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Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
Even in an Under? His pursuit is perfect in that role. And with yeah, the LT can get inside him and you can do some runs in the B gap there, but that's exactly what the under-shade is designed to help with; trying to hit that B gap with Jones there to close and your MLB/WLB behind it is a lot tougher, especially when you're almost allowing for the WDE to be taken out of that play and simply occupy the OT.
In a straight 4-3 I think you're right, but if our base is going to heavily feature the under alignments, he's a great fit. And we know he can be equally effective against the pass there because that's essentially how he was used in the sub-packages anyway when we went to those 2-4-5 alignments.
I just think you're whistling past the graveyard a LOT when it comes to the risk and development curve of rookie defensive linemen. The odds overwhelmingly suggest that you won't get a player of Ford's caliber even if you use your 1st rounder on a DL and that even if you do, it's gonna take 2-3 years to get there.
We've taken a massive step down on our DL here and the draft capital gained will do very little to resolve that. When our best hope is praying that Speaks and K-Pass don't suck as badly as they've appeared to over their NFL careers, that's a hell of a hail mary...
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Yeah, even in an under. Yes, that helps with the b gap ... but it doesn’t help on the edge or with stretch plays.
You can bring a WR in motion and down block Ford out of the play. Consistently and easily. Then you have a TE and LT moving to the second level to clean up the vacated CB and the LB.
If you’re running away from him, again, a motioned WR can deal with Ford on the backside (probably even more dangerous in this situation because the CB has a lot more traffic to navigate.
I’ll take a Ferrell or Omenihu, etc. Day 1 in this scheme over Ford and take my chances. Chris Long, Shane Ray... other 1-year guys on small deals also can help.
Quote:
Originally Posted by O.city
Well, we've heard that Speaks is the replacement for Houston, so that's 1.
Other than that, where you gonna get these guys? Pass rushers go early and often in the draft, so unless you're trading up that kind of defeats that.
Then you go trading up and trading away these picks you've accumulated, which kind of defeats the purpose
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I’m not looking for a Dee Ford clone. I’m looking for a versatile DE who can defend the run and pass, and there are several of those in this draft. Boss and Allen look like the only really elite pass rushers on Day 1, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only DEs worthy of starting Day 1.
Speaks will start at LE and I like his fit there. Just don’t think they’ll enter the season with him and Kpass as the starters and sole sources of pass rush.