We knew the defense wouldn't be good coming into the season, though we all hoped it could at least be respectable. The injuries to an already suspect secondary was devastating. The two new DT signings didn't pan out with the McCoy injury and Poe playing poorly. The DEs who were being heralded as the "doomsday defense" have been underwhelming and relying on two LBs with fragile health Lee and LVE came back to bite us in the butt.

Both LVE and Lee are expected back at some point, but does anyone really expect them to stay healthy moving forward? J Thomas has been a pleasant surprise at the one LB spot, but J Smith look's like he's playing in quicksand at times. I expect the secondary will improve somewhat when Awuzie and Brown but how much? I'm also optimistic that the DL especially the DEs will be more productive moving forward. We really really need them to be.

Not a very optimistic post I know, but again get some players back from injury and give this new coaching staff more time to get and we might yet have something here.

The offense will likely need to carry this team, but we already knew that. If the defense can be respectable we may have a chance to make some noise.