Let's talk D-line

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Keith

They will need to show improvement in stopping the run (19th last year) and in creating turnovers from the running game (also 19th), but it looks like this might be the year that group makes the jump.

I agree. This seems to be one of the most underrated factors in determining how successful we will be next year. If you look at our upcoming schedule, it is very heavy in teams with bad quarterbacks and/or exceptional running games.

We face:
Willie Parker/Rashard Mendenhall
Willis McGahee
Fred Taylor/ MJD (twice)
Joseph Addai (twice)
Ronnie Brown
AD/Chester Taylor

That's half of our schedule against exceptional running attacks. Then you have other teams with a morass at the QB position who will undoubtedly be very run oriented in Detroit, Oakland, Chicago, and possibly even Green Bay.

So, our defense is going to get a heavy dose of the run and they're going to have to be up to the task.

Actually, now that I think about it, this makes it even more imperative that we hold on to Anthony Weaver.