Quote:Both the 1996 and 2015 teams were 14th in scoring offense. The difference was the defense which is Gus' supposed specialty. So let's look at defense.


On the defensive line, in 2015 Chris Clemons was a talented player with a lot of experience. So were Odrick and Miller. Alualu is not talented IMO, but he was a veteran and a starter for almost all of his career. Hardly an experience gap there. The 1996 line had a much better pass rush. Clemons did not play up to his previous level, and the 1996 team had a lot of depth at DE. How much of that difference was from raw talent, and how much was from coaching? Branch, Clemons, and Davis all declined in 2015, and only Clemons can be blamed on age.


 

While the '96 DE's had the edge with Brackens, Clyde Simmons, Lageman and Smeenge over Clemons, Odrick, Branch and Alualu, I have to give the '15 DTs the edge at least by the time Sen'Derrick returned. Marks and Roy Miller are a much better do than Jurko and Don Davey.


The 1996 linebackers were two untalented players plus a rookie 1st round pick Hardy. The 2015 Jags had much better LBs, with more overall experience.


 

The biggest difference is Poz over McManus at MLB. Telvin vs Hardy would make for a good debate; Telvin is a bit skinny, but the late round pick might just take an edge over the first round pick here. That's two of the three top LBs, but then you have a very underrated Eddie Robinson who was not at all "untalented" as you describe vs Dan Skuta. I used to think Robinson was possibly better than Hardy until he walked in free agency and joined the Titans, and I definitely think Robinson is better than Skuta.


 

The 1996 DBs were three journeyman backups plus rookie 3rd round pick Beasley. The Jags had House and Colvin at CB, Evans and Cyprien at safety. The total years experience of the two units is 11 for the 1996 group, 9 for the 2015 group. No a big difference in experience. And I still can't figure out why McCray wasn't ahead of Gratz on the depth chart.


 

Agreed. Beasley would go on to be a beast for several years, but not so much his first two seasons. Beasley began making waves in '98.


 

You left out the S position which I would have to give to '96 by a mile with SS Dana Hall and FS Chris Hudson. Both were reliable, savvy vets especially compared to Cyp and Evans or whoever we had back there at any given time last year. Even with Gipson added this year I still have to give '96 the edge at S.