I decided to respond before reading the article. Main reasons for defense not progressing:Originally Posted by Teamcheez1
1) TT tried to fix d-back situation by drafting King, Jones, (and Evans) and BRINGING BLACK HOUSE. Hope was that these guys, plus healthy and improving Randall and Rollins would result in serious upgrade. Reality: Injuries, mental illness (Randall), and regression by HCD (due to injury or over-burdened with responsibility on back end) have made this group meh so far. Still, dramatic improvement by season's end is still possible.
2) Interior pass rush. Daniels plus Clark were supposed to be more disruptive. Even Lowry was expected to contribute more with the invisible Datone Jones now actually missing, not just MIA. Packers drafted Adams, but he is not ready. Clark is a force, but not a disruptive pass rusher. Daniels is neutralized for whatever reason. Mix of double-teams and drop in productivity. Maybe he just tired. There is no reason to believe anything here will improve. Lowry's arms have stopped growing.
3) Outside pass rush. This is largely nonexistent. Biegel was supposed to help: Packer Plague victim. FA gamble with Brooks may not work out as he is suffering from the Packer Plague as well. Matthews is ineffective. Perry is OK but it's entirely possible that he is now the target for other team's game planning, not Matthews. He can't defeat double teams. He is no Khalil Mack. Packers have nothing close to a Mack. As a result, d-backs are more exposed than Harvey Weinstein in a limo. Expecting Biegel and Brooks to return and save the pass rush is possible, but so is a Mars colony in the next 10 years.
4) Linebackers and Nitro. Martinez is good. Ryan is Meh. Burnett can run the nitro, but without him, the middle is even more susceptible to crossing route kryptonite. This should improve with Jones gaining experience and Burnett returning.
Overall: lack of productivity from key starters (HCD, Matthews, Daniels) and delayed (or non-existent) improvement from others is killing the defense. There is some hope for improvement by season's end, but only if everyone gets healthy and stay healthy, and even then, we're looking at an average defense. And they need more - right now - to weather the storm of either waiting for Rodgers to return or Hundley to improve.
Reply With Quote