For all the talk of how terrible our offensive line was tonight, which I wholeheartedly agree with, I don't think the defensive line should escape without any criticism. Very disappointing performance once again this week. They were just absolutely getting swallowed up tonight, the Vikings have a very good offensive line, but you have to do better than that to protect your linebackers. The Vikings oline were consistently reaching second level defenders with ease. These things can be compensated for somewhat, with proper game planning, and the like. Which is why I'm not so overly concerned, I do have a tremendous level of confidence in Mangini. But it's clear that talent wise, we still have a ways to go. And smash mouth football teams like Baltimore are going to continue to give us huge fits this year.
It's really too early to be worried, but the jets signing of Kenyon Coleman - and their fans' trumpeting of its significance - always puzzled me. He's AWFUL, a total JAG. It's all about whether D-Rob can manage to live up to the hype from all those years back when Belichick head-faked the jets into trading half their draft for him. Ellis is the real deal. D-Rob CAN be, but isn't yet.
Whatha ya know another undrafted free agent trying to make our team. Well I got news for ya chap Coleman will make you eat those words by mid season. I hate all this talk of how the defensive line is the NYJ problem. Think about the creativity aspect we didn't show?
I agree. As I've said before, Ellis is not as good as people think he is, well at least since he got his extension. And D-Rob is just not a 3-4 DT, regardless of how he played in the second half of last season and how much the coaches talk him up. He may get some penetration, but he just can't eat up blockers and keep guys off Vilma, which is sorely needed. Expect another year of poor run stopping and lack of pressure.
I've said it before and I'll say it again..No 3-4 defense will be good without a proper NT doing his job up front.
