Danno

McKenzie - very good CB, should be good in 2005.
Brown - good CB, should be even better in 2005. Reaching his prime.
Craft - decent, should be better in 2005 two years removed from ACL tear.
Thomas - aging fast, becoming injury prone. A shadow of former self
Ambrose - A shadow of his former shadow of former self.
Craver - Won\'t make final roster
The rest are street free agent fill ins

Jones - decent, but hugely overpaid
Bellamy - A decent SS. At worst an excellent back-up.
Mitchell - A promising kid who should be better in 2005 two years after ACL tear.
Gleason - Special teams stand-out who wouldn\'t start at FS/SS for any team in the league.

We need another young prospect at CB and S, and a quality starter at either SS or FS via free-agency.

www.myownfrickinopinion.com

JKool

Danno, you really think that Bellamy, Mitchell, and T-buck aren\'t serviceable if we improve our LBs? I\'m honestly just asking.

I agree that we\'re going to need a CB or a Safety for depth. I also agree that a playmaker at Safety would be nice, but right now I\'m sort of of the view that that would be a luxury (wow, that sentence sucked).

It just seems to me that the defense would improve the quickest if we changed our MLB or SLB to a stud. After that, I am currently of the view that another LB is more of a priority than a Safety or Corner; but, I\'m open to argument here.

"... I was beating them with my eyes the whole game..." - Aaron Brooks

4saintspirit

Wow == agreeing with and getting agreement from Gumbo and Jkool all in the same day -- I\'m playing the lottery tonight. Actually JKool I have to agree with you -- a solid linebacking core will make our DBs play better by allowing our CBs and safeties to actually play their own position -- and who knows they may be a lot better at it than we think -- Haz and Venturi constantly think we are fine at that position so its possible they have the skills. But its tough to cover someone when you are also supposed to be watching for the run. Not sure if I am making this up but I seem to remember a scary stat -- our cornerbacks and safeties made more tackles than the linebackers --

\"I have a photographic memory -- I just don\'t have any film.\"

GumboBC

I\'m not Danno, but you brought up an interesting point and I\'d like to respond..

When I look at NEEDS on defense, I look at it like this:

Which is the weakest area?

1. Stopping the run.
2. Stopping the pass.

I say it\'s stopping the run. I think LB is the biggest impact to addressing that situation.

Also, another one of our big weaknesses was our LBs inability to cover the middle of the field. And covering tightends.

There\'s no question in my mind that LB is the right choice.

Of note, we need another safety that is a difference maker, but we\'re not terribly weak back there. However, the Ravens\' Ed Reed has shown how much of an impact a great safety can make. Maybe he benefits from playing with Ray Lewis and that great front 7, though?

BreesFN9

I\'d like to second Gumbos comment on the LB. As for covering tight ends just look what Gates did in that SD game. Enough said.

JKool

With this number of us agreeing, I\'m starting to worry that we\'re wrong...

I swear I saw some pigs flying earlier this morning. If you win, do we get a cut?

4saintspirit

Seems like most agree that a stud linebacker is our biggest need with a stud safety being second. That is certainly my opinion

JKool

SFN, welcome aboard!

Billy we agree.

I was wondering what Danno thought, since he is a good roster guy. I thought he might have some insight on Mitchell\'s status/ability to take the starting job.

I really think we\'re passable at DB in general. We have solid outside rushers - the a complete package in the middle LB spot and a solid run-stuffer at DT, I think our secondary will be just fine.

Also, Ed Reed has had me rethinking my view of the Safety position.

4saintspirit

JKool -- if I win the lottery I will make sure you and Gumbo get a cut -- or at least invite you to attend the catered luxury box I intend to rent with some of the winnings. If you are from out of town I\'ll even fly you in.

JKool