Oh yeah. Let's go cut Kindle so we can have only 3 healthy OLB's on the roster! How does that increase the pass rush anyway?
There really aren't any improvements out there. If Hamilton was good enough to be on the 53 man roster, he would be. Barring any (highly unlikely) trades, we will stick it out with the guys we got. They'll come around soon enough. Did you expect them to come in and produce like an elite OLB right away? Kruger has been on and off, but Upshaw and MClellan have truly improved with every single game. McPhee will get there. I believe he's been battling a shoulder injury which is definitely hindering him in the pass rush. They'll get there. The front seven is going through growing pains, but the pains are not as bad as some people make them out to be.
I don't necessarily buy into that logic. In most cases, it definitely makes sense. But there are certain situations where it's all about the opportunity, or more importantly, the lack of it. For example, I remember watching Victor Cruz destroy the Jets secondary in a 2010 pre-season game, making full use of the skills he put on full display in 2011. It was truly a phenomenal effort on his part. Yet, not only was he activated in a mere 3 games, he was also held to a combined 4 snaps in 2010. One could assume that he must have made amazing strides through the offseason, but then he wouldn't have had to worry about his job security coming into the year. It's not as if he was battling for a starters role, or substantial playing time. The Giants FO came this close to leaving him off the 53 man roster, which in retrospect, would've been a monumental mistake. Yes, looking back at it now, it's an amazing story. But whose to say that he couldn't have been productive in 2010? Now, obviously the two are worlds apart. I'm not at all proclaiming to be Adrian Hamilton to be anywhere near the next Victor Cruz. However, this example serves well, as have others, that finding success for some players can be a matter of just being given the chance to. So I won't automatically hold Hamilton's current position against him without at least knowing how well he's doing in practice. And should he ever get his shot, I'll be interested in seeing what he'd do with it.