Dez, do you feel our D will be that strong?

*CRAZYHORNS* · #1 (**permalink**) -04-07-2005

I was looking at your projection for this upcoming season and you had the Rams D playing extremely well with a shutout....

I hope they play that well...

GOOOO RAAMMSS

*KurtWarner2005MVP* · #2 (**permalink**) -05-07-2005

The D is gonna seriously rock, mark it. With Anthony "Move outta my way" Hargrove and Leonard "Upside ya head" Little messing qbs like pancakes, Dexter "cool and the gang" Coakley and Chris "Boom goes the dynamite" Claiborne smearing opposing rbs, Jerametrius "deez nutz" Butler and Travis "gotsta love the dreds" Fisher picking off passes like monkeys picking fleas, Jimmy "bring me your first born child" Kennedy and Tyoka "big woogie" Jackson pluggin the holes, and Adam "playmate banger" Archuletta and OJ "bronco buster" Atogwe smacking licks on the receivers, LOOK OUT NFL!!!

Last years defense wasn't that good, but i can't believe how perfect the offseason went in fixing the holes. We had crap LBs and now we have two pro bowl level ones. Arch, Kennedy, Hargrove, and Bulter all forgetting fluke seasons and stepping it up. How does that not make you at least a top 10 defense? I say top 10 at worst. More likely top 6 or 7. But we'll be cautious for now. Don't want to get ahead of ourselfs.

*ZigZagRam* · #3 (**permalink**) -05-07-2005

Quote:

Last years defense wasn't that good...

Understatement of the year!

I like the looks of our defense so far this year, I'd just like to see us add another playmaking vet in the secondary, whether that be Ty Law or Lance Schulters. If we add Law the cornerback triad will be just like our CB's in 1999 and 2001. You've got your aging vet Todd Lyght/Aeneas Williams played by Ty Law. You've got your solid starter for several years Dexter McCleon played by Travis Fisher. Finally you've got your young, playmaking, sure handed ballhawk Dre Bly played by Jerametrius Butler. Sounds good to me.

I also think Anthony Hargrove really needs to step up big this year. He showed flashes of brilliance at times last year, but we definitely need him to force pressure on the right side and get to the QB. We also need Jimmy "Bear" Kennedy to continue his upward turn.

**HUbison** · #4 (**permalink**) -05-07-2005

There were a lot of differences between the 2003 D and 2004 D. The most notable being the number of turnovers. Everyone points to that one, and for good reason, it really sticks out there. But another key factor that doesn't get mentioned is the direction each defense was heading. At the end of 2003, the D was heading downhill and valleyed out in the playoffs against Carolina. The 2004 D ended pretty strong. I believe this is the case for several reasons, one of which being the long-awaited arrival of Kennedy. The run D w/o Kennedy gave up 5.1 ypc...with Kennedy that number fell to 3.5 ypc. That is an unheard of difference. The difference between 5.1 and 3.5 is dead last in the league to 2nd in the league (only Washington's 3.1 is better). If Kennedy's presence can create that kind of results for an entire season, the defense will be completely different. Extrapolate that out and the run defense will allow 42 yards per game LESS this season. That is from 136 yards per game (28th in the league) to 94 yards per game (4th in the league). Guys and girls, that is all the difference we need.

*psycho9985* · #5 (**permalink**) -05-07-2005

I think the best defensive showing we put up in 2003 was against the Ravens on monday Night.WE did almost all of our scoring on the def.I lost count of the turn overs.

**txramsfan** · #6 (**permalink**) -05-07-2005

I think "MY DEFENSE" will stymie and shock quite a few people. The main thing is that we really haven't had that "rah rah" guy since Fletcher to stick the proverbial foot up the behind of some that are slacking. However, our tackling in the last year and a half hasn't been that stellar either.

Look for the LB corp to much WAY improved and Archuleta will have a much better year now that his back is in better shape.

*RAMMAN68* · #7 (**permalink**) -05-07-2005

The question marks will be the RDE and Safety. I'm still not comfortable with the team heading into camp without a solid starter at FS. Will Hargrove be the force coaches are hoping for?

The D will be much improved, but the key will be how they are able to work together during camp.

Zig needs to pick a FS before camp starts.