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moklerman
I think any decent DC is going to be fine if he has a healthy Donald and Ramsey. Not to say that Staley didn't do "anything" but the GB game and season in general showed that it was a lot more about Donald disrupting things, allowing others to benefit and Ramsey taking away their top target. We saw all year that the Rams could have trouble getting off the field, making a stand or getting a crucial stop.
I have no complaints about the D as it carried the team for most of the year but let's be honest, this wasn't your typical #1 D. It had great stats but wasn't really akin to the '76 Steelers, '85 Bears, '00 Ravens, etc. Which is to say, I think we can maintain the very good defense we had, especially if a good DC is brought in. I just don't think Staley re-invented the wheel or caught the league off guard with some unique or new approach. I trust Snead/McVay to bring in someone who will work. Phillips was a good hire and did well enough. Staley was a HR. No need to think they can't find the next DC.
I don't see anyone discussing how much involvement McVay had in the defense.
It was definitely stated when he fired Wade that one of the reasons was because he wanted to get more involved in that side of the ball. And in alignment with that desire, he hired a very young DC. He was never going to have that chance with Wade because Wade was so established with his system.
That said, I don't think we should downplay how good the D was or what Staley brought to the table. I struggle with those who criticize the defense because it's not the equal of an historically great D. You don't have to be the '76 Steelers, '85 Bears, '00 Ravens to be a #1 defense.
And maybe Staley didn't reinvent the wheel but he did bring some schematic genius to the job. Announcers continually mentioned how he would change up the secondary looks with his mix of man and zone concepts and it confused QBs. He also brilliantly covered up the weakness in the middle with the LBs.
My hope is that McVay was more instrumental in the scheme than anyone knows. People are starting to accuse him of being a micromanager and I'm not sure that charge is justified. But if he is, one good ramification is that he probably had his fingers in the defense too which will lesson the loss of Staley.
Ultimately, I'm optimistic that McVay can hit on another DC.
