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Our DE depth chart

CanesAreAble

CanesAreAble

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is not good. Newsflash, I know.

Chickillo: Beast. He should have a strong season.
Green: He flashed natural pass-rushing ability in limited duty, but injuries are a concern. Can he play the run?
Williams: He's never played, and I haven't heard much of anything about him this off-season.
Cain: I'm not really expecting much outside of a stand-up edge rusher.
Hamilton: True freshman.
O'Donnell: Ditto.
Hoilett: Ditto.
McCord: Ditto.

I don't really expect us to generate a consistent pass rush. I'm more concerned with how we hold up against the run. Chick will be stout on his side. Can the other DEs set the edge? I heard Briscoe has been practicing outside, so perhaps that's a big body we could use at DE on early downs (as well as Pierre and Grimble).

I think our run defense is the key to the season. I believe the offense will score some points. We won't be a juggernaut or anything, but we'll be potent. I think we're going to struggle a little bit in coverage (though not nearly as much as last year). If we play strong against the run, that will give us better down-and-distances on 3rd down and keep us off the field.

I'm encouraged by the fact the defensive line has gotten leaner and stronger. We need Porter to stay healthy and be "that dude", and hope our DEs aren't getting blown off the ball, and/or running themselves out of plays.
 
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One other thing: having three experienced LBs will help immensely. I don't think Gaines and Buchanan are terribly physical in terms of taking on/shedding blocks, but at least they should know where to be.

I'm also intrigued by Eddie Johnson. He's big and physical, and had to sit out practice to calm down his nerves! Is the dude imbalanced?! That's my kind of linebacker.
 
I've been saying this for awhile and totally agree.

Green needs to stay healthy and Hoilett and Hamilton need to play like veterans. Chickillo is going to be out there for nearly every play

I'm surprised its not being recruited more heavily for 2013
 
And without a consistent pass rush, the corners have longer to cover and they don't get any errant throws from pressure from the dline. That's what has been missing for years...hopefully these young kids can step up!!!
 
DiegoCane said:
I've been saying this for awhile and totally agree.

Green needs to stay healthy and Hoilett and Hamilton need to play like veterans. Chickillo is going to be out there for nearly every play

I'm surprised its not being recruited more heavily for 2013
Click to expand...


Tim Williams would be a good get, and is Bostwick being recruited inside or outside?

We should be in much better shape next year with the 5 freshmen having another year in the program.
 
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My biggest concern with the team hands down. Wish a freshman was blowing people away there.
 
Morris is definitely #1 when it comes to staying healthy, but Chick is probably #2. He is never leaving the field.
 
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Definitely need the new guys to play well here. Slightly off topic, but Golden seemed almost as worried about the DT's in the interview this AM on WQAM. I think he sees talent there and is relly trying to push those guys to help mask our deficiences at DE.
 
CanesAreAble said:
Tim Williams would be a good get, and is Bostwick being recruited inside or outside?
Click to expand...

Inside.

Plus--what Venice said about Hoilett. I honestly think that he'll surprise some folks--seems like a super-driven kid, and has gained some good weight it looks like.

It's a good news/bad news thing with the pass rush: on one hand, we've got some talented LB's who can rush the passer in certain situations (EJ, Paul, Blue, McCord)...but that means we'll have to blitz more often which puts more pressure on our secondary in coverage. The good news about that situation are how much we're hearing about guys like Gunter, Howard, Dortch, Finnie, Crawford, Hope and others stepping up and playing well thus far--meaning we ought to be better in coverage this season.

I would still rather us have a front 4 that can consistently rush the passer with occasional help from the blitz, but I don't foresee it happening.
 
I had a dream last night that Chick suddenly decided to transfer. It was like Shapiro all over again.
 
JHallCanes said:
Morris is definitely #1 when it comes to staying healthy, but Chick is probably #2. He is never leaving the field.
Click to expand...

Would def. agree. We also need Porter and Smith to stay healthy as the DT's could make life a lot easier for DE if they're blowing up the pocket.
 
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CanesAreAble said:
is not good. Newsflash, I know.

Chickillo: Beast. He should have a strong season.
Green: He flashed natural pass-rushing ability in limited duty, but injuries are a concern. Can he play the run?
Williams: He's never played, and I haven't heard much of anything about him this off-season.
Cain: I'm not really expecting much outside of a stand-up edge rusher.
Hamilton: True freshman.
O'Donnell: Ditto.
Hoilett: Ditto.
McCord: Ditto.

I don't really expect us to generate a consistent pass rush. I'm more concerned with how we hold up against the run. Chick will be stout on his side. Can the other DEs set the edge? I heard Briscoe has been practicing outside, so perhaps that's a big body we could use at DE on early downs (as well as Pierre and Grimble).

I think our run defense is the key to the season. I believe the offense will score some points. We won't be a juggernaut or anything, but we'll be potent. I think we're going to struggle a little bit in coverage (though not nearly as much as last year). If we play strong against the run, that will give us better down-and-distances on 3rd down and keep us off the field.

I'm encouraged by the fact the defensive line has gotten leaner and stronger. We need Porter to stay healthy and be "that dude", and hope our DEs aren't getting blown off the ball, and/or running themselves out of plays.
Click to expand...

Major weakness. If we ask our guys to play 600 snaps, they will be dead in games 10,11 and 12.

The lack of depth at key positions will kill us even if we stay healthy. Nobody is talking about it.
 
DiegoCane said:
I've been saying this for awhile and totally agree.

Green needs to stay healthy and Hoilett and Hamilton need to play like veterans. Chickillo is going to be out there for nearly every play

I'm surprised its not being recruited more heavily for 2013
Click to expand...

Reason being is because we have a lot of DE's they are young some will redshirt andthat will take cae of the eligibility for 2013... plus Bostwick plays DE and DT... we have solid depth... Trust...
 
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CanesAreAble said:
is not good. Newsflash, I know.

Chickillo: Beast. He should have a strong season.
Green: He flashed natural pass-rushing ability in limited duty, but injuries are a concern. Can he play the run?
Williams: He's never played, and I haven't heard much of anything about him this off-season.
Cain: I'm not really expecting much outside of a stand-up edge rusher.
Hamilton: True freshman.
O'Donnell: Ditto.
Hoilett: Ditto.
McCord: Ditto.

I don't really expect us to generate a consistent pass rush. I'm more concerned with how we hold up against the run. Chick will be stout on his side. Can the other DEs set the edge? I heard Briscoe has been practicing outside, so perhaps that's a big body we could use at DE on early downs (as well as Pierre and Grimble).

I think our run defense is the key to the season. I believe the offense will score some points. We won't be a juggernaut or anything, but we'll be potent. I think we're going to struggle a little bit in coverage (though not nearly as much as last year). If we play strong against the run, that will give us better down-and-distances on 3rd down and keep us off the field.

I'm encouraged by the fact the defensive line has gotten leaner and stronger. We need Porter to stay healthy and be "that dude", and hope our DEs aren't getting blown off the ball, and/or running themselves out of plays.
Click to expand...



IMO, the Defensive ends are the weakest unit on the team, mainly b/c of lack of experience, and how tough it is in the trenches. The talent is there, we just need some guys to step up faster than we would usually need them 2.

- But I think our pass rush isn't in our starting unit right now.... Shayon and Chick or kind of like the same. Even though Shayon is by far the better Athlete, they are both more balanced D-ends who wont give you a consistent rush off the edge.

- Hoilett, Cain, and McCord, IMO, are our best pass rushers. If we can get them to be the guys to rotate in and out effectively on one side, than we can have more of a steady pass rushing threat.
 
Chick and Green definitely must stay healthy because the depth is paper thin.

Hopefully Cain can play a decent rush DE.

And a true frosh or two must step up.

Scary stuff at DE.
 
we haven't had a good DLine since what 2004? I am not counting on this year to break that streak. Maybe next year. OL and DL are the two positions that are most about having depth and developing talent, so its not surprising those have been our two most inconsistent positions through bad coaching staffs and coaching turnover year after year.
 
Expect to see more multiple fronts, 3-4 should mask some of that and use some of the speed we have at LB off the edge.
 
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