“We’re gonna load [defensive coordinator Greg Manusky’s] wagon”

GIT 'ER DONE!!!

Check out that quote from AJ Smith on his latest conference call to the fans! Does that sound exciting or what!? We are going to load up this defense and let it run loose!

Sounds like we are going to bring back the Wade Phillips style of defense that we once had. Attack the quarterbacks and put fear in their eyes. Hit them and put them in the ground at every opportunity that we have.

Now this loading up the wagon part is what is exciting! AJ Smith has already made a few moves this off-season to “load” up the wagon. He has already brought in hard hitting Bob Sanders to bust some heads in the secondary. He is a playmaker and will make opposing receivers fear going across the middle of the field.

AJ has also added a big defensive lineman through the draft by selecting Corey Liuget. Liuget will take on blockers and allow the linebackers to come in freely and make plays.

Where positions is AJ going to look at to add these free agents? The defensive line looks set with Liuget, Antonio Garay, and Luis Castillo. We also have a good set of corners with Antoine Cason and Quentin Jammer, with a couple of rookies getting a chance to back them up (Shareece Wright and Marcus Gilchrist). Shaun Phillips will be starting at one outside linebacker spot and Larry English can be PENCILED in at the other.

Our biggest need looks to be at the middle linebacker spot. Starters Stephen Cooper and Kevin Burnett are both free agents and it looks like we only will be bringing one of them back, hopefully Kevin Burnett. That would leave us with a rookie (Donald Butler) at the other middle linebacker position unless we hit free agency. This may be the spot where we look to bolster this beast.

Takeo Spikes is a free agent and his former team has a new head coach and new defensive coordinator. His former defensive coordinator at San Francisco is our new coordinator and they may want to reunite with the lightning bolts.

Kirk Morrison is also a free agent and he loves everything San Diego. He played college for SDSU and he is on the local radio stations on a weekly basis. He has never played a game in the playoffs and he may look towards So Cal to get him there.

Lastly, we need to bring back Eric Weddle or we will have another hole in the defense that we need to fill. Weddle and Bob Sanders in the secondary would be SWEET, but minus Weddle would be more shaky.