We have lost some great defensive players the last few years. Some of them were probably getting older anyway, and their days were numbered, but as a unit, this defense brought out the best in even some mediocre players. I think a lot of players excelled because of the system they played in. And Dan Quinn was the best defensive coordinator in the NFL. Here are the problems I believe are responsible for the defensive collapses and lapses that have led to a 5-5 season:
D-LINE:
The defense starts with the inside linemen. Mebane has NOT had a great year. Earlier in his career, Bane was having seasons with nearly 60 tackles. His production has steadily gone down, and he is on pace to get 1 sack and 17 tackles this year. That puts his production at about 30% of his good years. This leads to less pressure on the opposing offense. And that's where the defense starts...with pressure in the middle.
Rubin is okay as a DT, but face it, he's not setting the world on fire. Hill was going gang-busters early in the year, but he got hurt in the Bengals game, and in the games he's played since, his production has gone way down. King covered while Hill was hurt, but he had few snaps, and mostly, Hill's snaps went to Bane and Rubin. King is not the answer, so basically, Bane, Rubin and Hill are our guys right now, and none of the 3 are playing anywhere near the level they have in the past. Mebane is probably just getting too old and he's on his last leg. Hill is great when he's healthy, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Rubin is mediocre compared to McDaniel and Kevin Williams. So for me, the Inside D-Line position is a shell of what it was last year. We are getting very little pressure on the middle of the opposing offense. THIS AFFECTS THE ENTIRE DEFENSE, BECAUSE AS I SAID, THIS IS WHERE YOUR D STARTS.
Just like last year, Bennett and Avril are killing it. Clark, Marsh and Dobbs seem to be doing well enough to relieve those guys as needed. We probably have the best outside D-Line pressure in the NFL...thank god, because if we had to rely on our DT's for all the pressure, we'd be the #32 D in the league. The lack of a decent inside D-Line is probably the reason that Avril and Bennett have to play so many snaps, and therefore the reason guys like Clark and Marsh have barely been given a chance to play this year.
LINEBACKERS:
Wagner had a tough start this season, and I'm not sure why. He missed the Panthers game, and had a couple of off weeks afterwards. But I'm thinking he's almost back to normal the last couple of weeks. Wright is having a GREAT season. Irvin really came on strong this year, and I have a feeling his knee may have started bothering him a few weeks ago, and then he did something worse to it in the Cards game. We really missed him in Week 11. I just hope he isn't out too long. Morgan replaced him this week, but face it, Morgan is no Bruce Irvin. Either is Pierre-Louis...he seemed kind of lost. I think on some pass-rushing downs, they added either Marsh or Clark to replace Irvin. Wow...it took 4 guys to replace one Bruce. The Hawks really need to pay him for next year...Irvin is an important cog in the LB position group. Wagner, Wright and Irvin feed off each other...and they do an incredible job. One of the best LB groups in the NFL, if not the best.
LOB (DB's):
The LOB is a complicated group. I think this group was on top of the world late in the 2014 season. They were killing it. Even Maxwell played well when he was part of that unbelievably incredible group...as did Simon and Burley. With Lane in the slot they were almost invincible. But the injury bug hit this group HARD. Thomas- dislocated shoulder; Sherman- ligament damage in elbow; Kam- torn MCL knee; Simon- dislocated shoulder; Lane was hurt so bad, it physically hurts me too, so I can't talk about it; Maxwell- sick and missed the Panthers playoff game...didn't seem quite up to par with everybody else playing injured. The demise of this group at the end of the year is most likely the single most important factor that cost us a repeat in SB49.
I believe that the LOB is half athletic and half psyche. For 3 years, they had a swagger. They were unbelievable. I think as individuals, they would have been great players, but not at the historical heights they reached as a group. A lot has happened since then that affected this group. Losing SB49 was devastating for these guys. Then to come back from injuries and wanting retribution for what they lost in SB49, only to have Kam screw over his brothers, I think it was too much for them to handle. They lost their swagger/mojo. They are kind of like babes in the woods...lost. I knew when Foles carved them up in Week 1, this would be a difficult season for the LOB. The athletic part of their game is still there, but I think the mental aspect of the LOB is lacking...of course this has been verified by Earl's recent rantings. Something just isn't right. Add to this the lack of any kind of inside D-Line pressure and a new coach with some different ideas and schemes, and you have a group that is at times struggling. Add to this a Cary Williams, a guy who might fit in the LOB if there were no other issues, but a guy who has struggled to make an identity in an LOB that is struggling mentally.
Perhaps if Lane comes back soon, the season could still be saved for the LOB. We'll just have to wait and see. I have faith in them, as I do for the entire team. This team is still good enough to be 10-0 this year. They just have some problems and they can't seem to get past them and put it all together. I'm still hoping for an 11-5 season
D-LINE:
The defense starts with the inside linemen. Mebane has NOT had a great year. Earlier in his career, Bane was having seasons with nearly 60 tackles. His production has steadily gone down, and he is on pace to get 1 sack and 17 tackles this year. That puts his production at about 30% of his good years. This leads to less pressure on the opposing offense. And that's where the defense starts...with pressure in the middle.
Rubin is okay as a DT, but face it, he's not setting the world on fire. Hill was going gang-busters early in the year, but he got hurt in the Bengals game, and in the games he's played since, his production has gone way down. King covered while Hill was hurt, but he had few snaps, and mostly, Hill's snaps went to Bane and Rubin. King is not the answer, so basically, Bane, Rubin and Hill are our guys right now, and none of the 3 are playing anywhere near the level they have in the past. Mebane is probably just getting too old and he's on his last leg. Hill is great when he's healthy, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. Rubin is mediocre compared to McDaniel and Kevin Williams. So for me, the Inside D-Line position is a shell of what it was last year. We are getting very little pressure on the middle of the opposing offense. THIS AFFECTS THE ENTIRE DEFENSE, BECAUSE AS I SAID, THIS IS WHERE YOUR D STARTS.
Just like last year, Bennett and Avril are killing it. Clark, Marsh and Dobbs seem to be doing well enough to relieve those guys as needed. We probably have the best outside D-Line pressure in the NFL...thank god, because if we had to rely on our DT's for all the pressure, we'd be the #32 D in the league. The lack of a decent inside D-Line is probably the reason that Avril and Bennett have to play so many snaps, and therefore the reason guys like Clark and Marsh have barely been given a chance to play this year.
LINEBACKERS:
Wagner had a tough start this season, and I'm not sure why. He missed the Panthers game, and had a couple of off weeks afterwards. But I'm thinking he's almost back to normal the last couple of weeks. Wright is having a GREAT season. Irvin really came on strong this year, and I have a feeling his knee may have started bothering him a few weeks ago, and then he did something worse to it in the Cards game. We really missed him in Week 11. I just hope he isn't out too long. Morgan replaced him this week, but face it, Morgan is no Bruce Irvin. Either is Pierre-Louis...he seemed kind of lost. I think on some pass-rushing downs, they added either Marsh or Clark to replace Irvin. Wow...it took 4 guys to replace one Bruce. The Hawks really need to pay him for next year...Irvin is an important cog in the LB position group. Wagner, Wright and Irvin feed off each other...and they do an incredible job. One of the best LB groups in the NFL, if not the best.
LOB (DB's):
The LOB is a complicated group. I think this group was on top of the world late in the 2014 season. They were killing it. Even Maxwell played well when he was part of that unbelievably incredible group...as did Simon and Burley. With Lane in the slot they were almost invincible. But the injury bug hit this group HARD. Thomas- dislocated shoulder; Sherman- ligament damage in elbow; Kam- torn MCL knee; Simon- dislocated shoulder; Lane was hurt so bad, it physically hurts me too, so I can't talk about it; Maxwell- sick and missed the Panthers playoff game...didn't seem quite up to par with everybody else playing injured. The demise of this group at the end of the year is most likely the single most important factor that cost us a repeat in SB49.
I believe that the LOB is half athletic and half psyche. For 3 years, they had a swagger. They were unbelievable. I think as individuals, they would have been great players, but not at the historical heights they reached as a group. A lot has happened since then that affected this group. Losing SB49 was devastating for these guys. Then to come back from injuries and wanting retribution for what they lost in SB49, only to have Kam screw over his brothers, I think it was too much for them to handle. They lost their swagger/mojo. They are kind of like babes in the woods...lost. I knew when Foles carved them up in Week 1, this would be a difficult season for the LOB. The athletic part of their game is still there, but I think the mental aspect of the LOB is lacking...of course this has been verified by Earl's recent rantings. Something just isn't right. Add to this the lack of any kind of inside D-Line pressure and a new coach with some different ideas and schemes, and you have a group that is at times struggling. Add to this a Cary Williams, a guy who might fit in the LOB if there were no other issues, but a guy who has struggled to make an identity in an LOB that is struggling mentally.
Perhaps if Lane comes back soon, the season could still be saved for the LOB. We'll just have to wait and see. I have faith in them, as I do for the entire team. This team is still good enough to be 10-0 this year. They just have some problems and they can't seem to get past them and put it all together. I'm still hoping for an 11-5 season