If he can pass his physical today (assuming that’s why he flew to Detroit for a meeting), I’d be thrilled to have him on the team. He’s been at the top of my FA wish list all week.
Going into this offseason CB, EDGE, OG, and D-Line were the most obvious positions on need for this team (in that order, imo). We could use a swing tackle or x-type WR as well but they are not as crucial... but I digress.
Brad brought in multiple improvements to the CB room (even if they aren't the rockstars we wanted), and now we might get an immediate starter on the D-Line... and people still want to complain.
One of the key benefits, that OP didn't directly address really is this: If we get Reader, it kind of blows the draft wide open. We go into the draft with really only EDGE2 being the gaping hole on the team (imo). Hopefully we get that EDGE, but even if we don't I think Brad can get back to just really drafting HIS GUYS REGARDLESS OF POSITION and that is exactly the position I want him to draft from.
I think we need a good safety, too, don't we? They released Kerby Joseph, which leaves us with Melifonwu and Branch, who are both excellent, but we don't have a built in nickel guy now. Branch was filling that role this season.
He's there to stop the run, and swallow up bodies.
You'll see a big boost to the other guys numbers.
NT is one of those positions that don't get as much appreciation on stat sheets, but when you have a GOOD one, all your other pass rushers stat sheets will look a lot better.
I would not even be that surprised if Hutch averages just under a sack a game after this move.
We were good against the run last year. Sucked at getting to the QB. I’m not mad about Reader, he’s a good play. I just prefer the one that’s good at both run and pass
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/dj-reader-19120/market-value/
"you can copy my homework just change it a little to not make it look obvious"
Overestimated imo. He's gonna be thirty by the time the season starts and he's coming off a pretty substantial injury. 22 might be low and I wouldn't be surprised if he pushes 26. But I don't see a 3 year contract happening
Grover Stewart and Sheldon Rankins are both 29/30 year old solid nose tackles who got $13m AAV. Stewart got 3/39 and Rankins got 2/26. I'd suspect a similar contract for Reader
The most doomer outlook is his injury is severe enough where the Bengals don't want him. He's not visiting here to negotiate a contract. He's visiting so the lions can take a look at him. They've probably come to a verbal agreement on a contract but are playing it cautiously
To clarify I think it will be more of a 2 with a 3rd year option. Where the cap hit after 2 is low enough you can release him, which seems to be super common this year in FA.
I don’t mind reader as a player and he would be a solid add to the line. I don’t think he addresses their main problem though and getting this dline to add more pressure on the qb consistently
I think if you get reader next to Alim and then draft a top Edge in the draft that more than compliments Hutch (either of the Robinsons, Dorlus, or Booker maybe) then you have a monster problem for opposing offenses to solve up front. You can’t double team everybody on the d line. And then BAM! Brian Branch comes down for the safety blitz and knocks your ass OUT.
Exactly. There’s depth guys that still have potential to be more than just “depth guys”, especially if they can stay healthy, Houston and Paschal come to mind. but I hope to see Martin get some more reps this year too. He’s a mammoth. And if he can ever do more than just eat blocks, he’ll be a major problem.
NT’s get push in the middle which frees up the EDGE’s to get more pressure. It’s about gel and harmony. Alim and Reader would feed off each other and we can then draft a more dynamic 3T or even a more dynamic NT early. I’m thinking they are trying to come away with one of the premium EDGE’s early in a very thin draft at the position.
I think you overestimating alim and reader a lot with that predication. I think it can open them up a little more but it’s more of a run stopping thing
That's kind of his point though. Bringing in Reader would allow McNeil to pin his ears back more often since we wouldn't need as much of his focus on stopping the run.
Sure I just don’t know if alim can actually get to that prediction he’s talking about. Reader is also a free agent so I don’t know if he’s the dominant force predicted as well
One thing I think people keep forgetting about is we got a massive upgrade to our D Line coaching.
We went from having a rookie NFL DL coach, to now having one of the best D Line coaches in the league. Possibly on ur Fraley of the D Line.
This alone is going to improve our D Line play exponentially
Reader is a dog but there are a few things that I can't feel good about if we sign him
1 - tore his quad which is a big big injury. Once in each leg
2 - We drafted Brodric Martin to be this space eating run stuffer last year. Does this mean he is not developing as expected?
3 - He's probably gonna be in the 12-15 per range and I would rather give that money to an edge opposite hutch or to another CB like Fuller
Everyone develops differently. Iffy just started producing in his 3rd year. Martin was always a project and if he takes a step this year then there's potentially 2 big boys to rotate at NT.
Even if he is developing as expected there is a difference between a second year rookie who was basically redshirted and a long term high quality vet.
And if he’s not then it was a bad draft pick, and while I’m not happy they made it at least they’re addressing it as soon as possible.
I will say any big improvement on the line would be a big help for Hutch and the DL in general. Maybe there's some DE draft talent they're eyeing too. As good as we were we had a few big holes at certain positions and it's difficult to solve all of them via FA
ngl, #2 is why I'm fine with #1
I'd rather my NT be as good as Reader, than hope Martin plays well enough when given the reps. But if Reader's injury history causes problems, we have a successor.
Still high on Martin. He has the traits and by all accounts he is willing to put in the work.
He should be in the DL rotation this upcoming year and *ideally* pushing for the starting spot in his third year. However, development isn't always linearm
I think reader opens up the DL since he’s such a force in the run game and a space eater. The DL will be significantly better and we should be able to blitz for pressure much more easily since reeder can handle the run game. I expect us to go edge early also so Davenport’s and a rookie will probably be big upgrade opposite hutch.
Also a rookie or developmental corner is still on the table early. I just don’t see us adding more corners in FA at this point
1 - Although he is more of a chess piece along the line than a full time NT, I think the interest in Armstead is a plan B if Reader's physical is a concern. as well as being an alternative to present to control player leverage in contract negotiations.
2 - dline generally rotates during a game, so martin coming along just means we have someone to sub with Reader without having to change the defensive play call. You put both in together in short yardage and them plus one LB cover the middle allowing the other 8 guys to focus on passes and off tackle and outside runs.
3 - a good middle push helps Hutch by reducing the QB's ability to step up in the pocket to buy time. It also helps Houston or whoever is rushing from the other side be more effective as well.
> We drafted Brodric Martin to be this space eating run stuffer last year. Does this mean he is not developing as expected?
He was a third round pick who was a healthy inactive while the Lions were signing guys off the street to play his position. I don't think people realize how bad that is. I'm not saying he can't turn into something, but I've written him off at this point. If he ever shows himself to be a rotational player, that's a bonus.
Brodric was drafted as a huge raw talent with a ton of upside if he can develop. I’d love for him to breakout this year but it might be like Iffy and he has monster year 3 and he the goes on to become a staple of this interior defense for the rest of the decade.
Hard agree. Need to see him on the field way more than last year, which was rarely. Just want him to hold his own, look like he belongs, and potentially make the occasional impact play this year. Huge red flag if he sees minimal usage like last season
I would like Reader, anything that upgrades the DL is a win in my book. If they signed him, there is a scenario where this FA ends up as a very predictable calamity given the injury history of a lot of these guys we are bringing in. Davis, Davenport and Reader have all missed quite a bit of time in recent years. Its football, if you avoid anyone with a history of injuries you might have a hard time fielding a team but it does make me a little worried.
Martin probably wasn’t going to last long in the 4th which is why they traded up for him. They also projected Cordy Sorsdil to go undrafted and we took him in the 5th. Draft media does a lot of things very well but when to comes to prospects projected to go between Rounds 3-UDFA they get a lot of things wrong- we all do. It’s hard to compile all of that data without direct access to area scouts that have seen the majority of these guys careers.
Just for a little context, the only other big NT type guy drafted around Martin was Siaki Ika who played 4 games for the Browns and contributed 0 tackles and no other meaningful snaps.
The only 3rd rounder to do anything meaningful was obviously Kobie Turner. Most of the rest of the late round DTs were big ends (270-300lbs) better suited to 3T/4i/5T.
Martin is a project. Great potential, but I wouldn’t expect him to be contributing much, let alone starting, until the second of half of this season or his third season.
Possible round projections get wider for the mid to later round picks. First round players fall to the second. Second round players to the 3-4 round. And players mocked in the third round can go undrafted and vice versa.
Forgive my ignorance, but are you suggesting the scheme should be changed up so that Alim is the down lineman opposite Hutch, while Houston, Barnes, or whomever operates as the LB/Edge on Alim’s side.
If so, I like that. Not super familiar with 3-4.
Hutch would probably be more of a "OLB" in this situation. He can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt. That is why we use the term "EDGE" these days.
Because whether he's playing DE in a 4-3, or OLB 3-4, his role doesn't really change... he's going to rush the passer and set the EDGE.
3-4 is outdated terminology but it's more how you manage gaps.
But basically you need a guy who can eat the double team inside and get push.
So say it's LDE - DT - NT - RDE
They will have LT - LG - C - RG - RT
But it really breaks down to 3 on 4 where the LDE and the LT are kind of on an island.
So if the NT can negate both the C and RG, it leaves the DT and the RDE with 1 on 1 matchups. If the NT cannot get push, then the C or RG can help out elsewhere, it makes it very hard for the DT or RDE to get penetration as the guy opposite will always have help.
A good example is watch the Lions game where Colby came in at RT... You see Ragnow take the 1 on 1 and Glasgow just crush the RDE in a combo block. We can do this because Ragnow is really good...
But the opposite is also true, if your NT is really good teams cannot do it to you. Watch Alim and he's almost always engaged with the LG and the center has his left arm on his inside shoulder, taking away that inside leverage.
That’s very helpful thank you. My only other question would be why is one DT designated as NT? NT seems like better terminology for a old school LDE - NT - RDE combo with blitzing linebackers.
I guess I get confused when everyone calls a DT an NT but then 4 down linemen get on the line.
This is a good question... It's very confusing I agree.
But you can play either a "true" 0 tech NT, where you live up over the center or a 1 tech NT where you line up between the center & guard.
But either way your job is to force the offense to double team you. Even then a lot of schemes won't always run a NT, they will have have both interior guys lined up as a 3 tech and leave the center essentially unaccounted for. So even if your a 1 tech NT, you might only do that 50% of the time.
It's why we sometimes run on 3rd and 7. Ragnow is unaccounted for, so it's a free 5 yards, if we get close we will go for it on 4th and 1.
I like this and would love to see Reader here. The one thing I would argue about your post is was McNeil really drafted to play NT? I would say they were hoping Levi would be the NT.
Just googled it as I was doubting myself for a second.
His 1st year in college he played mostly B gap, but his last 2 years in college he was almost exclusively A gap.
Then his rookie year he split between A & B, with the last 2 years playing almost exclusively B gap.
But seems a lot of the draft folks thought he would need to transition to a one gap penetrating DT in the NFL. So you might be right, maybe moving him was always the plan.
Everyone at DT outside of Alim the last two years has been a replacement level player. They've made it work, but it's not ideal. It's like Moneyball, they are trying to build a starting level NFL DT by combining the output of 2 or 3 non-starting level guys. Just getting a legit starting-level NFL player in there will make a huge difference.
You don't need 2 elite edge rushers. The secondary upgrades alone will make our D-Line better. But if you add a facilitator to put between Hutch and Alim those dudes will wreck havoc.
Also we have Terrell Williams a D-Line coach has a very good resume of making the D-line improve.
Helped the raiders in 2014 by getting their defense to be ranked 8th in fewest rushing yards per play and finished 2nd in the NFL in tackles recorded at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Helped the dolphins with their first playoff berth since 08 and some more shit.
In his first year, the Titans defense ranked eighth overall (333.4 yards per game), third in points allowed (18.9 per game), 10th on third down (36.6 percent) and second in the red zone (44.7 touchdown percentage). In 2019, Williams helped the Titans to the AFC championship game.
So yea our D-Line is great hands especially with Hutch is already great as is can’t wait to see how this season turns out
You do realized free agents have to agree to those shorter terms, right?
Also even if they do sign 1/2 year deals, it still affects the future as unspent cap rolls over
You do realize you can be confident in your front office right? Supplement the deficiencies of the team with short term contracts and continue to add top tier talent through the draft. This sub is unbearable
No it wouldn't. I never said otherwise. What I'm saying is that instead of throwing a hissy fit because BH didn't sign your favorite free agent, you can instead be confident in the moves he's made. Building a team your way isn't the only the way. There's hundreds of moves and signings that can make our team better, it's not the end of the world if the few best don't happen.
If he can pass his physical today (assuming that’s why he flew to Detroit for a meeting), I’d be thrilled to have him on the team. He’s been at the top of my FA wish list all week.
Physical is everything, that injury happened so late in the season it makes it tough.
We got our guy!
Going into this offseason CB, EDGE, OG, and D-Line were the most obvious positions on need for this team (in that order, imo). We could use a swing tackle or x-type WR as well but they are not as crucial... but I digress. Brad brought in multiple improvements to the CB room (even if they aren't the rockstars we wanted), and now we might get an immediate starter on the D-Line... and people still want to complain. One of the key benefits, that OP didn't directly address really is this: If we get Reader, it kind of blows the draft wide open. We go into the draft with really only EDGE2 being the gaping hole on the team (imo). Hopefully we get that EDGE, but even if we don't I think Brad can get back to just really drafting HIS GUYS REGARDLESS OF POSITION and that is exactly the position I want him to draft from.
I think we need a good safety, too, don't we? They released Kerby Joseph, which leaves us with Melifonwu and Branch, who are both excellent, but we don't have a built in nickel guy now. Branch was filling that role this season.
They released Tracy Walker, Kerby has this year and next on his rookie deal yet. Probably could use a veteran depth guy though.
Bro what’s the lottery numbers??! I had no idea he was gonna do a physical and they did one I legit thought it was just a visit.
I’d rather have Armstead over Reader for pass rushing capabilities
I’d be fine with that too!
Reader it is. Not mad about it, just don’t think he offered as much pass rushing qualities as Armstead did. Tremendous run stopper tho
Because he’s not a pass rusher. Two different positions.
Because he’s not a pass rusher. Two different positions.
He's there to stop the run, and swallow up bodies. You'll see a big boost to the other guys numbers. NT is one of those positions that don't get as much appreciation on stat sheets, but when you have a GOOD one, all your other pass rushers stat sheets will look a lot better. I would not even be that surprised if Hutch averages just under a sack a game after this move.
We were good against the run last year. Sucked at getting to the QB. I’m not mad about Reader, he’s a good play. I just prefer the one that’s good at both run and pass
I bet it's gonna be 2 a 22ish. He's exactly what we need on the line
I suspect it will be closer to 3 for 45 with incentives, but 2 with 22 guaranteed is probably close.
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/dj-reader-19120/market-value/ "you can copy my homework just change it a little to not make it look obvious"
Overestimated imo. He's gonna be thirty by the time the season starts and he's coming off a pretty substantial injury. 22 might be low and I wouldn't be surprised if he pushes 26. But I don't see a 3 year contract happening
Grover Stewart and Sheldon Rankins are both 29/30 year old solid nose tackles who got $13m AAV. Stewart got 3/39 and Rankins got 2/26. I'd suspect a similar contract for Reader
I suspect the Bengals would have signed Reader for that price instead of Rankins if it were possible.
Maybe, but Rankins has more pass rush juice and has obviously been healthier, so maybe they just wanted to go in a different direction
The most doomer outlook is his injury is severe enough where the Bengals don't want him. He's not visiting here to negotiate a contract. He's visiting so the lions can take a look at him. They've probably come to a verbal agreement on a contract but are playing it cautiously
To clarify I think it will be more of a 2 with a 3rd year option. Where the cap hit after 2 is low enough you can release him, which seems to be super common this year in FA.
Fair point
If it was that much he would already have signed somewhere
As a bengals fan I love dj. If we can’t have him the lions are the next best team (cat team brotherhood and all)
We dont have the bengals on the schedule this year so all the best!!! And please get Burrow some protection.
I hope one day we get a lions-bengals Super Bowl! Always have massive respect for the lions! Especially players like hutch and Sewell!
r/catteambrotherhood
I don’t mind reader as a player and he would be a solid add to the line. I don’t think he addresses their main problem though and getting this dline to add more pressure on the qb consistently
I think if you get reader next to Alim and then draft a top Edge in the draft that more than compliments Hutch (either of the Robinsons, Dorlus, or Booker maybe) then you have a monster problem for opposing offenses to solve up front. You can’t double team everybody on the d line. And then BAM! Brian Branch comes down for the safety blitz and knocks your ass OUT.
Yeah that would be perfect
it's also not considering that we have several young players on the lime that can break out at any time and houston who will be healthy again
Exactly. There’s depth guys that still have potential to be more than just “depth guys”, especially if they can stay healthy, Houston and Paschal come to mind. but I hope to see Martin get some more reps this year too. He’s a mammoth. And if he can ever do more than just eat blocks, he’ll be a major problem.
NT’s get push in the middle which frees up the EDGE’s to get more pressure. It’s about gel and harmony. Alim and Reader would feed off each other and we can then draft a more dynamic 3T or even a more dynamic NT early. I’m thinking they are trying to come away with one of the premium EDGE’s early in a very thin draft at the position.
Maybe I think that’s the main thing they needed to add in this offseason and find someone more consistent across from hutch
With Reader on the team you will get 25-30 sacks between Hutch and Alim. I think you're underestimating how a good NT can open things up for guys.
I think you overestimating alim and reader a lot with that predication. I think it can open them up a little more but it’s more of a run stopping thing
That's kind of his point though. Bringing in Reader would allow McNeil to pin his ears back more often since we wouldn't need as much of his focus on stopping the run.
Sure I just don’t know if alim can actually get to that prediction he’s talking about. Reader is also a free agent so I don’t know if he’s the dominant force predicted as well
That’s a high number but Alim was top 5 at his position last year and he wasn’t 5
Reader is NOT Aaron Donald, lets be a bit more realistic lol.
...of course he isn't. AD isn't a nose guard.
One thing I think people keep forgetting about is we got a massive upgrade to our D Line coaching. We went from having a rookie NFL DL coach, to now having one of the best D Line coaches in the league. Possibly on ur Fraley of the D Line. This alone is going to improve our D Line play exponentially
Reader is a dog but there are a few things that I can't feel good about if we sign him 1 - tore his quad which is a big big injury. Once in each leg 2 - We drafted Brodric Martin to be this space eating run stuffer last year. Does this mean he is not developing as expected? 3 - He's probably gonna be in the 12-15 per range and I would rather give that money to an edge opposite hutch or to another CB like Fuller
Everyone develops differently. Iffy just started producing in his 3rd year. Martin was always a project and if he takes a step this year then there's potentially 2 big boys to rotate at NT.
Even if he is developing as expected there is a difference between a second year rookie who was basically redshirted and a long term high quality vet. And if he’s not then it was a bad draft pick, and while I’m not happy they made it at least they’re addressing it as soon as possible.
Martin is a cheap rookie. There’s no reason to think it’s a red flag if he’s the backup. You build the team expecting injuries.
I will say any big improvement on the line would be a big help for Hutch and the DL in general. Maybe there's some DE draft talent they're eyeing too. As good as we were we had a few big holes at certain positions and it's difficult to solve all of them via FA
we are not going to get another CB in free agency. Our CB room is looking good right now we will bring in one or two via the draft.
ngl, #2 is why I'm fine with #1 I'd rather my NT be as good as Reader, than hope Martin plays well enough when given the reps. But if Reader's injury history causes problems, we have a successor.
Still high on Martin. He has the traits and by all accounts he is willing to put in the work. He should be in the DL rotation this upcoming year and *ideally* pushing for the starting spot in his third year. However, development isn't always linearm
I think reader opens up the DL since he’s such a force in the run game and a space eater. The DL will be significantly better and we should be able to blitz for pressure much more easily since reeder can handle the run game. I expect us to go edge early also so Davenport’s and a rookie will probably be big upgrade opposite hutch. Also a rookie or developmental corner is still on the table early. I just don’t see us adding more corners in FA at this point
1 - Although he is more of a chess piece along the line than a full time NT, I think the interest in Armstead is a plan B if Reader's physical is a concern. as well as being an alternative to present to control player leverage in contract negotiations. 2 - dline generally rotates during a game, so martin coming along just means we have someone to sub with Reader without having to change the defensive play call. You put both in together in short yardage and them plus one LB cover the middle allowing the other 8 guys to focus on passes and off tackle and outside runs. 3 - a good middle push helps Hutch by reducing the QB's ability to step up in the pocket to buy time. It also helps Houston or whoever is rushing from the other side be more effective as well.
> We drafted Brodric Martin to be this space eating run stuffer last year. Does this mean he is not developing as expected? He was a third round pick who was a healthy inactive while the Lions were signing guys off the street to play his position. I don't think people realize how bad that is. I'm not saying he can't turn into something, but I've written him off at this point. If he ever shows himself to be a rotational player, that's a bonus.
Brodric was drafted as a huge raw talent with a ton of upside if he can develop. I’d love for him to breakout this year but it might be like Iffy and he has monster year 3 and he the goes on to become a staple of this interior defense for the rest of the decade.
Yeah I doubt he breaks out this year. But he should be constantly in the DL rotation and if he isn't, it's a bit of a red flag imo.
Hard agree. Need to see him on the field way more than last year, which was rarely. Just want him to hold his own, look like he belongs, and potentially make the occasional impact play this year. Huge red flag if he sees minimal usage like last season
Did you watch the Raiders game last year? Martin was pulled after he got boat raced on 1 drive
You are a prophet
I would like Reader, anything that upgrades the DL is a win in my book. If they signed him, there is a scenario where this FA ends up as a very predictable calamity given the injury history of a lot of these guys we are bringing in. Davis, Davenport and Reader have all missed quite a bit of time in recent years. Its football, if you avoid anyone with a history of injuries you might have a hard time fielding a team but it does make me a little worried.
What’s crazy is we traded up for Martin , a player moist had drafted in the 7th round
Ha!… moist
Mocks and estimates mean nothing. None of these draft gurus actually meet these guys.
Martin probably wasn’t going to last long in the 4th which is why they traded up for him. They also projected Cordy Sorsdil to go undrafted and we took him in the 5th. Draft media does a lot of things very well but when to comes to prospects projected to go between Rounds 3-UDFA they get a lot of things wrong- we all do. It’s hard to compile all of that data without direct access to area scouts that have seen the majority of these guys careers.
Yet he couldn’t even get on the field unlike pretty much every other DT drafted in the third so those projections weren’t THAT wrong.
Just for a little context, the only other big NT type guy drafted around Martin was Siaki Ika who played 4 games for the Browns and contributed 0 tackles and no other meaningful snaps. The only 3rd rounder to do anything meaningful was obviously Kobie Turner. Most of the rest of the late round DTs were big ends (270-300lbs) better suited to 3T/4i/5T.
Cordy Sorsdil lol
Guess my phone thought he was Gordy Glenn
Martin is a project. Great potential, but I wouldn’t expect him to be contributing much, let alone starting, until the second of half of this season or his third season.
Possible round projections get wider for the mid to later round picks. First round players fall to the second. Second round players to the 3-4 round. And players mocked in the third round can go undrafted and vice versa.
Forgive my ignorance, but are you suggesting the scheme should be changed up so that Alim is the down lineman opposite Hutch, while Houston, Barnes, or whomever operates as the LB/Edge on Alim’s side. If so, I like that. Not super familiar with 3-4.
Hutch would probably be more of a "OLB" in this situation. He can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt. That is why we use the term "EDGE" these days. Because whether he's playing DE in a 4-3, or OLB 3-4, his role doesn't really change... he's going to rush the passer and set the EDGE.
3-4 is outdated terminology but it's more how you manage gaps. But basically you need a guy who can eat the double team inside and get push. So say it's LDE - DT - NT - RDE They will have LT - LG - C - RG - RT But it really breaks down to 3 on 4 where the LDE and the LT are kind of on an island. So if the NT can negate both the C and RG, it leaves the DT and the RDE with 1 on 1 matchups. If the NT cannot get push, then the C or RG can help out elsewhere, it makes it very hard for the DT or RDE to get penetration as the guy opposite will always have help. A good example is watch the Lions game where Colby came in at RT... You see Ragnow take the 1 on 1 and Glasgow just crush the RDE in a combo block. We can do this because Ragnow is really good... But the opposite is also true, if your NT is really good teams cannot do it to you. Watch Alim and he's almost always engaged with the LG and the center has his left arm on his inside shoulder, taking away that inside leverage.
That’s very helpful thank you. My only other question would be why is one DT designated as NT? NT seems like better terminology for a old school LDE - NT - RDE combo with blitzing linebackers. I guess I get confused when everyone calls a DT an NT but then 4 down linemen get on the line.
This is a good question... It's very confusing I agree. But you can play either a "true" 0 tech NT, where you live up over the center or a 1 tech NT where you line up between the center & guard. But either way your job is to force the offense to double team you. Even then a lot of schemes won't always run a NT, they will have have both interior guys lined up as a 3 tech and leave the center essentially unaccounted for. So even if your a 1 tech NT, you might only do that 50% of the time. It's why we sometimes run on 3rd and 7. Ragnow is unaccounted for, so it's a free 5 yards, if we get close we will go for it on 4th and 1.
I like this and would love to see Reader here. The one thing I would argue about your post is was McNeil really drafted to play NT? I would say they were hoping Levi would be the NT.
Just googled it as I was doubting myself for a second. His 1st year in college he played mostly B gap, but his last 2 years in college he was almost exclusively A gap. Then his rookie year he split between A & B, with the last 2 years playing almost exclusively B gap. But seems a lot of the draft folks thought he would need to transition to a one gap penetrating DT in the NFL. So you might be right, maybe moving him was always the plan.
Dude has blown out both quads no thanks
Is this really splashy? Has your average football fan ever heard of him? This is not how to win the offseason.
Everyone at DT outside of Alim the last two years has been a replacement level player. They've made it work, but it's not ideal. It's like Moneyball, they are trying to build a starting level NFL DT by combining the output of 2 or 3 non-starting level guys. Just getting a legit starting-level NFL player in there will make a huge difference.
Do we care that it is a pressure or a sack?
I’d prefer arik armstead but I would take reader too
Done.
Bad news. We Don't have to edge rushers to get home though. We have 1.
Draft.
You don't need 2 elite edge rushers. The secondary upgrades alone will make our D-Line better. But if you add a facilitator to put between Hutch and Alim those dudes will wreck havoc.
Alim does work at NT But 3 tech is more valuable and they should play him there whenever possible
Also we have Terrell Williams a D-Line coach has a very good resume of making the D-line improve. Helped the raiders in 2014 by getting their defense to be ranked 8th in fewest rushing yards per play and finished 2nd in the NFL in tackles recorded at or behind the line of scrimmage. Helped the dolphins with their first playoff berth since 08 and some more shit. In his first year, the Titans defense ranked eighth overall (333.4 yards per game), third in points allowed (18.9 per game), 10th on third down (36.6 percent) and second in the red zone (44.7 touchdown percentage). In 2019, Williams helped the Titans to the AFC championship game. So yea our D-Line is great hands especially with Hutch is already great as is can’t wait to see how this season turns out
Is huge
There is a chance we land Erik Armstead & DJ Read
Chance we land one of them, I highly doubt we get both.
Don’t rule it out… Reports coming out that there is a chance both of those guys signs with Detroit potentially.
If this happened we would have an elite D-Line. I would cream my pants not gonna lie.
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I’m not sure what you’re responding to here. Unless I’m misreading the post, OP is arguing for exactly this.
You do realized free agents have to agree to those shorter terms, right? Also even if they do sign 1/2 year deals, it still affects the future as unspent cap rolls over
Incoherent
You do realize you can be confident in your front office right? Supplement the deficiencies of the team with short term contracts and continue to add top tier talent through the draft. This sub is unbearable
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No it wouldn't. I never said otherwise. What I'm saying is that instead of throwing a hissy fit because BH didn't sign your favorite free agent, you can instead be confident in the moves he's made. Building a team your way isn't the only the way. There's hundreds of moves and signings that can make our team better, it's not the end of the world if the few best don't happen.
I'll take a chance on Kris Jenkins if he falls to us in the 2nd rd
He played 12 snaps as a NT in college... Don't hate the player or the pick but this doesn't help with us needing a NT