Reading the Defense: Offseason Features [Aug 20 Tier Updates] (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

EVERGREEN UPDATED FEATURES

August 20 ~ Tier Updates: Defensive Line || Linebacker || Defensive Back

August 11 ~ Preseason News and Notes

July 26 ~ Combined Draft Board 2.0

March 27 ~ Position by position look at free agent signings

March 15 ~ Running blog with free agent signings and analysis

March 5 ~ Analysis of coach and scheme changes

FULL LIST OF FEATURES

August 2 ~ Tier Updates: Defensive Line || Linebacker

July 5 ~ Tier Updates: Defensive Line || Linebacker || Defensive Back

June 12 ~ OTA Q&A session

May 13 ~ Combined Draft Board 1.0

May 9 ~ Draft Review | First Round Thoughts

May 6 ~ Draft Preview | Secondary Players

May 3 ~ Draft Preview | Off Line of Scrimmage Linebackers

April 29 ~ Draft Preview | Edge Players

April 27 ~ Draft Preview | Defensive Line

April 21 ~ Linebacker Tiers

April 17 ~ Defensive Line Tiers

March 10 ~ Free agency primer

March 6 ~ Analysis of D'Qwell Jackson signing by Indianapolis

 

[5-ish Finkle]

\mm/

 

[obxlegends]

excellent stuff, as always.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Post on the implications of D'Qwell Jackson signing with the Colts ~ http://subscribers.footballguys.com/apps/article.php?article=14bramel_rtd_dqwell_to_colts

 

[Jene Bramel]

Running blog with free agent signings and analysis ~ http://subscribers.footballguys.com/apps/article.php?article=14bramel_rtd_free_agency_signings

 

[Jene Bramel]

Running blog with free agent signings and analysis ~ http://subscribers.footballguys.com/apps/article.php?article=14bramel_rtd_free_agency_signings

Updated through this morning with more signings, discussion of visits and rumors, etc.

 

[msommer]

Love me some Dansby in CLE!

Daryl Smith in Denver would be excellent as well.

Who's interested in Spikes?

 

[msommer]

Smith stays in BAL,

Woodyard to DEN. Doom and Gloom for McCarthy?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Smith stays in BAL,

Woodyard to DEN. Doom and Gloom for McCarthy?

McCarthy was in trouble as soon as the coaches that drafted him stopped playing him. He's probably closer to being cut than starting in Tennessee right now.

Free agent feature up to date -- for now.

 

[KellysHeroes]

I think its interesting that the Vikings haven't brought in any LB FAs. Cole looking like a off-season hold

 

[Rileymi]

They signed Jasper Brinkley earlier this week.

 

[KellysHeroes]

They signed Jasper Brinkley earlier this week.

More of a special teamer?

 

[Rileymi]

Not sure about that. Drafted by Vikings 2009, played for them until 2012. Started 15 of 16 games in 2012. 2 down lb if I recall, but a starter. Listed as MLB.

 

[msommer]

Spikes to Bills on one year deal

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000334269/article/brandon-spikes-agrees-to-oneyear-contract-with-bills

 

[Shane Falco]

I think its interesting that the Vikings haven't brought in any LB FAs. Cole looking like a off-season hold

Matui

 

[KellysHeroes]

Peppers to the Pack, does he even fit there?

 

[5-ish Finkle]

I think its interesting that the Vikings haven't brought in any LB FAs. Cole looking like a off-season hold

Matui

Hideki Matsui? Didn't he retire?

 

[Jene Bramel]

I think its interesting that the Vikings haven't brought in any LB FAs. Cole looking like a off-season hold

Matui

Hideki Matsui? Didn't he retire?

He pulled a Lost in Translation on you.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

"For relaxing times.....make it Santori time."

 

[Shane Falco]

I think its interesting that the Vikings haven't brought in any LB FAs. Cole looking like a off-season hold

Matui

Hideki Matsui? Didn't he retire?

He pulled a Lost in Translation on you.

Mauti

 

[Mistabishi]

I think its interesting that the Vikings haven't brought in any LB FAs. Cole looking like a off-season hold

Matui

Hideki Matsui? Didn't he retire?

He pulled a Lost in Translation on you.

Mauti

so is it Mauti time yet

 

[KellysHeroes]

ESPN.com's Ben Goessling considers Audie Cole the favorite for the Vikings' starting middle linebacker job.

Cole made five starts filling in for Erin Henderson last year, finishing with 45 tackles and a sack. The Vikings released Henderson, leaving Cole to compete with Jasper Brinkley for snaps. The middle linebacker position is highly productive in Mike Zimmer's 4-3 scheme, so Cole is worth monitoring in IDP leagues if he wins the starting job. Minnesota is also high on 2013 seventh-rounder Michael Mauti and could target a middle linebacker in the early rounds of the draft.


ESPN Chicago expects the Bears to move Jon Bostic to outside linebacker.

There's been conflicting reports on whether the Bears will keep Bostic at middle linebacker this season. He struggled against the run as a rookie, but has the skill-set to be the best option there in the long-term. If Bostic is moved to the outside, D.J. Williams will regain his starting job at the "Mike" spot.

 

[msommer]

Bostic as SLB? That's rough

 

[KellysHeroes]

Bostic as SLB? That's rough

I don't think they know what their doing because either Bostic or McClellin are getting benched.

The Bears will work former DE Shea McClellin at both strong-side and middle linebacker this offseason.
The only secure linebacker position in Chicago is on the weak side, where Lance Briggs is locked in. The other two spots are up for grabs. McClellin was a bust at defensive end, but GM Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman are confident he'll contribute on the second level. He'll emerge onto the IDP radar if he wins the middle linebacker job, but is most likely ticketed for "Sam." Feb 20

However DJ Williams hasn't finished a season in yrs

 

[jonboltz]

Any idea if this feature was going to continue with signings since the initial period of FA?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Any idea if this feature was going to continue with signings since the initial period of FA?

Just finished revising this into a new, easier-to-follow, feature. Added blurbs on Melton and Allen and cleaned up some of the others.

Hoping to move onto every-down backers and tiers this week.

 

[Tenacious D]

Bostic isn't smart enough nor does he read defenses well enough to be the MIke. Similarly he probably can't handle coverage as the Sam. DJ will start in the middle and Bostic will back up all three spots with them hopeful he can replace Briggs long term. McClellin will get first shot at Sam, but they'll regret not bringing back James Anderson, who was their most consistent and fundamentally sound LB next year. If McClellin is a bust, they'll pound a square peg in Bostic in to that round hole as a stopgap, but I don't see him succeeding there. Between weak SLB and questionable safeties, TEs should rack up catches against this D again.

Allen will be RE, Houston will be LE and kick inside on passing downs. Willie Young will be 3rd down end.

 

[KellysHeroes]

Houston should be a nice play

 

[Jene Bramel]

First set of defensive line tiers is live. I'll open a separate discussion thread and link in the first post of this thread.

 

[tomthumb33333]

Any timetable for the next update including week 3 games, I've drafted already but I'd love to know if some of my late gambles are going to pay.

 

[J Giles Band]

Any timetable for the next update including week 3 games, I've drafted already but I'd love to know if some of my late gambles are going to pay.

Jene posted the final tier updates yesterday.