Need a line on defense that can push the pocket inside and clog run lanes, I think the edge will be better next year, Ziggy not healthy all year really may be a lot better not trying to recover during the season from all sorts of injuries, the shoulder was tough but he may have had the other injuries which I will call compensating injuries trying to protect the shoulder. Collier should be much more involved after his red shirt year also, throw in Green and I think the makings are there. Reed, Ford, and Woods, were ok but didn't appear to be able to push the pocket on passing downs, Woods was good against the run inside but we need more here.
Saying that the next problem is those guys have to do better about tie guys up, the O linemen were getting to our linebackers frequently, you want to make LB's look bad have them take on O lineman all the time.
We also need a Nickel guys badly, Teams can scheme easily and to put guys where they want them against linebackers in coverage, to counter we played a even deeper and softer zone.
I agree with the lack of a thumper at SS, we need that presence, guys are running free across the middle and have no fear, leg tackles or missed tackles were a common practice. I will take a flag, I know we will get them even on clean hits because they look violent, but the repercussions are worth it, short armed receivers looking for that player that can take their soul and all the missed completions because of it.
Blair and Amadi are not that physical presence, not because of effort or will but size. Same as McDougald.
Fixing these will help our CB's a lot, we do need a better CB position coach though, the drop off in interceptions is huge from the LOB days, Richard taught them not only the kick step and technique but how to read and look for the ball off a receiver, Maybe it's just me but as a player at that position that's something you learned pretty early, back peddle look at QB to see where he is focused, I say look but it's really a peek, when the receiver gets up on your if your not jamming turn and get position on him or read his core and follow his cut while looking at his head and hand position. This is really done almost instinctively and takes hardly any time once you do it routinely, if you see him start raising his hands or extending or turning his head you peek again and see if the ball is coming and decide to make a play on it or defend and knock it down or strip it.
What I see a lot is they let the Receiver get up on them and are chasing rather then dictating where the receiver can go, rarely using the sideline as a extra defender. Once they are past you have to bust ass and they have length on you for the over the top pass.
Our over the top FS coverage has been abysmal with T2 and Hill; in there also, not knowing if our CB's are trusting them to be there and allowing some of this stuff is hard to tell, but either way it's something we have been burnt on quite a bit.
