Our defense sucked last year. Fact.
Our secondary lacked talent and was poorly coached. Almost certainly fact.
Our front 7 had some talent last year but didn't produce. Mario's known for not having a good motor even in a 4-3. There are serious questions about Mario's and Smith's wilingness to do the dirty work as 3-4 ends. We gave an all out effort vs Indy in week 1, and I'm not sure we saw that the rest of the year.
I think this draft is a recognition that for the conversion to 3-4 to have any chance, we need to change the culture and get everyone -- especially Mario and Antonio -- to buy in. If they sulk, we're finished.
JJ Watt. Brooks Reed. Keo. Go all out every play, however many plays you play. Period.
More than any X's and O's, the number one thing the defense needs is energy and commitment. There's some talent on board, and if Wade can get effort, we could land in the middle of the pack, maybe better. But you need the culture to change.
Ravens. Steelers. Giants. Eagles. Those guys bring it on D every play. Every week. Every year. The slackers get weeded out and replaced.
Big Caveat though -- Watt and Reed better produce. Or else, they're just goofy white guys that run around really hard tackling people 10 yards after the line of scrimmage. Nobody's following that crap.
Our secondary lacked talent and was poorly coached. Almost certainly fact.
Our front 7 had some talent last year but didn't produce. Mario's known for not having a good motor even in a 4-3. There are serious questions about Mario's and Smith's wilingness to do the dirty work as 3-4 ends. We gave an all out effort vs Indy in week 1, and I'm not sure we saw that the rest of the year.
I think this draft is a recognition that for the conversion to 3-4 to have any chance, we need to change the culture and get everyone -- especially Mario and Antonio -- to buy in. If they sulk, we're finished.
JJ Watt. Brooks Reed. Keo. Go all out every play, however many plays you play. Period.
More than any X's and O's, the number one thing the defense needs is energy and commitment. There's some talent on board, and if Wade can get effort, we could land in the middle of the pack, maybe better. But you need the culture to change.
Ravens. Steelers. Giants. Eagles. Those guys bring it on D every play. Every week. Every year. The slackers get weeded out and replaced.
Big Caveat though -- Watt and Reed better produce. Or else, they're just goofy white guys that run around really hard tackling people 10 yards after the line of scrimmage. Nobody's following that crap.