Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!?!?

I've been seeing more and more of this type of thing online.....i.e. sleepers, dark horse, underestimated, etc.

I wondered about that too Flash, but, decided to sweep it aside just because I believe our secondary is greatly improved regardless. With the best guys starting and having good players to rotate in to keep guys fresh, I am excited.

Elijah Jones has the most games started in Pitt.'s history and only play from Harlem in the NFL a long CB with a ton of experience..G Williams plays a different role than Melton and Jones...Jones and Melton are outside options and are close friends since being on the team. Jones is well deserving of the mention...just because he wasn't noticed by us fans doesn't lower his value. Melton is also a special pick. G Williams role still remains as a nickel CB with the outside CB additions.

A short article and Hunt has solid points that give good evidence of the improvements of the roster...without any mention of the player buy-in under JG.

K1 is the key as well as the coaching staff being able to give him support above the improved offensive weapons and improved OL. Some in the national media have commented on K1 never having a mature HC who could do things like preparing OL to slide projection correctly for him as well as the emphasis on the run game and under center and play action. So many changes in 2023 that show the new coaching staff not only believes in him as well as Monti and the actual surrounding K1 and putting him in position to be able to succeed. It goes beyond what us as casual fans take in to account. The best FB player in TX's history although under 6'0"tall is not a little thing...Brees is from TX and not in that conversation...if that gives a little prospective on K1's ability in FB. FB is a team sport and unlike the NBA one player's talent has limited effect on team success w/o a solid supporting roster. A Great GM...Solid HC and coaching with ability to develop players and get roster buy-in with a healthy K1 is the core reason for the positive expectations...Monti and staff are better at getting the right players for their style of play than some give him credit and you hear all the relationships with some of the FA signings with players currently on the roster that PFF ratings do not account for...there are multiple levels of syncing of the players on the roster who mesh well together and a closeness with the members of the roster will have positive effects on the field.

Rabbit addition is a whole other level of improvement if he meshes with Budda and Thompson...he fills a role of different play that the two vets do not play.

The offense had many improvements as per weapons and depth...the defensive improvements although not as sexy on paper will take a bottom feeder defense respectable and could have an improvement of 15-20 positions compared with the other NFL defenses. Getting into the top 15 defenses would be huge...I could envision a top 10 defense if things role as I expect. The time to work out the kinks of many new additions is the key...2025 should be a lock for a top 10 defense. IMHO

As always Flash I appreciate your research and I enjoy your ability to be humble and a caring fan's approach. Personally I am not an expert, I have a love of FB and many hours and days playing and more as a fan for decades. From my viewpoint...do not get hung up on who are starters or lack of NCB be listed on a depth chart. Keep in mind the lack of the defensive philosophy JG and Rallis run is not stuck on being a 4-3 or 3-4 or like in AZ's recent past of an attacking 3-4. Also, they preach versatility.

First in their system they like to have players with ability to play different positions and play multiple roles in a game. It confuses the offense from identifying who is doing what. A common audible on offense heard in games is the QB identifying the "Mike" or Mike LB...he is usually free to rush or cover and even the OL will point out who is the Mike. QBs who can identify the role of the defenders by their pre-snap alignment the better they can attack. In normal base alignment 3-4 or 4-3 they total 7, 11-7=4...so 4 DBs are in base defense. If you drop a DL player or LB you have 5 DBs on defense, 5 as per coins are nickels...drop 2 (LB or DL) you have six DBs in formation there is no coin for 6 so someone used dime to identify six DBs in formation...if an offense starts a game with 4-5 WRs...no matter what the depth chart says the defense will be in a Nickel or Dime formation to have enough proper coverage players to match the number of WRs. A side point on coverage for instance cover 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8, and 9. 2-4 are usually a scheme across the field and later overages may be a hybrid of overages...like cover 6...cover 2 on one half and cover 3 on the other half. You can also have man on part of the offense with zone on the rest of shading of defenders who may appear adding extra emphasis, but can also work away from an initial area of coverage. In short JG and Rallis want players who are DBs who can be interchangeable between S or CB for a variety of reasons. In general the 3rd CB or Nickel works inside on slot WRs and TEs the #1 CB plays a WR lined up on the outside..thus #1 CB and #2 CB are aligned on the outside and Nickel is inside...Murphy was actually a better Nickel CB who was forced to play outside most of his career due to need. Honey badger was a S who excelled at Nickel and wanted CB money on his new contract, not S money, because CB money pays more and he played nickel the majority of his Card career. So moral of the story a depth chart gives a specific position, but may not indicate the actual role of a player or the actual amount of play time...don't get caught up on how players are listed and the defensive coordinators want to confuse or hide the actual role of individual players.

It is safe to say Bunting, Melton and E. Jones are outside CBs and the safeties as well as G Williams are Nickel CBs as well as Clark and the defense will play games off those initial positions or individual players. In 2023 Thompson played as much Nickel as any player for the Cards. Even OLBs can drop into coverage and play the Nickel position...Collins is as dangerous when he drops into coverage as when he rushes the QB...diversity and disguising of individual players role is the key as well as playing games in those roles from play to play. IF you want a great look at confusing QBs by disguising defenders look on YouTube when the Ravens played defense against the Niners in 2023...Seattle's new HC was the Ravens DC and he worked over Kyle's offense and Purdy by disguising how they were defending.

I hope this helps Flash.

On several occasions I have read Mitch at ROTBs cry about how IN THE NFCW, the Cards repeatedly get RIPPED over the middle, between the hashmarks
by all of the divisional rivals, with WRs ala Cooper Kupp.
He repeatedly begged to see the Cards draft or sign a fast,
quick, shifty, sticky DB that could change the dynamic.
Enter: MO, Sears, and JG.
With JG being a DB specialist,
you know he was all over that issue.
I would not be surprised to see DTD (Rabbit) get in on the action to help terminate the problem...or at least reduce it. It really is a major key for the Cards to increase their
Ws in the NFCW.