What's your take on our coaching?

Our DL has not been a strength this year. It doesn't have to be for the defense to work, but we tied up a lot of money in it, and there has not been a great performer in it.

Quietly, Stephen Bowen is getting outproduced by Kedric Golston over this four game losing streak.

I think Cofield's performance has been really underrated this season. Sure, I'd agree that he's not a traditional NT and that any time a defense has run defense issues, you point the finger first at the nose guard, but we were a horrible defensive team on first and ten last year. We've been a really good one this year. The biggest difference has been Barry Cofield keeping the pocket a dangerous place for quarterbacks to step up. He's doing a great job protecting our overpaid secondary on early downs and distances.

This is interesting stuff so do we say Cofield isn't a pocket collapsing NT but a prevent guy? Like preventing QB scrambles or stepping up in the pocket to extend a play?

Adding band aids to a terrible offense didn't help either, and Shanahan was brought in to fix the defense. Speaking of defense, with that 2nd rounder, MS could have picked up T. Cody and solve our NT hole for years to come (he is now the starting NT for the Ravens). And actually, he could have traded down to get him, and acquire more picks in the process.
Shanahan was taken in to build a winner. His mistake in his first year was picking up a bunch of lemons(a used car with problems is defined as a lemon) and trying to build something with them.

His reputation was built on his stellar offenses, not his defensive decisions. In fact, even this year's defense was well beyond my expectations when he was first hired since the Broncos' D in 2008 was purely awful. He has done pretty well this season given his poor reputation on that side of the ball(now maybe Allen helped, but w/e). And I believe we are close to establishing something really good on D. We just need a NT and ILBs(we would have needed a DT and maybe 3 LBs if we were still running a 4-3 at this juncture).

This is interesting stuff so do we say Cofield isn't a pocket collapsing NT but a prevent guy? Like preventing QB scrambles or stepping up in the pocket to extend a play?He knocks down a lot of passes. Pretty much one per game.

Cofield is very active for a NT and draws a double team based on his ability to show up on film. That sounds great, but ultimately, he gets moved around a bunch in the running game, particularly on draws. It's not a lack of discipline, it's just his player type. He's disruptive, but not particularly quick or strong for the position.

The true test for Cofield is if he wears down over the course of the season or not. If he's playing like this in December, I'd say you have the long term solution at NT. If he's just getting knocked around, they'll need someone else to execute the defense.

Shanahan was taken in to build a winner. His mistake in his first year was picking up a bunch of lemons(a used car with problems is defined as a lemon) and trying to build something with them.

His reputation was built on his stellar offenses, not his defensive decisions. In fact, even this year's defense was well beyond my expectations when he was first hired since the Broncos' D in 2008 was purely awful. He has done pretty well this season given his poor reputation on that side of the ball(now maybe Allen helped, but w/e). And I believe we are close to establishing something really good on D. We just need a NT and ILBs(we would have needed a DT and maybe 3 LBs if we were still running a 4-3 at this juncture).

That's...just...nonsense. Remember had we built the defense around AH (before all the drama) the DL situation was sublime. AC next to AH was amazing. Orakpo could have held down SAM or even become the LDE and then Rocky would be here as WIL regardless. The only absolute need to round out the 4-3 was a legit FS.

More importantly...this is an absurd debate the opportunity cost of blowing up the defense is painfully obvious.

Bottome line is Mike is a megalomaniac and will force the "system" whatever it happens to be on the roster regardless of opportunity cost, scheme fit etc.

I think Mike/Bruce walked into a hornets nest and came out alive ... they managed to get rid of the problems while building the RIGHT way. This season had us all drinking mad kool-aid at 3-1 and that's OK. Our defense is playoff caliber and you know what , if we are building our YOUNG defense first that's fine with me. Helu, Hankerson, Austin, Paul, Davis, Williams, Monty (his is a better C than you think), Paulsen, hell i'll even throw in Torrain & Hightower (just have a feeling he will be back & Cooley) .. this is a young offense learning while we have a young defense that has learned .. Bowen(only 4-5 years in league) , Jenkins next year ?? , Landry, OJ I like .. Gomes is going to be special I think . Love Neild at NT ... Kerrackpo are among leagues best .. d-hall has a solid 4 years left being a top CB .. Wilson will work out fine ... we can probably pick up a solid CB in free agency next year .. focus draft on QB ... How about the dude from Baylor .. Griffin III .... give some damn patience Redskins Nation .. you bitch about change so for once give us a second to let Shanny roll with the punches for MINIMUM 3 YEARS i'm down for all 5. Either way, could be worse, you could be the EAGLes who spent millions upon millions and I believe have the same record as us ? Good luck to Becky to get a W down in Miami .. 4-5 with Dallas on the plate .. who knows ... take it in people we are rebuilding and it's going to pay off dramatically for years to come.

I think Mike/Bruce walked into a hornets nest and came out alive ... they managed to get rid of the problems while building the RIGHT way. This season had us all drinking mad kool-aid at 3-1 and that's OK. Our defense is playoff caliber and you know what , if we are building our YOUNG defense first that's fine with me. Helu, Hankerson, Austin, Paul, Davis, Williams, Monty (his is a better C than you think), Paulsen, hell i'll even throw in Torrain & Hightower (just have a feeling he will be back & Cooley) .. this is a young offense learning while we have a young defense that has learned .. Bowen(only 4-5 years in league) , Jenkins next year ?? , Landry, OJ I like .. Gomes is going to be special I think . Love Neild at NT ... Kerrackpo are among leagues best .. d-hall has a solid 4 years left being a top CB .. Wilson will work out fine ... we can probably pick up a solid CB in free agency next year .. focus draft on QB ... How about the dude from Baylor .. Griffin III .... give some damn patience Redskins Nation .. you bitch about change so for once give us a second to let Shanny roll with the punches for MINIMUM 3 YEARS i'm down for all 5. Either way, could be worse, you could be the EAGLes who spent millions upon millions and I believe have the same record as us ? Good luck to Becky to get a W down in Miami .. 4-5 with Dallas on the plate .. who knows ... take it in people we are rebuilding and it's going to pay off dramatically for years to come.
I'll do my part....and I think they'll do theirs...........
It made me feel warm and fuzzy all over. I needed that after the Penn St news of the Millenium......

That's...just...nonsense. Remember had we built the defense around AH (before all the drama) the DL situation was sublime. AC next to AH was amazing. Orakpo could have held down SAM or even become the LDE and then Rocky would be here as WIL regardless. The only absolute need to round out the 4-3 was a legit FS.

More importantly...this is an absurd debate the opportunity cost of blowing up the defense is painfully obvious.

Bottome line is Mike is a megalomaniac and will force the "system" whatever it happens to be on the roster regardless of opportunity cost, scheme fit etc.
Admittedly, I worded that badly. I made it sound like we were set in the secondary and depthwise
The point is, establish the front 7, and team can at least bear the poorness of the secondary behind them with a punishing pass rush and an impenetrable run defense. NT is the key to that, and we need a more prototypical NT to complement Cofield. Rocky and Fletch might need successors in the near future, hence the need for ILBs.

You're use of opportunity cost confuses me. If the opportunity cost of our transition was to stay with the 4-3, we have to look at the production(i.e sacks, turnovers, pressures, coverage) of the various schemes(it would have been new anyway) not just in the short term, where the where one of the inputs(labor, capital) are fixed, but in the long term, where the any input can be modified. The switch to the 3-4 could be considered a very costly investment of sorts(similar to an investment in a new plant, i.e new technology), except poor play is the negative outcome instead of the loss of money. However, if this investment would then help reach a level of productivity well past the old levels, then there is certainly a case to be made for making such an investment.

Also, there is another alternative that could have been the best one(the opportunity cost), which is making a more gradual transition to the 3-4.

He knocks down a lot of passes. Pretty much one per game.

Cofield is very active for a NT and draws a double team based on his ability to show up on film. That sounds great, but ultimately, he gets moved around a bunch in the running game, particularly on draws. It's not a lack of discipline, it's just his player type. He's disruptive, but not particularly quick or strong for the position.

The true test for Cofield is if he wears down over the course of the season or not. If he's playing like this in December, I'd say you have the long term solution at NT. If he's just getting knocked around, they'll need someone else to execute the defense.

I know it is really hard to notice the production of 3-4 NTs, but seeing Cofield getting manhandled by the Giants' rookie center in week one was very disappointing. I think he's had some good games here and there, but I just don't see him having the same effect that a NT like Hampton or Wilfork (when the Pats ran the 3-4). I just think that Cofield would be more productive as a DE instead of NT.

I think Mike/Bruce walked into a hornets nest and came out alive ... they managed to get rid of the problems while building the RIGHT way. This season had us all drinking mad kool-aid at 3-1 and that's OK. Our defense is playoff caliber and you know what , if we are building our YOUNG defense first that's fine with me. Helu, Hankerson, Austin, Paul, Davis, Williams, Monty (his is a better C than you think), Paulsen, hell i'll even throw in Torrain & Hightower (just have a feeling he will be back & Cooley) .. this is a young offense learning while we have a young defense that has learned .. Bowen(only 4-5 years in league) , Jenkins next year ?? , Landry, OJ I like .. Gomes is going to be special I think . Love Neild at NT ... Kerrackpo are among leagues best .. d-hall has a solid 4 years left being a top CB .. Wilson will work out fine ... we can probably pick up a solid CB in free agency next year .. focus draft on QB ... How about the dude from Baylor .. Griffin III .... give some damn patience Redskins Nation .. you bitch about change so for once give us a second to let Shanny roll with the punches for MINIMUM 3 YEARS i'm down for all 5. Either way, could be worse, you could be the EAGLes who spent millions upon millions and I believe have the same record as us ? Good luck to Becky to get a W down in Miami .. 4-5 with Dallas on the plate .. who knows ... take it in people we are rebuilding and it's going to pay off dramatically for years to come.


"They managed to get rid of the problems while building the RIGHT way" They got rid of a few problem children; that is for sure and that is surely positive. Building a team where the QB options are Rex Grossman and John Beck is NOT - - let me repeat NOT - - the RIGHT way. Building a team that carries 8 or 9 WRs (only one of whom is worth the powder it would take to blow him away) and 2 back-up OL is not the RIGHT way.


"dhall has a solid 4 years left as a top CB"
Not sure he is a "top CB" now. 64 CBs start every week in the NFL. Just a guess but there are at least a dozen - - and probably 20 that are as good or better than he is.

"dhall has a solid 4 years left as a top CB"
Not sure he is a "top CB" now. 64 CBs start every week in the NFL. Just a guess but there are at least a dozen - - and probably 20 that are as good or better than he is.

I'll take the over.