Call me Crazy (about the DL)

[xwalker]

suspensions aside, I think this DL group has a chance to be very good. Certainly better than anything we have seen in the past 5 years. Think they will be a top 10 unit. In the middle Collins and Paea are going to wreak havoc. When you hear about these two consistently beating Beard and Zack in practice how could you not be excited? Depth there is good as well.
At end, Irving has a chance to be a legit star if he can walk the line. That leaves one position to worry about and between Lawrence (healthy and in a contract year), Mayowa (6 sacks a year ago) and an ever improving Taco we will be good to go. That doesn't even factor in a reborn Moore and the hope Tapper can put it altogether.
Yes the first month will be rough but I think this will be a legit unit down the stretch. When was the last time we even had such hope along the DL?

Agree.

They need 2 quality games from DLaw while Irving and Moore are out. Even better if DLaw's back can make it the full 4 games that Irving is out.

If Jaylon really plays, he was a terrific pass rusher in college.

 

[sbark]

Valid point.

Many have talked about the sacks (or lack there of) by the DE's, but I agree with you in that pressure from the DT's is hugely important now.

....especially inside our division. The Giants scheme, with their weak OLine has been adapted to quick patterns by Odell and Shepard who are excellent slot types. Also Philly---Wentz was the king of checkdown last year, in last pre-season was forced to do that again in 2nd series to connect with receivers.

 

[Kaiser]

Agree.

If Jaylon really plays, he was a terrific pass rusher in college.

And Marinelli has had plenty of time to design blitzes that optimize his ability.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Paea and Thornton are getting past Zack and Fred? Really?

Collins and Paea. Thornton has been a disappointment since signing. Collins is building off his surprising rookie year and Paea is picking up where McClain left off last season.

 

[Nightman]

DL is 10 deep and we are going to need that depth early with the suspensions to Irving and Moore

 

[MichaelWinicki]

....especially inside our division. The Giants scheme, with their weak OLine has been adapted to quick patterns by Odell and Shepard who are excellent slot types. Also Philly---Wentz was the king of checkdown last year, in last pre-season was forced to do that again in 2nd series to connect with receivers.

Exactly right!

 

[Proximo]

All depends on those 3 behind them really. Actually the two behind them as Marinelli runs a 4-2-6 the majority of the time anyway. Hitchens is just ok, but we need dynamic at MLB. Hoping Jaylon is fine and never looks back!

Very interesting.

This can only end 1 of 2 ways:

The league allows us to employ this 4-2-6 and we dominate due to the obvious advantage.

Or

We get penalized literally every play.

I'm pulling for the former, naturally.

 

[Screw The Hall]

suspensions aside, I think this DL group has a chance to be very good. Certainly better than anything we have seen in the past 5 years. Think they will be a top 10 unit. In the middle Collins and Paea are going to wreak havoc. When you hear about these two consistently beating Beard and Zack in practice how could you not be excited? Depth there is good as well.
At end, Irving has a chance to be a legit star if he can walk the line. That leaves one position to worry about and between Lawrence (healthy and in a contract year), Mayowa (6 sacks a year ago) and an ever improving Taco we will be good to go. That doesn't even factor in a reborn Moore and the hope Tapper can put it altogether.
Yes the first month will be rough but I think this will be a legit unit down the stretch. When was the last time we even had such hope along the DL?

Good post.

The depth of players with good talent on the DL has increased dramatically over the last couple of years. Now all they need is 1 or 2 of those players to turn into very good to great players and they will be well on their way to building the second part of their championship caliber trenches. MCollins is well on his way, Irving has a good shot of becoming a consistent impact player as well, and no one has any idea how good Taco can be yet.

 

[xwalker]

Very interesting.

This can only end 1 of 2 ways:

The league allows us to employ this 4-2-6 and we dominate due to the obvious advantage.

Or

We get penalized literally every play.

I'm pulling for the former, naturally.

 

[xwalker]

All depends on those 3 behind them really. Actually the two behind them as Marinelli runs a 4-2-6 the majority of the time anyway. Hitchens is just ok, but we need dynamic at MLB. Hoping Jaylon is fine and never looks back!

How about the 12-0 alignment...

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I think the interior DL should be good but it rests heavily on the health of Collins. A Collins/Neal 3T duo and Paea/Thornton 1T duo should be fine along with guys like Irving and Crawford moving inside in the nickel/dime.

DE could be a problem to start off the season, especially LDE with Crawford still battling an injury and Irving suspended. LDE should be solid once those guys come back to full speed. Might not be until halfway through the season though. Also hurts that Moore will be out. Might have to rely on guys like Tapper and Jones early in the season.

RDE could be more of a concern than LDE throughout the entire season. I really have no idea what to expect from Lawrence, and Taco is a rookie at the end of the day. Wouldn't be surprised if Moore ended up our starting RDE. Not sure if that would speak more of Moore's efforts or our lack of talent at RDE. Oh, there's Mayowa too.

 

[Sydla]

I think the interior DL should be good but it rests heavily on the health of Collins. A Collins/Neal 3T duo and Paea/Thornton 1T duo should be fine along with guys like Irving and Crawford moving inside in the nickel/dime.

DE could be a problem to start off the season, especially LDE with Crawford still battling an injury and Irving suspended. LDE should be solid once those guys come back to full speed. Might not be until halfway through the season though. Also hurts that Moore will be out. Might have to rely on guys like Tapper and Jones early in the season.

RDE could be more of a concern than LDE throughout the entire season. I really have no idea what to expect from Lawrence, and Taco is a rookie at the end of the day. Wouldn't be surprised if Moore ended up our starting RDE. Not sure if that would speak more of Moore's efforts or our lack of talent at RDE. Oh, there's Mayowa too.

Depth at DT scares me a bit. You have Collins. That's about it. Paea has had a great camp so that helps. Thornton has largely been a disappointment. Hopefully he puts it together soon. Neal is a young guy with no track record. You also don't have the luxury of Irving at the beginning of the year who could also move to DT in a pinch and Crawford, another option at DT, is battling a bad ankle sprain.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

3T is one of the most important positions in a Marinelli defense. If Neal can flash a little bit more he'll at least make the PS. I'm rooting for him big time. He's my new defensive pet cat...next to Chido

If Neal flashes a little more he will not make in through waivers, a team like Settle or NYG will snatched him up

 

[gimmesix]

suspensions aside, I think this DL group has a chance to be very good. Certainly better than anything we have seen in the past 5 years. Think they will be a top 10 unit. In the middle Collins and Paea are going to wreak havoc. When you hear about these two consistently beating Beard and Zack in practice how could you not be excited? Depth there is good as well.
At end, Irving has a chance to be a legit star if he can walk the line. That leaves one position to worry about and between Lawrence (healthy and in a contract year), Mayowa (6 sacks a year ago) and an ever improving Taco we will be good to go. That doesn't even factor in a reborn Moore and the hope Tapper can put it altogether.
Yes the first month will be rough but I think this will be a legit unit down the stretch. When was the last time we even had such hope along the DL?

I still don't know if we can create a consistent pass rush.

 

[Aven8]

Very interesting.

This can only end 1 of 2 ways:

The league allows us to employ this 4-2-6 and we dominate due to the obvious advantage.

Or

We get penalized literally every play.

I'm pulling for the former, naturally.

Lol, 4-2-5 I meant!! Just like Gary Patterson at TCU.

 

[Risen Star]

Not seeing it.

The bar's been so low there for so long that even league average looks salty.

However you can convince me that there will be enough growth this year in certain players that next year's line can actually be good.