2003 Defense Vs. 2007 Defense

Censored by Laurie · August 10, 2007

I think if the secondary holds this year, this defense could be something special...MAYBE as good as the '03 defense which may have been the best since the Greene era. Lets compare:

Defensive Line: 2003

DE. Adrian Awasom
DT. Brandon Kennedy
DT. Evan Cardwell
DE. Eli Hutchinson

Defensive Line: 2007

DE. Jeremiah Chapman
DT. Montay Stevenson
DT. Joseph Miller
DE. Blake Burruss

Clearly the nod goes to the 2003 group. Cardwell was extremely underated, and as good as Stevenson and Chapman have been, Awasom and Kennedy were two of the best to ever man the front four for the Mean Green

Linebackers : 2003

OLB: Taylor Casey
MLB. Chris Hurd
OLB. Cody Spencer

Linebackers : 2007

OLB. Maurice Holman
MLB. Derek Mendoza
OLB. Brandon Monroe

I'm calling this a wash at the starting position...and a clear 07 advantage in terms of depth. The 03 group played so well off each other, and complimented a dominating defensive line very well. This years corp has more athleticism.

Secondary : 2003

CB. Jeremy Pearl
FS. Jonas Buckles
SS. Craig Jones
CB. Walter Priestly

Secondary : 2007

CB. Latif Nurudeen
FS. Aaron Weathers
SS. Desmon Chapman
CB. Antoine Bush

Even with Loren, we would've been saying this secondary was inexperienced. The 03 starters were 3 seniors and a junior. I think there's potential in our current group to eventually be as good as this 03 group, but the advantage is clearly with 03.

forevereagle · August 10, 2007

Linebackers : 2003
OLB: Taylor Casey
MLB. Chris Hurd
OLB. Cody Spencer
Linebackers : 2007
OLB. Maurice Holman
MLB. Derek Mendoza
OLB. Brandon Monroe
I'm calling this a wash at the starting position...and a clear 07 advantage in terms of depth. The 03 group played so well off each other, and complimented a dominating defensive line very well. This years corp has more athleticism.

I can agree with depth, but the LBs from 03 were some of the best we have had in recent memory (Brad Kassel notwhithstanding). Not to say that this group isn't very talented, but before seeing them play this season, I can't say that they are as good/better than the 03 guys.

BIG DAWG · August 10, 2007

I think we DEFINITELY need to tap the brakes on comparring the 2007 defense to the 2003 defense.

I know we are all excited about what the year has in store, but this team has yet to play a game.

Lets not get carried away here

greenminer · August 10, 2007

Heaven forbid we discuss potential on a message board.

Green Nightmare · August 10, 2007

The 03 unit was top 25 in the NCAA in Total D

Total Defense

The 06 unit was 64th in the NCAA in Total D

Total Defense

They have potential yes and the 02 unit was Top 10 Nationally, I just don't see them being that good.

It will be interesting to watch though

Keith7 · August 10, 2007

maybe when the linebackers can show me they can play zone coverage, i'll be sold on this defense, but based on what they did last year, i'm not that impressed.. I would take the '03 defense by a landslide

Green Lantern · August 10, 2007

I give the advantage to the 03' defense almost across the board. You make a good point about the depth of this years linebacking corp but I still feel that the Hurd, Casey, Spencer lineup played really well together and made up for any lack of athleticism with smart play and intestinal fortitude. The Booger/Awasom combination was truly something to watch. I just don't see us currently having a guy in this years lineup with the potential to truly take over a game (like Kennedy did against NMSU and MTSU in 02') on the defensive line. Stevenson looks like a beast this year and hopefully he can show us something special. Finally, Jones and Buckles really caused a lot of problems for opposing teams. I believe in the 03' season, Jones and Buckles were listed in many publications as a "Top 5" safety combination in the nation. They could really lay the wood (insert Quoner comment ) to receivers and tight ends coming across the field.

On paper, the 07' defense has some really good talent, but I really can't see them being the machine that was the 03' squad.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Green Lantern

Coach · August 10, 2007

Switch Booger with a DT from 07, and 07 would be better. He made those linebackers, secondary, and other lineman look really good. Let's not forget how truly dominant he was.

Cr1028 · August 11, 2007

I see 2 NFL players on the '03 team, one of whom that was taken in the NFL draft. How many on the current squad have a shot at being drafted? I'm not discounting the current team's ability to be great but you really have to look at the difference between the offense we had with the one we have now. The defense was responsible for quite a few of those 26 consecutive conference wins.

Censored by Laurie · August 11, 2007

Switch Booger with a DT from 07, and 07 would be better. He made those linebackers, secondary, and other lineman look really good. Let's not forget how truly dominant he was.

I kinda hinted around that idea...but stopped short of asking: "how good were those linebackers without that dominant D-line?" Certainly not meant as a slight for the trio...just curios if we regard them as highly as we do if they were playing behind the 07 line.

Quoner · August 11, 2007

I prefer the known quantity that did really a good job and am apalled people are optimistic about the future!

Angry!

Mad!

Condescending to the original poster!

DB29 · August 11, 2007

I see 2 NFL players on the '03 team, one of whom that was taken in the NFL draft. How many on the current squad have a shot at being drafted? I'm not discounting the current team's ability to be great but you really have to look at the difference between the offense we had with the one we have now. The defense was responsible for quite a few of those 26 consecutive conference wins.

Weathers is the only one with a shot at the next level!