Quote:Anyone who has read this board over the past year can tell you virtually nobody here has confused this team with a juggernaut.

 

We all know that despite the promise this offseason seems to have, we are still in the very early stages of a massive build.  This is far from a complete team, and there will likely be some uneven performances by the team overall.

 

The question is, if you had to pick a side of the ball to trust to carry us this year while the team improves, which side of the ball would it be, offense or defense?

 

Why?

 

Does your answer change over the course of the season?  What would determine it?

 

I think the defense will be the one carrying the offense, especially early on in the year.

 

First, the defense has more proven performers.  While older, guys like Poz, Bryant and Clemons give this team ability and leadership, and at face value, Bryant and Clemons seem to represent immediate upgrades over their replacements from last year, as does Dekoda Watson, while Ziggy Hood should gives us better quality depth, if nothing else.  While Beadles and Gerhart represent veteran additions on the offensive side of the ball, I am not sure if the dramatic impact they may have will be as evident, especially early on.

 

 

  Secondly, I think there are more young players in ascent on this side of the ball.  Cyprien, Gratz and Branch showed signs of improvement over the course of last year.  Cyp and Gratz are in their second years, while Branch is entering his 3rd.  The young guys on the offensive side of the ball are mostly rookies, especially at WR.   Rookie WRs rarely make much positive impact.  While Joeckel is technically in his second year, he is still a rookie for all intents and purposes.  He started out on the right side fro 4 games or so, then in his fifth, he moved back to LT where he got hurt for the year early in the Rams game.  Bortles likely won't play this year-according to the coaches-and even if he does-it likely won't be until later and it is highly unlikely he replicates Marino's or Roethlisberger's rookie year successes.  While Henne may show improvement with new skill players and linemen and another year in the offense, I think the offense's true improvement will come when Bortles is finally inserted in the lineup.  Shorts is in his prime, but Blackmon is not available, and he should be in his prime.  Rookie WRs rarely make much positive impact.  I think the latter part of this year and 2015 is when you will see the offensive improvement.

 

Finally, I think it's going to be easier for the defense to gel than the offense.  Two of the newcomers on the defense already know the scheme.  Meanwhile, the OL has four new starters from opening day last year.  It'll take them a while to get in synch, all recognize blitzes and know what to do, etc., which, in turn will affect the performance of the rest of the offense.  Besides, lets face it.  Bradley is a defensive coach.  This will be a defensive team under his watch.

 

So which side of the ball do you  trust to carry the team this year?

 

Mine would have to be Defense.  You figure the free agency pick ups of DEs Big Red Bryant, Chris Clemons both from Seattle worked under Gus when he was the Defensive Coordinator.  Then you throw in DT Ziggy Hood, along with the existing roster of Sen'Derrick Marks and Roy Miller for the interior it may not be the flashiest Defensive Line but its a very solid one.  The DBs are a bit of a concern, but we all have very high expectations for SS Johnathan Cyprien to make it to the ProBowl this season if not come very close.  The CB Blackmon held his own along with Ball.  The LBs are lead with the star Poz ProBowler MILB, and the rookie Telvin Smith has been impressive so far. The free agency pick up of Dekoda Watson, among a couple others and the coaching staff's ability to coach up LBs in Jacksonville are among the best in the league (see Urlachers choice to come to Duval to talk to the players based on his relationship with our coach).  The FS position, and CB really concern me the most but they arent so bad that the Defense wont be at least in the middle of the pack in my opinion with the rest of the NFL (despite the feared collapase of Offense remaining under Chad Henne's direction).

 

I mean maybe Toby Gerhart will look better than MoJo (well at least how he played last year), and maybe Chad Henne will shock everyone with his better protection and tons of receiving options but if I had to bet on one at this point I would take the Defense as doing the better job.

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