Which defensive players are performing adequately?

[Rain Man]

Poll to follow.

Relative to their assigned role, which defensive players are performing at or above a level that is to be reasonably expected?

(In other words, don't penalize a guy for being a backup. Consider just his performance on the field when he's playing.)

Note: I'm not including the following players who are not getting regular defensive snaps or are new to the team.

Ben Niemann
Charvarius Ward
Dorian O'Daniel
Eric Berry
Josh Shaw
Justin Hamilton
Leon McQuay
Nate Orchard
Tremon Smith
Frank Zombo

[Halfcan]

I am shocked that Hulk Bailey is finally off the bench and having his best year ever.

Chris Jones had another offside penalty. I don't think he is going to lead the NFL in sacks like he predicted-lol

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

I just don't understand the model here.

Scrubs at safety, though due to injury. Not that Sorenson isn't exploitable. Who knows what Berry will look like if he ever plays. Kc has three nickelback's in Scandrick, Nelson, and Fuller. The ILB's are slow and not even particularly big. The reserve OLB's look like defensive linemen.

I mean when you look at the offense you can see that it's being built with some kind of vision behind it. I have no idea what the **** they're doing on defense. IT's just random parts cobbled together. The best players are declining veterans with injury issues (neither of whom played last night) and either KC is drafting garbage or they're shit at developing talent.

To some extent I can see the philosophy behind putting giants at OLB. If you only have two linemen, you need more size somewhere. It's almost like they're playing a 4-3 in that regard, and then the two ILBs are serving the traditional LB role. Hitchens can kind of do that in theory. But Ragland can't. He's too big to be a fast linebacker and doesn't seem to read plays well enough to stuff the run. And even if it all works, you end up with a front six instead of a front seven, so it's still a small unit with 2 DL, 2 giant OLB, and 2 ILBs.

I do think that the whole system would improve dramatically if we had a really good ILB and SS.

[arrowheadnation]

LOL @ the 13 people that voted for Stephen Nelson. Didn't realize CP had such a large blind contingent.