Preview 3-4 DE projections

[Ochmed Jones]

Looks to be a thin year again this year. However there are a couple of talented players that could be be special by April.

Marsh of Florida. (6'4" and 305 pounds) Projects well as a two gap player. Lots of improvement needed this season.

Jenkins of Clemson (6'4" and 305 pounds) Could never start in year one, but projects well with a year in our system.

Crick of Nebraska (6'4" and 300 pounds) Projects well as a 3-4 DE run stuffer with some ability to get after the QB.

Bailey of Miami (6'4" amnd 290 pounds) Needs more weight and strength to survive as a 3-4 DE, but by year two in our system, he could be special.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I've watched each of these four players several times, now, and I'm starting to get a feel for their strengths and weaknesses.

Marsh looks similar to Deaderick or Weston to me; a late round developmental type with rotational/spot starter upside.

Jenkins relies too much on his athleticism, and has a bad habit of flying upfield regardless of the play. He's very good at penetrating, and doesn't play with much gap discipline. Perhaps he'll improve his senior year. I think he's talented, but I'm wary of him in our scheme without a lot of seasoning.

Crick, whom I've seen listed at about 6'6 #290 (identical to Seymour in college), seems to have the best combination of natural size, physicality, technique, and overall game to meet our two-gap 34 end requirements. He's my number one target at DE next year.

Bailey seems custom built for an attacking scheme, where I think he would dominate. Here, he would get swallowed up way too easily.

Wolfe, a defensive tackle from Cincinnati, is another guy I'm keeping my eye on this fall. Could be a player.

 

[patsfaninpa]

PSU has a 4th year junior that's been compared to J.Odrick. A lot of people had us interested in him this past draft. Devon Still is 6'5" 311lb. Started out as de. But hurt his knee his freshman year and was red-shirted. Bad ankle injury 2nd year and only came back to play last game and Rose Bowl as a backup DT. PSU went to smaller, speedier edge pass-rushers like A.Maybin. Got a lot of time last year backing up both starters after moving to DT. He would be wise to come back for a 5th year. But, keep an eye on him. Looks like he might be the real deal.

Here's an article with a couple of pics.


Scout.com: CALLING CARD: Devon Still (DT)

 

[Sciz]

There's plenty of 3-4 DEs that are eligible next year, but way too many of them seem to be gap-shooters, not gap-controllers. That's a mistake that a lot of Internet wannabe draft "experts" are going to make, and it shall annoy us to no end. All I'll say is that Seymour had one sack his senior year. Anybody who mocks a DE to the Patriots based on his sack total has no idea what they are doing.

 

[Taxed in Maine]

I agree with a lot of what Reamer says.

Crick seems to be the real deal, as does Hayward.

Bailey, Austin, Clayborn are more penetrators.

Crick is my #1 target also, if not, I'm hoping Derek Wolfe declares also. He could be a late 1 - early 2 target.

 

[Off The Grid]

There's plenty of 3-4 DEs that are eligible next year, but way too many of them seem to be gap-shooters, not gap-controllers. That's a mistake that a lot of Internet wannabe draft "experts" are going to make, and it shall annoy us to no end.

All I'll say is that Seymour had one sack his senior year.

Anybody who mocks a DE to the Patriots based on his sack total has no idea what they are doing.

Very interesting statements.

Do you have some guys you are high on as having The Right Stuff to perform at an high level as Gap Stuffing Ends, next year?

 

[Sciz]

Very interesting statements.

Do you have some guys you are high on as having The Right Stuff to perform at an high level as Gap Stuffing Ends, next year?

A lot of the guys have been mentioned. Wolfe is the one I think would be a good target in the late 1st. I like Crick, but I'd like to see a year where he's not playing next to Suh. Heyward, Bailey, Austin, and Clayborn are guys that don't interest me.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

A lot of the guys have been mentioned. Wolfe is the one I think would be a good target in the late 1st. I like Crick, but I'd like to see a year where he's not playing next to Suh. Heyward, Bailey, Austin, and Clayborn are guys that don't interest me.

Synergy, my friend, not parasitism.

 

[JackBauer]

Bailey is an absolute stud.

Of course, there's something to be said about BB drafting penetrating DL from the U.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

There's plenty of 3-4 DEs that are eligible next year, but way too many of them seem to be gap-shooters, not gap-controllers. That's a mistake that a lot of Internet wannabe draft "experts" are going to make, and it shall annoy us to no end. All I'll say is that Seymour had one sack his senior year. Anybody who mocks a DE to the Patriots based on his sack total has no idea what they are doing.

I agree 100%. A BB 3-4 DE has to be able to control the B and C gaps while maintaining the LOS. Very difficult when going against 330 plus pound OG's and OT's.

If a DE in BB's defense can play the run stong and not give up the LOS while commanding a double team from the offense for either run or passing downs, then that is the ultimate DE in the BB system.

And consequently that is why BB shuld have tried everything under the sun to go up and get Suh. A guy like that makes the other 10 guys on defense look a ton better.

PS: that being said, because BB did not go get Suh, he should have drafted Mt. Cody.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Bailey is an absolute stud.

Of course, there's something to be said about BB drafting penetrating DL from the U.

I agree. I would not be upset if BB took him in the first round.

In the Miami defense he is all about penetration, but he clearly shows the skills necessary to stop the run and anchor against double teams.

Versatility is his game, however to play DE for us, he will need to bulk up by at least 20 pounds and get a lot stronger.

 

[MustaphaM0nd]

I agree. I would not be upset if BB took him in the first round.

In the Miami defense he is all about penetration, but he clearly shows the skills necessary to stop the run and anchor against double teams.

Versatility is his game, however to play DE for us, he will need to bulk up by at least 20 pounds and get a lot stronger.

This. Just because the dude doesn't play in a 3-4 in college doesn't mean he doesn't have the skill set.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

This. Just because the dude doesn't play in a 3-4 in college doesn't mean he doesn't have the skill set.

I agree and I think Seymour, Wilfork and Ty Warren are proof of that, but in the BB defense, the DL has to be able to hold the LOS and play their gaps. This iis counter intuitive to what most DL guys in college are taught.

The trick is to watch the tape and project how a guy is going to be able hold up at the POA. This is probably the one area that BB excels in when grading DL for the draft.

 

[patchick]

How about J.J. Watt of Wisconsin? He doesn't seem to get a lot of talk as an early entrant, but he's getting his degree this year and is looking good despite drawing new double teams now that O’Brien Schofield is gone. 6'5.5" 290, long arms, awesome intangibles. Played tight end as a freshman at Central Michigan.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

How about J.J. Watt of Wisconsin? He doesn't seem to get a lot of talk as an early entrant, but he's getting his degree this year and is looking good despite drawing new double teams now that O’Brien Schofield is gone. 6'5.5" 290, long arms, awesome intangibles. Played tight end as a freshman at Central Michigan.

Hm . . . this after I post a few articles about him on another board.

Here's a great article on JJ Watt. http://www.postcrescent.com/article/...-two-way-power Hm . . . a former TE who now plays DE? Sign me up!

Another excellent article. Sounds like a great guy. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...4342/index.htm

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I just finished watching the Colorado @ California game where pundits were bashing OT Nate Solder and praising DE Cam Jordan ... not so fast. Jordan had a couple nice plays, but he worked against the RT most of the game, a rFR. He was by no means dominant. Don't take him off the list, but don't crown him either.

 

[patchick]

Hm . . . this after I post a few articles about him on another board.

Here's a great article on JJ Watt. http://www.postcrescent.com/article/...-two-way-power Hm . . . a former TE who now plays DE? Sign me up!

Another excellent article. Sounds like a great guy. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...4342/index.htm

How dare you think faster than me! :enranged:

I'll be keeping a closer eye on Wisconsin for sure.

 

[Coach42]

If Brace develops and continues to play well how much of priority is DE? Apparently the Bengals O-Line had nothing but good things to say about his play.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If Brace develops and continues to play well how much of priority is DE? Apparently the Bengals O-Line had nothing but good things to say about his play.

Coach, do you have a link to that report from the Bengals' O-line? Color me interested!

EDIT: Whoops! Never mind, I saw the thread on the main page, but the linking in that thread could use some remedial interwebbing review!

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If Brace develops and continues to play well how much of priority is DE? Apparently the Bengals O-Line had nothing but good things to say about his play.

Even if Brace develop0s, you can never have enough depth at DE in a 3-4. It is way BB spent first round picks on Seymour, Warren and a second round pick on Hill (RIP).

It will be very interesting to see how many snaps Brace gets and how does against The-Brick or Woodhead. A good performance will show me a lot about Brace's future.