Buzz around NFL is Steven Jackson is coming to Atlanta

[Aftermath]

(02-26-2013 07:47 PM)ATLBound Wrote:  If there is any place I want us to get younger at, its the defense. Some of the integral parts of our defense is older....much more than our offense. The defense isnt going to become great overnight so get young energetic guys in the draft that will grow. Matt Ryan will have the offense sustained which makes it easier to maintain at a good enough level to win but that defense needs to get young quick, not the offense.

Players over 30 or damn near on the defense:
Samuels
Robinson
Abe
Babs
Nicholas

Thats 5 starters. As opposed to our offense:
Roddy
Tony G
Blalock
Clabo

Thats 4 starters. If there is any place we should not get older FA's, then its the defense. Thats almost half the defense and O-lineman generally have longer careers than do D-linemen or corners. Lb's can have long careers.

I agree completely, our D is getting old as fuck and it is going to start to cost us (I think it has already) If we did bring in a vet I'd prefer SJ over Freeney and Osi for that very reason. We can't keep adding more age to an aging defense, that's a recipe for disaster. At the same time we aren't likely to get a guy at 30 that will come in a have an instant impact on defense unless we draft a LB. If we spend money on a FA RB & TE (TG & SJ) it would be tantamount in my mind to saying "fuck it, can't improve the D this year, lets just try to outscore everyone" I wouldn't really mind that approach except we have the wrong HC to pull it off.