Baldy believes defense is the key. For me? Even more specific than that, the true key...

[TD alt]

1 hour ago, Captain Morgan said:

 

amazing that we're building a monster D since we haven't draft a defensive player with our first or second round pick since 2021.  

Free agency is playing a big part, but this year's additions need to turn the tide

Yeah, I hadn't thought about that fact. An offshoot of a historical all-defense draft in 2020 maybe? I'd like to think it's just coincidental though. Dan would probably say we've just been wired on the BPA, and that just happens to have been offense players the last five years. I think that results have been mixed largely due to a couple of forced errors. Last year was good, and this last draft appears to have set the steady improvement in the first round. We'll see. 

[jfra78]

Only way to win consistently with Bryce at the helm is to play Fox ball

[strato]

13 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Only way to win consistently with Bryce at the helm is to play Fox ball

And Bryce is a long way from prime Jake. So it needs to be some really good Fox ball. 

 

[JawnyBlaze]

3 hours ago, Soul Rebel said:

I tend to agree with Baldy. Our blueprint is kinda what we’re known for when we were successful. Strong defense, win in the trenches, a desire to run first, and take what the defense gives us.

 

The last part about wanting to run vs actually committing to the run has been my biggest complaint with Canales. He says it, built/drafted the offense around it, yet, abandons it very quickly. 
 

I think if Bryce can be Darnold-esque with his game manager approach, and our three-headed RB crew can produce, we should take that next step, IMO. Defense is going to be fine and is our strength. So happy DB, Horn and Moehrig get some legit talent instead of the PS level JAGs we’ve been cycling though. 

He abandons it because teams stack against it. They know Bryce can’t beat them unless he gets on a lucky streak and we’re not going to win games just running for 0-2 yards every time. It would be nice if we could commit to the run but can’t do that without the threat of the pass. 

[strato]

1 hour ago, JawnyBlaze said:

He abandons it because teams stack against it. They know Bryce can’t beat them unless he gets on a lucky streak and we’re not going to win games just running for 0-2 yards every time. It would be nice if we could commit to the run but can’t do that without the threat of the pass. 

Certain teams can be beaten that way and others higher in the pecking order can’t. The ability to beat the lessers at least keeps your floor to a certain level, which you try to build from. 

[rebelrouser]

7 hours ago, TD alt said:

"They have to play like they can shut teams down this year. I think it's on them to really guide this team right now."

Unfortunately agee with that.  

[The Third Reich]

9 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

We are one draft away from being an elite defense if Phillips hits and scourton keeps improving 

THis is my opinion.  While I am really fond of the Hunter pick, I question the DL and I am not confident we can get much more out of the CB position than we did last season.  Of course, I am not satisfied that we addressed the other LB spot. 

Every team has weak links, and these are question marks. 

Personally, I like the S position this year- Moehrig, Ransom was coming around, Wheatley was a great pick, and Scott is veteran depth, I hope.

[strato]

42 minutes ago, The Third Reich said:

THis is my opinion.  While I am really fond of the Hunter pick, I question the DL and I am not confident we can get much more out of the CB position than we did last season.  Of course, I am not satisfied that we addressed the other LB spot. 

Every team has weak links, and these are question marks. 

Personally, I like the S position this year- Moehrig, Ransom was coming around, Wheatley was a great pick, and Scott is veteran depth, I hope.

It shouldn’t be asking too much for a player to step up and make the most of an opportunity. Like a Cherilus or Wallace. Or someone we aren’t even thinking about. 
The positive is that we have minimized the number of positions open to a no name type. Most are pretty solidly filled.

[TD alt]

3 hours ago, The Third Reich said:

THis is my opinion.  While I am really fond of the Hunter pick, I question the DL and I am not confident we can get much more out of the CB position than we did last season.  Of course, I am not satisfied that we addressed the other LB spot. 

Every team has weak links, and these are question marks. 

Personally, I like the S position this year- Moehrig, Ransom was coming around, Wheatley was a great pick, and Scott is veteran depth, I hope.

A legit pass rush has a positive effect on the CB position. I don't understand how you can see it any other way.

Moreover, I suppose that you don't think that Hunter is an upgrade over Robinson. We'll see.

[DeAngelo Beason]

20 hours ago, mrcompletely11 said:

Imo depth is an issue on defense 

This.  Panthers drop like flies early in the season every year.  

[hepcat]

One thing is missing and two things need to click. They don’t have safety who can cover deep. They also need a field general LB and and improved pass rush. If they can upgrade from Nick Scott, and Devin Lloyd and Phillips pan out, yes I think the defense could push being a top 10 unit. 

[strato]

We were in the middle last year. Way up from what we were. I think we will see it is easier to go from bad to sort of decent  than it will be from sort of decent to excellent and highly ranked.  
Just like drafting for starters gets harder when you have some decent starters.  People pay a ton , in all kinds of pursuits, trying to get that last 5%. 

[Davidson Deac II]

Over the last couple of years, the league has tended towards dominant defensive teams winning the SB, with both winning teams shutting out the other team in the first half.  So I am ok with building a dominant defense.  

For all the talk about Darnold, Seattle essentially had no passing attack in the SB, but it didn't matter.  

Edited 18 hours ago by Davidson Deac II

[Davidson Deac II]

15 minutes ago, Davidson Deac II said:

Over the last couple of years, the league has tended towards dominant defensive teams winning the SB, with both winning teams shutting out the other team in the first half.  So I am ok with building a dominant defense.  

For all the talk about Darnold, Seattle essentially had no passing attack in the SB, but it didn't matter.  

Correction, meant to say Seattle had a limited passing attack in the SB.  Darnold did do enough to win.