Quote:
Originally Posted by kccrow
Absolutely need to address the front multiple times, but it really depends on the scheme KC is running going into 2019.
If you run a 4-3, you're probably looking at Houston and KPass being your only real 4-3 ends. I'd think that if they went with a 4-3 under similar to Seattle, then you'd have Ford play the LEO and then KPass would be depth.
If you run a 3-4 then you have to replace Bailey and should replace Jenkins on top of having to add more depth at OLB.
I think Speaks, while he's shown growth on the edge, really needs to move inside in either scheme as a 3-tech type. And honestly, I think he makes you a strong case for a switch to a 4-3. Jones and Speaks rotate at UT while Nnadi and Williams rotate at NT and then on passing downs, you could put Jones and Speaks together. You then are just looking to fill the edge which is pretty loaded in both FA and the draft. You're going to have to address the edge regardless of scheme, but you wouldn't also have to address your tackle/3-4 ends in a switch.
I also believe the team has a solid group of options at LB to move to a 4-3 with DOD and Niemann (possibly) outside and Hitchens inside. I think you have to work to bolster that group with a FA and a draft pick, but you probably need to do that anyhow because Ragland is shit and Smith is shit and a FA.
|
You really see Speaks as an under-tackle?
I wouldn't even say he's a 3-tech. I'm not terribly impressed by his athleticism in the context of an OLB, but man - he has enough athleticism to be a 5-tech, no? He's maybe not quite as long as you'd like to see, but he's not what I would call undersized there either.
I think he's a born 5-tech who can bounce inside on occasion but I damn sure can't see you leaving him there on a regular basis. You make a switch to 4-3 and I think you have an 8 sack, motor-based player in a Chris Long sort of mode. More of a poor man's Chris Long - he was really damn good at his peak and Speaks won't reach that. But late-career Long had lost his burst and was just fighting through games and being effective.