Hardy, I have a lot of respect for your position, but I don't think we're going to agree on this. (I agree and that's cool, Kerouac.) What was working was our pass defense against tight ends and running backs--that's a statistical fact. (This is such an ambiguous statement: just because teams weren't completing passes to TE's and RB's doesn't mean they weren't wripping up the corners. Opposing offenses picked on our corners and pounded the football, taking the path of least resistence. They didn't have to worry about TE's and RB's.) What wasn't working was our perimiter pass defense (Because teams knew where the Cardinals weakness was.) and our rushing defense up the middle. (Up the middle, to the tight-end, the weakside perimeter and all points in between.) Why wasn't that working? Because we were blitzing all the time (Putting our corners in man-cover, as well as confuse run-down blocking-schemes)) because our primary pass rusher was on IR in Berry (Only half the year. Why was the defense getting ripped up early in the year?) and our secondary pass rusher Dockett was forced to play out of scheme (He continued to play the 3-technique in a 4-3 Under defense.) because Russell Davis was useless when he was on the field (Russell Davis was the best run-stopper the Cardinals had - by far! In fact, if you want to make a case for Dockett's demise, most football people I know would tell you it was because Russell Davis was no longer playing the 1-technique next to Dockett.)and the tackles were nothing special once Davis was off it. (Russell Davis was useless? >>>>>>>>>>>>
Now, you seem to be really sold on getting pressure in the backfield by adding Pace. (Do not make assumptions as to my understanding. Our front seven is light and we are in dire need of size. I'd like to see a front-seven that can stop the run in the NFL. Having a 235 lb. Sam is not going to help us do that. In addition, since when is it a bad thing to want to get pressure on the quarterback?) That seems to be the primary importance to you. (See above.) But we're going to have added pressure both on the perimiter (by the return of Bertrand Berry) and on the inside (by allowing Dockett to play the three-technique again (He never stopped playing the 3-technique.) and the addition of Clancy, who is a much better pass rusher than anyone we've had in a while beside Dockett - (Don't be so sure. Based on this week in Flagg, I can name three back-ups that rush the passer better than Clancy - or Dockett for that matter.)). Also, the run defense should be improved in the middle with the addition of Clancy and the re-emergence of Dockett as well as a hopefully healthy and effective Gerald Hayes as well as a better MLB rotation with Hayes-Darling-Mitchell sharing snaps and everyone staying fresh. (Lets hope it is improved across the board.)
As you said, a D-coordinator would much rather have his front four be able to generate pressure and then free up this back 7 to make plays. (Not playing pure man, playing zone and variations thereof.) That's what we have right now in our defensive line rotation. Who's going to be better able to make plays in space: Orlando Huff (Did you see this guy play last year?) /James Darling (Wouldn't you rather have Dansby over Huff and Darling at WLB - a playmaker in a playmaking position.) and Dansby or Calvin Pace and Dansby? (Yes, Calvin Pace and Dansby.) You know that it's Huff and Darling. (You know the Sam-backer plays on the LOS. Football is NOT just about "playing in space." How about preventing opposing players from getting in space?)
I don't object to Pace being a subpackage player, but MCD is suddenly promoting him to the starter's role, when even Ron Wolfley, in an article pimping this busted draft pick, admitted that the guy can't drop back and cover, and won't be asked to. (Kerouac, with all due respect, why do you continue to ignore the many coverages a team can run that does not include locking the Sam-backer up in man on the TE? How do you think teams play Tony Gonzalez? How do you think teams play Antonio Gates? Do you think Clancy Pendergast will lock-up Dansby on these guys? No way.) Clancy Pendergast asks his players to cover, and if you put a liability into coverage, (He's only a liability if you ask him to cover a good TE in MAN.) then you take away guy's like Adrian Wilson's ability to make play. (Explain this, please? Why does this negate Wilson's ability to make a play? By the way, the "knock" on Adrian Wilson and the suspected reason he does not get voted to the Pro Bowl deals with his lack of playmaking ability at the safety position! Leading the league in sacks, let alone his own team, IS NOT going to get a safety voted to the Pro bowl.)
It doesn't matter whether or not a TE is able to block Calvin Pace if that TE is making a 17-yard catch over Pace's head. (Assuming the coverage, once again, is pure MAN. And, I'd offer this: It doesn't matter if the TE is making a 17-yard catch over Pace's head if the offense can just line-up and run the ball into the "strength" of the defense. What is more demoralizing and has a higher percentage of success? Running the football or throwing a 17-yard completion over Calvin Pace's head.) Pace has been a liability on the field since he came here; we shouldn't compound that liability by putting him into a starter's role that he obviously isn't able to play. (Agreed. He has not played well since he came here. What does that have to do with where they're playing him this year, what they want to do with him, and what they think he can handle this year? They, meaning NFL coaches, are pretty excited about what he's been doing. Do you think they want to lose? Do you think they would place him in a scheme where people were doing nothing but completing 17-yard passes over his head?)
I agree with you that as a zone-blitz weapon in modified five-man fronts for eight plays a game, Pace can be an effective change-up at SLB. (It doesn't matter what you think or agree with or what I think or agree with, it's what the coaches think or agree with. And it's why I'm hearing whispers and warnings of a position change for Karlos Dansby. Right now, they think Pace can do it.) He presents intriguing options, but you're limiting your other playmakers on that side of the field (I don't even understand this. How are you "limiting" them?) (namely Okeafor, Rolle, and Wilson--the latter two are expected to be Pro Bowl players sooner rather than later and all three far superior talents to Calvin Pace) to "cover up" for a guy that can only play one direction if you have Pace out there on 2/3 of the defensive downs or better.
Kerouac, you're not far from the truth. You have knowledge of the game but I believe your dislike of Pace is blinding your judgment. Calvin Pace may fall-flat-on-his-face but today, August 4, 2006, Clancy Pendergast doesn't think he will...
