If Ryan is staying...

[JC]

Please no more passive defense! The yards allowed improvements are nice, we just need to get after more QB's and get more turnovers. All of these things can be accomplished through more pressure. Hopefully via free agency and the draft we can find:

Another rush DE (please be Mario, please be Mario)
A Will (weakside linebacker) with some speed
Physical hitting safety (Greg Blue in the draft, Tank Williams in FA)
A way to keep Woodson without breaking the bank (just dreaming)

I think the scheme is close, just need some parts. Ryan should know alot about pressure and ways to bring it.

 

[Rupert]

Well, you're right:

I don't know that we NEED another rush DE, but adding a young stud would allow us to get after the QB from more places. Sapp is getting old and Kelly is a great replacement for him. Kelly also does a great job at DE, but relying on that means we're relying on the old farts to hold up all season (which they didn't last season). New blood would keep this unit moving in the right direction. (NOTE: I also like the idea of getting Williams a LOT).

We've already got a solid Will backer in Clark, and I fully expect him to take that role when Sam Williams gets back healthy. But, that gives us a total of 6 real backers on the roster, one of which is a DE tweener (Riddle) and two of which are special-teamers (Johnson, Ekejiuba).

Even though Schweigert is decent when it comes to physicality, he's about average in the league, he's really the best we have. Cooper is a bigger hitter, but he's in position to hit less. Hill lays the wood, but he doesn't have the size to intimidate. Gibson can lay the wood, and gets about 3 highlight hits per season in the midst of all his shoulder grabbing and throwing. So yeah, a big hitter would be seriously welcomed.

Yeah, keeping Woodson is dreaming. As much as people like moving him to safety, he's not a traditionally big hitter either. He tackles well for a guy his build, but he saves himself when he tackles and doesn't really do it with authority like a true safety should.

 

[Crow]

Please no more passive defense! The yards allowed improvements are nice, we just need to get after more QB's and get more turnovers.

Odds are, we'll have neither under Ryan's watch. Just a hunch.

All of these things can be accomplished through more pressure. Hopefully via free agency and the draft we can find:

Another rush DE (please be Mario, please be Mario)

Our greatest need, IMO. If we don't find a pass rushing DE, we may as well mail in the season.

A Will (weakside linebacker) with some speed

That'd be great, but I think we're probably going to leave Morrison stranded at Will for so long as we're saddled with Rob Ryan. As it stands, we're looking for a new strong side guy. Sam Williams is about as likely to fill this role as Bones is.

Physical hitting safety (Greg Blue in the draft, Tank Williams in FA)

Gotta pass on Blue. To hell with big hitters who can't cover. I've had my fill of those. I'll take Williams in a heartbeat though.

A way to keep Woodson without breaking the bank (just dreaming)

If we find a good safety, we won't really have a use for Woodson.

I think the scheme is close, just need some parts. Ryan should know alot about pressure and ways to bring it.

He should know a lot of things, but...coaching is clearly not an inherited ability.

 

[Crow]

Not only did Ryan stay, he came back.

"Once a Raider..."

 

[007]

Not only did Ryan stay, he came back.

"Once a Raider..."

Heh I almost bumped like 3 Rob Ryan threads.

Do we all realize how stupid this is now?

 

[Crow]

Do we all realize how stupid this is now?

Isn't that half the point, though?