72 replies to this topic

[teeray]

.... are the only players on the defensive side of the ball whose jobs should be safe.

All due respect to James Anderson who had a great statistical year and Greg Hardy who has moments where he looks like he can be really good, it is time to put loyalties to the side and add serious competition to every position besides the three named players on that side of the ball.

Not just warm bodies from the third tier free agent market and waiver wire. Real talent from the draft and free agency.

Doesn't mean everyone else has to lose their jobs. Just put true competition on the practice field and put players that are actually productive on the field on game day.

[Jesse]

James Anderson had a beast year. He signed a five year $22 million contract July of last year, he's fine. Competition will definitely be needed at the DL and all of the secondary.

[Lumps]

.... are the only players on the defensive side of the ball whose jobs should be safe.

All due respect to James Anderson who had a great statistical year and Greg Hardy who has moments where he looks like he can be really good, it is time to put loyalties to the side and add serious competition to every position besides the three named players on that side of the ball.

Not just warm bodies from the third tier free agent market and waiver wire. Real talent from the draft and free agency.

Doesn't mean everyone else has to lose their jobs. Just put true competition on the practice field and put players that are actually productive on the field on game day.

I disagree with you and agree with our front office on these guys: Anderson's spot is secured. Obviously, he is under contract and preforming above average.

Hardy needs some competition but I believe that spot is fine as well.

I also think Godfrey is fine. I watched every game the whole season, some of them two or three times. In none of them did I see any pressure from our DTs. That makes our secondary look bad, especially with a severely patched LB staff.

That said a replacement for Martin should be highly considered. As well as other DBs besides Gamble and Godfrey.

We are undersized at CB, and yes it does matter go back and watch how many times other QBs just throw it over Captain and Butler's head, so I agree there. I think this will be addressed in the draft.

We have invested a lot already in the DT position and if you put aside the rookie excuse, justified or not, DT is our biggest weakness on defense.

Edited by FortySixand2, 08 January 2012 - 09:39 AM.

[Panther_mountain]

Factoring in injuries, Anderson has been our best lb the past 2 seasons. I wish he had gotten a better look earlier in his career. Why didn't he? Oh yea Fox was here and he gets hard ons for veterans and hates young players.

[Johnny Kilroy]

Yeah James Anderson needs to be mentioned as well.

But besides those 4 we could all use an upgrade. But it's obvious to say they all won't be upgraded nor do I expect them to be.

[Lumps]

lol he basically put all our defensive stars names' out there.

No such thing as a defense of stars except in the pro bowl. Not everyone can be Beason, that's what makes him Beason.

[teeray]

James Anderson, Greg Hardy, and Godfrey are not fine. Anderson had a ton of tackles this season. He also missed a ton of tackles and was pretty pooty in coverage despite a handful of nice plays like the interception against Houston. Greg Hardy can't hold his edge and isn't even that great in pressuring the QB despite that being his "specialty". Godfrey is decent in coverage but rarely provides anything in terms of tackling against the run or against receivers after the catch. He is basically a cornerback playing safety and it shows when he actually has to try and tackle someone.

Being "pretty good" on this defense is like being the skinniest kid in fat camp. It isn't good enough to actually play in the NFL.

And in the NFL. Being under contract means very little.

Edited by teeray, 08 January 2012 - 09:50 AM.

[teeray]

lol he basically put all our defensive stars names' out there.

No such thing as a defense of stars except in the pro bowl. Not everyone can be Beason, that's what makes him Beason.

That is why they should be safe. We don't need a defense of stars. Just guys who can actually play.

[rayzor]

just plain silly that anderson's job not be safe.

[Lumps]

That is why they should be safe. We don't need a defense of stars. Just guys who can actually play.

So you don't think Anderson can actually play? Did you watch this year or last year?

Your not factoring in the Dline play. It's rare DBs can cover for 5+ seconds.

We should not be banking on our safeties tackling, especially running plays.

These pooty seasons have really skewed people's judgments on players. Some are deserved but you have to look at the bigger picture. A safety who is good in coverage is doing his job. A DT and LB who lets a runner get to the safety is not doing their job.

As far as Anderson, he has been resigned and played well. I'll just trust our FOs expertise rather than yours in this case. They don't see to be so bad at picking LBs.

Only valid argument is Hardy not being able to set the edge. Hopefully he can work on this. I'm not willing to give up on him but as I said the area could use competition.

All I did is add Godfrey in your lineup, because I think with a real Dline he can be good, and he is well rounded. Denying Anderson is just silly.

Edited by FortySixand2, 08 January 2012 - 10:00 AM.

[Johnny Kilroy]

James Anderson is fine. Ever since he has got decent playing time two years ago he's been a tackling machine. That Vikings game was his coming out party. I don't remember him missing a lot of tackles. I think he has to cover a whole lot for the ineptness of the defense around him.

You act as if CJ or Gamble don't have their weak points.

Godfrey is decent in coverage but rarely provides anything in terms of tackling against the run or against receivers after the catch. He is basically a cornerback playing safety and it shows when he actually has to try and tackle someone.

Not sure I am seeing the same Godfrey. He is better in run support than pass coverage. He always seems to be a step behind.

[teeray]

So you don't think Anderson can actually play? Did you watch this year or last year?

Your not factoring in the Dline play. It's rare DBs can cover for 5+ seconds.

We should not be banking on our safeties tackling, especially running plays.

These pooty seasons have really skewed people's judgments on players. Some are deserved but you have to look at the bigger picture. A safety who is good in coverage is doing his job. A DT and LB who lets a runner get to the safety is not doing their job.

As far as Anderson, he has been resigned and played well. I'll just trust our FOs expertise rather than yours in this case. They don't see to be so bad at picking LBs.

Only valid argument is Hardy not being able to set the edge. Hopefully he can work on this. I'm not willing to give up on him but as I said the area could use competition.

All I did is add Godfrey in your lineup, because I think with a real Dline he can be good, and he is well rounded. Denying Anderson is just silly.

The big picture IMO is that is these guys are so good how come we are terrible on defense?? Great you have 145 tackles. Yet every team runs the ball effectively to your side because the DT can't get penetration and the DE is a non-factor in the run game and you also miss a ton of tackles and your safety help is a worse tackler than Deion Sanders.

It isn't surprising that he has 145 tackles.

[Varking]

Hardy will put up better numbers next year once we get consisten play from our DTs. I was watching games this year where Hardy was getting doubled and thinking if we could just get any push up front he would be a monster. Plus, if you haven't noticed, Hardy is almost always around the ball or the QB causing him to move even if he isn't getting a sack.

[Lumps]

The big picture IMO is that is these guys are so good how come we are terrible on defense??

Anderson, Godfrey, Gamble, Johnson, Beason.

Because these 5 players who can play on the defense as starters are only half of what we need.

[CarolinaFTW]

You just answered yourself. Anderson is not going anywhere.