The House of Blue

I'm placing my faith in Mike Summers and Pat Washington. I think we're athletic enough to compete and win a few games but progress on LG, LT, and RT are critical along with a competent corp of receivers.

I think our D will be pretty good even with the loss of Trevathan and Guy.

Critical, if I could pick the one single-most critical point on the team this year it would be at right tackle.

That was my point as well. I think we are in a position that is best suited to gamble on defense. We will need some turnovers this year. And Rumph and Cobble have the ability to get into a quarterbacks personal space helping to cause some turnovers.

I loved Danny T's style of play and Winston Guy really thrived in his position when he played assignment football. However, the fact that we lost 250+ tackles from last season's defense isn't really an indicator of how the defense will play in 2012.

Whenever I see someone post (not speaking of this thread in particular, but in general) about how the defense will be worse because we lost 250+ tackles, I wonder if they think that it means 250 more plays will just go for touchdowns in 2012 because those tackles don't exist any more.

We needs some guys with ability to rush from edge to truly get pressure on Bridgewater. Whether that be Dupree, Ukwu, Douglas whoever. When those guys are getting pressure is usually when guys like Rumph and Cobble get sacks and those could cause some fumbles as big and strong as they are. But just saying that I hope we can get some pressure from the edge. No doubt that the two big guys inside will help with that.

Danny & Winston did more than just tackle guys once they past the line of scrimmage. They both were the leaders in sacks, tackles for loss, and interceptions. The 2 of them were the sole playmakers on the defense, hopefully some guys step up to make those same big plays for us this season.

I think most teams everywhere lost production like that, especially if they put players in the draft. The point being that getting tackles, or tackles for a loss, or interceptions aren't the exclusive purview of Guy and Trevathan. I don't see any reason to act like any of those statistical numbers simply won't exist in 2012 because the players who made them in 2011 aren't here.

Thanks. Just subscribed this morning. GO CATS

Guy and DT were big losses, but people should also note that in the Minter defense the Tackles are primarily block absorbers and the linebackers are setup to make most of the plays so all things being equal the linebackers should show higher numbers in this defense over a conventional 4/3 for example. That's not meant to dimension the accomplishments of these two fine players and Simpson and McDuffen definitely have huge shoes to fill but we upgrade both the Rushbacker and Mikebacker positions with Dupree and Williamson IMO.

I of those sacks was a sack, forced fumble, touchdown. Remember that. He's definitely poised going into his senior season to put up some numbers. No doubt a playmaker for us. You forgot him, its okay.

He was 3rd on the team in tackles tied with Sneed while playing 2 less games, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 touchdown, 1 int as a junior like I said in 10 games. He's definitely a rising senior playmaker on defense. Now you know.