Like someone said, a myth. He has also led the team in tackles on multiple occasions since his return He also has 2 passes defended in 3 games which is as many as the combination of Demeco Ryans, Zac Diles and Xavier Adibi
Is it down? Maybe, but he was arguably the most effective and best linebacker in the NFL last season, near the tops in almost every category (tackles, sacks, interceptions, passes defended, forced fumbles, qb pressures, even safeties). The guy was nothing short of phenomenal last year. Hard to improve upon that. I'm also not sure why you care about a solo vs. total tackles. Regardless of you feeling on the issues his single game average of either stat is down less than 1 tackle.
If you look at the best middle linebackers in the league they have stud nose tackles/defensive tackles. Ray Lewis has Haloti Ngata, Patrick Willis has Aubrayo Franklin, Lawrence Timmons has Casey Hampton, and London Fletcher has Albert Haynesworth. Those 4 defensive tackles/nose tackles are probably the best in the league not including Vince Wilfork who will miss this season and Pat Williams who is 38 and losing it. Cushing has crap in front of him with Shaun Cody.
So if he was number one last year, where would you rank him this year? Top 5? 10? He should be number one, or closer to it, but he's underachieving. Look, I'm not down on him so much individually, but more on the team as a whole. I don't think Kubiak is getting the most out of any of his players and that is what's truly irritating.
This is absolutely true. I agree a lot with what Steve Young said before the MNF game. He said the defense is NOT lacking in talent, they are simply not intellectually challenging as a system. It is simple and even average quarterbacks have an easy time shredding it apart. Cush, Ryans, and Mario are legitimate defensive superstars. There is little reason the defense should be so bad, it has a large part to do with the scheme Hell, on offense, they have a top 7 or so QB, the best receiver in the NFL and a top flight running back and it seems like Kubes is pissing it all away with his inept playcalling. As for Cushing, I would still take him over almost every linebacker in the league, so still top 5 imo.
We need a regime change. We have the talent to attract a top flight coach. It just sucks we have sit through another .500, give or take a win, season to get him. Gary(even steven)Kubiak just can't seem to get that extra drive or effort out of his players, especially on defense.
Yep, this team is on the brink and just sitting and waiting for a coach to take them over the edge. As I said in an earlier thread, my ideal scenario for the offseason would be to invest heavily in COACHING and bring in Jon Gruden to be the head coach and a likely fired Mike Singletary to be the assistant coach/defensive coordinator. A guy with superbowl experience who can be respected throughout the locker room and a guy that will kick their ass if they if they fail to do so.
I forgot to add, as for Cowher, his style would require too many drastic changes that are not particularly conducive to this team.
I'd be down for that, I'd miss Gruden on monday night though. The segment where he takes a player on the Gruden bus or whatever it's called is great. You can tell he really freaks those players out. The guy is a football psycho.
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DNP1EquL9M0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DNP1EquL9M0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> would love to have this man
So. It's not like what Kubiak has done has gotten us anywhere. Plus, if the players are as talented as we say, a changed from a 4-3 to 3-4 defense shouldn't be that hard. Actually, looking at our players, it really wouldn't. Just bring in a stud NT. Cowher has no reason to mess with the offense. He'll just help fix up our defense and not get cute like Kubiak with the offensive play calling.
It is not easy to simply switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Cushing is the only linebacker that would be capable of playing OLB in that system. What do you do with Mario William? Can you really expect him to become a linebacker? It think that is a bit outrageous. And running a 3-4 without a legitimate Nose tackle is a huge problem, you hardly just find them off the street.
Obviously Mario would stay at DE and then have Barwin be the other OLB. Plus, changing to a 3-4 and having Cowher as our coach can't be worse than having a 4-3 with Kubiak as our coach and Frank Bush as our defensive coordinator. Seriously, I'd take the Cowher option. The changes won't be too drastic and people are really overestimating how long it will take. Probably because it took Capers a long time and has taken Kubiak a long time. There are other teams around the league that have switched before and it doesn't take them nearly as long.
Why would he be a non-factor? What results have this defense produced so far? Are you really against hiring Cowher because there would be a switch to a 3-4 defense (most likely, because that is what Cowher runs)? I'd take my chances with that over what we have now.
Because 3-4 defensive ends generally are not pass rushers, they are run stoppers. Since when has a 3-4 DE ever put up big sack numbers?
That's what Barwin will be for as the fourth OLB. Again, I'll take my chances with Cowher has HC and a 3-4 defensive scheme over what we currently have. Any day.
