Who will be the backups at DE?

[hra8700]

Garrett has already said that Kyle Wilber will get time at wde, but other than that we have no clear Backup DE.

People mention Tyrone Crawford as a possibility, but look at this quote from him last year:

“I never really was much of a 3-technique player in college,” he said. “Actually, none at all. Here, that’s all I rush out of. Getting better at that. Just need to keep improving.”

When he was drafted he was thought of as a 5 tech 3-4 DE or a 4-3 SDE, but if the team evaluated him that way, why wasn't he played at the 5 last year? It's possible we see him more as a 3. I've looked up every quote from Jones, Garrett, and Kiffin, no one has clarified this.

The other possibility is Hatcher. Everyone talks about him as just a dt in this scheme, but Rob Ryan played a lot of 4-3 and moved Hatcher to SDE when he did so. I dont think he ever did this with Crawford.

Here is a pic:

My guess is actually that on run downs we have hatcher at sde, with ware and spencer playing the wde. On pass downs we have hatcher as 3 tech with ratliff at the 1. We'd also sub in crawford and lissemore as 3 and 1 techs, respectively.

I doubt the team is banking on wilber, though it would be nice if wilber can play.

Albright has some position flex, but he was primarily played as a slb when we went to 4-3. Thogh I doubt he has the speedfor a kiffin slb...so I dont really know what we do for him.

 

[blindzebra]

Wilber and Albright.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

Keith Brooking! 2 years ago, with an aging Coleman I rather put Lissemore and leave Hatch on the outside, maybe even Beian Price.

 

[hra8700]

Keith Brooking! 2 years ago, with an aging Coleman I rather put Lissemore and leave Hatch on the outside, maybe even Beian Price.

He played with hatcher as sde a lot last year as well, just couldnt find a pic.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Wilbur , Albright , Crawford will be hybrid

 

[Risen Star]

Meanwhile the Giants have Damontre Moore on their bench.

 

[tayloner]

I personally am hoping we see something out of Ben Bass, although he may be more of an inside player in our new scheme given his size.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Ware and Spencer better be book end DEs in any and all nickel packages. Theyr'e being paid too much. I don't really care if Hatcher or Crawford rotate in a series at SDE to give Spencer a breather here and there in base. You're talking about the Greg Spires and Isreal Idonje position. Who backed up Robert Mathis? Kenyutta Dawson? It's not really something that should keep you awake at night.

 

[ThreeandOut]

All of the old DL's in the 3-4 become DT's in the new scheme, the old OLB's become DE's, and the old ILB's man the three LB spots. Since they're trying to fill 3 LB spots in the new defense from only two ILB spots in the old defense, LB's were prioritized over DL in this draft.

 

[hra8700]

Ware and Spencer better be book end DEs in any and all nickel packages. Theyr'e being paid too much. I don't really care if Hatcher or Crawford rotate in a series at SDE to give Spencer a breather here and there in base. You're talking about the Greg Spires and Isreal Idonje position. Who backed up Robert Mathis? Kenyutta Dawson? It's not really something that should keep you awake at night.

Obviously in the nickel ware and spencer will be de's. But very few DE's can play 93% of snaps like they did as olb's. If they play 85% of snaps, that leaves 30% for the backup. If I'm right and they sub spencer at wde for ware (rather than giving those snaps to wilber), then whichever dt (crawford or hatcher) subs as sde says a lot about how the interior of the line is going to look as well.

The problem with wilber as backup wde is that he probably will have to be put in on nickel packages due to his size, which means less pass rushing snaps for ware/spencer.

 

[jobberone]

Spencer is a DE and could in a pinch play a 3 although my guess is he will either be a 5 or sitting a spell. Ware is a 5. Either can drop into coverage.

Hatcher is a 5/3 and can play either altho I suspect he'll play the 5 on the strong side.

Ratliff is a 3 who could play 5 in a pinch.

Crawford will be a 3 but they will try him at 5 some to see how he does. He has a good bull rush against OTs.

I don't know how Wilbur or Albright will do but they will be looking for pass rushers outside those mentioned. The rest are mostly 3s and Kiffin doesn't play a 1. If they are short yardage they will just put the heavies in. I don't expect normally for us to play a traditional 1 although there may be times they will have to beef up the middle.

 

[hra8700]

Spencer is a DE and could in a pinch play a 3 although my guess is he will either be a 5 or sitting a spell. Ware is a 5. Either can drop into coverage.

Hatcher is a 5/3 and can play either altho I suspect he'll play the 5 on the strong side.

Ratliff is a 3 who could play 5 in a pinch.

Crawford will be a 3 but they will try him at 5 some to see how he does. He has a good bull rush against OTs.

I don't know how Wilbur or Albright will do but they will be looking for pass rushers outside those mentioned. The rest are mostly 3s and Kiffin doesn't play a 1. If they are short yardage they will just put the heavies in. I don't expect normally for us to play a traditional 1 although there may be times they will have to beef up the middle.

What?

Ratliff = 0 (1 gap), 1, 3
Hatcher = 1, 3, 5 at various points
Ware = 9
Spencer = 7, stack, or 9

Kiffin always plays a 1, as does every other team (or 0), or you could just run up the a gap for 4-5 yards every play.

 

[hra8700]

What?

Ratliff = 0 (1 gap), 1, 3
Hatcher = 1, 3, 5 at various points
Ware = 9
Spencer = 7, stack, or 9

Kiffin always plays a 1, as does every other team (or 0), or you could just run up the a gap for 4-5 yards every play.

Sorry, of course spencer will like up at 5 in the base 43 under as well. Ware will play 7 in base as well of course.

 

[gimmesix]

I really don't think we have a good backup for the rush end spot, although Spencer could switch sides as the next-best pass-rushing DE.

If he does that, then Kyle Wilber or Tyrone Crawford could move into the LDE spot. I expect the rotation at end to primarily be Ware, Spencer and Wilber, with Crawford getting time at Spencer's spot when Dallas goes "big." Hatcher could also be used at end in such alignments.

I don't think Alex Albright is going to play end. I think, based on his LB play last year, that he's going to end up being Sean Lee's backup at MLB.

I'd still like to see a pure pass rusher brought in in free agency to sub for Ware at times, but I think Dallas believes it has the position covered with Ware, Spencer, Wilber and Crawford/Hatcher when needed.

 

[EPL0c0]

JAG. just like the depth at almost every other position.

 

[Kristen82]

What about bringing in someone like Idonjie? Played 4-3 last year, only made $900,000. Kyle Vanden Bosch might come cheap too.

 

[Wolfpack]

FO said they like the depth on the DL. Dont worry they got it covered.

 

[Wood]

Wilber and Albright.

that scary if they head into season with those two guys as our depth.

 

[Risen Star]

that scary if they head into season with those two guys as our depth.

What? You must be trolling.

 

[DFWJC]

Meanwhile the Giants have Damontre Moore on their bench.

Exactly...
And it only cost a3rd rounder