We are getting closer, here’s my starting defense 06

[Tony Soprano]

We came in at 30th in the league in DEFENSE and the year before Atlanta ran all over us and that's when we heard we had to get bigger. We heard Pisa, Robert Thomas , Duncan, could NOT take on the run head on and were getting blown out of there.

Okay, so we lose our Best Performing DL from last year and our best run stuffer. Glover is playing a different position - he replaces Lewis and that Spot is different, it requires a quicker, faster player that rushs. Glover fits in there perfectly. He DOES NOT fit in Pickettt's spot. In fact , he was benched for a nobody (Jason Ferguson) last year when they tried to play in in that Run-stuffing, Nose tackle type postion.

So couple the fact that we have lost our best Run Defender and the fact that our LB corps is under-sized and designed to play behind two LARGE TACKLES occupying mutliple Lineman. (Think Ray Lewis in Baltimore, he's a different player totally when those two big tackles are up there and runs free to the ball - and he's bigger than our LBs anyway).

After much thought, I think we need to do one of two things to be a contender this year. I think we should move up (give up something) and get the LB HAWK from Ohio State (he's outstanding) or try to draft Ngata (BIG Stuffer from Oregon).

Coakley is old and coming off an injury and he's smallish. Hawk or Ngata fills a big need on our team. You can't have enough impact players on DEF, you just can't.

I've been reading draft stuff and CB Jimmy Williams is thought to be a better safety than Corner. I think that first pick is the key to our DEF,, A.J. Hawk will change our Defense. Ngata will change our Defense. Jimmy Williams won't change our DEF this year. I'm sure he'll be a good safety. Historically Safeties are not valued real high.. not that many are first round picks compared to other positions.
Most think Jimmy Williams will be a better safety and we did just sign Chavous.

Further, our needs on DEF (30th), dictate our going D in the first round. In fact, I'm confident Haslett was given assurances we would focus on the DEF in the draft.

.

[RamJackson39]

LE-Little
DT-Glover
DT-Kennedy
RE-Hargrove

WLB-Tinoisamoa
MLB-Witherspoon
SLB-DeMeco Ryans :-)

CB-Butler
CB-Bartell
NCB-Fisher/Brown
DCB-Brown/Fisher

FS-Chavous/Atogwe
SS-Carter/Chavous

[Bar-bq]

Hey there- Long time reader, not much of a poster.
Her'es what I consider to be our starting 06 D. We move up to pick seven by dangling next year's second, and select Mario Williams.

DE- Leonard Little
DT-Jimmy Kenedy
DT-La'roi Glover
DE- Mario Williams

OLB- Pisa Tinoisamoa
MLB- Will Witherspoon
OLB-Bobby Carpenteer/Manny Lawson (Wishful thinking for them to be there in rd.2)

SS- Corey Chavous
FS-OJ Atogwe
CB-Ron Bartell
CB Fakhir Brown

[Varg6]

I think the people we'll have right now (including players from last year) will all be better next year. Why? Well I really think that with the right guidance, they'll be changed into better players and performers on the field. Because face it, we got potential, they all got talent, they just need the right push. And that my friends is Haslett. Haslett will redefine the defense, I believe our Defense will be up there with the best this year. I have high expectations this year for our defense.