Defensive line roles

[Get it shawtaay]

Is this an accurate depth chart for the defensive line?

RDE: Chandler Jones
RDT: Tommy Kelly
LDT: Vince Wilfork
LDE: Rob Ninkovich

3rd DT for early downs: AJ Francis
3rd DE on early downs: Jake Bequette
3rd down Rush DT specialist: Joe Vellano (Armond Armstead when healthy)
3rd down Rush DE specialist: Michael Buchanan

1. Would Bequette (more of a power player) or Buchanan get snaps at DE on 1st and 10?

2. Is Vellano viewed as mroe of a NT or more of a penetrating tackle?

3. Does anyone disagree with this assessment?

4. What kind of players would you like to see us add role-wise? Where do you find the greatest weaknesses in this group?

 

[JackBauer]

I have no idea whether Francis or Vellano is the better pass rusher. Otherwise that looks right to me.

 

[Brady6]

Is this an accurate depth chart for the defensive line?

RDE: Chandler Jones
RDT: Tommy Kelly
LDT: Vince Wilfork
LDE: Rob Ninkovich

3rd DT for early downs: AJ Francis
3rd DE on early downs: Jake Bequette
3rd down Rush DT specialist: Joe Vellano (Armond Armstead when healthy)
3rd down Rush DE specialist: Michael Buchanan

1. Would Bequette (more of a power player) or Buchanan get snaps at DE on 1st and 10?

2. Is Vellano viewed as mroe of a NT or more of a penetrating tackle?

3. Does anyone disagree with this assessment?

4. What kind of players would you like to see us add role-wise? Where do you find the greatest weaknesses in this group?

This is how I see it:

4-3 over
Leo – Ninkovich
3tech DT – Kelly
1tech NT – Wilfork
RE – Jones

4-3 under
LE – Ninkovich
1tech NT – Wilfork
3tech DT – Kelly
Leo – Jones

Backups
DE – Bequette
Leo – Buchanan
1tech NT – Vellano
3tech DT – Francis

As far as pass rushing downs they may mix Jones, Buchanan and Bequette in at DT, along with using an Odd LB like Hightower or Collins lined up over the guard or the center.

It is worth noting we spend most of our time in the 4-3 over and in that formation it usually looks like this:


LE- Ninkovich |DT- Kelly | NT- Wilfork | RE- Jones

Will – Mayo | Mike – Spikes | Sam - Hightower

 

[mgteich]

I think the reality is that we haven't a clue with regard to the backups except for Buchanan's role as a pass rusher.

Vellano is the first off the bench in case of injury ro Wilfork or Kelly, but that is not what you are asking.
===================

IN REPONSE TO YOUR DIRECT QUESTIONS

1) I would not anyone but our top 4 top get reps on 1st down.

2) Vellano is our backup to Wilfork and did fine in that role in two pre-season games. So, for me, he is first and foremost a backup NT.

3) There is nothing that everyone here agrees upon.

4) We need a sub package DT. We need a veteran backup at DE, in case of injury, or in case Ninkovich is needed at LB (as was the case last year. IMHO, we have not replaced Cunninghgam and Scott. I think that we need the experience that multiple roles requires.
I am fine with 2-3 youngsters. I would be much more comfortable with a couple of veteran additions, even if there are no cuts, although I could see us waving one player while bringing in two.

BOTTOM LINE
If we bring in a DT/DE to replace Cunningham, we would be way ahead of last year, considering the addition of Kelly in place of Love.

Is this an accurate depth chart for the defensive line?

RDE: Chandler Jones
RDT: Tommy Kelly
LDT: Vince Wilfork
LDE: Rob Ninkovich

3rd DT for early downs: AJ Francis
3rd DE on early downs: Jake Bequette
3rd down Rush DT specialist: Joe Vellano (Armond Armstead when healthy)
3rd down Rush DE specialist: Michael Buchanan

1. Would Bequette (more of a power player) or Buchanan get snaps at DE on 1st and 10?

2. Is Vellano viewed as mroe of a NT or more of a penetrating tackle?

3. Does anyone disagree with this assessment?

4. What kind of players would you like to see us add role-wise? Where do you find the greatest weaknesses in this group?

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Good observations. A couple thoughts:

This is how I see it:

4-3 over
Leo – Ninkovich
3tech DT – Kelly
1tech NT – Wilfork
RE – Jones

4-3 under
LE – Ninkovich
1tech NT – Wilfork
3tech DT – Kelly
Leo – Jones

This is the ideal. However, there will be plenty of times where Kelly lands at 1tech and Wilfork at 3tech.

1) I would not anyone but our top 4 top get reps on 1st down.

We'll see plenty of Vellano rotating in on 1st down for Kelly and Wilfork. Otherwise, those guys will hardly get any rest. BB won't start the year off that way. Not sure what to expect of Francis at this point, but I have to expect that he'll be rotated in, too, albeit modestly.

Based on time spent in the role to date, I would expect Bequette to get some reps at DT in passing situations, but he's been unimpressive there, so perhaps Vellano gets the nod. Hopefully, we won't see them both out there at DT at the same time, unless it's approaching garbage time. I'd like to see Jones rotate into DT as a situational rusher with Buchanan getting a shot at DE, but I don't recall seeing that approach yet, although Jones had time at 5tech in the pre-season, and that might be a sign that BB would consider that route.

 

[Ring 6]

This is how I see it:

4-3 over
Leo – Ninkovich
3tech DT – Kelly
1tech NT – Wilfork
RE – Jones

4-3 under
LE – Ninkovich
1tech NT – Wilfork
3tech DT – Kelly
Leo – Jones

Backups
DE – Bequette
Leo – Buchanan
1tech NT – Vellano
3tech DT – Francis

As far as pass rushing downs they may mix Jones, Buchanan and Bequette in at DT, along with using an Odd LB like Hightower or Collins lined up over the guard or the center.

It is worth noting we spend most of our time in the 4-3 over and in that formation it usually looks like this:


LE- Ninkovich |DT- Kelly | NT- Wilfork | RE- Jones

Will – Mayo | Mike – Spikes | Sam - Hightower

Actually we spend most of our time in sub

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Defensive line roles

Actually we spend most of our time in sub

True but I was speaking toward a base formation, and I actually anticipate more use of a base scheme this season, players like McCourty and Collins able to cover 1on1.

 

[Ring 6]

True but I was speaking toward a base formation, and I actually anticipate more use of a base scheme this season, players like McCourty and Collins able to cover 1on1.

You will see an increase in nickel before a decrease.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed.

This especially true since we now have a backfield that has played a lot together, Tailib, Dennard, Arrington, McCourty, Gregory should be pretty good in the nickel.

To put in another way, we have a very good nickel back.

You will see an increase in nickel before a decrease.

 

[Ring 6]

Agreed.

This especially true since we now have a backfield that has played a lot together, Tailib, Dennard, Arrington, McCourty, Gregory should be pretty good in the nickel.

To put in another way, we have a very good nickel back.

I think he biggest plus we have back there is that we now have 2 safeties who can cover like corners. Mccourty is a corner and Gregory has played there at times, and at the least is more a cover safety than a run support guy.
That plus corners we feel good about should make a huge difference.
While theoretically this is the same secondary as last year, it never really was intact, barely at all. If memory serves they only all played together for 3 games .

 

[Oswlek]

Francis was waived, so his role seems to be similar to ours this weekend.