College, no info or film. Dansby at ILB, lots of film but got hurt. Crowder, injured. Dobbins, average, and Edds (who he really liked) injured. Clemons at FS showed little in 09, gotta make him fit in. Davis and Smith, lots of talent, saw almost a year's worth of tape. Nolan did a great job. Now, watch him this year when he actually knows the players he is coaching.
I remember Nolan saying that the players were still learning his system and they would make up for mistakes with athletic ability. Second year in the same system with Odrick and Edds should be something to look forward too.
no Pod, bromell, dixon, nah..were so stout up front, I mean the depth blows anything away.....QUICK?, name me 2 linebackers besides Zach...lol Wake has the potential to be the best defensive player we've had..relative to his time frame... Lets put it this way...I would trade our offense as it stands now, for any other in the past 35 years, strait up.. way too much talent.
I know our Dline is very good, but I was only daydreaming about how nasty it would be if we had all 3 of those guys on the field at the same time controlling the LOS.
