(11-21-2024, 11:40 AM)cland Wrote:

(11-21-2024, 09:09 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: I'm totally stumped.  It seems there are so many things wrong with this team, it's impossible to figure out where to start.  3-4 or 4-3?  At this point, that seems like such a trivial question.

I think 4-3 fits the personnel better, but the truth is that 4-2-5 (aka. nickel) is always the most used defense.  In terms of DL rotation, a lot of teams rotate the DL to keep fresh bodies on the field.  The problem with Nielsen's rotation is that he's not putting in the best set for the most critical downs.  In addition, the gap between starters to backups is pretty large which comes back to poor drafting and not finding cheap value picks in FA.

The fix isn't that hard. 

First, the line. If Smith and Jefferson aren't the guys in the middle then find some who are in free agency. Armstead should be the rotational 3rd guy inside. Hamilton is the 4th man at best, maybe eat his dead money in the offseason. Find a 3rd pass rusher to rotate the ends like they tried and failed with Gipson. Guys like Ledbetter and Omu just aren't sufficient.

Secondary: Get another CB who can push the Buster/Jones/Prince group for the #2 spot opposite Tyson and you have a decent five. Sign or draft two safeties. Let Cisco walk, keep Savage and Johnson for another year, keep Dewey and Thomas for depth/Teams if they are better than the two new guys.

LBs are fine with the 5 or 6 they have.

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(11-21-2024, 12:56 PM)Caldrac Wrote: 4-2-5 is the correct answer. We need a stronger base within the interior and a safety that can play like a LB within the box and cover like a CB within the secondary. Personel dictates this, but, if you give me some of these players in next year's draft? I could make it work as a coordinator.

Travis Hunter at CB.
Mason Graham or Will Johnson from Michigan to help at DT or CB.
Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina or Xavier Watts at S from Notre Dame.

Any one of those guys above would help this defense out perfectly. I would be happy with Hunter or Graham in RD1 with Emmanwori or Watts the next day in RD2 early. Our secondary and interior defensive line play is bad this year, just like it was last year. I feel like safety play is more important at the moment.

Travis Hunter would be fine if you can trade down 5 spots to gain some picks and still get him. Otherwise he's another useless little guy who won't be worth a damn because the big guys suck.

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