msommer said:
A bit stream of conciousness there - hard to keep track. Agree NT is still a concern. But if Austin is a bust, what alternatives do they have other than to get DaQuan to fill in?
1
The noname they signed, Darius Kilgo who was a PS player in Houston. Why sign him and not play him? Either play him or cut him and move on.
Naturally the answer here is Morgan. Landry has stepped up nicely and played a ton of snaps last game. Don't be benching the former DE for the rook, have Morgan push the ineffective Austin out. If Morgan is at end, then who cares that Daquan is at NT. If Morgan is the starter, maybe Austin does well as a sub because he has fresh legs?
At DE, Julius Warmsley who had a great camp but was cut. He appeared to beat out Austin. Matt Dickerson who has been dinged up since he made the 53.
Teach them the 4-3! Several of these players played it in the NFL or college oh so recently so while it sounds like a huge change it really isn't as dramatic.
They like the nickel zone (I don't because the LBs are left to cover the middle and the WRs run right there and easily catch it with a LB covering them) and have used it 40% of the time. That's a bit like a 4-3 in how the line lines up. 3 DL with an OLB with them. Landry has been super quick but hasn't had to do any moves. He's got a sack and 3 pressures through 3 games. Finch who plays like 5 snaps, 7, 8...he has nine pressures and a sack. His per snap pressure is highest in the NFL but without the minimum number of snaps, no one will ever call him as such.
Finch was the highest paid UDFA. One review called him the best taught DE, well-coached, perfect technique knows how to do everything. He's 6-6 250lbs and "drafted" to be an OLB. He didn't play OLB much at Temple where a 250 pounder is OK. In the NFL it's small. The height is good, but the weight is too small. His skill absolutely translated to the NFL. We know this now. He has done very well against the run and rushing the passer. It would take some time for him to learn to play the run and pass from the LB spot and he went undrafted because that's too much of a project. Well, start fattening him up and sub him in more. Not just as the nickel DE/OLB at the line of scrimmage but as a sincere end. I get why they only play him on 3rd and long and that the OLB depth is strong but if he keeps making plays then in my opinion, you have no choice but to play the guy. If Bortles had thrown for 500 yards, he'd have to play despite my love for Mariota. In the same vein, I don't care who Finch knocks out if he's playing this great. Did you see him stop the run? He spun past his T, turned and stared at the runner who changed direction, then he brushed the T aside and dove at the RBs feet to make the tackle. That is absolutely perfect winning his battle, holding his ground, chasing the play. Not to mention the athleticism that requires. On his sack, the 250 pounder did a switch with Casey and then bull rushed the RG. Little guy has some serious strength to beastly get through an NFL RG plus that's an NFL DL technique to switch after the snap. I don't care whose feathers it ruffles, play him more. Ween him in and maybe it's 15 snaps this week, 20 next week etc but get him in until he fails. Give him a 3rd and 5 rather than just 3rd and 8+. Does well? Give him another....on and on. We are simply not good enough to turn away someone having success