I don't know. I don't necessarily think it's better than what the Seahawks have (because their 12th man and Patrick Kearney are better than anyone on our defensive line), or really what the Rams have (which is easy to forget because they were ravaged by injuries last season; if you run out Adam Carriker, LaRoi Glover, and Leonard Little on third-and-eight, the QB is going to be under some pressure).
Was about to say that Seattles was better as well right now. Ours can be better on paper but Seattles has already proven it while ours hasnt "yet".
We still have some "ifs" that need to work itself out, of which I think most of them will by the bye week hopefully.
Watson - will he or will he not be ready for training camp and even if he is he is a big man and it will take some time for him to get back into shape again.
Branch - If last season says anything is that Branch needs more seasoning, I think it takes him half the season to get that.
Campbell/Iwebema - Rookie DE's tend to take a little longer to make their marks. Like Williams, and most recently Gaines Adams didnt play all that well until the last half of last season and he was a top 10 pick.
Dockett - Will he or wont he be in training camp. Which Dockett will we get, the one that goes into his usual yearly slump, or the dominate one.
I think Watson, Branch, and the two rookies will work itself out by midseason, but I see some growing pains the first half. But I dont see a repeat of a tired and ineffective DL like we saw the last half of last season. Those guys got overused and worn out because of lack of depth. I dont even remember who the backup for Dockett and Smith was last year, Bailey played mostly as a DT or a NT so I honestly cant remember who gave Dockett or Smith breathers, and thats pretty sad.
This year we have much better depth and should not see the same tired and ineffective group we saw the last half of last year. -
Campbell/Iwebema/Robinson > Docketts Backup last year.
Branch/Robinson > Branch and Bailey subing for Watson last year
Campbell/Iwebema/Robinson > Smiths Backup last year.
Where I see the most depth and is the strength of D is at LB. All are proven from the starters to the backups. Berry can still rush the passer and should stay healthy with a good pass rushing Laboy behind him. Laboy got a lot of sacks last year and he did it as a rotational player with limited opportunites. Okeafer and Haggans on the otherside is a dynamic dou. Dansby and Hayes are Solid at Minimum and their backups are solid veterans in Beisel and Stewart. Pendy can rotate LB's #1 through #8 and have fresh LB's from quarter 1 through quarter 4, and from Game 1 through Game 16.