I hope all you "its scheme problems and injury problems" people are correct. That's its simply a matter of staying healthy and not putting square pegs into round holes.
Personally, I think its been more of not having anywhere near enough round pegs or square pegs. That Capers has been forced to try to fill holes with smoke and mirrors.
To me the question on defense are all about the quality of personnel:
1. How good is Peppers at this stage of his career? Is he more like Reggie White or more like Joe Johnson? I'm real hopeful here.
2. How long will it take Clinton-Dix to play safety at the level needed? Burnett isn't quite there yet. Collins took a couple years. So did Butler. I'm not old to remember if Willie Wood did. He's going to be good, but I also thing you're going to see a lot of rookie "miscommunication," "bad angle," and "missed tackle" examples. What I really want to see is how his closing speed looks.
3. Will Raji finally become a consistent top-end player? It's possible. I'm not holding my breadth.
4. Will Thornton push for more and more reps, increasing the competition level at DT. Maybe. I'm not holding my breadth.
5. Will Perry show more than flashes? I'm not holding my breadth.
6. Will Datone Jones show significant growth? Maybe. I just don't know. I want to be optimistic.
7. Will they switch Bradford to ILB and will he push Brad Jones into a role player? I really hope so. IMO if Clinton-Dix will be the most important rookie determinant of how much the defense improves, Bradford will be the second, which leads me to the last one:
8. How many plays will Brad Jones and Micah Hyde be on the field. The higher this number, the more we will be bitching about a lack of improvement.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)