Defensive line?

[AlexM]

Lets try to predict our DL starters, I believe there are only 2 options: Hicks-Goldman-Unrein or Hicks-Goldman-Bullard, pretty sure both Unrein and Bullard are coach favourites, in fact this whole DL is entirely this GM/coaches product. Still mourning for Ego, I really think he has/had a lot to offer. Hopefully CornWash will explode this year... Verdict is still out for both Sutton (a lot of flashes) and Swamp...

[germansbombedph]

Washington will make the roster. We still lack a good Option behind Goldman. If he goes down we will have to search for another NT.
Bullard, Unrein and Hicks will all get enough playing time and Rotation.

[Deleted]

I like having the option. Both seem like they might work

[Deleted]

I can see Hicks and Unrein sharing one DE spot and Bullard and CWash the other. Goldman will be at NT with Sutton probably backing him but there's a chance Terry Williams may stick as well. As always injuries may end up being a deciding factor too. The starters will play at least one half and possibly more against KC so how we came out of that game may dictate the cuts following it.

[riczaj01]

That last spot will come down to sutton and ego and what they are wanting(barring an injury in the next 2 games) sutton has played mostly de and ego has done nt and de.

If they want the better of 1 positon they go with sutton if they want flexibility but less quality they go with ego.


Either way i feel bad for one bc the move from 4 3 to 3 4 fd it up for them

[AlexM]

Aug 23, 2016 10:27:01 GMT -6 @soulman said:

I can see Hicks and Unrein sharing one DE spot and Bullard and CWash the other. Goldman will be at NT with Sutton probably backing him but there's a chance Terry Williams may stick as well. As always injuries may end up being a deciding factor too. The starters will play at least one half and possibly more against KC so how we came out of that game may dictate the cuts following it.

so no Ego? I thought he was coming around last year before the injury hit

[Deleted]

Aug 23, 2016 10:35:23 GMT -6 riczaj01 said:

That last spot will come down to sutton and ego and what they are wanting(barring an injury in the next 2 games) sutton has played mostly de and ego has done nt and de.

If they want the better of 1 positon they go with sutton if they want flexibility but less quality they go with ego.


Either way i feel bad for one bc the move from 4 3 to 3 4 fd it up for them

IMHO so far Sutton has actually proven to be the better and more versatile player.  He's playing much lighter now so some of his ability to penetrate and rush have returned and while he's not the ideal size for a 2 gap NT he's short so he can keep his pad level down more easily and use his leverage to fight off blocks from taller OGs.  He and Williams made a hell of a play on that goal line stop last week.

Ego was always a project.  Even when Emery drafted him no one was sure how they'd play him.  He's not an ideal NT and he's really not quick enough to play DE.  Based on what I've seen so far his career will probably end with him becoming a backup DT in a 4-3 front because he's decent enough run stopper in a phone booth.  More than that I don't see in him.

[Deleted]

Aug 23, 2016 3:42:37 GMT -6 germansbombedph said:

Washington will make the roster. We still lack a good Option behind Goldman. If he goes down we will have to search for another NT.
Bullard, Unrein and Hicks will all get enough playing time and Rotation.

I don't know how "good" we can look at the other options at NT being but both Sutton and Williams have flashed some ability there.  Both are playing much lighter now and both are short stumpy type DL who can keep their pad level low and hold their ground.  They don't actually have to make they play 100% of the time.  As long as they can absorb blockers and keep them off the ILBs they can work out as rotational players.

The two of them made one hell of a nice goal line stop against NE buy beating their blocks and penetrating too.  They've got that kind of burst and quickness as well.

[germansbombedph]

I just Need to get used to having ILBs that can do something after the last 3 years

[blueshoes]

Fox's approach is " bigger people beat up smaller people " - thus I believe that the 'starters' will be the biggest guys . Ain't really all that important tho cuz the rest will rotate in alot during the game and the 'smaller' quicker guys might be used more often on passing downs in an effort to try to generate more of a pass rush . I just want to see more sacks this year .