Second-level DTs

Behind Raji, Jerry, and likely Hood. I'd guess I'd put them in the first tier, where I'm looking at guys who go after 20.

Lewis and Kemoeatu are still the starters penciled in - there's room to impact, though, given Lewis' shoulder surgery. There's not much room for a veteran, not a ton is left, and it makes sense to add youth to two veterans.
So, I'd have to see at least one guy here in the top 90 and one later Sunday added. That later pick is probably a situational guy with size, like Myron Pryor, his 70+ yard TD notwithstanding, a marginally athletic bigman from Kentucky.

So what about that second level guy - the one we assume we could get with our 2, or if extremely lucky, our 3?


Brace looks like a typical two-gapper. He'll go lower than Raji, and should, but it'll take away from his stock that there was a better guy next to him.

If we're looking for a situational run superstar, he might be it. Leverage might improve, but all he has for the pass rush is a first step - no moves, doesn't separate well with his hands. But, against the run, he's your guy. That first step means penetration, which does mean he could do OK if he had to play one-gap. He can play on the nose.
He was one of the strongest at combine (32, right behind Raji's 33, each off the pace of 37), isn't too tall for a run/leverage guy at 6'3, and his 330 lbs would probably solve most of the run problems on his own.

Sen'Derrick Marks is a prototype one gap type player at DT - enough size, good athleticism, some rush moves, penetrates, good first step. He uses his hands well and has good leg drive; for a DT, he's good in pursuit and has burst to close on the ballcarrier. He seems to anchor well enough that he won't get pushed out of plays.
But while starting in the SEC for three years is always a good sign, he's still a little bit slight - not a lot of leg power, and apparently not a gym rat at all with a 225x16 performance at the combine. So if he's 300, and not strong, does he have much room to fill out?
Do we have the time to wait for him to do so, while he plays situationally as a rusher?

If you consider Jarron Gilbert as a DT, and the ideals of a one-gap (and the Colts' past) might, he's the most athletic guy out there. 4.85 40, he can grow into a 300 lb frame, and has the ability to pursue and diagnose like an end in space, when he's in traffic. But he's had one good year, he's bounced between positions, still has growing to do, and it's hard to guess where he'll land. If you have a variety of needs, he's great - and we have those needs. But you have to cover yourself both for his bust potential and that you won't be stuck if the position you hope he can play isn't the one.

Fili Moala looks the part of the tampa-2 DT. Right attributes are there, including awareness, good first step, and decent penetrator. If he has a downside, it's that his technique still seems raw. He doesn't get off blocks that well, he doesn't use his hands that well. He'll grow into his frame, and he'll be better at both run and pass than most of the situational guys below him. He looks like he has enough of each to be a full time starter. Puts forth the effort and knows the game.

Tyson Jackson goes before this as an end in the 3-4, but we don't need him there and he's just not as high as a one gap DT. He has one-gap DT size, and his lack of top speed on the outside isn't as bad there. But his production has dropped over the last two years in the passing game, which keeps him from being as blue-chip. He still makes plays behind the line, and can disrupt the run; he knows his assignments, plays within the scheme, and works to get the dirty stuff done. Does he have the ability to do all he did at LSU (and more) in a different scheme? He's another that could be considered versatile - could play 4-3 end if you were looking for a swing guy to come inside in passing situations.

 

Good stuff

I'm thinking most of those guys will be gone by the time we pick.
And for the most part we select players based of the "best player available" and not need.
Remember last yrs draft when we needed a DT but waited until 6th rnd to get Hayden.
Moala or Marks might still be there but if not, we select a DE or CB 1st.
In wich case we have to look at guys like Alex Magee, Ricky Jean Francois, or Corvey Irvin in the 3rd & 4th rounds.

 

"pack of hot dogs"

 

"Myron Pryor"? Are you kidding me?
No.

Fili "Fiji" Moala
Tyson "Iron" Jackson.
Yes.
That shit will sell some jerseys.

 

I like Brace. You can never have enough huge powerful run stoppers. Pair him up with Kemo and that is a lot of size inside. Maybe he takes Kemo's spot at some point?

 

see, it's a big choice. Do you take your blue chip choice, or what we'd have left there (since undoubtedly 5-6 DTs have gone by our late 2nd, so the top three and half of this list would be gone anyway), to be a situational guy like Brace? You could probably insert him right off, stop the run well, and go from there (to me, it's still the biggest concern - getting back to being a dominant run defense team). But then you've spent your best chance at DL revitalization on a guy who comes off the field half the time.

But then you have the guys you'd have to project to it (Jackson, Gilbert), which is always risky. And you have the prototype guys, who have holes (or else they'd be out of reach).

Run stopping situationalists do fall some, where the more athletic, potential dual purpose DTs rise.

Ideally, on the grocery list style of drafting, I'd take DT over DE - if Peppers is here, it helps more. If he's not, putting DT over DE still solves some immediate problems first. But that might just be me.

 

If our second round pick is our top choice in the draft then I assume that means Peppers is still here. If that is the case then I will take a one dimensional guy who can do a great job at his one dimension (run stuffing) and be happier than I would with a jack of all trades type guy.

If Peppers is gone we should have a higher draft pick available to us that could be used to help upgrade the DL as well. Certainly it will be our biggest need are if Peppers is gone and using our top two picks on the DL would not be over kill. Maybe you get a guy who can rush the passer with that higher draft pick that comes to us in a Peppers trade....

 

Thanks for the comments, Mags. I've been waiting for someone to post something like that for a while. This not having a 1st round pick is really screwing up my draft prep.

I've only had eyes for Moala, but I'm really looking hard at Brace now. IF he's quicker off the ball than Kemo, he'll be an immediate upgrade where we arguably need it most. Imma watch his tape from the Senior Bowl and see what I can see.

 

Fag...

 

Leave.