(02-11-2019, 04:55 PM)Bullseye Wrote:

(02-11-2019, 04:32 PM)jagshype Wrote: Ive always wandered what a healthy & motivated Brackens couldve done with Big Hen and Stroud.

I think that defense would have enabled us to beat New England.

The one thing that defense couldn't do was rush the passer, especially from the edge. 

They tried to remedy the problem.

They signed Reggie Hayward as a free agent from Denver.  Solid player, but he tore his achilles and was never the same.

When that signing went south, they signed Aaron Kampman.  Again, solid player and solid pro, but was towards the end of his career, and a knee injury ended that.

Finally in desperation, they made the two trades up in the 2008 draft for Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, and we know how that turned out.

In the year we drafted Derrick Harvey and Groves. We traded: A first, 2 3rd rounders, and a 4th for harvey (I know we got a 1st round pick back) and for Groves (R.I.P.) they gave up a 5th and a 7th to swap picks.

Now consider. Jared Allen was on the block that year from the Chiefs and ended up being traded to the Vikings for a 1st and a 3rd. Considering all the picks we gave up for the aforementioned bust pass rushers. Where would we be if we had acquired Jared Allen instead? A guy that was PROVEN, and while the Vikings had higher picks (and are in the opposite conference) we likely wouldve had to give up the other 3rd or the 4th still ... but he'd be wayyy cheaper in terms of draft compensation; and i can say for certain he would've been the pass rusher that 2007 defense was missing.

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