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what about the d-line

J

jmantexfan

Practice Squad
with all the talk about the o-line, what about our d-line which is filled with player who are aging, coming off big injuries, or were very quiet last season, plus a rookie, who realisticly may not be ready to be a major impact in the NFL. does anyone else think we should address this issue by the start of the season in trying to land a trade for a massive force to stuff the middle, or atleast someone to add more depth in case Payne and Walker somehow both fall to injury. If that happens or D is through.
 
I think our DLine is actually in pretty good shape. Payne played pretty well last season coming off his injury from the previous season. I expect him to play even better this year now that he's got confidence in his leg holding up. Smith should feel comfortable in the 3-4 scheme by now which should help him increase his production from last season. Walker has shown that he's a force when healthy, and all indications are that he's going to be healthy this season. I'm sure it doesn't hurt to have a 1st Round pick looking to push him for playing time. Ionane and Deloach are good depth, and TJ just adds to that.
 
I think our D-line will be one of our strong points this year. I have no worries about our secondary. Its the linebackers who i fear will be the demise of a solid defensive unit.

texasguy hit the nail on the head for all of them.
 
I believe that each of our d-linemen are susceptible to injury. Now i seriously doubt that all three will go down at the same time, but if two of the three do, I dont think Ioane and deloach are that great of depth if in the field at the same time(deloach maybe) and TJ wont be ready for quality full duty until half at least 8 games of learning the pace of the NFL.
 
DC_ROCK said:
I think our D-line will be one of our strong points this year. I have no worries about our secondary. Its the linebackers who i fear will be the demise of a solid defensive unit.

texasguy hit the nail on the head for all of them.
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I agree with you about the secondary but i believe our linebackers are solid even though said to be unproven. Wong, Babin, and even Peek with limited play have all shown me that they have, talent, and play making ability, and Greenwood played on one of the best d's in the league and put up great #s. Maybe our d-line will be great. but if 2 of the three starters get hurt, and for a while, they wont be great IMO.
 
Ioane really came on strong last year, and he was getting a great push in the times he came in to give Payne a breather. IMO he's one of our best backups. Deloach can sub in at either the nose or end, and he's pretty effective in that role. TJ will probably see some action early in nickle or dime situations playing as an interior lineman alongside Walker with Peek and Babin acting as DEs in order to get a better pass rush in obvious passing situations. He'll see more time as the season progresses depending on how quickly he understands his responsibilities in a 3-4 scheme. We'll still see him rotate in early in the season because having fresh DLineman makes the D more effective. For our LBs to cause havoc we'll have to have fresh bodies on the line.
 
some stats that i saw about TJ kind of shocked me. can any one ease my nerves or is this out dated.

40 time: 4.9
Benchpress: 363 lb
squat: 429 lb

and has been diagnosed with ADD and ADHD

i got this from nfl.com/draft/profiles

:confused:
 
Ollyy I agree with you, thats why i think we need to spend some doe on someone young strong and fast by the beginning of the season because i do believe walker is nearing the end amd smith may not produce much more(he never really had a powerhouse season before. and I hope payne will come on strong and stay injury free. I think TJ will develop into a good player, better than Smith but it will take time. The org. is set on letting the oline (gel) if that happens this year and we can consitently stuff runs and get sacks, we will see the playoffs for sure.
 
I'm gonna be interested in tracking the progress of our guy TJ vs. Marcus
Spears, the Cowboys first round DL pick this year. The 2 were
considered the best Dlineman in this years draft, and that's not including the
tweener types who will end up as OLBs in 3-4 formations.
Spears, better known and more highly publisized than TJ around here perhaps because he played in this region (LSU vs. FSU), was also on the board when we took TJ so we obviously got our choice of the 2. I'm sure
Dallas would say they would have taken Spears had both guys been on the Board for them, but we'll never know the answer to that question.
Spears was thought to be a tremendous pure 3-4 DE whereas TJ was considered more versatile, meaning he would be more capable of playing either the End or Nose positions in 3-4 schemes.
Cass & Co. have done pretty good (to say the least), with their top picks
so far, lets see how this one turns out.
Too bad Texas grad DJ didn't end up with a 3-4 team, 'cause it would have
really been fun to second guess Cass on his decision to pass on DJ.
 
I really don't think our lbs will be a problem at all and are quite solid with good depth. Only one hasn't proven that he can be a everydown player and that is peek who shows great potential. If he can't make the transistion I really like our backups. I'm excited about this years D, I just hope Buchanon will become the player we hope he will and G. Earl progresses. If Coleman goes down I think that would be devestating, he is really the only vetern in the backfield now.
 
jmantexfan said:
with all the talk about the o-line, what about our d-line which is filled with player who are aging, coming off big injuries, or were very quiet last season, plus a rookie, who realisticly may not be ready to be a major impact in the NFL.
Click to expand...
A top 15 pick should have an impact unless he is a specialty player like a QB or perhaps a WR. He will get a ton of snaps and should be a difference maker even if he is not starting. He will be in several packages and the first rotation player off the bench.
jmantexfan said:
does anyone else think we should address this issue by the start of the season in trying to land a trade for a massive force to stuff the middle, or atleast someone to add more depth in case Payne and Walker somehow both fall to injury. If that happens or D is through.
Click to expand...
Payne is one of the better NT's in the NFL so I don't see a trade. Deloach makes a solid reserve. I think we are ok for 2005.
 
Vinny said:
A top 15 pick should have an impact unless he is a specialty player like a QB or perhaps a WR. He will get a ton of snaps and should be a difference maker even if he is not starting. He will be in several packages and the first rotation player off the bench.Payne is one of the better NT's in the NFL so I don't see a trade. Deloach makes a solid reserve. I think we are ok for 2005.
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Im not saying that TJ will not be an impact this year but it will take some time before he is ready to be a consistantlt effective starter. Remember last year it took D-rob a few weeks of getting burned deep and making big plays before he developed consistancy, and he entered as a starter. Payne is one of the better NT's when healthy, deloach is a pretty decent BACKUP to give breathers for any starter. But, I truly believe that walker is a sep lower and more likely that anyone on D to get injured. Two years ago was the best season he will ever have. I hope i am wrong.
 
If Johnson is worth his draft spot he will be in all the passing packages. It's not going to matter much if he is a starter to make an impact in his role. He has some one-gap skills that none of the other linemen except Walker has.
 
olyy said:
All the more reason that talk about us making the playoffs in 2005 is lunacy. It's funny. Our O-line can't prevent sacks and our D-line can't get sacks. We are sack-challenged on both sides of the ball. Maybe we need a motivational speaking like that Farley guy from Saturday Night Live to come in and give a pep talk on both getting and preventing sacks.
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It's not the job of the DLine in a 3-4 to collect sacks. Their job is to create push and occupy blockers. If they do their job, guys like Peek, Babin and a host of others will be getting the sacks. I think Walker had 5 sacks in 2002 and that was an excellent season for him.
 
dalemurphy said:
It's not the job of the DLine in a 3-4 to collect sacks. Their job is to create push and occupy blockers. If they do their job, guys like Peek, Babin and a host of others will be getting the sacks. I think Walker had 5 sacks in 2002 and that was an excellent season for him.
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Getting sack is not their primary objective true, but we must have at least 10 or 12 sacks from the three starters. I dont remember exactly but how many did walker have in 2002?
 
dalemurphy said:
I think Walker had 5 sacks in 2002 and that was an excellent season for him.
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I dunno....that 5-6 sack number back in '02 real impressive for a 3-4 lineman -
wonder what the season sack record is for a 3-4 downlineman ? But I too think Walker is on the fast track down side of his career - that 2002 season performance is, unfortunately a distant memory in more ways than one for Walker.
 
Vinny said:
6.5 and went to the pro bowl.
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if he does 6, payne and smith combine for 6 then we're cool, but smith wont get more than two, and walker will never again produce like in 2002(once again i hope i am wrong and have to eat my words) but we do need a current probowler. Then again a healthy payne just might be that.
 
nunusguy said:
I dunno....that 5-6 sack number back in '02 real impressive for a 3-4 lineman -
wonder what the season sack record is for a 3-4 downlineman ? But I too think Walker is on the fast track down side of his career - that 2002 season performance is, unfortunately a distant memory in more ways than one for Walker.
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Richard Seymour is considered an elite 3-4 DE and he averages 5.4 sacks a year.
 
jmantexfan said:
but smith wont get more than two
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I'll take the over on that prediction. Smith had 2 sacks last year and was clearly playing better and getting much more penetration in the last half of the season than the 1st half. I'll bet 4 is closer to the truth.
 
Bottle-O-Bud said:
TJ will really push our vets.
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Yes, I agree. New blood to a position that hasn't had too much competition is a good thing.
Bottle-O-Bud said:
I think G-Funk will lose his J.O.B.
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So your contradicting your statement that TJ will push our vets? Gary's not going to turn over his job to a rookie. The guy has been a pro-bowl player, and despite not having a great season last year...he'll be productive this season. Expect a 180 on G-Funk's spot. I guarantee it.
 
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