My Roster Analysis - Defense

Part 2 of my series. The 3rd part will be specialists, but will be really short I am sure.

This side of the ball is MUCH harder to figure out what we are going to do. Most of that IMO is that this team is no longer capable of playing the way they did on Sunday for an entire season. They are just too old for it.

Now, that being said here is how I see things.

Defensive Ends:
Keisel - While I would like to replace him to get someone in younger (I think Heyward will play more next year) I think we need him for one more year, but he MUST restructure in order to stay with the team. His numbers are very close to the year before with his sacks the highest since 2006.
Hood - I would really like to see Hood dominate more with his strength getting more penetration into the backfield, but I honestly think some of that is that Woodley doesn't require more than 1 blocker any more nor does Hampton.
Heyward - again another guy who will play more, but he needs to show more as well.
Woods - I would have rather kept Corbin Bryant. I liked him much much better. We should upgrade here if we can.
NEEDS: 1 Defensive end

Nose Tackles:
Hampton - It is time to say goodbye to Hampton. Hand the reigns over to someone else. It makes me sad McLendon hasn't gotten more reps this year, as next year, he will be the starter.
McLendon - Next year's starter. How sad is it that he had more sacks playing about a tenth of the plays that Hampton did.
Ta'amu - I don't know what to say here. I would love to have him here so we don't have to use another pick on a NT, but his crimes may make it a need to do so. His size is awesome, especially if he can create some pressure to the pocket in the middle.
NEEDS: Nothing, unless Ta'amu ends up in prison.

Linebackers:
This to me is the largest area of need and the largest ??? marks about what the FO will do. We have 11 guys on the roster/PS/IR and I have NO IDEA which of these guys ends up with us next year. This is nothing but speculation and opinion on my part.

Sylvester - This was his year to grab a role by the horns....he didn't do it. I don't expect him back.
Foote - UFA, should be brought back IMO to play a role, but with the understanding he may not be a starter.
Johnson - Bye
Robinson - Here is a kid I REALLY like. I want him to play a BUNCH on Sunday, because I want to see what he can do. If he can get pressure on the QB consistently, I don't care if he is a one trick pony, he needs to play.
Timmons - Next year will be his year to CALL plays IMO. It will be his defense to call, so it will be a big year for him.
Harrison - I just don't see him being worth the money he is going to get. I love him, but at 34...I'm not sure.
Woodley - Dude, get in shape...period. I'm not saying he is fat, but he has no explosiveness any more.
Worilds - Right now I see no reason for him NOT to be here.
Carter - I like the kid...I really do, but if I was choosing today, I would play Robinson over him. Needs to show more next year.
Spence - We really have no idea what we have with him. Reports in camp were awesome. The issue we have is...what will he be like when he gets back.
McFadden - Just don't see him being a difference maker.
NEEDS: Who knows? I think we need some splash players here. If we are drafting in the top 15...we need to get an OLB who can get to the QB consistently, but we also need an ILB who can make plays and is reliable like Farrior was for us.

Cornerback:
Taylor - after a rough start, he had a pretty solid year.
Lewis - I really like this kid. If I have to choose to sign Mike Wallace or Him...I choose Lewis.
Allen - really going to be good for us next year.
Brown - I wish I could say great things about him, but right now he isn't getting it done. He could be beat out at camp.
King - camp fodder
Victorian - you know for a kid who had a poor training camp IMO, he competed when he played. Not great, but he competed. I could see him being the #4/5 CB next year.
Van Dyke - To me he can be beat out. He made too many mistakes despite his speed.
Green (PS) - bye bye
NEEDS: I think the needs here are defined by one action....resigning Lewis. If that happens, we are fine here IMO with 1 spot up for grabs to the draft.

Safety:
Troy - I love him, but he has to stay healthy and in order for him to be special...he must make some splash plays
Clark - Solid vet, bring him back
Golden - ???. Not sure yet if he can be depth here or not, but my guess is he get beat out by a draft pick
Mundy - bye bye
Allen - He played well in Troy's role. I would love to have him back.
Cromartie Smith - Solid guy, average player. IMO, I would rather have a draft pick in this spot.
NEEDS: Another position which is hard to figure out what to do, but IMO we need the 2nd round pick to be a safety either to lie in waiting for Troy or Clark.

Projected Roster:
DE: Keisel, Hood, Heyward, Draft Pick or vet
NT: McLendon, Ta'amu
OLB: Woodley, Worilds, Carter, Robinson, Draft Pick
ILB: Timmons, Spence, Foote, Draft Pick
CB: Ike, Lewis, Allen, Brown, Victorian, Draft Pick or VanDyke
S: Troy, Clark, Allen, Draft Pick, Golden

 

good analysis...love reading this stuff...cant wait til draft

 

I have read both your analysis and quite frankly we see things along the same line. It must be a carolina thing.

I liked Mundy and had high hopes for him. He made a dumb decision in OT and Tebow beat us. This year he continued his downward slide. He's a big hard hitting safety with lots of football smarts........ This is why I'm confused but that doesn't change things. Bye Bye. Will Allen has played well. Troy is on the backside of his career and so is Ryan. We need an upgrade in the secondary, Big time as its our weakest part of the defense. I'm actually disappointed in Lewis and C.Allen. I was hoping one or both of them would have played well enough that Ike wouldn't have been missed. We seriously need more ints and with Timmons being our team leader that sucks.

I'm dissappointed in timmons( suprise! ) but I will acknowledge this was a solid season for him. A high draft pick in his 2nd contract and he still isn't calling the plays and was virtually outplayed by an avg aging Foote. I will conceade that this was a career year for foote but we need an upgrade at ILBer and Sylvester Stevenson ain't it. I'm afraid Teo will fall to us and become another timmons. If he does I hope he becomes another P. Willis.


Cajun-

 

I thought Hampton was solid for us this season. I'd like to see him back for another year. A play he made last Sunday was vintage material to be added to his personsal highlight reel.

 

I actually thought lewis played at a pro bowl level...he is only gonna get better... praying teo gets to us...doubt it happens

 

agree

 

JH basically has to be here due to cap implications. He would cost way too much in dead money not to keep plus you would need to pay areplacement.

 

Pro-Bowl!!! No way did he play at pro-bowl level. Allen had 2 ints and Ike had 1.... Lewis zero. In fact Lewis' stats are no better than what Gay had here. There should have been a noticable improvement opposite Ike. He also got beat too often in critical times. Will he get better? sure. But in LeBeau's system he'll be limited.

You may get your wish on Teo.... ILBers haven't historically gone very high in the draft. If we lose to the stains we'll be where he'll most likely go.

Cajun-