Let's discuss underfronts and DTs, shall we? (1 Viewer)

[sgtrobo]

Jene, from here, you mention a variety of teams using underfronts and 1-gap alignments.

Buffalo: 4-3 with penetrating tackles, more frequent underfronts

Chicago: Likely back to 4-3 with penetrating tackles and more frequent underfronts

Dallas: 3-4 1-gap front

Houston: 4-3 with penetrating fronts, some underfronts

Seattle: Likely to transition to more penetrating scheme and some underfronts

Tennessee: 4-3 with big tackles and widened ends

Washington: 4-3 with big tackles, widened ends and lots of read/react

I'm to the point in one of my leagues where I need to select a DT, and the more obvious ones are gone (KWilliams, Haynesworth, Dockett, Shaun Rogers). As such I'm looking for the next great undertackle, and I'm looking at some of your writing here and I"m a bit curious.1) Marcus Stroud seemed to have a bit of a resurgence last season in the Buff. Does he have a season or three left in the tank? He's getting up there in age. Can't say I've watched too much Buff, so I'm no expert on that team at all. I know Kyle Williams seemed to do pretty well for himself and he has the advantage of youth

2) Chicago - will they use Jarron Gilbert in the UT role? He seems perfectly suited for it. If so, what does that do for his value as well as that of Brown and Ogre? Or am I dreaming wistfully, and the job will remain Harris' for the conceivable future?

3) Jay Ratliff was supposedly going to get moved to DE. Is this still a possibility? If so, who assumes that role? Ratliff did pretty damn well last season.

4) Is Amobi Okoye ready to "be the man"? Will he assume the penetrator/undertackle role and produce like he did his rookie season?

5) Is Brandon Mebane going to be the UT in Seattle, full-on?

6) Tennessee and Washington have "big tackles", yet Haynesworth seemed more like an undertackle. I assume by "big tackles" you mean "space eaters"? With Haynesworth gone, that's one less dude that Tony Brown loses snaps to, is his value going to go up, or is Tenn going to adjust the rotation so that he still sees similar time?

7) I also noticed that Jonathan Babineux has been getting some love, I assume it's based on a beautiful future with his young Defensive linemates?

8) Does Corey Williams stand a chance of getting his sack total back up? You mentioned that it's mostly 2-gap...I am interested in that "mostly" part

I have a pick coming up, and it may go to DT, and I need to be ready to win now, not just in the future.

 

[Biabreakable]

These are more true NT but Wilfork, Darnell Dockett and Ngata do pretty well from a tackle standpoint. Not much for sacks though.

Is Harris already gone?

Brodrick Bunkley has been steadily improving.

The best pick might be Glenn Dorsey if he is listed as a DT?

 

[Jene Bramel]

1) Marcus Stroud seemed to have a bit of a resurgence last season in the Buff. Does he have a season or three left in the tank? He's getting up there in age. Can't say I've watched too much Buff, so I'm no expert on that team at all. I know Kyle Williams seemed to do pretty well for himself and he has the advantage of youth

I'm not sure it was a resurgence. He was healthy enough to play in all 16 games for the first time since 2006. He's over 30, has had some fairly significant ankle issues and got caught for substance abuse in 2007. I don't think there's much upside with him. Kyle Williams has been a bit of an over-acheiver, but might have a little value as a swing DT2-3 in better matchups.

2) Chicago - will they use Jarron Gilbert in the UT role? He seems perfectly suited for it. If so, what does that do for his value as well as that of Brown and Ogre? Or am I dreaming wistfully, and the job will remain Harris' for the conceivable future?

Lovie Smith has hinted that he wants to return to using some Tampa-2 concepts rather than what the Bears did last year. Gilbert is an excellent hedge for Tommie Harris, but he's not likely to get a significant number of snaps this year. Unless he's a major surprise, he'll have no impact on the value of the DEs.

3) Jay Ratliff was supposedly going to get moved to DE. Is this still a possibility? If so, who assumes that role? Ratliff did pretty damn well last season.

Dallas doesn't have anyone ready to play significant snaps at NT. Stephen Bowen might rotate some inside, but it's Ratliff's job still. They signed Olshansky, who'll rotate with Spears and Hatcher at end. Ratliff should continue to do well as a 1-gap NT. It's reassuring that he didn't drop off during the second half of 2008.

4) Is Amobi Okoye ready to "be the man"? Will he assume the penetrator/undertackle role and produce like he did his rookie season?

He could be ready. It'll be interesting to see how much the ankle sprain he suffered last season hampered him and whether the knee soreness he developed this winter becomes a concern. With Antonio Smith likely moving inside (with Connor Barwin playing end) on passing downs, Okoye may or may not get a lot of three-technique snaps. Okoye is a severe risk-reward play.

5) Is Brandon Mebane going to be the UT in Seattle, full-on?

It seems very likely that he will given the coaching comments earlier this season. However, I'm not sure I'd trust that Cory Redding stays at end if Patrick Kerney gets healthy enough to return to mostly full time duty. Certainly DT1 potential here, though.

6) Tennessee and Washington have "big tackles", yet Haynesworth seemed more like an undertackle. I assume by "big tackles" you mean "space eaters"? With Haynesworth gone, that's one less dude that Tony Brown loses snaps to, is his value going to go up, or is Tenn going to adjust the rotation so that he still sees similar time?

Haynesworth usually played on the nose. He was just powerful enough to regularly handle double teams when motivated. Tony Brown and Jason Jones got most of the three-technique snaps, though I don't think many of them were in underfronts. I think this Titan DT rotation will be about the same if Jovan Haye is healthy and productive. They'd probably like to see San'Derrick Marks earn some playing time later in the season and could have hopes that Mitch King is this year's Jason Jones.

7) I also noticed that Jonathan Babineux has been getting some love, I assume it's based on a beautiful future with his young Defensive linemates?

Babineaux has never fulfilled the promise he appeared to have, but he remains one of those rare tackles with two way talent. He's got DT2+ upside, but might be had for less this year.

8) Does Corey Williams stand a chance of getting his sack total back up? You mentioned that it's mostly 2-gap...I am interested in that "mostly" part

Corey Williams would be one of the 3-4 ends worth watching. He's got enough talent that he could be a productive tackler, though I wouldn't expect big sack numbers.

 

[Jene Bramel]

so out of the dudes I listed, I'm thinking Jay Ratliff is the top choice, with Brandon Mebane being the 2nd, assuming standard FBG scoring?

With respect, I left this thread in the main forum for some DT discussion, but I'd like to keep it open for everyone's general thoughts rather than turn it into a team specific thread.Thanks.

 

[sgtrobo]

fixed!

 

[T Bell]

Washington: 4-3 with big tackles, widened ends and lots of read/react

6) Tennessee and Washington have "big tackles", yet Haynesworth seemed more like an undertackle. I assume by "big tackles" you mean "space eaters"? With Haynesworth gone, that's one less dude that Tony Brown loses snaps to, is his value going to go up, or is Tenn going to adjust the rotation so that he still sees similar time?

The noise out of Washington is that their scheme is going to be loosened up regarding the DTs' gap responsibility to enable Haynesworth to play more to his strength and allow him to penetrate. Outside of Carter (and Orakpo, if he's considered a DE) they have a very large DL which can be used to control gaps while AH makes plays. This is a pretty big departure for Blache who is very conservative by nature, emphasizing gap discipline and run-stopping over big play-oriented penetration, and Blache has even downplayed how much additional freedom he'll give to AH, so how much they change their scheme remains to be seen, but it's something to watch.