Let's talk about the defense

[RobertWeathers]

Thankfully, it's the one real spot where there's depth down the board.

Like, they also desperately need a field safety, and could really use another corner (unless they get Hunter).

We have starting quality depth at DT? Keep in mind Barmore is not a sure thing

Seems we have more depth at CB than DT.

Agree FS we need. Dugger, Mapu, and Peppers are SS/Chung types

 

[Real fan 02]

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.

Great post and I appreciate your insights.

We have to update that Bentley is no longer here. On Jones he has elite speed and is a solid slot CB but the knock on him bas been staying healthy. We gave some depth/rotational guys that will compete for the 3rd CB position.

Dugger had a high ankle sprain and continued to play through it thus he wasn't able to recover all season and his play suffered from it.

White is best used as an interior rusher.. he's a bull rush type of guy. I think landry and chassion will be a nice duo with my guy Jennings as well who's getting better as a rusher.

Stopping the run is a mentality and attitude that all good defenses have to have. The guys we have up front have that.

you hit on alot of good points that I've been saying. The defense is designed to frsutrate QBs, when we see Josh Allen having run more than he's throwing that's a great sign the defense is taking away his options.

 

[TommyD4207]

We have starting quality depth at DT? Keep in mind Barmore is not a sure thing

Seems we have more depth at CB than DT.

Agree FS we need. Dugger, Mapu, and Peppers are SS/Chung types

No we don't have depth at DT. But there are plenty of DTs you can get Day 2, Day 3 that can play. It's a stupidly deep DT draft.

 

[RobertWeathers]

No we don't have depth at DT. But there are plenty of DTs you can get Day 2, Day 3 that can play. It's a stupidly deep DT draft.

I agree.

 

[Real fan 02]

We have starting quality depth at DT? Keep in mind Barmore is not a sure thing

Seems we have more depth at CB than DT.

Agree FS we need. Dugger, Mapu, and Peppers are SS/Chung types

Pharms, Johnson are depth guys at DT/NT.. but yest absolutely add depth there for sure. Vrabel IMO is going to give marpu/Hawkins all the opportunities to carve out a FS role.. I'm sure thier projects to be some cap cuts or players available come camp.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Pharms, Johnson are depth guys at DT/NT.. but yest absolutely add depth there for sure.

Correct. We do not have a starting-caliber 3-4 man rotation at DT.

Vrabel IMO is going to give marpu/Hawkins all the opportunities to carve out a FS role.. I'm sure thier projects to be some cap cuts or players available come camp.

I hope he doesn't. Love Marpu but he is a SS. All the INTs, PBUs, etc come from him facing the QB. He might develop into a better coverage guy down the field but isn't there yet. He's around the ball a alot so that you can build on.

Dugger is the the closest thing we have to a starting FS and is more of a SS.

 

[Real fan 02]

Correct. We do not have a starting-caliber 3-4 man rotation at DT.


I hope he doesn't. Love Marpu but he is a SS. All the INTs, PBUs, etc come from him facing the QB. He might develop into a better coverage guy down the field but isn't there yet. He's around the ball a alot so that you can build on.

Dugger is the the closest thing we have to a starting FS and is more of a SS.

Correct. I believe we will add at DT to keep Williams and Barmore fresh during the season.. the pick up of Tonga is going to play dividends.. he's a disruptor at his position... being able to face the QB playing 15,20 yards of the line of scrimmage is what McCourty excelled in. Marty is bigger than D-mac and more rangy.. just not polished..he showed abilities he just needs more snaps there.. Dugger and pep are physical guys who excel 5-8 yards off the line of scrimmage and need to be free to roam to take care of TEs and RB's.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Correct. I believe we will add at DT to keep Williams and Barmore fresh during the season.. the pick up of Tonga is going to play dividends.. he's a disruptor at his position... being able to face the QB playing 15,20 yards of the line of scrimmage is what McCourty excelled in. Marty is bigger than D-mac and more rangy.. just not polished..he showed abilities he just needs more snaps there.. Dugger and pep are physical guys who excel 5-8 yards off the line of scrimmage and need to be free to roam to take care of TEs and RB's.

So you still see Mapu as a FS?

 

[Real fan 02]

So you still see Mapu as a FS?

See RW.. I feel like Vrabel sees him in that role.. he has good awareness he just needs time there.. he's got the speed and size he just needs time in the position to really develop as a FS.

 

[RobertWeathers]

See RW.. I feel like Vrabel sees him in that role.. he has good awareness he just needs time there.. he's got the speed and size he just needs time in the position to really develop as a FS.

I think he's too big to be a FS. We'll see.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think he's too big to be a FS. We'll see.

For example Sean Taylor was 6"2 around 215... in no way saying Marty is Sean Taylor.. but the size and range is similar..

 

[RobertWeathers]

For example Sean Taylor was 6"2 around 215... in no way saying Marty is Sean Taylor.. but the size and range is similar..

Mapu is 6-3 225-230. Hes more Rodney size. Another 5 lbs and hes a LB in Vrabel's D. Dugger is 216

 

[Real fan 02]

Mapu is 6-3 225-230. Hes more Rodney size. Another 5 lbs and hes a LB in Vrabel's D. Dugger is 216

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Your right. He's a bigger S.. He's listed as S so we'll continue to see where he actually will line up.. but if he does play LB he could be very effective there too. His sidelines to sideline speed is is impressive.

 

[Wozzy]

What would Mason Graham look like on this D next to Barmore, Milton and White and Landry providing speed off the edge.

Dominant… just saying.

 

[RobertWeathers]

What would Mason Graham look like on this D next to Barmore, Milton and White and Landry providing speed off the edge.

Dominant… just saying.

100%

I'm of the the notion if Carter and Hunter are both gone.....we take Graham. We then trade up and get a LT in the back 1/4 of the 1st round.

 

[Wozzy]

100%

I'm of the the notion if Carter and Hunter are both gone.....we take Graham. We then trade up and get a LT in the back 1/4 of the 1st round.

Not sure Carter or Hunter will have to be gone… they may prioritize Graham. He looks like JJ Watt.

 

[Hyped]

Matt Judon is still out there....I'd be OK with a reunion if he took a team friendly deal.

We cannot ever have enough pass rushers.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Not sure Carter or Hunter will have to be gone… they may prioritize Graham. He looks like JJ Watt.

I don't see them passing up either of those two at 4. I'd be shocked if they do.

 

[Real fan 02]

Matt Judon is still out there....I'd be OK with a reunion if he took a team friendly deal.

We cannot ever have enough pass rushers.

Agreed. Judon got humbled last season and should absolutely be given a call. He said himself he never wanted to leave. Then again he put his house in Dedham up for sale.

 

[mgteich]

The draft has lots of good DT's and EDGE players in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. We need both, which make it important to try to keep the picks.

DEFENSIVE LINE (good depth ???)
Williams, Barmore, Tonga
Pharms, Johnson, Roy,
White should get some reps as a DL

We could easily add 2-3 defensive lineman. We won't; I think that we should keep Pharms.

EDGE (we can always use another)
Landry, Jennings, Chaisson, White
Spillane can probably also work outside if needed

TO COMPLETE THE FRONT SEVEN (ILBS)
Spillane, Ellis
Tavai, Gibbens, Mapu