Quote
PaulButcher59
This is what bothers me. Needing to rely on ST's to win games and playing with a razor thing margin.
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it is risky. And though the defense is good, it's had to play safe a lot of the times and it's had breakdowns, it's not elite. Good, not elite. The line in 2012-2013 was elite, Donald is elite, but Long has been hurt, now gone, Quinn's been hurt. Hayes and Sims are backups, not what Long and Quinn were when they were healthy. JJ was a gambler, but damn, he'd score TDs. Scored 4 as a rookie. A team needs a guy like that and a guy like Tru, more solid and steady. But neiother of them were at their beast at the same time, now thee duo is broken uop
Anyway, I could go long on the defensive pros and cons, but for it to be elite. it needs to (1) stop run at about 100 yards a game and a 3.5 YPA (2) Get 3 sacks or more per game. (3) get some picks and fall on loose balls (4) score on defense.
We've done some of all that, but not as consistently as I like. And I will tell you, Long will be missed, I mean a healthy Long, as he was in 2014 and 2015.
Hayes is okay, but in pass rush he's better as the LDT, IMO. Not elite speed. Longagre--hustles, we will see. Westrooks, I would prefer he start and LDE and Longacre and Hayes come in in pass rush
I could be 100% wrong, but if it were me
Base
LDE Westbrooks
Shade Brockers
3-tech Donald
RDE Quinn
Nickel
LDE Longacre
LDT Hayes
RDT Donald
RDE Quinn
Maybe if Easley can play and stay onside
Nickel
LDE Hayes
LDT Easley
RDT Donald
RDE Quinn
