Newton or sweat?

[Whatever]

(02-06-2024, 01:39 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: After this year's dismal performance in stopping the run, I have a sneaking suspicion that will be a focal point for the Defense this offseason.  If this team has genuine Superbowl aspirations, they're going to have to field a Championship level defense.  A "stop-gap" level player while they hope and wait for a full recovery and return to form from DJ Reader just isn't going to cut it.  They need a top level NT through the draft, and a competent veteran to shoulder the load while Reader gets back to his self.  I have a feeling that the secondary performance will be much improved with the young players getting settled into their roles and the communication becomes more natural.

I don't think they see it that way.

They were 5th in '22 in Rush Defense and 10th in Rush Yards Allowed/Carry with the same front four and the same LB's.  They were 7th in rush D in '21 with Hill splitting time with Larry O.  I don't see them thinking the front 7(really front 6), is the issue.  Lou did discuss the youth movement in the secondary and said communication issues really negatively impacted the LB play, which I what I think they see as the culprit, there.

Pass Rush, on the other hand, had been consistently bottom third of the league with this group, so I think that if DL are added in the draft, it will likely be geared more towards addressing that than the run game.