Young defensive core
 

Yesterday, it seemed like any time the defense was making a big play, it was either a first or a second year guy. Except for Houston getting yet another sack, this defense is composed of almost entirely players under 25 years old, it seems. This bodes very well for our future. Here’s the list of defensive players I have seen step up this week or the last two:

Banogu
Rock
Okereke
Tell
Willis
Hooker
Leonard

Did I miss anyone?

One of our most consistent guys on defense the last 2 years has been Kenny Moore, he had a great game yesterday. 3rd year player but only 24.

Even Grover Stewart has looked to be improving his level of play. Shakial Taylor has also not looked out of place either. Actually Tell and Taylor both appeared to play very well yesterday.

Hooker has really taken his game up a notch

There is certainly talent on this D, but they need to be more consistent. That should come with experience and some more depth.

Yeah Hooker has transformed himself into a more complete safety.

I'm really liking our secondary as a whole. Those guys were laying the wood yesterday with some great form tackling.

Tell, Moore and Ya-Sin covered well for the most part. Then throw in a healthy Desir to go along with Geathers, Hooker and Willis.

That is a complete unit.

Yea, I suspect this defense is only going to get better.

Don't forget Turay either. He was really getting pressure this year before going down. Losing him really sucked.

Looking to the future, the only real serious draft needs right now are on the line. If we can draft a solid interior DT and another pass rusher, that's good.

I would invest the rest of the draft into offense. QB, WR, OL, TE.
QB: I like JB just fine but he can be upgraded, but its not easy to do.
WR: We need more depth and a real #2, perhaps even a future #1
OL: Castonzo isn't getting any younger, and the right side could still be improved
TE: Ebron is wildly inconsistent, Jack Doyle is 29, the rest are depth players.

o


Perhaps continue improving enough to beat the Patriots and/or the Ravens if they should face off in the post-season.

Of course, being capable of and actually doing it are 2 different animals.


o

Agree that DT is greatest draft need. I’d address OL second if the talent is available. Not liking any free agent prospects on either line but there are some intriguing prospects at WR. A.J. Green’s situation is unclear in Cincy due to his health as well as the the need to rebuild that dumpster fire of a team. Amari Cooper and Emmanuel Sanders may hit the market as well but you gotta wonder if all these guys will demand grossly inflated figures to be had. Regardless of position, some our our holes MUST be filled in free agency next year.

He probably should have had an interception, could have easily had two but Rock really wanted that ball. I was most impressed with his big hit. He should send a gif of that hit to Jon Gruden.

We spent 10 million on Funchess. He has done nothing and it doesn't even hurt us financially. This will be a fantastic WR draft. I think we should use FA and the draft to address the position. Hilton is getting hurt more and more often and turns 30, they need to get that position group more talent.

Don't get me started on DT. I agree and DT and pass rusher in the next draft should happen.

Lots of people talking about WR being a need, but hasn't Pascal shown he's at least a decent 2? Between T.Y., he, and Campbell, I don't see a need to invest in WR early next year.

No. With TY out, our leading receiver this last game had 38 yards. Campbell isn't a #2 either. He's a gimmick guy. Funchess is a complete unknown. WR definitely needs to be addressed in the offseason.

I think we need to give Funchess a chance throughout the remainder of the season before we decide exactly what we need to do at the receiver position.

Hilton, Funchess, Campbell and Pascal to me offer a diverse range of skills, we will also have Fountain back next year, with the likes of Johnson, Rogers, Dulin rounding out the group. I am not going to complain if we were to spend a high draft pick on a receiver, (Hilton is not getting any younger), but i am not convinced that it will be the huge priority that it has been throughout most of this year. Injuries have happened, and i am sorry but you can't legislate for losing your top 3 guys at one position. You do that and you will have no depth across the rest of your roster.

If they're that deep can we at least agree to no more wastes of roster spots on 2 or 3 year developmental receivers? I see a bunch of 3's, 4's, and 5's in that list with Pascal and Funchess capable of stepping up for a week or two in case of injuries. I wouldn't look for a #2 receiver, but if a 1a receiver is available then it's worth looking to invest in that.

Send a draft pick to Pittsburgh for Deon Cain.

Hilton, is clearly the undisputed No. 1

Funchess, who actually knows what he will do?

Campbell, has shown flashes of ability, but in his 2nd year would hopefully take a further step up and be competing with Funchess for the No. 2 role.

Pascal is probably a good No. 3 guy, with the potential to develop further. Then you have the others who are all have the possibility to develop into a bigger role going forward.

If Funchess doesn't show anything then yeah i think we need to add someone in the draft.

Potentially, a solid receiving corps, but it would be wise to draft a young WR who needs polish to become a #1. Hilton doesn't have that many great years left.

Have you seen the state of our passing game? We got shut down by the dolphins and they have NOBODY at corner.

Pascal has to be schemed open, he isn’t creating separation in his route running. Pascal should be a 4th option not the first option. Behind two other receivers and the top TE. Fact is these receivers cannot separate outside of Hilton and maybe Campbell (too small a pool). Deon Cain was supposed to be our speed guy and he did nothing, also JB needs a better deep ball. TY is getting hurt quite often with lower body injuries. We have one win when he is out. Too long we have had TY and a bunch of bodies.

I know a lot of you guys just want to run it all the time, well you need balance and the threat of the pass to run it against good teams. Playoff defenses will stack the box and play man against our WRs and no one will break out. this isn’t college ball, we can run and beat up these shitty teams, but good teams will take your strength away. we want to progress in the playoffs? Improve our WRs. Don’t wanna spend a high pick? Then find a gem in a later round. Regardless, we need another guy that can create plays himself besides TY.

Future HOF’er

No. He isn’t a decent 2

I agree, he isn't a decent No.2, he is having to play above his station, and did well in one game, but is really the 4th or 5th guy. He has been great downfield blocking though.

Our CURRENT state of affairs is pretty bad, but we are likely to get our top 3 guys back in the next few weeks, and things should look very different then. And hopefully they will all be back on the team next year negating the need to prioritise this as our top need.

You are right, no position group is great after the top three starters are out.

But I'm also looking a few years into the future. TY will start taking a secondary role. Who will step into that void? Funchess is a one year prove it deal and is a huge question mark. Cambell showed some flashes, but is he a gadget guy or our future slot? Big question marks. Also WR's take time to develop, especially in today's NFL.

If we are going to keep Jacoby, we need to give him superior talent at WR. He won't throw that ball unless a guy is open. He holds the ball so long, he is going to start taking some shots or get sacked more. I don't care where it comes from, throw numbers at it with lower round picks, use a higher pick on one. FA? But we will need to address it, and hopefully it isn't another developmental guy with good combine numbers that takes 4 years to do anything.