Many Giants fans wanted spags as soon as the discussion of a new DC started. I am on the fence as far as excitement.
Reasons to worry:
-Best years were with us 7 years ago
-Better collections of pass rushers in 07-08 (yea i know we lost osi and stahan in 2008, but we also had the best run game in the league - notice how much that helped dallas this year)
-If beason is 100% for 16 games (huge IF) he would be the antonio pierce
-We need more than JPP. I like ayers and moore, but i think we need another big time pass rusher
Reasons to be excited:
-Better corners (can trust them on blitzes)
-we have good pass rushers but i think spags will be more creative on how to finish. (missed on a lot of opportunities that cost us last year)
-Kennard can play the role kiwi was suppose to better than kiwi (OLB/pass rusher)
-Spags is more of an aggressive DC than Fewell
- he knows how to the stop the spread offense
What are the expectations for him this year?
Top 3 in sacks?
under 300 points allowed?
top 5 in redzone D?
top 5 overall?
is top 5 asking too much?
Obviously there is some reason to worry and the be excited with everything. I just hope he can make it work for us again because everyone has him on such a high pedestal. If i missed anything let me know. i hope i missed on stuff to be excited about.
I understand the giants organization puts "working with abd comfort with someone" as perhaps a high requirement, but it will be interesting to see if he can move the needle any when you get to the x and o's and state of talent. Sadly, I think we are just going down memory lane and really are not hitting the dependent variables that will turn this defense into a juggernaut whether it is talent, coaching or combination of both.
While we have a much worse DL then he had in 07/08, we certainly have better CBs.
If the D can play mediocre -or better- (10-15) with the ability to make plays at turning points and late in games, this team should compete for the playoffs.
This assumes a decent draft, FA, and normal (or average) injuries
Prince- Webster
DRC-Madison
Thurman-McQuarters
Berhe-Butler
McLain- Pierce
JPP- Strahan
Moore -Osi
Hankins-Cofield
Bromley -Robbins
Kennard-Kiwi
If we get Rolle back -Wilson
Add in Wynn Ayers Holsey another guy playing in the wrong system and I see a lot of what Spags had to work with in 2007.
Prince- Webster
DRC-Madison
Thurman-McQuarters
Berhe-Butler
McLain- Pierce
JPP- Strahan
Moore -Osi
Hankins-Cofield
Bromley -Robbins
Kennard-Kiwi
If we get Rolle back -Wilson
Add in Wynn Ayers Holsey another guy playing in the wrong system and I see a lot of what Spags had to work with in 2007.
Lol, those are some really bad comparisons.
I'd say at CB you're certainly right, but Safety right how is a huge hole, and one might argue their biggest need. If only Will Hill was right in the head... I don't know how JR will do it, but Spags deserves a huge Safety upgrade.
Take it to the offense. Sick of this defense playing safe.
As rolle says we need to bring that dog mentality and spags has in the past
Blitzing either one behind JPP.
Talent vs coaching is about to be played out on Defense
I am very optimistic on possibilities going in to FA and the draft.
Somebody needs to contain when the DEs go all out, that's for sure. JPP drove me nuts a few times... if he's gonna do that, and I'm not saying he shouldn't, there's got to be somebody who has his back on contain. Watching mobile QBs run outside unchallenged for first downs ought to be something Spags stops right away.
The FO aka Reese/Ross/Sternfeld need to supply him with some personnel upgrades. There are holes to fill and decisions to make.
This. We cannot compare Spags defense now with his defense then, considering there are no players remaining from that defense.
If the defense can make key stops late in game at least half of the time and have even a modest rise in rankings (top 20), that would be a significant improvement.
Getting mkdest improvement in rankings is about all we could reasonably expect stats-wise, anyway. The guy can only coach, not play. Expectations also cannot be set, yet until we see how free agency and draft play out. We don't even know who will play either safety position or if JPP will be here.
Hopefully there will be fewer communication issues, that'd be nice.
My expectations of the Giants? Super Bowl! But it will be because of the offense, not the defense.
Prince- Webster
DRC-Madison
Thurman-McQuarters
Berhe-Butler
McLain- Pierce
JPP- Strahan
Moore -Osi
Hankins-Cofield
Bromley -Robbins
Kennard-Kiwi
If we get Rolle back -Wilson
Add in Wynn Ayers Holsey another guy playing in the wrong system and I see a lot of what Spags had to work with in 2007.
And let's not forget in 2008, no Stray or Osi and still a top 5 finish. This current team also with the guys Reese has been stocking (with FA bargains) the last few years has a chance to have better depth. Good systems allow players to play up to their talent level.
Ps to Jolly Blue. 5 of the last six comparisons in your list between the two teams would favor the 2007 roster in a landslide. Just saying.