Losing Abe's pass rushing ability definitely set us back. Mangini and the coaches have got to do something to get Ellis and D-Rob in position to pressure the QB, as they have in the past. If this can happen, we'd be a defensive force and wouldn't have to rely on Rhodes to play the role of Superman to win us games.
We really need a pass rush. Our run defense needs to be better too. I have to point to the d-line on this. That's our number one priority this off season I think. We've been giving up way too many points so far, the D simply has not been dominant all year. If we could just shut down teams a bit, we would probably be 3-0, and we wouldn't have allowed those comebacks later in the game.
I'll group them into 2 categories, major need and lesser need Major needs: Running Back 3-4 OLB NT Minor needs 3-4 DE (mainly b/c I think Dewayne can play it) RT Guard (Kendall is getting older)
All our needs center around the running game... here's how I rank them 1. RB- We need somebody who can get to the hole w/ quickness and be a threat to break a long one at 20-25 carries a game 2. NT- D rob isnt the answer at NT...he'll most likely stick as a gap shooter at end. Moore is good but he needs some competition/relief 3. OG- I'd like to see alil more of Jones at LG as a heir apparent to Kendall...but even if he isnt the answer..Moore stands to be upgraded 4. hybrid OLB- BT is a start on the outside..but he needs a pair mate who is big, strong, fast and aggressive. 5. RT- Clement is only a short term fix and Jones looks like either a back-up or an LG. We could really use an anchor on the right side
someone made a good point that Pouha and Tui will be back next year, along with Moore; that's three 300+ pound guys at NT. what do y'all think? cheers
I think Moore can develop into a solid starter at NT once he gets alil stronger and develops alil more endurance. Pouha and Tui def. present potential depth but both are very inexperienced and unproven. However, if you factor in D rob, who is not an NT...but can give you 5 plays a game at NT and offer a nice change of pace...w/ Moore and those other 2...it doest seem so bad I strongly doubt there will be atrue NT available in FA or the draft...so this might be our only option.
Ya know if that dickweed Tank Tyler wasn't such a dickweed he would be a great NT in the draft I think.
Curtis is done. He was done last year, done in by the Germ. We will win more than 6 games this year. Look at our schedule. We are better than or can compete will with almost everyone we play for the rest of the year outiside of the next two games.
Dominating pass rusher, no more making 6 moves in the backfeild for Derrick Blaylock...just find the hole and hit it!
BLT is bringing some pressure, even if he's not getting sacks. I've noticed quite a few "hurries" as they call them due to BLT pushing the RT back into the face of the QB. I've been disappointed in Ellis, though. He really needs to provide some pressure from his DE slot. Not sure if there are any stunts they can run to help him become more active or not, but we need more from him. We're starting to see the waiver wire players and trade players more. Hamilton and Moore have made some plays. Not sure what's taking Mosely so long. Also have seen Ball on the field more. Hobson and Chatham are weak. If the D-line play can get better, Barton, Vilma and BLT might be okay. The other OLB slot needs help, though. As far as the offense goes, I'll have to see what becomes of the RB position as the line begins to gel. WR isn't as pressing as it appeared to be when TC started. Coles and Cotch have proved themselves and Smith should just get better and better. I don't much care who the 4th and 5th guys are as long as they make an occasional play when called upon. On the O-line, I'd say RT is where I'd look first. Clement hasn't shown much. I've been critical of Moore, but he just got offensive player of the week, so I doubt he's going anywhere. Katnik is getting better, actually. D'Brick needs to protect his inside shoulder against pass rushers better, but he should develop. Mangold hustles and looks very good for a rookie. Pay close attention to him inside the 5 yard line. I've noticed 3 plays where he's simply taken his man and driven him into the end zone. Our backs should be able to figure out how to use that sort of effort. The DBs seem to be a mix-and-match set. Miller's playing himself out of playing time, it seems. But maybe he'll bounce back. Rookie Coleman was a steal. Rookie Smith has shown some promise. And the most important part is that this whole thing is a work in progress. Unlike our recent history, this staff teaches and players should get better--and are expected to get better, with consequences if they don't. Not to go all Homer on yah, but can you imagine if this team continues to develop all year? Nice time to be a Jet fan.
Pass Rusher & a Big game RB. Barlow is good, but I think they need to make a splash in the next draft next year in April.
This team still has too many needs and i still contend this team will be the most competative 500 or sub 500 team in the NFL this year. But we need a running back. A big body at DT if Mangini INSISTS on the 3 - 4 ... someone to keep the blockers off of Vilma and DB's BESIDES Rhodes who can acutally cover
When did we get two first rd picks? I know we have Wash second rd. The RB that we need is Bush. Then we can fill outour pass rushing OLB, our Nt and our road gradding OL in no particular order in the second and third rds..
Great answer. Couldn't help but think of the energy last night in the Superdome and how nice that would have been nice to see at the WSS. But noooooo. KMA Sheldon Silver.
Pouha and Tui don't impress me. Jones is not the answer for any starting position. If he was the answer, Katnik wouldn't have started and played most of the downs on Sunday. It is time to end the Jones as a starter experiment. He stunk it up as RT, as LT, and now has Katnick starting over him at LG. Jones is a career backup. And he is starting over Jones. That should tell you something. Like I said, I think with better run support, the young RBs (Washington and Houston) and Barlow would produce more. So I don't think it is as much a neccesity as other positions. Never said they couldn't. The fact is though, a FB that can catch and block is not easy to find. And it would be better to have a blocking FB, than a catching FB.
