RayClay

Read he was being worked there, but couldn't find the article. I've been saying they'll work with Brace if he shows the effort, but does anyone still feel he is willing to take on double teams all day? Could be wrong, but I don't know what his injury is.

For arguments sake, let's say he's giving a half assed effort. That won't work at that position, especially with his lack of athleticism. If true, he's as good as gone IMO.

Pryor's a stop gap, he's not big enough, though I like him as a sub. Weston is supposed to compete for the DE job, but i doubt we'll use a 7th rounder there unless we got insanely lucky.

He's huge, almost 6'5" listed 317. If he wants it, I imagine he could build himself up and out.

Thoughts?

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mgteich

I think that there are six defenisve line spots, unless a kid is so great that we can't risk the Practice Sqaud with him. I don't think Weston fits this characterization (or Deaderick).

Unless Ty Warren isn't expected to be ready by the bye, I don't anyone but the four "W" as a primary rotation. I see Lewis and Pryor as reasonable backups.

I would note that the #5 and the #6 last year participated in only 27% and 5% of the defensive reps. Lewis and Pryor are more than adequate to be backups and to be part of the four man rotation if needed because of injury.

RayClay

I'm talking about grooming a possible nose tackle. almost no one comes out of college ready to play that position, they need to have size and willingness to learn and take that punishment. Players don't get numbers like in a bakery, sometimes there are projects and NT is a project position that's highly valued,.

We had a guy named Ethan Kelly that was kept in the "system" for two years even though he was a 7th rounder converted from an offensive lineman. it's not because he was the next best lineman, not even close. It's because they saw a possibility he could be made into a serviceable NT.

Pryor is willing and probably wins a spot, but he's not a real NT candidate, he's a stop gap.

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mgteich

And Ethan Kelley was a wasted roster spot. We are better off bringing in a street free agent when we need an additional NT or NT backup, as we did last year. I don't sdee why it reasonable to use a roster spot to develop a backup NT. We have Wilfork. We have others to fill in in an emergency basis.

So, no I don't want to use a roster spot to develop a player who would take two years to develop, and then when ready, be inactive unless Wilfork were injured.

That being said, I have no problem at all with Weston making the team instead of Pryor if he is as ready to play this year as Pryor was last. And yes, I am even open to keeping a developing DL as one of our last roster spots.

RayClay

There aren't street free agents who can play nose tackle. That's why teams have to develop them or waste second round picks on tubs of goo like Brace.

I don't think Weston would have to make the team instead of Pryor, if Pryor was stout enough, he would be the backup NT of the future. Pryor has his own skills and some experience. he will make the team based on whether they want him on the team.

Teams don't go down the roster, decide how many players for each position, then pick the first six guys in line. They decide which players they can use, which are worth developing, and the chances they can hide them on the practice squad or if they're (wink) injured.

Having made those decisions, they then end up with a certain number at each position.

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mcsully

On the pregame, Zolak was making a pitch how high a ceiling Brace has compared to the other players at his position. They kept mentioning him as a NT and without saying it, he was making a pitch to move Wilfork at DE


Now I know Warren, not Ty, had a good game but the addition of Brace would not make us dependant on a guy who was drafted #3 overall been just a (a little above being) JAG for most of his career.. Of course that is a big "if" right now with Brace

Of course I was a big fan of drafting mount Cody and moving Wilfork to DE and firming up the depth at DL..

RayClay

Don't think the height of the ceiling in the hot tub room really matters right now.

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Ochmed Jones

With T Warren probably out all season we need a backup NT on the roster.

If BB goes with 6 DL guys. Wilfork, G Warren, Wright and Lewis appear in the lead for 4 of those 6 spots.

That leaves Pryor, Deaderick, Richard, Love, Weston and others battling for the remaining 2 spots, but only Weston and Love could realistically man the nose for any extended period of time. And I am not sure either is an NFL calibre DL.

I wish we had drafted Mount Cody!

BradyFTW!

You wish we drafted this guy?:

mgteich

I missed something. Ty Warren is out for the year and we need a nose tackle?