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I know we all want to know what's going on with the offense, but we are waiting on signings and draft picks and those will happen when they happen. What we do know about is this defense. I don't know if they will be adding any more major pieces too it. Outside of a little more DL depth (and who can't use more?) it seems good to go as of now. Assuming Barmore comes back and is 100% they look to be potentially one of the top Ds in the NFL as things stand now.
Lets' go position by position look at who i think are the key players
DT/NT - Milton, Barmore, Tonga, Pharms - Milton/Barmore can make for a devastating pass rush tandom up the middle. Tonga is a solid nose tackle and the answer to this group being undersized and one of the sneaky important signings. Pharms is a pretty good back up... not an elite one, but a solid one and will see rotational snaps routinely.
EDGE - Landry, White, Chaisson, Jennings - This spot could use a one more body to help out, but it is looking pretty good. First off i don't care how PFF grades him, Landry still finds ways to get home and cause some chaos, even if not as much as once. White is one of the underrated pass rushers in the NFL. Chaisson is all about 'can he repeat last year'? I think he can. Scheme and growing into his abilities helped him out. I see him doing well here. Could he be this teams Jennings is a rotational guy but also very good against the run. As is Landry. For all the fears about the interior potentially being soft, the outside seems very sturdy.
LB - Spillane, Gibbins, Bentley, Ellis - Spillane seems good at everything but coverage. Gibbens is graded higher everywhere for what its worth, but by the tape i think he's at his best in coverage, which makes sense as these signings compliment. Ellis will do some back up duty but i also think he may move to the edge at times to help with the pass rush. Bentley will of course still see snaps, but i think he will no longer see the kind of snaps he did before, not cause he's worth but because the guys around him are better. To me this is a very solid under sold group. And perhaps the best as far as quality depth.
CB - Gonzo, Carlton, M. Jones - We don't need to talk about Gonzalez as the 1 or Carlton as the 2 and what that means. We should talk about Jones being underrated as a nickle guy. Not that he's amazing... but solid there. That to me is the thing people aren't talking about that they should. But the question here is depth. They really don't have anyone i think is of not after the top 3. Certainly worth a signing or draft pick. A bit of an underated weakness, but the top end talent is there.
S - Dugger Epps, Peppers, Hawkins - The question here is simply... what is the deal with Dugger? 2nd Highest paid guy on the roster... and laid an egg last year. What gives? He certain was playing much better when he got his contract. He had a good start to the season too IIRC. Let's hope he rebounds... if so i really like this spot. Epps is another underrated signing and will be a quality starter for this team. Peppers had a good year last year in his back up role and will see most of the back up snaps. Hawkins not as good but still solid imo. As a 4th emergency guy he is a fantastic option.
? - Mapu was good as well when he played... but he is somewhere between a S and LB... So i don't know what they plan to do with him on this D. He may be at his best as a surprise pass rusher, but he can cover decently. I'm curious how MV will use him.
Overall i like there talent everywhere and it seems very well designed. Pass rush first... with good pursuit and contain with the LBs and edge players who won't let runs break out much. Very solid coverage... and Safety should be well improved with keeping plays in front of them. They could use another CB, DL and Edge guy in the draft... but they don't need to use a high pick on anything and are good to go right now. I see this D if healthy having top 5 potential. Maybe even top 3. I think they are well designed to make an offense grind and earn it. Can get after any QB and have enough speed to chase down the ones who can run. Though people have called them undersized upon review i don't see them being run over with Tonge, Jennings and those LBs and solid edge run stoppers.
I don't think TEs are a particular weakness as they have the match ups to attack that well. IDK how i feel about their answer to a shifty RB going out for a pass, but they will at least limit the damage when it happens.
Lets' go position by position look at who i think are the key players
DT/NT - Milton, Barmore, Tonga, Pharms - Milton/Barmore can make for a devastating pass rush tandom up the middle. Tonga is a solid nose tackle and the answer to this group being undersized and one of the sneaky important signings. Pharms is a pretty good back up... not an elite one, but a solid one and will see rotational snaps routinely.
EDGE - Landry, White, Chaisson, Jennings - This spot could use a one more body to help out, but it is looking pretty good. First off i don't care how PFF grades him, Landry still finds ways to get home and cause some chaos, even if not as much as once. White is one of the underrated pass rushers in the NFL. Chaisson is all about 'can he repeat last year'? I think he can. Scheme and growing into his abilities helped him out. I see him doing well here. Could he be this teams Jennings is a rotational guy but also very good against the run. As is Landry. For all the fears about the interior potentially being soft, the outside seems very sturdy.
LB - Spillane, Gibbins, Bentley, Ellis - Spillane seems good at everything but coverage. Gibbens is graded higher everywhere for what its worth, but by the tape i think he's at his best in coverage, which makes sense as these signings compliment. Ellis will do some back up duty but i also think he may move to the edge at times to help with the pass rush. Bentley will of course still see snaps, but i think he will no longer see the kind of snaps he did before, not cause he's worth but because the guys around him are better. To me this is a very solid under sold group. And perhaps the best as far as quality depth.
CB - Gonzo, Carlton, M. Jones - We don't need to talk about Gonzalez as the 1 or Carlton as the 2 and what that means. We should talk about Jones being underrated as a nickle guy. Not that he's amazing... but solid there. That to me is the thing people aren't talking about that they should. But the question here is depth. They really don't have anyone i think is of not after the top 3. Certainly worth a signing or draft pick. A bit of an underated weakness, but the top end talent is there.
S - Dugger Epps, Peppers, Hawkins - The question here is simply... what is the deal with Dugger? 2nd Highest paid guy on the roster... and laid an egg last year. What gives? He certain was playing much better when he got his contract. He had a good start to the season too IIRC. Let's hope he rebounds... if so i really like this spot. Epps is another underrated signing and will be a quality starter for this team. Peppers had a good year last year in his back up role and will see most of the back up snaps. Hawkins not as good but still solid imo. As a 4th emergency guy he is a fantastic option.
? - Mapu was good as well when he played... but he is somewhere between a S and LB... So i don't know what they plan to do with him on this D. He may be at his best as a surprise pass rusher, but he can cover decently. I'm curious how MV will use him.
Overall i like there talent everywhere and it seems very well designed. Pass rush first... with good pursuit and contain with the LBs and edge players who won't let runs break out much. Very solid coverage... and Safety should be well improved with keeping plays in front of them. They could use another CB, DL and Edge guy in the draft... but they don't need to use a high pick on anything and are good to go right now. I see this D if healthy having top 5 potential. Maybe even top 3. I think they are well designed to make an offense grind and earn it. Can get after any QB and have enough speed to chase down the ones who can run. Though people have called them undersized upon review i don't see them being run over with Tonge, Jennings and those LBs and solid edge run stoppers.
I don't think TEs are a particular weakness as they have the match ups to attack that well. IDK how i feel about their answer to a shifty RB going out for a pass, but they will at least limit the damage when it happens.
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