ejthedj
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I'd didn't write down the play by play but I did watch every play at least 4 times, focusing on each individual. Here's my thoughts:
Hayden is by far our biggest problem. He holds ground against single teams, that's about it. And against doubles, he gets blown out, causing huge running lanes. You could see them go at him again and again... His "pass rush" usually just gets in the way of others. Sadly, he was out there quite a bit on 3rd down (partly bc we had a lot of 3rd and 4s). Even sadder, he is our best #1, the only one who didn't lose seemingly every play. Nobody has talked about it all off-season, but the biggest training camp injury was Terrell McClain. We need him, and maybe Brent, quick.
Bishop can hold ground almost as good as Hayden, and might have something eventually, but right now, he just can't get out of blocks. And he doesn't do any better against double teams. I think he's practice squad, if T. McClain can play. He gets blown out more than Hayden, although he makes a better stand here and there. Turns backwards too much. Needs to drop the knee.
Coleman, on the other hand, we have something here. He has great quickness and a mean spin move (one of the best I have seen). He gets blown out too much and plays with poor technique. He needs to work on not turning his back when his fist move doesn't work. He maybe relies on te spin move too much and goes to it after absorbing a good punch. Can't do that. Gotta just hold ground then. He can learn this I think. Right now, he just swings for the fences every play and if he doesn't get a hit, he gets beat pretty bad. But as a 3, he is doing his job a lot. Moving the play a little, causing hesitation, filtering back to the middle. unfortunately, the middle is where we are awful (see above).
Mincey is interesting. He had some real nice pass rush from the 3 (great swim move) and one good pressure from the edge. He seems to read the play well and usually contains on the runs, filtering back inside (which is what he's supposed to do, but for our biggest problem). But he's not special. We can win with him. I even like him inside on passing downs. But there's not the speed to run things down from the backside. He seems to take plays off if they go away from him, but overall his effort is there. He seems competitive.
Crawford really flashes. He split time, so he's not out there as much, but he's gotten pressure in run and passing games pretty steady. He knows how to get off blocks. He doesn't trust his outside edge speed so he always fakes that and cuts back inside. Here, he has power. And his hand fighting is improving. He is reminding me of a young Spencer -- "the almost" Spencer. But he can develop. he rushed from the inside one time and he got past with an under move but didn't show the technique to straighten out and really get the qb. looked like he's been working on outside tech much more.
Selvie looked sluggish at first but came on some. He was held a couple of times and not called later in the half, including the play he got hurt on. He, Mincey, and Crawford make a great strong DE rotation. Problem is, I think we have about 3 of the same players here. Average to a little above average pros, 6-8 sack range on a good defense. But they should be your #2 rushers, getting you 12 sacks combined off the strong side.
So, we have no speed rusher. Wilson is trash, unless it's 3rd and long and he can just speed off. He shies from contact and people just run into his gaping holes every time.
Minter looked about the same as Bishop and worse than Coleman. He's more like Coleman than Bishop, less stout, not a candidate for the 1. Against other 1s, he was invisible or just getting blasted. So, he's not the savior -- again, we need a 1.
We are fine with Melton, Coleman, Mincey, Crawford getting snaps at the 3 (or the pass rushing 1 on 3rd and long). I think Coleman could really be a spark plug as the backup. Someone doesn't quite study enough film of his spin move, and that's a pressure a game. Mincey looked really nice rushing inside. He's slower than tackles but quicker than guards. Crawford might get some looks there, too.
We are more than fine on the strong-side De. We need a quicker rusher (Spencer or Dlaw maybe). But mostly, we need a 1. Can a fat butt be that hard to find?
Hayden is by far our biggest problem. He holds ground against single teams, that's about it. And against doubles, he gets blown out, causing huge running lanes. You could see them go at him again and again... His "pass rush" usually just gets in the way of others. Sadly, he was out there quite a bit on 3rd down (partly bc we had a lot of 3rd and 4s). Even sadder, he is our best #1, the only one who didn't lose seemingly every play. Nobody has talked about it all off-season, but the biggest training camp injury was Terrell McClain. We need him, and maybe Brent, quick.
Bishop can hold ground almost as good as Hayden, and might have something eventually, but right now, he just can't get out of blocks. And he doesn't do any better against double teams. I think he's practice squad, if T. McClain can play. He gets blown out more than Hayden, although he makes a better stand here and there. Turns backwards too much. Needs to drop the knee.
Coleman, on the other hand, we have something here. He has great quickness and a mean spin move (one of the best I have seen). He gets blown out too much and plays with poor technique. He needs to work on not turning his back when his fist move doesn't work. He maybe relies on te spin move too much and goes to it after absorbing a good punch. Can't do that. Gotta just hold ground then. He can learn this I think. Right now, he just swings for the fences every play and if he doesn't get a hit, he gets beat pretty bad. But as a 3, he is doing his job a lot. Moving the play a little, causing hesitation, filtering back to the middle. unfortunately, the middle is where we are awful (see above).
Mincey is interesting. He had some real nice pass rush from the 3 (great swim move) and one good pressure from the edge. He seems to read the play well and usually contains on the runs, filtering back inside (which is what he's supposed to do, but for our biggest problem). But he's not special. We can win with him. I even like him inside on passing downs. But there's not the speed to run things down from the backside. He seems to take plays off if they go away from him, but overall his effort is there. He seems competitive.
Crawford really flashes. He split time, so he's not out there as much, but he's gotten pressure in run and passing games pretty steady. He knows how to get off blocks. He doesn't trust his outside edge speed so he always fakes that and cuts back inside. Here, he has power. And his hand fighting is improving. He is reminding me of a young Spencer -- "the almost" Spencer. But he can develop. he rushed from the inside one time and he got past with an under move but didn't show the technique to straighten out and really get the qb. looked like he's been working on outside tech much more.
Selvie looked sluggish at first but came on some. He was held a couple of times and not called later in the half, including the play he got hurt on. He, Mincey, and Crawford make a great strong DE rotation. Problem is, I think we have about 3 of the same players here. Average to a little above average pros, 6-8 sack range on a good defense. But they should be your #2 rushers, getting you 12 sacks combined off the strong side.
So, we have no speed rusher. Wilson is trash, unless it's 3rd and long and he can just speed off. He shies from contact and people just run into his gaping holes every time.
Minter looked about the same as Bishop and worse than Coleman. He's more like Coleman than Bishop, less stout, not a candidate for the 1. Against other 1s, he was invisible or just getting blasted. So, he's not the savior -- again, we need a 1.
We are fine with Melton, Coleman, Mincey, Crawford getting snaps at the 3 (or the pass rushing 1 on 3rd and long). I think Coleman could really be a spark plug as the backup. Someone doesn't quite study enough film of his spin move, and that's a pressure a game. Mincey looked really nice rushing inside. He's slower than tackles but quicker than guards. Crawford might get some looks there, too.
We are more than fine on the strong-side De. We need a quicker rusher (Spencer or Dlaw maybe). But mostly, we need a 1. Can a fat butt be that hard to find?
