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With Ninkovich Retired, Who Steps Up on the Edge?

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With Ninkovich Retired, Who Steps Up on the Edge?

Steve Balestrieri

But Ninkovich’s retirement leaves a void in experience, so who steps up in 2017 to fill the gap and provides the team with the pressure they’ll need'

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I'll try to step up, I'm going to call Gillette stadium and see if I can get ahold of BB and see if he'll give me a workout
 
My guess is that Laurence Guy is the first man up. He's shown some ability to rush the passer and, honestly, is not a downgrade in that category compared to late-career Ninkovich.
 
My guess is that Laurence Guy is the first man up. He's shown some ability to rush the passer and, honestly, is not a downgrade in that category compared to late-career Ninkovich.
Guy isn't an outside rusher. He is a300 LB 43DT/34 DE. I do think he was brought in partly to play DE on early downs, nink or not, but thetvus to improve run d, not at all in passing downs.
 
NInk's physical skills are readily replaced. It's the loss of his football IQ that will be harder to deal with.
 
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Geneo Grissom is clearly being given the early shot at the role.
Kony Ealy should have a chance if he can get out of the dog house.
Deatrich Wise has the size and physical skills for the role, but obviously lacks any NFL experience.

Guy plays a different role - but one the team could potentially use if they feel they lack 4-3 DE capability.
 
Geneo Grissom is clearly being given the early shot at the role.
Kony Ealy should have a chance if he can get out of the dog house.
Deatrich Wise has the size and physical skills for the role, but obviously lacks any NFL experience.

Guy plays a different role - but one the team could potentially use if they feel they lack 4-3 DE capability.
I wouldn't read too much into right now. It's rare for BB to put a new player with the 1s right off the bat (unless it's a surefire guy like Gilmore). Makes sense too because th first couple of weeks are slower learning for new guys.
Ealy, rivers and wise are really not possibilities at this point so Grissom is by default. No doubt it give him a chance to show himself but too early to read anything into it imo.
 
I wouldn't read too much into right now. It's rare for BB to put a new player with the 1s right off the bat (unless it's a surefire guy like Gilmore). Makes sense too because th first couple of weeks are slower learning for new guys.
Ealy, rivers and wise are really not possibilities at this point so Grissom is by default. No doubt it give him a chance to show himself but too early to read anything into it imo.
Aren't new players playing with the 1's at RB? What about Harris? I would think that if Ealy was seen as valuable as those players, he would be playing with the 1's.
 
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