With Suggs back, can our defense get back to being effective?

**houstonravensfan** · 10-24-2012, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by GOTA

The answer is no. Suggs had a great game Sunday and it didn't mean shit. It's like how Jared Allen was putting up 20 sack seasons for a bad defense. They replace a good chunk of those around him and suddenly the Vikings D is a lot more effective. Pass rushers are critical to good teams but they can still put up their numbers for bad defenses.

On Sunday night they put up and interesting stat. The Bengals have had the most sacks over the past couple of seasons. Anyone truly scared of that defense?

Agree. Our front 7 = a recovering Suggs, a Ngata who might be starting to break down physically, and absolutely on one else who worries any OC. Great to see Upshaw progressing, but Cody, Kemo, McPhee, Kruger, Jones, and (maybe) McLain are regressing. Looking forward to us (barely) making the post-season, then sacrificing young goats (can't find many virgins around here) in hopes of a great draft

**leachisabeast** · 10-24-2012, 03:53 PM

Not sure where all the Ngata breaking down comments are coming from. He's been double teamed in every game so far this year, but as still had 4 sacks, and is on pace for 8 sacks or more this year. He's had a limp through the past few weeks, but I think he'll be healthy again after the bye, don't think it's anything significant to worry about. There were some rumours that he'd sprained his MCL after the Cowboys game which was complete BS.

**jonboy79** · 10-24-2012, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Not sure where all the Ngata breaking down comments are coming from. He's been double teamed in every game so far this year, but as still had 4 sacks, and is on pace for 8 sacks or more this year. He's had a limp through the past few weeks, but I think he'll be healthy again after the bye, don't think it's anything significant to worry about. There were some rumours that he'd sprained his MCL after the Cowboys game which was complete BS.

Through the first few games he would have been talked about as a potential DPOY, if it wasn't for JJ Watt's flat out domination of the league.

I think the talks come from this being his second consecutive year with nicks that haven't removed him from action but have slowed him some. It happens. He's stillthe best inside D lineman in football, bar none.

**Justlovemybirds** · 10-24-2012, 04:18 PM

Getting Suggs back and forcing Offenses to account for him with a Tackle and Double-Teams can only be a positive for the Defense.

**steelerhater** · 10-24-2012, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

It's quite amazing to think that Suggs returned that early and looked so dominant. I can only imagine after the bye week, he will be in better shape, and he will probably be more healthy (who else was scared to death he'd hurt his achillies or something when he was out there?). If we went back into a time machine into the offseason and I said to everyone that Suggs will be back for Houston and will record a sack and stuff the run, everyone would have laughed their asses off. Most people were thinking December, and the biggest optimists were thinking late November.

So with Suggs back, Olines are now going to shift their blocking assignments to Suggs, either Ngata or Suggs has to be double teamed now, and they wont be able to do that all through the game. I think going forward the front 7 has to be this....

Ngata, Cody, McPhee

Upshaw, McClellan, Elerbee, Suggs

Rotational players: McClain (ILB), Kruger (OLB), A Jones (DE/DT), Kemo (NT)

Would like to see Bryan Hall and Tyson given a shot too, maybe Hall can win the stating job at NT, because Cody and Kemo are the true weak links of our defense right now. I wouldn't mind to see us sign a NT right now, is there anybody out there who could fill in?

Hopefully our front 7 can bring some pressure, and help our corners out and maybe enable them to play press coverage which would fit their strengths. I think Upshaw can develop into a decent pass rusher with Suggs opposite him now, and Kruger will look better in his old role as a pure pass rusher.

So can our defense get better? I honestly believe they have to if we want to win the SB, I don't think our offense is good enough to do what the Patriots do to make up for their defensive woes.

Not with Williams and Smith playing corner for us. Those guys are a huge liability that we just cannot hide.

**The Excellector** · 10-24-2012, 10:57 PM

The more interesting question might be: Are the pass rushers around Suggs, better than last year's group around Suggs?

**leachisabeast** · 10-25-2012, 02:11 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

The more interesting question might be: Are the pass rushers around Suggs, better than last year's group around Suggs?

In terms of pass rush, Upshaw is probably better than JJ, but Redding had 4 or 5 sacks, so I really don't think there is a difference in that regard. I think one of the main problems is that Cody has severely regressed this year.