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dzrams
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merlin
Edge as well as the ILBs are going to need some dudes to step up. If that happens, then yeah it's definitely going to be an elite defense. But they're not there just yet.
Secondary looks elite for sure. But I think we need to wait and see how the pieces fit at LB before we crown this unit.
The LB's this year will be equal to or better than they were last year.
IMO, the backups last year - Longacre, Ebukam - were just as good and possibly better than the starters and I was saying so last year.
And now those backups are this years edge starters. I expect no drop off.
The only real question mark in my mind is who replaces Ogletree at Mike? However, this question doesn't cause me much anxiety because frankly Ogletree was a net negative at the position IMO.
Last year we had names but not great production.
So for me, I don't need to wait and see. I already know the position is going to be ok.
I agree with that pretty much, except to add these footnotes.
* fwiw Quinn did pick it up last year in the final games. Maybe he was playing hurt before that. That's water under the bridge but I mention it just to be a good historian.
* veteran depth would have been nice for this year. So Quinn and Barwin in that sense are losses, and so is Fox.
* as I know you know, Wade has made something before out of "no name" ILBs. In fact it's a kind of trademark of his.
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