Past performance is the best indicator of future performance. In 2014, after moving CM3 to ILB, GB gave up 313 yards/Gm, which if extrapolated over the year would give them the #5 D. Also after the move, Detroit [supposedly #2] and GB had 4 common opponents: Lions D gave up 321/game and Packers 262/game. In POs both teams gave up 315 to Dallas [about 70 yards under Dallas’ season average]. Only difference Detroit played in Dallas; but Dallas was 8-0 and much better on the road. Then Seattle was held to under 200 yards for 56 minutes.
This is the D we start w/ in 2015 less Tramon, House, Hawk and Jones. But w/ Tone, Boyd, Daniels, Barrington, Pennell, Elliot, Dix all improving and Raji coming back from injury [Tex might be right that this is meaningless if he plays like 2013, but I assert Raji’s attitude change will cause him to be at least a top third NT in 2015, maybe top 3, Raji will wreck the Centers in the first 4-5 games, then we’ll see how much he wears down]. Peppers will be just as effective [worst case scenario Elliot, Mulumba, Perry and Neal take 100-150 of his 2014 snaps]. Daniels, Perry, Neal, Raji, Hayward and Richardson are all in their money year and motivated to play with more intensity, focus, smarts and with little bumps and bruises.
Only real loss is Tramon’s 2014 snaps, which will be picked up by Hayward, which equals a solid improvement, and Hyde will take Hayward’s 2014 slot snaps [very slight downgrade]. The only concern is House is not there to back-up if an injury occurs to a CB, but by the end of season one of the rookies, Goodson or TGW will be as good as House was in 2014 [a healthy House didn’t get one snap in playoffs-not one snap!] . The D’s depth at every position in 2015 exceeds that of 2014!
The 2014 D w/ CM3 at ILB was a true top 5 D. Only numerous injuries will cause the 2015 D, not to be as good or better.
PS: to me Individual stats are meaningless!
Originally Posted by: Barfarn