DL actually very good

[CF74]

We could have Hankins right now. It make me mad.

I wanted Hankins, been wanting the Baddest 1-Tech since we finally drafted T-Fred.

Hoping Big McClain is healthy and comes out Beasting in the Postseason...

 

[Texas_Pete]

I'd like to add #93 from Alabama to our DL.

 

[willia451]

This is how each QB was ranked in passer rating, going into his game against the Cowboys.

Manning --
Cousins 27th
Hoyer --
Gabbert 30th
Dalton 13th
Rodgers 17th
Wentz 16th
Kessler 14th
Roethlisberger 17th
Flacco 29th
Cousins 10th
Bradford 10th
Manning 22nd
Winston 20th
Stafford 11th
Wentz 25th

The defense has improved since we beat the Packers, but then so has Rodgers.

I see. Well. Hard to believe Flacco was 29th at the time. I was looking at that Ravens win as a real quality win. Since they have done so well against the Patriots in the past. Have a ton of respect for the Ravens. They are one of the only teams in the AFC that Patriots fans are really scared to play.

I remember one Patriots fan saying the only game the Ravens think really means anything is a playoff game against the Patriots in Foxboro.

LOL!!!

 

[percyhoward]

I see. Well. Hard to believe Flacco was 29th at the time. I was looking at that Ravens win as a real quality win. Since they have done so well against the Patriots in the past. Have a ton of respect for the Ravens. They are one of the only teams in the AFC that Patriots fans are really scared to play.

I remember one Patriots fan saying the only game the Ravens think really means anything is a playoff game against the Patriots in Foxboro.

LOL!!!

This year the Ravens had a decent pass defense, a great run D, and nothing on the other side of the ball.

 

[tyke1doe]

I would trade down for a boatload of picks

I would too if that were available. But let's assume it's not. Do you take the best available player if he's Dalvin Cook?

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Fwiw, last year we had 31 sacks, so despite the fact that we rank higher, I would not say we have a "very good" dline.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I'm not taking a BPA if he's a running back,qb,center,or LT in the first or second. Makes no sense.

Further more what if the BPA in the first rd is a running back and when you get to the second rd the BPA is another RB lol

It should be BPA for the team needs unless some extraordinary player falls

 

[willia451]

This year the Ravens had a decent pass defense, a great run D, and nothing on the other side of the ball.

I remember back in 2014 a Ravens fan posted this pic on a Patriots BB. And the Patriots fans were crapping all over themselves.

The Patriots barely won that game 35-31.

Patriots fans are scared to death of the Ravens. I think its funny.

 

[StylisticS]

we have this notion that Dallas isnt very good and hey get no pressure. And some people say this when they see teams going 1 step and quick pass or short gun with a primary read then a dump off. Thats not Dallas not having pressure but thats a team trying to get it out quick.

Dallas is 12th in the NFL with 34 sacks. And only 3 teams in the playoff hunt have more sacks then them(GB, SEA, TB). And that doesnt even tell the whole story about how good this DL is playing now. Over the last month Dallas leads the league in sacks.

Dallas is 1st in the nfl against the run.

Credit is deserved for this DL. They are really young too so theyre only going to get better. IDK if in this coming draft i would put DL over secondary in the draft.

Carr, Claiborne, Wilcox are all FAs. Scandrick is a injury bug lately too. CBs are really deep this draft whereas DEs coming out more tweeners then true DEs. Then with the way Irving, Mayowa are playing its going to be hard to crack that lineup with players like Tapper and Lawrence there too.

good post. I think the Commanders have three more than us but that's still impressive for us. Did not think we would have 30 sacks before this year let alone 34 right now.

 

[willia451]

This is a really great and informative thread. A lot of things in here I didn't know.

We need more threads like this one.

Fantastic.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

I love our no name group but we all know their success is linked directly to the success of Ezekiel Elliott.

You realize that this year we only have the ball 49 more seconds per game than we did last year right?

 

[robjay04]

You realize that this year we only have the ball 49 more seconds per game than we did last year right?

Our offense also didn't score points last season. Big difference from a defensive prospective if you're playing with a lead. Opposing offenses have to stress things more against us as well so they can score points every drive which opens the door for more sacks and turnovers.

Honestly, our defense wasn't awful last season...the offense just didn't help them at all.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Our offense also didn't score points last season. Big difference from a defensive prospective if you're playing with a lead. Opposing offenses have to stress things more against us as well so they can score points every drive which opens the door for more sacks and turnovers.

Honestly, our defense wasn't awful last season...the offense just didn't help them at all.

QB play is more responsible for this offense scoring this year vs. last if we want to be intellectually honest.

 

[Biggems]

I'd like to add #93 from Alabama to our DL.

my favorite player in the draft, and if Cleveland is smart, which we know they aren't, they would make him the top pick in the draft.

At least we have a great shot at my second favorite player Cooper Kupp.

 

[unionjack8]

every week I curse the D and every week they come up good.

I dont like the base scheme, don't like the 3 man rush or dropping a de in a zone but I can't deny they have been way better than I give them credit for.

marinelli has them rallying to the ball and the DL is allowing Sean lee to be playing like a man possessed .

Still think we need a true edge rusher

 

[yimyammer]

We could have Hankins right now. It make me mad.

Yeah, but Escobar!

 

[Direwolf63]

every week I curse the D and every week they come up good.

I dont like the base scheme, don't like the 3 man rush or dropping a de in a zone but I can't deny they have been way better than I give them credit for.

marinelli has them rallying to the ball and the DL is allowing Sean lee to be playing like a man possessed .

Still think we need a true edge rusher

I don't think the defense has the talent to be a true attack style defense.

We are more of a read and react style. But that is dictated by the talent, or lack of it, IMO. That being said, you can't really argue with the results so far.

But yes, we need a real edge pressure player.

 

[TheHerd]

I have to admit I'm still worried about facing a great QB playing at his best, shut were likely to see from here on out.

 

[Teague31]

Still need another DE or two in the offseason. Don't know how much we can count on Gregory or Lawrence going forward

 

[CWR]

NO NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND MARINELLI HAS TO GO, THIS DEFENSE SUCKS, TEAMS MARCH RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD ON US AND.....

[remembers the Cowboys are 13-2]

...and...and now I will quietly go away.....

Lol, there is a weekly game thread where many will say exactly that. I think many are stuck on the fact this defense isnt supposed to be good because we have no elite pass rusher. But we have several guys playing good football together, synergistically. Seattle was the same way a few years back if memory serves. It's really exciting to think about how far we can go if these guys continue on this trajectory. Then having Jaylon Smith next year. We have several building blocks in place already. The draft will be interesting this year for sure.