I know a lot of people are saying “fire AG,” but let’s really look at our defense.
Our defensive line mainly has backup players, with Hutch being the only standout. McNeil and Buggs aren’t consistently good, and Buggs has some off-field problems. Anzalone is great in our linebacker group, but Barnes and Campbell are more like backups than starters. Remember, Rodrigo used to be our main linebacker last year and it’s mostly the same team this year. Cam and Kerby are the only stand-outs in our secondary, and Branch is still learning. Tracy Walker and Jerry Jacobs are normally backups and only played because Mosley and CJGJ were injured.
Despite a so-so team and injuries, AG has led them to be a top 10 defense, especially against the run game. Sure, there’s room to get better, but AG is doing a lot with the players he has. Hutch might be our only defensive player to get into the pro-bowl, unlike our offense which could have five players like Goff, Ragnow, Swell, LaPorta, and ARSB. AG needs better players, but he’s doing a great job with what he’s been given.
This is a “chicken or the egg” argument because most of our main defensive players have not played under any DC besides Glenn.
6 of our starters have only played under AG (7 if you include Barnes as a starter)
3 have been backups/rotational players elsewhere, but won starting jobs with AG
2 have been starters under other DCs
AG has no coordinator experience, so it’s hard for me to give him the benefit of the doubt. Part of me wants to see what an established, respected DC could do with the team but I’m not calling for AG’s head just yet. His leash should be extremely short next year though. If we have more talent, he can’t keep imploding every 3 or 4 games like he’s been doing