@thenew23 said:

I'll take a shot at this one... ILB and FS. Dominating defenses always have dominating players at these two positions... (Lewis/Reed, Wagner/Thomas, Farrior/Foote/Polumalu)... Who do we have?? Jackson - a mediocre LB, and Tashaun Gipson...?

These are the two positions on D where I am looking to upgrade if I'm Pettine and the FO...

Compare our D to Seattle's... you'll find that our D-line is better, talent-wise. Our secondary is only missing a FS comparable to E.Thomas (only?? right). Our LBs are comparable, but if we run a 3-4 we will need 2 ILBs to fill in spots that can match Wagner/Smith play...

If we add players at those 2 positions, and can't be at least "close to dominant" then it is certainly on the coaches...

I think it just may be that easy, 23.... but for it to be, I think we have to go back to the 4-3.

Totally agree on the ILBs, but we also do not have a true, 3-down , 3-4 OLB on the roster. Go back to the 4-3 and both Sheard and Kruger go back to being pass pressure generating DEs while Mingo becomes a full time OLB on one side and DW returns to being the same on the other side.

@nickers said:

As to Mik calling Wilson a "game Manager" is the dumbest thing he's ever posted...

Pour one for me as well then, cause I thought game manager was the perfect description of Wilson's performance.

Other than the Wheezy like backhand ball he threw early while his adrenaline was undoubtedly off the charts, I am hard pressed to recall a single pass that a Denver defender had any shot at touching let alone intercepting. That is taking care of the ball...

The problem is folks like you seem to think the term is some kind of insult... when in fact it is anything but... at least it is when I say it.

And do you really want to cite Aikman as a source? Your choice, but remember the time when Troy said Wilson passed up "a shot" downfield when he scrambled right? Another time when Troy wondered aloud why Wilson eschewed a shot at a "wide open" WR down the left sideline "maybe because he did not think he had enough arm to get the ball to him"? Both, my friend, are instances of what I would call "game management."

@gftchris said:

It's ok, we'll get him next year.

LMAO...

But you realize that is Carroll's defense, right?

Zombo said:

And he preached "proven winner," then chose the guy from the losing team instead of the guy who has now won a Super Bowl.

@gftchris said:

They will have to wait until after the superbowl again

@gftchris said:

Nice.

Zombo

@osiris said:

Didn't fit our profile.

Jimmy preached "patience" when he took over ... then fired his first coach in 11 months.

Then he preached "patience" while he took a month to replace him ... then grabbed 4-12 Buffalo's DC instead of waiting two more weeks for the DC of best team in the land.

Because if we waited two weeks we would have lost out on all those assistants we have hired ... all of Pettine's buddies and that unemployed Kenny Loggins guy.

Zombo

--Think of the splash we'd be be making today if we were hiring Dan Quinn ... again, doesn't fit our profile ... but it would be nice to be cool for a day.

@thenew23 said:

I forgot to mention. On the other side of a dominant defense, is always an "efficient" offense. Take that for whatever it's worth.

@thenew23 said:

I'll take a shot at this one... ILB and FS. Dominating defenses always have dominating players at these two positions... (Lewis/Reed, Wagner/Thomas, Farrior/Foote/Polumalu)... Who do we have?? Jackson - a mediocre LB, and Tashaun Gipson...?

These are the two positions on D where I am looking to upgrade if I'm Pettine and the FO...

Compare our D to Seattle's... you'll find that our D-line is better, talent-wise. Our secondary is only missing a FS comparable to E.Thomas (only?? right). Our LBs are comparable, but if we run a 3-4 we will need 2 ILBs to fill in spots that can match Wagner/Smith play...

If we add players at those 2 positions, and can't be at least "close to dominant" then it is certainly on the coaches...

Seattles LB's arent theyre strength but I agree..DQ...as much as I love his heart is average at best.

@hoorta said:

I'll take a shot at this one... ILB and FS. Dominating defenses always have dominating players at these two positions... (Lewis/Reed, Wagner/Thomas, Farrior/Foote/Polumalu)... Who do we have?? Jackson - a mediocre LB, and Tashaun Gipson...?

These are the two positions on D where I am looking to upgrade if I'm Pettine and the FO...

Compare our D to Seattle's... you'll find that our D-line is better, talent-wise. Our secondary is only missing a FS comparable to E.Thomas (only?? right). Our LBs are comparable, but if we run a 3-4 we will need 2 ILBs to fill in spots that can match Wagner/Smith play...

If we add players at those 2 positions, and can't be at least "close to dominant" then it is certainly on the coaches...

@ballpeen said:

No doubt, I'm not down on Pettine and as hopeful as anyone else, but Quinn proved he was winner (which is what Haslam wanted) when his defense shut down the highest-ranked offense in NFL history.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

Interesting choice of words vs. the running theme (hype?) of the 'Hawks having more great defensive players on D than you can count.

Real question is can Pettine & Co. meld a collection of good Defenders into a great Defense? Apparently Carroll and Quinn managed to do so. Horton could not. Jauron got close.

@hoorta said:

What I'm saying is Seattle pulled a rabbit out of the hat taking Sherman in the 5th round. I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good.

And what I always say is I'd rather be both...

I think you are over playing the "luck" angle. Sherman was a injured PAC 10 (12?) player with limited DB experience (having started out as a WR at Stanford) that Pete Carroll tried to recruit to USC. All that adds up to just the kind of "educated guess" organizations who excel make every year.

Maybe Coleman Cox said it best...

"I am a great believer in Luck. The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have."

Then again... maybe Coleman was talking about Andrew Luck...

@hoorta said:

... I can delete way faster than you can type- keep up with the name calling, and I'll have the higher authorities kick your ass off for good.

Whew... couldn't find Mike's original posts... I thought I was going blind for a moment.

Couple comments h... It's not like mik's never insulted anyone here. It's not like mik can't take it.

@osiris said:

I like Quinn from his days in Florida, but I think we got a good coach. One very similar in style. I think we will win with Pettine.

@mike-h said:

And you're done. You just proved you can't stand opposing opinions, even if they are by today's SB a damn good point of contention. Just remember, I can delete way faster than you can type- keep up with the name calling, and I'll have the higher authorities kick your ass off for good.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

No I wouldn't. TC. What I'm saying is Seattle pulled a rabbit out of the hat taking Sherman in the 5th round. I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good. The Browns have been monumentally unlucky in the qb department since1999.

I'll put this to you- where do the Browns fall short of having a truly dominating D? You alluded to coaching- I have a hard time buying that.

I reserve the right to change my mind- but I'm not seeing a Rodgers or Brees in this draft. So sure- load up on offense- right now I'm on board with Watkins @ #4, Tre Mason with the lower first rounder, and a OG- Lord knows Lavaou sucks, and the other guys aren't' much better -at the top of the second- or see if Garrapolo is the answer there. Hey, I'm not like Shep, and I'll be the first person here to eat crow if Manziel turns out to be the savior of the Browns.

@hoorta said:

So ergo- fire Lomdardi immediately, before he can screw up another draft? You're on to something- just go find the best cornerback in the NFL in the 5th round- about as good odds of finding Brady in the sixth.

Isn't that the same thing everyone is asking for us to do for a quarterback?

We have a great cornerback already. And a good stable of OLB's. And a good DL. And a good SS. Would you like to spend a first round pick on a #2 CB?

@mike-h said:

Know what? If you can't admit Mik has a point- then take your smart ass attitude elsewhere. Yes- Seattle did win that game with a great defense, sorry to bust your "offense wins championships" bubble. Well, it sure as hell didn't this year.

@tim-couch-pulls-out said:

So ergo- fire Lomdardi immediately, before he can screw up another draft? You're on to something- just go find the best cornerback in the NFL in the 5th round- about as good odds of finding Brady in the sixth.

@miktoxic said:

why so we can have someone comparable to russell wilson, who just was a very small part in the win in superbowl 48?

mccoy had better #'s in some games compared to wilson did tonite. oh and wilson doesn't run around like a chicken with his head cut off.

russell wilson' strongest attribute is managing the game and playing not to lose it. how many yards did he run for? pass for?

after watching a defense destroy an offense led by a future HOF QB you should be looking at defensive players @4.

How many first round draft picks did Seattle start tonight?

2. Earl Thomas and Bruce Irvin.

The Super Bowl MVP was a 7th round draft pick. The Seahawks best defensive player, and best corner in the league, is a fifth rounder.

It's more about who is coaching you and the scheme you're running.

We have just as many first round picks on our defense. We have the talent. We need the right defensive identity.