The dour report today about the O-line not being able to handle pressure got me thinking about last season's Fall camp. A quick look back at the reports from about this same time a year ago seemed to indicate the offense winning more often and there were fewer reports of breakdowns in protection.
Now, when you consider that the O-line is essentially the same as it was last season (and they presumably haven't gotten worse with experience) and Appleby is still handling about 1/2 of the snaps, really the only other significant variable is the defense.
From last season, you have just 3 new players in the front 7 for the defense (LB Ezuchukwu, DE's Panfil and Henley or ?). While the LBs could be bringing pressure, that aspect hasn't necessarily been reported when the topic of O-line breakdown has come up, so one must logically assume that it's the D-line and the new DE's that are essentially making the difference.
No one is going to really know until September 6th, but maybe, just maybe, the defense IS that much better this season.
Such is Fall camp where every practice turns into a zero sum game between the offense and the defense.
Now, when you consider that the O-line is essentially the same as it was last season (and they presumably haven't gotten worse with experience) and Appleby is still handling about 1/2 of the snaps, really the only other significant variable is the defense.
From last season, you have just 3 new players in the front 7 for the defense (LB Ezuchukwu, DE's Panfil and Henley or ?). While the LBs could be bringing pressure, that aspect hasn't necessarily been reported when the topic of O-line breakdown has come up, so one must logically assume that it's the D-line and the new DE's that are essentially making the difference.
No one is going to really know until September 6th, but maybe, just maybe, the defense IS that much better this season.
Such is Fall camp where every practice turns into a zero sum game between the offense and the defense.
