Our Defense looks stacked (as for starters), but who are our backups?

quote:

---

Secondary:

---

I'm drawing a blank.

DL: Bunkley, Foster (who should be a beast when healthy), and Walker

LB: Humber and Reddick (ILB) Dawson, Haralson, Johnson (OLB)

Secondary: White, Robinson, Sweeting (CB) Bush and Ball (S)

could use more at ILB

quote:

---

Secondary:

---

AJ Davis is a young player that was looking pretty impressive till his injury last year.

quote:

---

but we have some severe lack of talent in the backers.

---

I mean I wouldn't say that. I think Humber could start around the league in some places. Whether you consider Butler, who has potential, and Haralson who's proven, the backup, i mean they're both solid. Dawson is a guy who's made an impact as well. I mean for backups that's all you can ask

Our depth isn't too bad as of today. For DBs Bush, Robinson, and White is a nice group. LB, depending on how our base D looks this year, it'll be something like: Butler/Haralson, Humber, and Dawson. If Reddick and Johnson can add to that, it will be a nice bonus. DL is in decent shape with Jenkins, Foster, and Walker. Some bodies there, especially at DE would be helpful.

quote:

---

Only frightened about our backups at the LB position.

---

This. We're really deep on the DL and in the secondary.

LINK

The first number is years left on the contract. The contract numbers are for next year(and what we save if cut).

Defense

DE1
Jordan 1, 5th year team option or UFA
Foster 2, $587k, $585k

DE2/DT
Hicks 2, $808k, $673k
Walker 1, RFA

NT/DT
Jenkins 3, $747k, $463k
Bunkley 3, $6.113m, $2.888m

OLB1/DE
Galette 2, $2.9m, $2m and can void and become a RFA next year if he hits 12 sacks this year
Dawson 1, UFA
Johnson 2, $510k, $510k

OLB2
Butler 1, UFA
Haralson 1, UFA
Knox 2, $510k, $510k

ILB1/MLB
Lofton 4, $9m, $4m
Reddick 2, $587k, $585k

ILB2/OLB
Hawthorne 3, $6.01m, $2.99m
Humber 1, UFA

CB1
Lewis 4, $4.85m, -$2.05m(lose cap)
Robinson 1, UFA
Wade 1, RFA
Frederick 2, $510k, $510k
Brooks 2, $513k, $510k

CB2
Bailey 2, $2.25m, $2m
White 2, $704k, $660k
Sweeting 2, $587k, $585k
Davis 1, ERFA

FS
Byrd 6, $10.3m, -$4.5m(lose cap)
Bush 2, ?, ?

SS
Vaccaro 3, $2.57m, -$2.999m(lose cap)
Ball 3, $512k, $508k

I'd say pretty solid as far as going 2 deep is concerned. You can't have a roster full of starters at your backup spots, but we have guys that could spot start at least.

quote:

---

I think Humber could start around the league in some places.

---

He's the only guy that could potentially do it all (coverage, pass rush, and run stop) currently on our roster. Hawthorne was supposed to be that guy that could stop the run, cover well, and apply some pressure when given the call. So far he has been a pretty huge disappointment. Lofton is a 4-3 MLB, he plays the position well - I still don't know how he adjusts when we actually move to a 4 backer base package (last year was essentially 3). I am eager to see how Haralson is used going forward - last year he was more of a situational player, if he improves in learning the schemes and system he'll do well (could be a every-down type of guy).

I hold to my original statement, we have a severe lack of talent in the backers, especially if you look at it from a 3-4 perspective. You have to have a lot of guys able to do many different things in the Ryan 3-4.

Agree on Humber. He's a great utility player. Not super great at anything, but he can get the job done.

On Haralson, he actually went from not playing or barely playing to at times playing more than Hawthorne(iirc). The more he caught on the more he was used. He is great against the run and a decent pass rusher and in coverage. He's like Humber, only better against the run.

I'd say he was a small step up over Shanle. He sucks(sucks) at pass coverage, is not a very good blitzer, and while good against the run overall I've seen him miss more than a few tackles.

He's a one dimensional aging player set to get $6m next year.