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A major focus of this offseason for the Beasts was to improve one of the league's worse rush defenses. They were in the middle of the pack with quarterback hurries last year with 65, and in the bottom third in sacks at 23. But that doesn't even begin to describe the kind of anemic pass rush the team possessed -- they were only five sacks ahead of St. Louis who had only 18, and 21 behind league leader Cleveland.
So gone was longtime team leading defender Carlton Nitschke and in return the team brough in young, talented but unproven defensive end Barry Mendenhall in a trade with Vancouver. And to say that Mendenhall is unproven may be an understatement. There is a good possibility that he is an all-out bust with only seven sacks in 34 starts.
Though last year he did show a good bit of improvement and it is hoped that playing with Andrew Kinney on the other side of the defensive line he will continue to improve and at the same time open up some space for each other other.
Also, disappointed but not discouraged by the retirement of receiver Ernest Martinez, the team sent the 1.32 pick to Houston for receiver Byrant Beckner. Beckner was one of the team's two key pickups on offense this offseason. The other being left tackle Julio Grant, who the team also picked up in a trade with Houston.
Grant should allow Raymond Rodriguez to return to his natural position of right tackle next season and at the same time solidify the offensive line which has, at times over the past several seasons, been suspect in its pass protection.
Another area the team was looking to improve was in its secondary where the team used the 1.15 pick to draft safety Harvey Ingle. Ingle may not be an immediate contributor, but he has been penciled in as a dime safety and has even been rumored that he could take more pivotal roll on defense later in the season if free safety Freddy Adams falters. Though Ingle looks to be a prototypical strong safety, so if Adams happens to lose his starting job, there is a good chance that strong safety Lenny Snodgrass would be moved back to free safety.
Overall the team looks strong enough to make another good run at a division title.
So gone was longtime team leading defender Carlton Nitschke and in return the team brough in young, talented but unproven defensive end Barry Mendenhall in a trade with Vancouver. And to say that Mendenhall is unproven may be an understatement. There is a good possibility that he is an all-out bust with only seven sacks in 34 starts.
Though last year he did show a good bit of improvement and it is hoped that playing with Andrew Kinney on the other side of the defensive line he will continue to improve and at the same time open up some space for each other other.
Also, disappointed but not discouraged by the retirement of receiver Ernest Martinez, the team sent the 1.32 pick to Houston for receiver Byrant Beckner. Beckner was one of the team's two key pickups on offense this offseason. The other being left tackle Julio Grant, who the team also picked up in a trade with Houston.
Grant should allow Raymond Rodriguez to return to his natural position of right tackle next season and at the same time solidify the offensive line which has, at times over the past several seasons, been suspect in its pass protection.
Another area the team was looking to improve was in its secondary where the team used the 1.15 pick to draft safety Harvey Ingle. Ingle may not be an immediate contributor, but he has been penciled in as a dime safety and has even been rumored that he could take more pivotal roll on defense later in the season if free safety Freddy Adams falters. Though Ingle looks to be a prototypical strong safety, so if Adams happens to lose his starting job, there is a good chance that strong safety Lenny Snodgrass would be moved back to free safety.
Overall the team looks strong enough to make another good run at a division title.
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