Quote:So because the 2002 Jags had three very good players that completely negates one poor CB plus an atrocious one, and three mediocre LBs? The DEs were Marco Coleman and .... well Brackens played 5 games. I'd call Odrick and Clemons/Branch as at least equal.


 

Haven't you heard the expression that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link? There were a lot of weak links in 2002. To a certain extent a good coach can work around weaknesses in his team. A GOOD coach. 
Even if you want to make the claim that the defensive personnel was better in 2002 (and I disagree) were they 9th vs. 31st better?

Of course there's a limit to the ability of coaching, you can't make chicken salad from chicken [BAD WORD REMOVED]. But the 2015 Jags defense was not as bad as you make it out to be, and in 2002 two very good DTs plus a decent SS alone can't prop up an entire defense. Nonetheless, John Pease coached them into a top ten defense that year.


And then there's 
Houston, week 6. Three plays starting at 6:15 left in the 3rd quarter.

That 2002 team also had Akin Ayodele-who would easily start on this team, Rob Meier, Spicer (both of whom may have started on this roster), and Fernando Bryant, a former first round pick and unquestionably better than Craft.

 

Last year's defense?

 

One good corner, zero safeties, two good but flawed LBs in Smith and Poz, an average NT, an average LDE, and nothing at all that resembles a pass rusher.  Nothing at all that resembles a dominant player like Stroud or Henderson.

 

There is no way you convince me last year's defense was more talented.

 

Was 2002's defense 9th vs 31st better?  No.  But certainly more talented and better equipped to produce superior results.

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