Here's the answer to our pass rush problem...

[sundevil04]

Go

First, suprisingly to me our pass rush is not statistically as bad as we may think. We ranked 13th in the NFL in sacks with 36 only 1 shy of being tied for 9th in the NFL with 37. I think the best thing we can do for our pass rush is to get healthy, namely Okeafor. Dockett and Watson/Branch are a GREAT tantem up front. Smith is a high motor guy, could be upgraded but I see him as a starter in this league although a very average one. Dansby (assuming he re-signs) and Hayes are very solid in the middle.

The question marks forme begin and end with the OLB's. Pace (assuming he re-signs) had a statistically better year than Suggs especiall in the pass-rush dept, he seems like a budding young player recording 98 tackles & 6.5 sacks with NO help opposite him for the last half of the season. I think the weak side LB spot is the most interesting and easily upgraded. We lost the starter (Okeafor) in the pre-season to a bicep tear and were able to fit Berry in with a fare amount of success. Look at Dockett's pass rush stats before and after Berry went down. I think it's very likely that Berry will not be with this team next season. However, the step up from Tafoya to Okeafor is a VERY significant one and will improve the pass rush significantly since defenders will have to very seriously account for Okeafor the way they did with Berry in the first half of the season. In the first half of the season Dockett had 8 sacks with Berry having to be accounted for by blockers, after Berry went down to a season ending injury Dockett had 1sack in the last half of the season...NOT a coincidence. Let's also not forgt that Okeafor had 8,9,8 & 9 sacks in the past for seasons respectively.

I strongly believe Okeafor's injury this year was a freak thing since he's widely regarded as a workout warrior and has only missed 3 games due to injury in his 8 year career. That being said Okeafor will be 32 next season and while he'll be back at 100% next year and will be a force for another year or 2 the bottom line is he is aging and nearing the end of a contract.

Another glaring stat is that AW had 0 sacks this year. Granted he missed 7 games but 0!!! I believe a large part of this is the FS and CB play behind him he had to be dropped back into coverage MUCH more often. An upgrade at FS and a combination of another CB and getting healthy at the position should allow AW to get after QB's again.

These tweeks to the D could EASILY add 5 sacks to the D whcih would put us in the top 5 in the NFL in sacks this season.

A young pass rusher to groom would be nice, a Vernon Gholston/D.Harvey or Q.Groves woule nice in rd.1 but is it a better option than a RB to replace Edge (this year or next) or a future #1 CB?
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How To Roll Blunts

 

[traveler]

What games do you people watch? Antonio Smith is arguably our best lineman and was a starter all year.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

What games do you people watch? Antonio Smith is arguably our best lineman and was a starter all year.

Smith reminds me of a slightly more athletic KVB. If he were to leave, he'd be another Cardinal to blow up elsewhere.

 

[Redheart]

What games do you people watch? Antonio Smith is arguably our best lineman and was a starter all year.

Love Smith. Love him. Love. Him.

 

[joeshmo]

First, suprisingly to me our pass rush is not statistically as bad as we may think. We ranked 13th in the NFL in sacks with 36 only 1 shy of being tied for 9th in the NFL with 37.

When you read that stat keep in mind that we also faced the 6th most amount of passing attempts. Which makes that ranking not look as good anymore. I think the better judge of ranking sacks is pass attempts per sack. Meaning how many pass attempts go by before you get a sack. We are ranked 17th. I would also add that although we were considered almost dead average, our pass rush was inconsistent. Feast or famine type thing.

New York Giants 9.87
New England Patriots 11.19
Kansas City Chiefs 12.49
Seattle Seahawks 12.62
Dallas Cowboys 12.63
Chicago Bears 13.20
San Diego Chargers 13.21
Miami Dolphins 13.63
Denver Broncos 13.88
Tennessee Titans 14.23
Philadelphia Eagles 14.57
Jacksonville Jaguars 14.68
Green Bay Packers 14.83
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14.85
Pittsburgh Steelers 14.89
Baltimore Ravens 15.31
Arizona Cardinals 15.83
New York Jets 16.21
Oakland Raiders 16.26
Detroit Lions 16.27
New Orleans Saints 16.38
St. Louis Rams 16.87
Minnesota Vikings 17.00
San Francisco 49ers 17.52
Houston Texans 17.61
Indianapolis Colts 17.79
Washington Redskins 18.24
Cleveland Browns 20.64
Atlanta Falcons 21.44
Buffalo Bills 21.81
Carolina Panthers 23.35
Cincinnati Bengals 24.55

 

[joeshmo]

What games do you people watch? Antonio Smith is arguably our best lineman and was a starter all year.

What games - From Washington to New Orleans. An 8 game stretch where he was inconsistent, non productive, and just not rushing the passer very well.

Had 2 games where his only stat was an assisted tackle. 1 Game where his only stat was 1 tackle, 1 game with not a single stat to his name. That 8 game strech was just horrible for him. Could not get off the blocks to make a tackle and could not rush the passer, sacks, pressures, QB hits you name it. Hasnt knocked down a ball all season as well.

To say Smith was arguably our best DL is a complete slap in the face of Watson and Dockett who where both without question in my mind better more consistent then Smith was. Watson is the main reason why our Run D was ranked so high and Dockett had the most sacks and QB pressures on the team.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Watson had an incredible year this year. Personally, I would say that he was the defensive MVP, because he allowed Dansby and Hayes to make their plays.

 

[john h]

First, suprisingly to me our pass rush is not statistically as bad as we may think. We ranked 13th in the NFL in sacks with 36 only 1 shy of being tied for 9th in the NFL with 37. I think the best thing we can do for our pass rush is to get healthy, namely Okeafor. Dockett and Watson/Branch are a GREAT tantem up front. Smith is a high motor guy, could be upgraded but I see him as a starter in this league although a very average one. Dansby (assuming he re-signs) and Hayes are very solid in the middle.

The question marks forme begin and end with the OLB's. Pace (assuming he re-signs) had a statistically better year than Suggs especiall in the pass-rush dept, he seems like a budding young player recording 98 tackles & 6.5 sacks with NO help opposite him for the last half of the season. I think the weak side LB spot is the most interesting and easily upgraded. We lost the starter (Okeafor) in the pre-season to a bicep tear and were able to fit Berry in with a fare amount of success. Look at Dockett's pass rush stats before and after Berry went down. I think it's very likely that Berry will not be with this team next season. However, the step up from Tafoya to Okeafor is a VERY significant one and will improve the pass rush significantly since defenders will have to very seriously account for Okeafor the way they did with Berry in the first half of the season. In the first half of the season Dockett had 8 sacks with Berry having to be accounted for by blockers, after Berry went down to a season ending injury Dockett had 1sack in the last half of the season...NOT a coincidence. Let's also not forgt that Okeafor had 8,9,8 & 9 sacks in the past for seasons respectively.

I strongly believe Okeafor's injury this year was a freak thing since he's widely regarded as a workout warrior and has only missed 3 games due to injury in his 8 year career. That being said Okeafor will be 32 next season and while he'll be back at 100% next year and will be a force for another year or 2 the bottom line is he is aging and nearing the end of a contract.

Another glaring stat is that AW had 0 sacks this year. Granted he missed 7 games but 0!!! I believe a large part of this is the FS and CB play behind him he had to be dropped back into coverage MUCH more often. An upgrade at FS and a combination of another CB and getting healthy at the position should allow AW to get after QB's again.

These tweeks to the D could EASILY add 5 sacks to the D which would put us in the top 5 in the NFL in sacks this season.

A young pass rusher to groom would be nice, a Vernon Gholston/D.Harvey or Q.Groves woule nice in rd.1 but is it a better option than a RB to replace Edge (this year or next) or a future #1 CB?

Stats are informative and helpful in making personnel decisions. However, as you all know they can be used to prove points that are opposite of each other. A QB might throw 6 interceptions all in one game. A DE might have 7 sacks in one game or a runner might rush for 300 yds in one game. In a 16 game season such outputs when looked at as part of the entire season eschews the average. Green Bay's QB threw a lot of interceptions this year. I think around 20. If you just looked at the number and not the body of his work you would think he was a dufus.

Stats are certainly important but must be looked at in context of many other things.

 

[john h]

Smith reminds me of a slightly more athletic KVB. If he were to leave, he'd be another Cardinal to blow up elsewhere.

Mentioning KVB makes me ill. He had a awesome year at a position we vastly need improving. I do not know his sack total but it had to be high. I know he was defensive player of the week at least once. Sadly, I do not even recall why we let him go. I guess all teams let good players go but it always seems to me we must lead the pack. Guys leave here and not only become good but become All Pro. This is an area we need to improve in and that is recognizing the talent we already have and perhaps we have them playing out of position. Some of our bad luck is really not bad luck but bad management of players and recognizing talent.

 

[earthsci]

Mentioning KVB makes me ill. He had a awesome year at a position we vastly need improving. I do not know his sack total but it had to be high. I know he was defensive player of the week at least once. Sadly, I do not even recall why we let him go. I guess all teams let good players go but it always seems to me we must lead the pack. Guys leave here and not only become good but become All Pro. This is an area we need to improve in and that is recognizing the talent we already have and perhaps we have them playing out of position. Some of our bad luck is really not bad luck but bad management of players and recognizing talent.

John,
We had signed Chike and Berry. He was slated to be a backup and he was looking for a team where he could start. At that point KVB had played 3 games one year and missed a year. He had all of 5 sacks in that entire time that he was here. I liked him and in hindsight it wasn't a great move (replacing him) but at the time there were very few that were questioning whether it was or not.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Watson had an incredible year this year. Personally, I would say that he was the defensive MVP, because he allowed Dansby and Hayes to make their plays.

First half of the year was Dockett. Second half was Watson.