Silver Lining: George Karlaftis

[RunKC]

Man has this guy grown in his 2nd year. He's got as many sacks halfway through the season as he did as a rookie. Yesterday really highlighted his growth. 2.5 sacks, 1.5 run stuffs and a FF.

The guy is on pace for 13 sacks. He is also one of the top 10 players in the league in pressures as wel. He's just been kicking ass.

He's a very good run defender, he's really good batting passes and he's been good rushing the passer.

We may be looking at a perennial double-digit sack artist here. And Tamba's martial arts training with him has shown up as well. He's not just faster but uses his hands well.

Since he figured it out last year mid ish season he's got 12 sacks in his last 18 games.

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I wonder if he's not showing out against the run or if he's not maintaining gap discipline.

Because he shows burst and fluidity; even chains moves together. I really thought he'd show better progress this season than Karlaftis did last season.

Clearly I mis-fired on that one.

Meh, dunno. Karlaftis had a bazillion snaps last year to progress, and to be honest I thought outside of the sacks (which were good) he wasn't THAT productive. He didn't even seem that disciplined against the run. He got better but not massively, and he could get better because he had ample opportunity.

FAU isn't getting the snaps because Danna is more trusted and now Omenihu is back. Just feels like the competition is stiffer so it's harder for him to get the snaps to develop.

[JPH83]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

I was going to post the same thing.

Karlaftis was somewhat quiet through the first half of last season (at least in sacks). He was on the field much more because he didn’t have the same quality ahead of him.

I think there’s a real conversation to be had about Mike Danna though. He’s looking very legit. Do we maybe bring him back on a reasonable deal and let Jones walk (or tag/trade)?

Danna, Karlaftis, Omenihu, and potentially FAU still give us 4 nasty pass rushers next year. I’m sure we’ll draft a couple bodies on the DL too.

You beat me to it.

[scho63]

If we can get Chenal to follow in his footsteps, we are golden.

[RunKC]

Team leading 8 sacks. Still top 10 in pressures in the league per PFF. Has at least 4 pressures each game.

Aidan Hutchinson 5.5 sacks. Travon Walker 4.5 sacks. Karlaftis was the 30th pick and performing better than the top 2 DL.

BRETT VEACH MASTERCLASS

[O.city]

Has nothing to do with him playing next to the best interior DL in the league. No way, no how.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by O.city

Has nothing to do with him playing next to the best interior DL in the league. No way, no how.

Of course that helps, but no need to downplay how good our 22 year old sophomore DE has been.

You were completely wrong about him. Just admit it.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Of course that helps, but no need to downplay how good our 22 year old sophomore DE has been.

You were completely wrong about him. Just admit it.

He's really good. I dunno that I ever said he wouldn't be good?

His upside is higher than I though it would be, but I also don't know that he'd have the numbers he has if he got the attention Hutch gets in Detroit.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by staylor26

Of course that helps, but no need to downplay how good our 22 year old sophomore DE has been.

You were completely wrong about him. Just admit it.

Interesting thing about George is that the development seems to have plateaued a bit (haven't seen a lot of in-season progression) but on the flipside, it's stayed where it started, so it seems like that's a new normal for him. What we saw early in the year where it looked like he'd clearly taken a step forward is still something we're seeing rather than just a hot start.

And that's pretty damn encouraging.

He's not really winning in different ways and that does, to O.City's point, make one question how much he can really impact things as a 'lead dog' on the pass-rush. He's still winning in ways that seem largely complementary.

But that's better than regressing or even staying flat from his rookie year. He's better than he was last season and has stayed fairly consistent as the season progresses. Positive signs, to be sure.

[scho63]

I have no issues with Karlaftis at this point.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Interesting thing about George is that the development seems to have plateaued a bit (haven't seen a lot of in-season progression) but on the flipside, it's stayed where it started, so it seems like that's a new normal for him. What we saw early in the year where it looked like he'd clearly taken a step forward is still something we're seeing rather than just a hot start.

And that's pretty damn encouraging.

He's not really winning in different ways and that does, to O.City's point, make one question how much he can really impact things as a 'lead dog' on the pass-rush. He's still winning in ways that seem largely complementary.

But that's better than regressing or even staying flat from his rookie year. He's better than he was last season and has stayed fairly consistent as the season progresses. Positive signs, to be sure.

The dude just keeps playing, which is a huge plus at that spot. He's that 8 sack per year, mark it down in ink every year guy that can have a year or two where he ends with 12. That's a homerun pick in the late first.

The key is gonna be to just keep DE's and DT's stocked here and let them all go. FAU hasn't done much but that's kinda to be expected, there just aren't enough snaps to go around for him with what they've got up there.