Jene, I noticed that Chris Long had fallen in your and Bloom's most recent IDP Dynasty DL rankings. Since then he has posted a couple of decent games for the Rams and I am beginning to think he is on a similar pace to what he produced last season. There was a time when he was the darling of IDP DL stashers everywhere due to his promise of greatness and playing in a traditional 4-3 in St. Louis. I now see him actually getting cut loose in a few leagues and I am left scratching my head and seriously questioning whether I am missing something with him at this point. I mean, he is still only in this 2nd season and plays on a poor Rams team (but emerging defensively I think). Long still projects to be a potential top-10 type of talent at DL correct, or am I missing something in his game? What did you take into consideration when you moved him down your rankings a bit? The bottom line is, he is available in a handful of leagues I am sure, does he deserve a look in general? Does he warrant consideration over other high upside ends like WHayes & Avril, etc?
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Chris Long - any thoughts? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Zane Hunt
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Footballguy
The first thing I noticed about his game is that he is slow at the snap. He lacks the explosion to get quick penetration untouched. He won't get many speed rush sacks. His big play potential is somewhat limited by his lack of quickness.
What he does well is use his hands to get linemen off balance. He stacks and sheds pretty well and often looks textbook in how he plays the run.
The nature of his game just translate to average production with little chance for double digit sacks.
Personally I am not a big fan of defensive linemen who aren't quick at the snap. If they lack quickness they better have dominant strength and it's just rare to see guys at the NFL level be that much stronger than their opponents. That's why I just don't see Chris Long as a difference maker.
He's young and he has the athleticism to add things to his game. If he starts beating people with speed rushes and quick penetrations on the snap he'll be a pro bowler. However I think that quickness is a mindset and that can be hard to instill in a player this far along in his athletic career. Not impossible, just unlikely.
I see him best suited as a 2 gap player in a lot of down and distance situations. He can control a blocker and set the edge and he holds up at the point of attack pretty well. He's certainly not immune to getting driven in the run game, but usually it's going to be a very good run blocking offensive lineman who drives him back. I don't consider that a big problem with his game though.
What he does well is use his hands to get linemen off balance. He stacks and sheds pretty well and often looks textbook in how he plays the run.
The nature of his game just translate to average production with little chance for double digit sacks.
Personally I am not a big fan of defensive linemen who aren't quick at the snap. If they lack quickness they better have dominant strength and it's just rare to see guys at the NFL level be that much stronger than their opponents. That's why I just don't see Chris Long as a difference maker.
He's young and he has the athleticism to add things to his game. If he starts beating people with speed rushes and quick penetrations on the snap he'll be a pro bowler. However I think that quickness is a mindset and that can be hard to instill in a player this far along in his athletic career. Not impossible, just unlikely.
I see him best suited as a 2 gap player in a lot of down and distance situations. He can control a blocker and set the edge and he holds up at the point of attack pretty well. He's certainly not immune to getting driven in the run game, but usually it's going to be a very good run blocking offensive lineman who drives him back. I don't consider that a big problem with his game though.
DesmondBishop
Footballguy
Exactly how I would have said all of that. It is too bad Chris is not more like his dad who was a monster vs the run or pass and no offensive lineman could block Howie one on one. One of my favorite all time players had a relentless motor and played with a huge chip on his shoulder.
