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Rampage2K-
I think you are underselling some of those guys who are playing really well.... it happens all the time in the NFL where a defense has a really great 1-2 year run then fades, even with the same DC, after its players start to get poached...although I agree that he is and has been the key to this defense, but these players like Williams and Hill and Fox and SJD have been ballin
I really don't think I'm underselling the contributions of Williams, Hill, Fox, and SJD but it's a fair point nonetheless since it can seem that way. (BTW, we're not in danger of losing SJD this year.)
I made it seem as simple as just plugging in the next guy. What I was trying to highlight on this point is that Snead has been very successful in drafting the depth type players. Fans don't get excited about a Gaines pick in the 4th round. In fact, when a draftee doesn't play more than 15-20 snaps per game in the first year or two, there's a tendency for fans to say he's a bust.
But fans are only worried because they fail to see that 1) often that draftee is doing very well in his 15-20 snaps, and 2) the strategy of replacing players a year or two early has been wildly successful.
Basically, I'm coming from the big picture perspective of the people in charge of drafting and developing the talent have been doing very well.
And perhaps more importantly I'm also coming from the big picture perspective that as long as we have the foundation of defense - two game wreckers in AD and Ramsey - in place, we will be ok. Without taking anything away from the above-mentioned players that you say I'm underselling, it should be noted that AD and Ramsey make them look better than they actually are.
