Current Defensive Line

RugbyMuffin

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I think it is kinda cool that our current line:

DE: A.Smith
NT: A.Branch
DE: C.Campbell

That looks pretty solid, and we should at least get Watson back from injury relatively soon. Hopefully Dockett comes back to earth and joins the team as well.

But still.....that looks pretty good

I personally am very excited about our entire defense for this year. It should be the best/complete defense in the NFC West. And I have a lot of respect for the Niners, and Seahawks defenses.
 

DaisyCutter

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How can you say that lineup "looks pretty solid"? Alan Branch was an absence more than he was a presence last season, and the coaching staff was disappointed in his offseason progress at the beginning of OTAs. Also, I'm excited for Calais Campbell, but rookie defensive linemen, especially ends, rarely make an impact in their first season (cf. Mario Williams, Osi Umeniorya). Campbell is also coming off a disappointing senior season at Miami.

Campbell hopefully will be able to push Antonio Smith to step up his game, but Dockett possesses special qualities. He'll be back in camp on time, so it's not going to matter.

I do hope that Alan Branch takes a quantum leap in terms of his understanding of the system and what's expected of him in his second season. The effort he turned in as a rookie just was not good enough.
 
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RugbyMuffin

RugbyMuffin

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I will go out on a limb and say that Alan Branch will show his worth this year.

You just don't find guys with Campbell's size in the NFL. I think he hit a rut in college, and I expect the NFL life to jumpstart his abilities.

Our current squad (off the top of my head):
Dockett
Watson
Branch
Campbell
Smith
B.Robinson


That looks a lot better then the other teams in our division, IMO
 

DaisyCutter

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I will go out on a limb and say that Alan Branch will show his worth this year.

You just don't find guys with Campbell's size in the NFL. I think he hit a rut in college, and I expect the NFL life to jumpstart his abilities.

Our current squad (off the top of my head):
Dockett
Watson
Branch
Campbell
Smith
B.Robinson


That looks a lot better then the other teams in our division, IMO

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).

I think that the DL is deeper than it's been in recent memory, and the Cards are less likely to fall apart in that unit if there are one (or even two) injuries. But without knowing how LaBoy is going to transition to the system, or seeing how Branch develops, or seeing anything from the draft class, I'm hard pressed to say that this is a dominant unit.

And all this is without getting into my opinion that the defensive coordinator is going to hold back the defensive unit as a whole, and will probably be replaced after the season.
 

joeshmo

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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.
 
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RugbyMuffin

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if you run out Adam Carriker, LaRoi Glover, and Leonard Little on third-and-eight, the QB is going to be under some pressure).

I don't agree with that statement at all.

Little is done. Glover is done. Carriker is still a question mark with his ability.
 

DaisyCutter

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I don't agree with that statement at all.

Little is done. Glover is done. Carriker is still a question mark with his ability.


But there's no question about Alan Branch and Calais Campbell? Seriously.
 

PoolBoy

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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).

I think that the DL is deeper than it's been in recent memory, and the Cards are less likely to fall apart in that unit if there are one (or even two) injuries. But without knowing how LaBoy is going to transition to the system, or seeing how Branch develops, or seeing anything from the draft class, I'm hard pressed to say that this is a dominant unit.

And all this is without getting into my opinion that the defensive coordinator is going to hold back the defensive unit as a whole, and will probably be replaced after the season.

please never say "12th man" with any respect again. the seahags have taken that way too far. very lame.
 

DaisyCutter

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please never say "12th man" with any respect again. the seahags have taken that way too far. very lame.


I don't say it as a marketing thing, as much as the Seahawks defense is massively superior (both in getting sacks and forcing false starts) at home than they are on the road.

Hate the label all you want, but Seattle might currently have the best home field advantage in the NFL.
 

vinnymac

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I don't agree with that statement at all.

Little is done. Glover is done. Carriker is still a question mark with his ability.


I am sorry, but the Rams D-line is coming together. Plus they added Long with their number one pick. I don't know what question mark you are talking about with Carriker. Carriker was the best DL the Rams had last season imo. The Rams will make their mark this season if they can stay healthy. The Seahawks are the Division Champs once again. They keep winning the division for a reason. Maybe because they are a damn good team. Everyone needs to give credit where credit is due.
 

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I don't say it as a marketing thing, as much as the Seahawks defense is massively superior (both in getting sacks and forcing false starts) at home than they are on the road.

Hate the label all you want, but Seattle might currently have the best home field advantage in the NFL.

I'll put our home crowd against theirs any day.
 

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Calais Campbell went to the u. That often, but not necessarily, means three things:
1. He is very talented;
2. He is more of a character risk than players from other schools;
3. His agent is likely to be Drew Rosenhaus.

On top of that, he is a rookie. Whisenhunt and Pendergast are not going to just hand him the job.

I'm hopeful about him. His bust potential is still around 50% as NFL draft history has repeatedly shown. I wish I had seen him more. The very few times I saw Miami the last two years, I didn't notice him.
 

Skkorpion

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The Seattle defense has outperformed ours for many seasons. Until I see that change on the field, it is difficult to predict it will and not be met with skepticism.

I'm quite confident, barring another rash of injuries, that we will improve a lot.

The Rams defense had more injuries than we did last year and I think they will be better too although some of their guys are old too and dropping off in performance.
 

black

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It's effing great.

Time to get going on football season as far as I am concerned.
I like our defense too. On paper, I'm sorry but it seems the nfc west (defense) has improved as a whole not just us. Everyone including the 9ers are going to have a good defense, so Pendy had best put something special together or we aint going to the playoffs.
 
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RugbyMuffin

RugbyMuffin

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I am sorry, but the Rams D-line is coming together. Plus they added Long with their number one pick. I don't know what question mark you are talking about with Carriker. Carriker was the best DL the Rams had last season imo. The Rams will make their mark this season if they can stay healthy. The Seahawks are the Division Champs once again. They keep winning the division for a reason. Maybe because they are a damn good team. Everyone needs to give credit where credit is due.

1. The Rams DL is a mess and I will stick to that. I don't seem to remember the Rams getting better as the year went on. Actually, I remember us giving them a thumping the last game of the season. And save that "injuries" talk for the talking heads in the media that are still clinging to the greatest show on turf. Just remember the Cardinals were not too far behind in the injury category last year. So, the injuries are an excuse that the Rams can use, and the Cardinals can't? Double standard. And Howie Long's kid is just that.

2. The Seahawks have been given credit, and praise. The have been in the spotlight, and touted as the best team in the NFC west for a LOOOOONG time. There due credit has been given to them. But I'll be damn, if they are going to get the free ride from me these days. There DL doesn't make the discussion.
 
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RugbyMuffin

RugbyMuffin

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I like our defense too. On paper, I'm sorry but it seems the nfc west (defense) has improved as a whole not just us. Everyone including the 9ers are going to have a good defense, so Pendy had best put something special together or we aint going to the playoffs.

No team has the depth we do right now. It is not even close. You wanna talk about the starting 11 on paper then we can argue about that. But as for the entire team ? It is not even close.
 

black

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No team has the depth we do right now. It is not even close. You wanna talk about the starting 11 on paper then we can argue about that. But as for the entire team ? It is not even close.
I pray you're right RM. It will tell after preseaon IMO.
 

Skkorpion

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No team has the depth we do right now. It is not even close. You wanna talk about the starting 11 on paper then we can argue about that. But as for the entire team ? It is not even close.

Whoa, Rugby. Yes, there is reason for optimism. But what we have is not depth on defense. Not yet.

We have a collection of talent, some proven but aging and recovering from injury, a small core of proven quality players, some young but unproven and a few limited value role players.

That's not depth. Depth is when somebody goes down, we know the next guy can be relied on. We don't have that until it is demonstrated on the field.
 
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RugbyMuffin

RugbyMuffin

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Whoa, Rugby. Yes, there is reason for optimism. But what we have is not depth on defense. Not yet.

We have a collection of talent, some proven but aging and recovering from injury, a small core of proven quality players, some young but unproven and a few limited value role players.

That's not depth. Depth is when somebody goes down, we know the next guy can be relied on. We don't have that until it is demonstrated on the field.

Haggans, Stewart, LaBoy, Branch, Bryan Robinson, Beisel, Ware, Fransisco

1st round pick - DCR
2nd round pick - C.Campbell

I got eight guys that have started in this league, a first round draft pick, and a second round draft pick. All of which are not considered starters.

You get 53 guys on a squad, minus 3 ST guys, gives you optimally 25 guys for defense and 25 guys for offense. 11 starters plus the eight players named above gives you a pretty good core of 19 guys.

That is the depth I see.

I have no problem with disagreements. It is just what I see against the other teams in the division.

You can argue about Seattle.

You may be able to make some sort of weak case for the Niners.

The Rams are horrible and I don't even want to hear about there defense and what ever they have as backups.
 

BigRedRage

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I pray you're right RM. It will tell after preseaon IMO.


last preseason we thought our D sucked and our offense was amazing, then our O sucked and our D was amazing the first few games. Lets not rest on preseason.
 

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