Joel
11-09-2013, 07:24 PM
Maybe that sounds like a stupid question, but really think about it:
DT: Vickerson and Knighton may be the best starting pair we've had since the SB wins, with solid backups. Yes, people complain about Vickerson getting all of TWO flags for things that wouldn't have been called at all even five years ago, and no, they don't put up tons of sacks, but rushing the passer isn't really their main job (really.) They're brutal against the run, especially up the gut, and are a big part of why we're 3rd against the run despite facing two top five rushing offenses. If not for that, it's debatable whether our 233 lb. former starting Will would have the size to be the excellent starting Mike he has this year.
DE: Ayers and Phillips go back and forth for the team lead in sacks, the more remarkable because they're splitting time at the SAME POSITION. They're not just sack machines though; they play the DE run-stopping role as well as our DTs play that one. All that, plus getting double-teamed on >40% of his snaps, makes it easy to miss Wolfe doing both jobs just as well on the other side.
LB: Our front fours run defense helps immensely, but Woodyard's a playmaker who's a fine impromptu 4-3 Mike despite being lighter than most traditional ones, playing the run, pass and QB with equal excellence. Miller's back and Trevathan's shown he can mostly fill Woodyards shoes at Will; we've got two very good starting OLBs, one among the leagues best in pass rushing, while the other made a game winning pick.
CB: Chris Harris just impossibly finds ways to get better every year; two and a half years of that has made him frighteningly good. With a coaching staff able to discipline him (and knowledge his contract's only good for one year,) DRC has begun regaining the elite playmaking ability he displayed his first few years. Tony Carters star has faded somewhat as he was caught out of position a few times, but Kayvon Webster has more than made up the difference halfway through his rookie year, and is an usually reliable nickel-, making Carter a sufficient dimeback. A healthy Champ Bailey would make this group impregnable.
S/FS: The one fly in the ointment, yet even it isn't THAT bad if one considers Moores blown Hail Mary coverage last year the exception rather than the rule. Ihenacho's come on strong enough in his second year to displace Adams as starting SS, but Adams is still good enough I'd frankly prefer starting him rather than Moore at FS next to Ihenacho; regardless (and wishing Nacho a speedy full recovery,) I'm fairly confident in either of our two SSs, and Moore isn't awful.
Further, we have good depth most places (the biggest current difference between our offense and defense.) Unrein's a decent (not stellar) backup DT, Jackson solidly backs Wolfe and the difference between Phillips and Ayers is almost unnoticeable. Even without Champ our base and nickel D is excellent and dime pretty good. Irving still isn't the starting MLB we drafted, but a good traditional run-stopping SLB when Miller's out (if never the same pass rushing force,) and at least prevented total nakedness when Woodyard was hurt at MLB. Adams is a fine third safety; only WLB is thin, and only because Woodyard plays MLB so well.
Contrast that to our offense, which put up gaudy numbers at the start of the year but faltered our last two games, in no small part due to injury. We lost our starting C in preseason, re-signed last years replacement, then promptly lost HIM for the year, pressing a backup guard into service. Ramirez has performed phenomally, but unless (perhaps even if) Walton's 100% another injury at C would be nightmarish.
It's not much better at G, where a still-hobbling Chris Kuper is listed as our SOLE backup. Like Beadles, Kuper's good in pass protection and runblocking downfield (but not at the line) when healthy, but he hasn't been healthy since the Chiefs ripped his foot off at the end of the 2011 season. I'm hopeful he can return at full strength this season, but even if he did we'd still only have ONE backup guard worthy of the name.
At T, Clady's gone for the year and Franklin's only just returned. That leaves a guy claimed off waivers protecting Mannings blindside; he's looked good most of the time, but Mathis took him to school against Indy. Based on their career resume, Justice looks like a better backup than Clark, but not good enough we didn't slide Vasquez over (and temporarily promote Kuper) when Franklin got hurt.
At the skill positions, I assume we can all agree our season would be in the toilet if Osweiler or Dysert had to replace Manning for the rest of it; that's nothing against them, but I don't think either our second year second round or rookie seventh round pick good enough to win a SB yet. Moreno's had a great year so far as runner, receiver and blocker; the problem is what we do when he's out of gas or (heaven forbid) hurt again, and so far the best solution we've found is C.J. Anderson, which says as much about Hillman and Ball as it does him. We've got three great starting WRs, but after that only Holliday and Caldwell.
About the only place I like our offensive depth is TE, where Dreesen's an excellent receiver and blocker and Tamme's pretty good at both, while Orange Julius is a devastating receiver and Green a good blocker.
Our offense is VERY thin at this point, and the cracks are starting to show in Mannings poor protection (with resulting ankle sprains and errant throws) as well as our diminished run game (especially in short yardage.) There's a reason that, despite lots of blowouts encouraging us to run in the second half, we're 17th in rushing (and no, it's not "Moreno sucks;" without him we'd probably be a bottom ten rushing team.) I guarantee KC, NE and everyone else has noticed, and will be jamming our WRs and head-hunting Manning, who won't get much more help from the line than our backs do.
It looks like the D will have to carry us a bit, probably for the rest of the season, since we're past the trade deadline and the waiver wires the only likely source of new linemen. The next month (easily our toughest of the regular season) may tell the tale, but they just might be up to the job. I hope so, because despite our 7 wins against losing and .500 teams, injuries have us near the breaking point.
DT: Vickerson and Knighton may be the best starting pair we've had since the SB wins, with solid backups. Yes, people complain about Vickerson getting all of TWO flags for things that wouldn't have been called at all even five years ago, and no, they don't put up tons of sacks, but rushing the passer isn't really their main job (really.) They're brutal against the run, especially up the gut, and are a big part of why we're 3rd against the run despite facing two top five rushing offenses. If not for that, it's debatable whether our 233 lb. former starting Will would have the size to be the excellent starting Mike he has this year.
DE: Ayers and Phillips go back and forth for the team lead in sacks, the more remarkable because they're splitting time at the SAME POSITION. They're not just sack machines though; they play the DE run-stopping role as well as our DTs play that one. All that, plus getting double-teamed on >40% of his snaps, makes it easy to miss Wolfe doing both jobs just as well on the other side.
LB: Our front fours run defense helps immensely, but Woodyard's a playmaker who's a fine impromptu 4-3 Mike despite being lighter than most traditional ones, playing the run, pass and QB with equal excellence. Miller's back and Trevathan's shown he can mostly fill Woodyards shoes at Will; we've got two very good starting OLBs, one among the leagues best in pass rushing, while the other made a game winning pick.
CB: Chris Harris just impossibly finds ways to get better every year; two and a half years of that has made him frighteningly good. With a coaching staff able to discipline him (and knowledge his contract's only good for one year,) DRC has begun regaining the elite playmaking ability he displayed his first few years. Tony Carters star has faded somewhat as he was caught out of position a few times, but Kayvon Webster has more than made up the difference halfway through his rookie year, and is an usually reliable nickel-, making Carter a sufficient dimeback. A healthy Champ Bailey would make this group impregnable.
S/FS: The one fly in the ointment, yet even it isn't THAT bad if one considers Moores blown Hail Mary coverage last year the exception rather than the rule. Ihenacho's come on strong enough in his second year to displace Adams as starting SS, but Adams is still good enough I'd frankly prefer starting him rather than Moore at FS next to Ihenacho; regardless (and wishing Nacho a speedy full recovery,) I'm fairly confident in either of our two SSs, and Moore isn't awful.
Further, we have good depth most places (the biggest current difference between our offense and defense.) Unrein's a decent (not stellar) backup DT, Jackson solidly backs Wolfe and the difference between Phillips and Ayers is almost unnoticeable. Even without Champ our base and nickel D is excellent and dime pretty good. Irving still isn't the starting MLB we drafted, but a good traditional run-stopping SLB when Miller's out (if never the same pass rushing force,) and at least prevented total nakedness when Woodyard was hurt at MLB. Adams is a fine third safety; only WLB is thin, and only because Woodyard plays MLB so well.
Contrast that to our offense, which put up gaudy numbers at the start of the year but faltered our last two games, in no small part due to injury. We lost our starting C in preseason, re-signed last years replacement, then promptly lost HIM for the year, pressing a backup guard into service. Ramirez has performed phenomally, but unless (perhaps even if) Walton's 100% another injury at C would be nightmarish.
It's not much better at G, where a still-hobbling Chris Kuper is listed as our SOLE backup. Like Beadles, Kuper's good in pass protection and runblocking downfield (but not at the line) when healthy, but he hasn't been healthy since the Chiefs ripped his foot off at the end of the 2011 season. I'm hopeful he can return at full strength this season, but even if he did we'd still only have ONE backup guard worthy of the name.
At T, Clady's gone for the year and Franklin's only just returned. That leaves a guy claimed off waivers protecting Mannings blindside; he's looked good most of the time, but Mathis took him to school against Indy. Based on their career resume, Justice looks like a better backup than Clark, but not good enough we didn't slide Vasquez over (and temporarily promote Kuper) when Franklin got hurt.
At the skill positions, I assume we can all agree our season would be in the toilet if Osweiler or Dysert had to replace Manning for the rest of it; that's nothing against them, but I don't think either our second year second round or rookie seventh round pick good enough to win a SB yet. Moreno's had a great year so far as runner, receiver and blocker; the problem is what we do when he's out of gas or (heaven forbid) hurt again, and so far the best solution we've found is C.J. Anderson, which says as much about Hillman and Ball as it does him. We've got three great starting WRs, but after that only Holliday and Caldwell.
About the only place I like our offensive depth is TE, where Dreesen's an excellent receiver and blocker and Tamme's pretty good at both, while Orange Julius is a devastating receiver and Green a good blocker.
Our offense is VERY thin at this point, and the cracks are starting to show in Mannings poor protection (with resulting ankle sprains and errant throws) as well as our diminished run game (especially in short yardage.) There's a reason that, despite lots of blowouts encouraging us to run in the second half, we're 17th in rushing (and no, it's not "Moreno sucks;" without him we'd probably be a bottom ten rushing team.) I guarantee KC, NE and everyone else has noticed, and will be jamming our WRs and head-hunting Manning, who won't get much more help from the line than our backs do.
It looks like the D will have to carry us a bit, probably for the rest of the season, since we're past the trade deadline and the waiver wires the only likely source of new linemen. The next month (easily our toughest of the regular season) may tell the tale, but they just might be up to the job. I hope so, because despite our 7 wins against losing and .500 teams, injuries have us near the breaking point.