After 4 preseason games, I can say that I'm not comfortable with our run defense.
The most disturbing thing that I also noticed is how Jason Ferguson is not palying like Jason Ferguson of 08 season. Maybe his age is catching up to him.
You guys may not like what I have to say, but we are way way more effective at stopping the run with Paul Solai, Langford, and T. McDaniel in our 3-4 defense. I would put Starks as a pass rusher on 3rd down with Merling but I think that Fergusson may have lost a step from last season..
Well, we also had Holliday last year, who started, and was better than both Starks and Merling.
I mean if 18-12th is average(C), 11-6 is good(B), and top 5 is great(A)... these guys should be around a 13 this year, with the downgrade(loss of Holliday), and Ferg getting older. So C, C+, B- ... something like that.
It's not a position stacked like our Linebackers, where Crowder is good(B+), Porter and Taylor are great(A).
I mean it is obvious that we need to address NT next season . . . Soliai is a bonus, if he works out . . . that would be fantastic, he definitely has the talent, but regardless . . . . we need more competition for that NT position other than Dotson, who is a bit undersized for the position and is a better fit at DE in the 3-4. Whether that is going after a guy like Wilfork or drafting a guy early, that and ILB are the 2 priorities going into the next draft.
Ferguson was a blessing last season, and has more than made up for that 6th round pick we gave up for him, but its true that he is getting older and we have to have security at that NT position, more than any other on this defense.
As far as the run D, Matt Roth was critical in making us a top 10 run defense, and trust me, his presence will be missed . . . hopefully the increased pass rush will make up for his loss.