Our OFF will be one of the NFL’s most dominant and well balanced. That means we’ll not only rank at the top in scoring with the Cardinals and, Saints, but at or near the top in rushing, time of possession and 1st downs with the Giants. How do you stop last yrs #2 rushing OFF, without moving your LB’s and safeties up, and still contain last yrs #14 passing OFF, and #6 overall, with the addition of Probowl TE TGonzalez?

On DEF, we finished near the bottom of the NFL in rushing and passing DEF, interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks and turnovers. Yet, our DEF managed to finish well into the top half of the NFL in scoring allowed, which is the most important statistic of any DEF. With the ability to replace last yrs departed starters with added speed, quickness, youth/stamina, versatility, mobility and athleticism, without sacrificing chemistry, depth and leadership, how can anyone with an open mind think our DEF won’t be much improved. The question isn’t if it will be improved, BUT HOW MUCH.

I’ll tell you one think, our DEF will be improved enough to prevent our OFF from having to score 30+ pts per gm in order for us to win. Before any team can get a chance to attack our DEF, they have to first get our OFF off the field and keep it from putting points on the scoreboard, and that won’t be easy.

(1) OLB MPeterson has spent most of his career playing in this DEF and he has just as much speed, quickness and experience, and is known as a stronger more aggressive tackler, as the the player he’s replacing, KBrooking.

(2) OLB SNicholas was on the team last yr. Before OLB MBoley was demoted, Nicholas replaced him in passing situations, as well as CWire, who replaced MBoley. He’s a known commodity and is familiar with the system and the players.

(3) FS TDeCoud will be entering his 3rd yr, so he’s also a known commodity and knows the system and the players. Consider this: As far as comparing the speed, quickness and pass coverage ability of new SS EColeman to former SS LMilloy is concerned, it’s like the old tortoise and the hare debate. And even though EColeman played FS last yr, he made more tackles than SS LMilloy, who played closer to the line and focused more on stopping the run.

(4) CB BGrimes looks like the odds on favorite to replace departed CB DFoxworth. We earned the starting position last yr before suffering a season ending injury. So, he’s also a known commodity and knows the system and the players.

(5) DT is an open battle with TLewis and PJerry being the two frontrunners to replace departed GJackson. TLewis is entering his 3rd yr and is familiar with the system and the players. If PJerry beats him out, it means he’s better and is able to give Van Gorder’s DEF more of what it wants and needs.

So, the replacements on this yrs DEF won’t be like the replacements on last yr’s OFF. Last yr we started with an entirely new coaching staff, OFF system, terminology and philosophy. Then we brought in a rookie QB and LT, and a new RG, RB and TE. Realistically, there were no known commodities in any of last yrs OFF replacements, and none of them were familiar with the system or the players.

Van Gorder now has the speed, quickness, youth, versatility and depth to do the things he couldn’t do last yr, due to the limitations of the slower and older players that are no longer on the roster. We have so much speed, quickness, versatility, talent and depth at the positions mentioned above, that we don’t have to depend on any one player to get the job done. If one goes down, or doesn’t adequately get the job done, we just plug in another player. I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!