Well it was near the bottom of the league last year so if we can get it to average this year that’s a win.
I think we will be vastly improved in run defense...but I still don’t see where we improved from the bottom 3rd pass rush team we were last year. Hopefully Quinn is aggressive blitzing a LB often, because I’m not sure if any front 4 we have are going to generate serious pressure alone
I think that you will have Parsons rushing from all over the field. Sometimes he will line up as a defensive end.
I know the board is not big on Hill, but this is year 3 for him when most players usually hit their stride. He was showing pretty good promise last year IMO and think he could be a really solid nickel pass rusher...which is valuable into today's NFL even if he was a draft reach.
Year 3 after an acl tear. He's not doing any kind of jump this year. I dont think that ever happened to a defensive tackle.
Good post, but I have to think the minimum will be 9 and more likely we probably keep 10. I can''t see them only keeping 4 DT's w/ 2 of them being rookies. Especially if one of those rookies (Bohanna) will be a "run only specialist". I think at DT Gallimore, Urban, Odigi and Bohanna are locks. And either Watkins or HIll wins that 5th spot. My money's on Watkins but we'll see how bad Hill wants it. At DE I think the locks are D-Law, Gregory, Golston and Basham. With either Anae or Armstrong winning the last spot. I'll take Armstrong due to the arm length thing, but I really liked Anae coming out so I hope he makes a big leap forward this off-season. There is a chance they only keep 4 DE's with the quality pass rushers we have at LB, but I'd be a little surprised if that was the case.
Not gonna get into who stays or goes - but - areas the competition should be good. Hoping they all make it difficult to cut any of them !
I would expect a shift to more of a 1-gap scheme will improve the pass rush. I’m also expecting a full season from Gregory and a bit more out of Gallimore. We have some good blitz options but Quinn historically hasn’t been much of a blitzer.
Will McClay has always preferred players with long arms but Marinelli only cared about 1st step quickness.
The inability of the 2020 defense to stop the run drastically limited their quality pass rush opportunities. - i.e. Offenses were rarely in 3rd and long. Also DLaw played through injury issues. His snaps played per game were the lowest of his career.
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.
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.
Also going to be in his fourth system in four seasons if you count UCF. Unfortunately he is probably a bit of a victim of circumstance. He is young and needed to right guidance. Jerry's zoo of whims wasn't that. Classic case of someone who will end up a decent contributor on his second and third teams.
Ya, I hope he stays healthy this year bc I think he can provide some juice to the pass rush. I’m not ready to give up on him yet/
