D-line competition

[xwalker]

If thats the case Hill is going to need some others to get hurt if he is to make this team.

Hill has good length at 6-3 with 33.5" arms. He is not in the freakish category with the 34" plus arm length guys, but he is not in the category that coaches consider short armed.

If all DL were categorized at short vs long armed, 33" and above would be in the long arm category with below 33" being in the short category.
- In reality some talent evaluator probably have 3 categories:'
Short
Average
Freakishly Long

It was players like A.Woods (6-0, 31" arm length) that Dan Quinn wanted to replace due to lack of length.

Height vs Arm Length
- It seems that many coaches perfect measurements would be about 6-3 with 34" or longer arms.
- They often end up with taller players because most long-armed players are tall.

 

[stilltheguru]

Hill was the best of the "Bigs" on the DL in 2020 before his injury.
- Bigs: DT in 4-man DL, DE/NT in 3-4.

Fans love to find players to "hate" but most fans don't really review games to see how players really played.

Best based on what? I'd love to see your answer

 

[DanA]

With regards to Gallimore:
Moving a played that is a DT in a 4-man DL out to DE in a 3-4 makes run defense easier for that player.
- Wade Phillips did it with Aaron Donald.

DLaw played 5tech or 6i on base downs in Marinelli's defense.
- The RDE played 7tech.
- DLaw is about 270 pounds. Gallimore is about 308.

I agree that Gallimore is not one of the best options on the roster for playing on run downs but that's not because of the DL scheme.

Asking Lawrence to 2-gap at 5T is different to lining up at 5T and stunting or shooting a gap.

And I think we are in agreement on Gallimore with him not being used on run downs. It wasn’t about the scheme, it was when we use it.

 

[jnday]

We have the following players:
DT:

1. Neville Gallimore 307lbs, 32.5", 416 snaps
2. Osa Odegizuwa 282lbs, 34.2"
3. Quinton Bohanna 330lbs, 34"
4. Brent Urban 300lbs, 34.25", 369 snaps
5. Trysten Hill 308lbs, 33.5", 212 snaps
6. Carlos Watkins 300lbs, 34.75", 542 snaps
7. Justin Hamilton 310lbs, 32.25", 236 snaps

DE:

1. Demarcus Lawrence - 265lbs, 33.5", 667 snaps
2. Randy Gregory - 248lbs, 34.6" , 270 snaps
3. Chauncey Golston 270lbs, 34.75"
4. Dorance Armstrong 260lbs, 34.75", 368 snaps
5. Tarell Basham 270lbs, 34.25", 734 snaps
6. Bradley Anae 260lbs, 32.1", 6 snaps

I've included weight, arm length, and last years snap count for reference. I think it looking at the group its evident that we have a lot of competition but are maybe lacking a star, we clearly targeted bigger guys with length. And given Quinn's interviews, it's no co-incidence that of the 7 additions to training camp, all of them have long arms (34" or more). As a whole, IMO the group is more versatile than pass years. But I think given we've got a fairly solid LB room with some guys that can rush the passer, it's likely we will carry 8 linemen which means five get cut/traded or put on practice squad.

Defensive Tackle:
Gallimore: While he lacks ideal length I still think he'll be the primary 3T sliding over to 1T on obvious passing downs. I thought he flashed talent last season, and only becomes more valuable under Quinn who historically runs a lot more stunts than Nolan (more than Marinelli even) and has asked his 3T to primarily shoot the B-gap. IMO in nickel situations, with four linemen, Gallimore has big role.

Odigizuwa: I think he's used as a hybrid guy that will be used in rotation as both a 3T, and LDE on run downs. I suspect he'll still play a fair bit, but with how strong he plays (despite his size) I think he's gonan be in against the run more so. .

Bohanna: I think he's gonna have a niche but important role strictly as our two-gap NT on run downs. His size, strength, and length makes him perfect for the role and we really don't have a suitable alternative on the roster.

Urban, Hill, Watkins, Hamilton: I think one of these guys wins the last DT role and I'm on the fence as to who that is. Urban has the height, length and ability against the run. Hill has the speed, explosion and offer the most pass rush, Watkins is probably somewhere in between. All three of these guys were regulars (Hill before injury) last season but I'm leaning Watkins because I liked what he did at Clemson. Hamilton seems unlikely.

Edge Rusher:
Demarcus Lawrence: He's comfortably our best linemen and has played the vast majority of his games as a LDE. I expect this season to be similar, but would not be surprise to see him play on the right a bit more than in the past as a LEO, Quinn has asked his base end to two gap fairly often and while Lawrence is versatile enough to do it, he's been mostly played and excelled in a one-gap scheme.

Randy Gregory: I see him as our primary LEO. He's our most explosive edge rusher and IMO is ideally suited to the role.

Chauncey Golston: I see him as our backup LDE that can two-gap and play the run at a high level. As a 3rd round pick he's almost a certainty to make the roster but I'm not sure he's actually that good. To be honest I liked all three of the guys below more coming out of college.

Armstrong, Basham, Anae: If you asked me who the best player is I would say Basham, but Armstrong also plays a lot of special teams. Anae barely played last year and for me is the underdog, but he looked really good in college and it's only his second season, it's certainly not beyond him to make a big jump and take that last edge rushing spot.

I don’t have an opinion about him but Basham was rated as the worst FA signing for this offseason in the entire league. I think Armstrong has topped out and he is what he is at this point.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Excellent post, appreciate your efforts. If I have one suggestion, it is this:

"Think 3-4 defense".

The 3-4 typically having a big guy in the middle would indicate that this defense won't be in a 3-4 that much, only one DT over 310 lbs, how much do you want to count on a rookie to plug the middle, and be able to play a lot of snaps? Or ask one of our 305-310 guys play nose? Now they do have like 5 DEs 260 lbs or over, that's good because 3-4 ends have to defend the run a lot.

Really I think we'll see the team come out in a 3-4 quite a bit, but as soon as the offense starts to come to the line the defense will shift out of the 3-4, maybe lining up initially with Basham or Gholston as an OLB but then having him move up to the line, with one of the DE's moving over to make a 4-3 before the snap. For example.

But I'm no expert (please let me contribute as such with all of the experts on this site ), maybe they will give our big guy a starring role 50 snaps a game. Just throwing in my 2 cents worth....

 

[Stash]

The 3-4 typically having a big guy in the middle would indicate that this defense won't be in a 3-4 that much, only one DT over 310 lbs, how much do you want to count on a rookie to plug the middle, and be able to play a lot of snaps? Or ask one of our 305-310 guys play nose? Now they do have like 5 DEs 260 lbs or over, that's good because 3-4 ends have to defend the run a lot.

I think that a guy like Gallimore will be involved in the rotation at the nose. He has experience, having playing the position before, and one point played at 330 lbs. I think the rookie would get the likely run downs and Gallimore would play in the pass rushing lineups.

Really I think we'll see the team come out in a 3-4 quite a bit, but as soon as the offense starts to come to the line the defense will shift out of the 3-4, maybe lining up initially with Basham or Gholston as an OLB but then having him move up to the line, with one of the DE's moving over to make a 4-3 before the snap. For example.

I'm not sure we would see that on such a regular basis. Otherwise, there's not much point to it.

But I'm no expert (please let me contribute as such with all of the experts on this site ), maybe they will give our big guy a starring role 50 snaps a game. Just throwing in my 2 cents worth....

I think Bohanna will get every opportunity at the nose tackle position, having specialized in that role in college.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

I think that a guy like Gallimore will be involved in the rotation at the nose. He has experience, having playing the position before, and one point played at 330 lbs. I think the rookie would get the likely run downs and Gallimore would play in the pass rushing lineups.



I'm not sure we would see that on such a regular basis. Otherwise, there's not much point to it.



I think Bohanna will get every opportunity at the nose tackle position, having specialized in that role in college.

And it's not always a 325-plus player that's effective at the nose position, seem to recall we had somebody named Ratliff who was fairly effective at nose at "only" 303 lbs...

 

[Stash]

And it's not always a 325-plus player that's effective at the nose position, seem to recall we had somebody named Ratliff who was fairly effective at nose at "only" 303 lbs...

Right. A lot depends on exactly what the scheme requires of the player.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Always uncertainties as to who'll play, where they will play and how much they will play. This year is no exception.

Defensively more so than offensively, assuming Smith and Collins are good to go on the o-line, and nobody else gets hurt, there's not much uncertainty on the offense.

Smith, Williams, Biadasz, Martin, Collins, Dak, Zeke, Cooper, Gallup, Lamb and Jarwin/Schultz (depending on the formation) will be the offense. Just really will they use a fullback often enough to consider that a starting position, and will it be a "regular" fullback or perhaps a tight end?

And as always they'll be posters who complain their guy should be getting more snaps, that'll never change...

 

[Future]

I don’t have an opinion about him but Basham was rated as the worst FA signing for this offseason in the entire league.

Lol what? By who?

Basham is an excellent signing.

 

[john van brocklin]

We have the following players:
DT:

1. Neville Gallimore 307lbs, 32.5", 416 snaps
2. Osa Odegizuwa 282lbs, 34.2"
3. Quinton Bohanna 330lbs, 34"
4. Brent Urban 300lbs, 34.25", 369 snaps
5. Trysten Hill 308lbs, 33.5", 212 snaps
6. Carlos Watkins 300lbs, 34.75", 542 snaps
7. Justin Hamilton 310lbs, 32.25", 236 snaps

DE:

1. Demarcus Lawrence - 265lbs, 33.5", 667 snaps
2. Randy Gregory - 248lbs, 34.6" , 270 snaps
3. Chauncey Golston 270lbs, 34.75"
4. Dorance Armstrong 260lbs, 34.75", 368 snaps
5. Tarell Basham 270lbs, 34.25", 734 snaps
6. Bradley Anae 260lbs, 32.1", 6 snaps

I've included weight, arm length, and last years snap count for reference. I think it looking at the group its evident that we have a lot of competition but are maybe lacking a star, we clearly targeted bigger guys with length. And given Quinn's interviews, it's no co-incidence that of the 7 additions to training camp, all of them have long arms (34" or more). As a whole, IMO the group is more versatile than pass years. But I think given we've got a fairly solid LB room with some guys that can rush the passer, it's likely we will carry 8 linemen which means five get cut/traded or put on practice squad.

Defensive Tackle:
Gallimore: While he lacks ideal length I still think he'll be the primary 3T sliding over to 1T on obvious passing downs. I thought he flashed talent last season, and only becomes more valuable under Quinn who historically runs a lot more stunts than Nolan (more than Marinelli even) and has asked his 3T to primarily shoot the B-gap. IMO in nickel situations, with four linemen, Gallimore has big role.

Odigizuwa: I think he's used as a hybrid guy that will be used in rotation as both a 3T, and LDE on run downs. I suspect he'll still play a fair bit, but with how strong he plays (despite his size) I think he's gonan be in against the run more so. .

Bohanna: I think he's gonna have a niche but important role strictly as our two-gap NT on run downs. His size, strength, and length makes him perfect for the role and we really don't have a suitable alternative on the roster.

Urban, Hill, Watkins, Hamilton: I think one of these guys wins the last DT role and I'm on the fence as to who that is. Urban has the height, length and ability against the run. Hill has the speed, explosion and offer the most pass rush, Watkins is probably somewhere in between. All three of these guys were regulars (Hill before injury) last season but I'm leaning Watkins because I liked what he did at Clemson. Hamilton seems unlikely.

Edge Rusher:
Demarcus Lawrence: He's comfortably our best linemen and has played the vast majority of his games as a LDE. I expect this season to be similar, but would not be surprise to see him play on the right a bit more than in the past as a LEO, Quinn has asked his base end to two gap fairly often and while Lawrence is versatile enough to do it, he's been mostly played and excelled in a one-gap scheme.

Randy Gregory: I see him as our primary LEO. He's our most explosive edge rusher and IMO is ideally suited to the role.

Chauncey Golston: I see him as our backup LDE that can two-gap and play the run at a high level. As a 3rd round pick he's almost a certainty to make the roster but I'm not sure he's actually that good. To be honest I liked all three of the guys below more coming out of college.

Armstrong, Basham, Anae: If you asked me who the best player is I would say Basham, but Armstrong also plays a lot of special teams. Anae barely played last year and for me is the underdog, but he looked really good in college and it's only his second season, it's certainly not beyond him to make a big jump and take that last edge rushing spot.

Detailed write up, thanks