How much have we improved player personnel?

Football Outsiders rated last years D:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2015 DEFENSE EFFICIENCY RATINGS (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef)

20th overall
22nd run defense
19th pass defense

2015 NFL Team Passing Stats - National Football League - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/sort/quarterbackRating/position/defense)
Passer rating against: 96.1 --22nd

Yards per rush attempt: 4.8 --31st

Run-
I think the improvement of the run defense in large depends on who wins the open SS and ILB spots. I don't think we lost or gained much run D through the DL and I think the SS spot will be improved through subtraction of Dash and the addition of Bruton/Duke/Su'a. But at ILB who knows? Riley was part of the problem maybe some due to injury and Foster once he entered the line-up was the most stout against the run. A healthy Riley w/ Foster would be an improvement over last year. But, if Daniels gets into either ILB spot that's a huge bump for the run D imo.

Pass-
I would be disappointed if we don't at least hold opposing QBs 90 or below (which is about 15th); I think we honestly have the potential to be top 10 in passer rating against, which for me is barometer of good quick pass defense.

be careful about judging our team on wins and losses, last year we had basically the world's easiest schedule. if we go 9-7 again this year, it would actually be a dramatic improvement.

be careful about judging our team on wins and losses, last year we had basically the world's easiest schedule. if we go 9-7 again this year, it would actually be a dramatic improvement.

absolutely agree. we can easily go 7-9 and be a much better team. That would happen by playing the tough, playoff proven teams much tighter.

pffftttt...I'm no settler.
I want at least 11 wins this year.

If Alfred was awful then what do you think of Matt Jones? He was worse in every category compared to Alfred.

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Did you include the receiving statistics in there? Because I recall Jones breaking a few big screen passes for fairly long gains. Never see Alfred do that.

Both were rough, though. Mainly because of poor blocking. Jones had much more of a fumbling concern, but he's much much faster than Morris.

We need improved blocking up front to really make the run game go. Reality is, if the blocking was better then either Jones or Morris would be adequate. Jones's speed though gives you the possibility of a big gainer.

And he's only a rookie, so figures to have a shot to improve. We know what Morris is. Fights very, very hard for yards but very little explosion. And a ton of tread on the tires.

Alfred Morris may very well end up back with us, I doubt the Cowpukes will keep both him and DMC now that they have Elliot.

I'm in favor of re-signing Pierre Thomas. I thought he did a good job for us last season. But, even then, I would still think need more help at RB. A trade for a stout veteran RB to help Matt carry the load on 1st and 2nd down and perhaps goal line would be fine with me.

I can't complain about our draft but I really had hoped that we would pick up either Kenneth Dixon or Daniel Lasco to supplement our RB group.

I think in the end, we're not going to be a great running team anyway. This is and should be a passing offense 1st. When was the last time the Patriots had a true stud at tailback? Maybe Corey Dillon? They always seem to get journeymen and plug them in. That's really what we should be doing too.

I'm looking forward to seeing Matt Jones in year 2. He has some issues to clean up but he seems like the type of kid who gets it and works hard to improve.

Agree with you, Matty. In general, I'm very excited to see what all of last year's rookie class looks like in year 2. It's natural to imagine the impact of the incoming rookies, but the biggest jump occurs in the player's second year.

Scherff. Like a snowplow. Can't wait to see what he looks like in 2016.