ADW weclomes SW’s response and I hope he (ADW) starts posting here so he can speak for himself.

In tough times we all need salvation and little things to look forward to. Steve has given that to many of us here, with a little from Joey BadaBucFan.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Regarding your mention that all Ds have weaknesses, including the T2, here is what ADW had to say…

“That is extremely vague and not addressing directly the weaknesses of the T2. Until White presents a balanced discussion he can not be seen as a credible third observer from my view.

“And he is being intellectually dishonest by not providing a balanced argument because he does know the weaknesses of the T2. Like I said before he is writing what his audience wants to read.”

On a separate topic, did enjoy your draft blog the other day. I’m one of the Suh backers, but would be just as excited if we landed Berry instead. There seems to be a plethora of quality DL prospects this draft, while safety isn’t quite as deep. Just read this interesting bit from Kiper:

” There’s a significant number of people in NFL war rooms that will say that when it comes to building a good football team, you draft from the line on out.

There’s a consensus that if you can build an awesome defensive front, things fall into place for the defense: The linebackers don’t have to deal with blockers getting downfield. The cornerbacks are able to make plays because distressed quarterbacks, hampered by a great pass rush, are forcing throws. The great safeties can both disrupt the passing game deep, or get into the backfield on blitzes because offensive lineman and backs are dealing with the base pass rush.

In sum, everything becomes easier.”

In reading this, it’s easy to see our challenges on defense.

Where there are certainly some things that may change from week to week, but there are others that we can judge in the game this week. Blocking schemes are blocking schemes. I know some folks will act like this coordinator or that coordinator has reinvented the wheel but for the most part the NFL is a copycat league. We aren’t going to go out on Sunday and do something that the Falcons haven’t seen from us over the last decade or another team this year. And not everything will work and not everything will fail, but you will get a general sense from play to play if there is progress. Thats why I say this game on Sunday should be judged in totality not based on just the good play and not just based on the bad. On an average running play did we hold them to 3 yards or less? Are we getting off the field on 3rd down. Those are things that I believe, especially against a division opponent who knows us well, that are going to be indicators this Sunday regardless.

Now the defense will also probably improve over the course of the rest of the season because even though guys are already familiar with the scheme they haven’t really played it any this year. So there will be some adjustment there as well. But again, for the most part if we do better this Sunday thats a good sign. If we do the same then the jury is out. If we do worse you can expect a new staff coaching this team next year. I don’t mean to put it in those blunt terms, but it is what it is.

I think to truly judge the success of this change, you have to give it time. Improvement for a couple of games really doesn’t mean anything once teams get tape of what we’re trying to do on defense and adjust their scheme to counteract it. The proof will be when teams know what to expect from our defense, yet we’re still successful in stopping them.

Thanks for the compliments. I am glad you guys enjoy it.

You and me both brother, you and me both!

In the short term it will help guys like Ryan Sims, Chris Hovan, Barrett Ruud, Quincy Black and Geno Hayes the most. Those guys are the ones most affected by the change, the defensive ends will pretty much be playing the same as they have all year except if we bring back under defense (which I hope we do).

But in the long term I think it helps the young guys the most. Roy Miller is a one gap guy and I think he can actually be a pretty good one gap guy. I like my chances with him at nose and even with him at undertackle. He is a little undersized but he has pretty good get off and he will get after it with hands moves. I think Kyle Moore will be a guy who can perhaps grow into the undertackle role and be that guy who is really getting off the rock and making things happen in the backfield eventually. I never really saw him as an end anyway, I always saw him as a defensive tackle.

I think Hayes may ultimately benefit the most because he looked lost a lot of the times in Bates’ scheme. The kid obviously has the athletic ability it takes and when he knows where he is supposed to go he will shoot his gun and make big plays. The new/old scheme should make things a lot clearer for him and free him up to just go and play.

As for coverage I will have to wait and see how they adjust that. If they start backing the corners off some so they aren’t always in bump and run then I think it will help the pass defense overall. I dont think people realize just how much pressure it put not only on the corners but also the safeties trying to cover the deep ball when our corners are rolled up so much.

Elbert Mack will get a Pickoff too

I feel the Run Defense will be better just by having the Players eyes towards the Line of scrimmage during plays