Quote:There is a big difference between a good player and a good defense. I'm not saying there was any single player that was "the difference between a  competent defense and the one we have now?"  Understand the differentiation.

 

It's a fact though Bradley had 3 drafts and 3 free agency periods to put this defense in place. So it's his defense and if it's void of key personnel, as it was stated, it's because of him.

 

Regards................the Chiefjag

Then why bother to complain about the jettisoning of players at all, if you don't think they would have made a positive difference in the defense's performance?  Should a new coach and GM not make any changes to a team that went 2-14 the year before they got there?

 

Yes, Bradley had 3 drafts.

 

Who did he get in those three drafts that could transform this into a competent defense?

 

Cyprien?

 

Gratz?

 

Evans?  No.

 

Telvin Smith...ok.

 

Colvin...ok.

 

Fowler?  Not in the first year.  Not when he blew out his knee 30 mintues into his first minicamp.

 

Sample?  Not in the first year.  Not when he broke his forearm at the end of a preseason practice.

 

It's true he had three free agency periods, two of which were more of the bargain basement variety.  Who did he get from free agency?

 

Marks?  ok.

 

Clemons?  A thirty something DE?  No.

 

Bryant?  Another 30 something DE?  No.

 

Ziggy Hood?  A bust in Pittsburgh and a non entity here.  No.

 

Odrick?  A decent run stuffer...not a big play guy...but maybe.

 

Skuta?  A rotational guy, not a big play guy.  No.

 

House?  A good CB?  Yeah.

 

How is it necessarily his fault the defense doesn't have the personnel? 

 

He certainly didn't leave the cupboard bare before he got here.  He certainly didn't cause Fowler and Sample to get hurt.  He didn't cause McCourty to stay in New England.

 

Could you argue that perhaps he didn't develop the players?  Maybe, though that generally falls to position coaches.

 

Could you argue that perhaps his scheme didn't utilize the players effectively?  Maybe, though how would you explain getting 8 sacks out of a 33 year old Clemons, Telvin Smith's development, or Marks reaching his first Pro Bowl in Bradley's defense?

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