I was thinking that with all the takeaways we generate, that we're borderline elite. We're not. We still have to make stops. If the opposing O doesn't turn the ball over, they keep going.
"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:
I have been saying this since last offseason. All the turnovers look amazing on SportsCenter and on the stats sheet, but they conceal the fundamental flaw that our defense
relies on creating turnovers because it struggles to stop teams consistently on second and third down. It irks the hell out of me to watch a defensive back getting dragged across the field as he attempts to strip a ball, instead of driving through the ball carrier and putting him into the turf. As fun as interceptions and forced fumbles may be to watch, I would far rather our defense lead the league in lowest third-down conversion percentage than turnovers. Yesterday alone there was at least one glaring instance in which Woodson could have prevented a first down, but he was so intent on attempting to strip the ball that he failed to slow the ball carrier's momentum.
Focus on tackling first. When you have that down, then worry about stripping the ball and jumping routes.
"zombieslayer" wrote:
Normally, I'd agree, but we already had one of the most sure footed kickers pretty much in field goal range. And it's not like we'd be able to stop their offense, anyway, if they got another shot at the first down. You have to make something happen there to get the ball back. The face that their kicker missed is just a miracle. And it would've been, as well, if he had to take the kick 5-10 yards deeper.
I think that our future is very rosey. I don't get why everyone is obsessed with getting more corners, though. At least, not as a real priority. We currently have these guys, lined up on how high they are on the depth chart.
Charles Woodson -
Al Harris - Tramon Williams -
Will Blackmon -
Pat Lee - Jarrett Bush - Brandon Underwood - Josh Bell - Trevor Ford.
If you take 3 of the top 5 guys out and still perform the way we did, mostly, you have some depth at corner.
I've read articles about Underwood turning some heads. If we can believe Joe Whitt Jr. he has a great future ahead of him and will be a starter in this league. Tramon has proven that he can start, as well. You usually don't have to spent a high pick in a nickel corner, let alone a future nickel corner.
If anything, we should use the nr. 1 pick to take a playmaker in a year or two when Woodson retires. Right now, you'd just be stockpiling projects, which we have enough off already as it is.
OT is a priority. I love Chad Clifton and, therefore, I think he should call it quits soon. He's been one of the best for a long time, but his body doesn't keep up anymore. Right now, he's absolutely destroying it by trying to keep going.
DE/OLB is a priority, as well. We need a playmaker at that position. Porky hinted at Merriman in another thread. I'd be all for it. I wouldn't mind our first round pick being a player like Hughes either, this year. We could go with a tackle in the second round and have Lang at LT, while Tauscher plays RT. Maybe rotate in Giacomini... He has to be on the roster for some kind of reason, right?