Scheme Reacting Odd Front

DC Ejiro Evero

OLB AC Carter

DL Todd Wash

Scheme

Reacting style where down DL read blocks out and play at the LoS. Mainly an odd front look with a true NT, 2 DEs and 2 OLBs. The DEs can play over OTs and as 5t. Olbs have their LB rules and can bump outside the box against spread looks. Their even front looks generally has a 3T and a 2i. 

Player Profile

(Disclaimer: Preview started before cut down day but has all players on main 53 as of 8/31)

Jaelan Phillips

Major signing. This team has been missing that ace pass rusher to build around, so they finally get one in free agency. After two injury plagued years, it’s nice to see Phillips return with a strong season. Great pass rusher.

Pass Rush Plan: Will try to keep this simple. He either approaches rushes by threatening with speed and rushing vertical hard, aiming for the outside shoulder and threatening with speed to power, or hesi’ing a lot and threatening an inside move. He can attack all 3 levels at a solid enough level. He is great at figuring out a plan to attack an OT’s weakness. He can work outside of OTs and will usually hit a stab club or double swipe. At times these moves look very similar with the arm motion. If the OT oversets, he’ll hit a club and swim inside. If the OT oversets and Jaelan already worked an outside move, he can spin back inside. He’ll use 2 to 1 bulls or engage with a quick bull and work a move outside. He has multiple ways to attack OL for any mistakes they make.

As an athlete, he is a good all around one. He doesn’t have high end traits to be a legit force winner. Good enough speed and explosiveness. Solid power. Lateral movement is his best threatening trait, which is one reason they had him rush on the interior a ton. He can beat up on low talent OTs in different ways or punish mistake from a majority of OTs. When he gets to winning positions, this is where his other traits come in. He is very flexible in his hip and ankles. As well as having a strong lower body. He can turn through weak contact like nothing, and strong punches don’t phase him that much. His sack numbers haven’t reflected the quality of player he is, but maybe this is the year it all comes together.

Great roleplayer. Good contain player and has solid power for pushing the pocket. Great stunter especially as a looper. Moves over multiple gaps so quickly. Run defense was fine enough. He’s an OLB, so he just has to be serviceable anyways. 

Patrick Jones ii

Got hurt so limited film. Mainly a technical winner who can bump inside and beat up on Gs. When rushing inside he used a club and swim a few times. He’s used crosschops before too. When rushing outside he mainly contained with a stab or bull rush. Would work a club and rip or swipes to win. Good stunter. Violent run defender. Can drop too.

Nic Scourton

I am sad he got hurt. Was a pookie as well. Too painful to watch last season’s tape.

Pass rush was interesting. I said he was reminiscent of Trey Hendrickson. Mainly as in a stubby rusher who should be a power rusher, but acts like they are Brian Burns. Trey changed and got back to back 17.5 sacks seasons. Not saying Scourton can reach those heights, but we should see a lot of growth if he commits to being a power rusher. 

Explosive rusher with untapped power. He used a lot of crosschops and double swipes off the edge. He would spin inside… sometimes too much. But he is a #certifiedSpinnyBoi. Good stunter and looper. Neat contain player. Solid at shooting gaps or playing on the backside of runs. Pls get better.

Princely Umanmielen

What a guy. Fine player overall, neat depth option.

Gets pancaked and dropped too much. Pass rush is fine enough. Mainly just a roleplayer. Best way for him to win is inside moves. But that has to be set up, and he needs to threaten OTs in other ways to open it up. He wants to try to be a speedster, tries to dip under or using a chop off the edge against OTs. They can match up to any speed rushes very easily. One thing he has been developing is more power. Using speed to power or stab-clubs. That power can slow OTs feet to open up inside or outside moves if he improves it more. He loves trying to hit a spin move. There’s some potential to being a decent rusher, we’ll see if he gets there.

He’s solid in every role. Can win late as a rusher but rarely wins early. Decent contain player and stunter. Run defense was fine. There’s times he gets washed a ton, and some where he can shoot a gap or play gap and a half well.

Trevis Gipson

Rotational Edge. Neat stab club, double swipe, or a club and swim move working inside of OTs. Okay stunter and contain player. Does solid playing attack/react and getting knockback.

Thomas Incoom

Scoots a bit. OLB. Can contain and loop solidly. Flies around 100%.

Cam Gill

Depth. Hasn’t played in like a year

Jeremiah Moon

Tries his darndest.

Isaiah Smith

Reading predraft notes. Apparently I liked him for a PS type player. Skinny and light OLB who is a little quick. Good ankle flexion but too light to turn corner well. Solid lateral movement and stunting ability. Can drop in coverage and tries his best against the run.

Derrick Brown

Just a man amongst bois. Dominant run defender with a ton of power and strength. Chris Lindstrom’s boogeyman.

Pass rush is neat. Mainly a power rusher. Threatens and creates space with it. Can use a dominant bull rush and open up a shoulder to rip thru. Can use stab moves and push and pulls as well. He’ll work a ton of double swipes when working across an OL’s face. If attacking a shoulder he’ll work more club and swims. 

He is very explosive for his size with dominant power and strength. He can run thru weak contact and has fluid enough hips and flexibility to turn the corner well. He has burst that shows up when chasing QBs down. Good roleplayer overall. Great pocket pusher who gets his hands up to mess up the QBs vision. Great stunter, sets them up at a high level. Great crasher who runs through contact and can either set up a looper or penetrate while doing it at a high level.

Run defense is great. That's all you gotta say about it. Mainly plays react/attack. Reacts so quickly that it looks like he is predetermining where he is going, but he just reads keys that quickly. Always gets great hand placement and controls the LoS. He moves with the OL so it may look like he is getting moved, but he is usually 2 gapping and trying to keep the space between gaps small. Does great at dropping low to re-establish control and shed OL off of him like nothing. Has a feel for leverage that is unmatched. When he does play in an attacking mode, he looks great as well. Slants so fast that OL get outta position and can’t recover. He is able to get penetration with ease. Great against doubles. He can sink low and drop to a knee. He is able to hold his ground and prevent them from climbing to the next level. Probably more I can say about him as a run defender, also a great tackler and gets himself in good positions to make em. But he’s just great overall, one of the best run defenders in the league.

Bobby Brown iii

BB3. Big Beautiful NT.

Not much pass rush wise. Mainly a run defender. Can use power to push the pocket. Gets to a 2 to 1 bull rush or will run thru a weak shoulder. Good stunter overall. Run defense is good. Better at playing react/attack. Reads blocks quickly. Gets two double underhands when striking, shoots hips through, and drives force upward to stop OL in their tracks. Legit shedder and gets control of OL well. Solid at slanting. Good against doubles. He just looks so goofy with a leg off the ground or playing it sideways to split it, but it works.

Tershawn Wharton

Good pass rusher. Simple pass rush plan. He’ll take a jab step or sometimes a weird lunge step. Then work to a double swipe/side scissors if he can hit the outside shoulder of the OL. If not, then he’ll hit a quick spin inside. If the OT square sets or jump sets him, he’ll use power, either with a 2 to 1 bull or a stab forklift. 

He is pretty quick and shifty. Can win some 1 on 1s.  He is a really good stunter and contain player. Run defense is at least solid all around. Way better at playing react/attack. Does well to read keys and blocks out. Does get sealed and reached a bit, looks like he is lagging at times, but others looks like he is staring at the QB instead of the RB. Has moments where he holds his own against doubles. Violent shedder. There’s a lot there to keep em as a DE body on early downs, and does a lot as a pass rusher to keep em there too.

Cam Jackson

Im amped up for him. Nothing crazy, but I like the potential as a NT. Strong and stout. Pass rusher is typical for a NT type. Mainly pushes the pocket well. Run defense is interesting. Reads blocks and reacts well. Hard to move. Gets control of OL and can 2 gap. Can handle doubles and combos solidly. 

Jared Harrison-Hunte

Fast and small DT. Neat gap shooter and stunter.

Lee Hunter

Former 2nd round pick. Came from an attacking front and mainly played 1T/2i.

He was very good against doubles in college. Just very stout, was able to sink low and throw hips into them. Always had eyes in the backfield after striking, which lead to him getting crushed if a block hit em in the side and he didn’t see. Great slanter and stunter. Doesn’t always shoot his hips through contact and technique could be better when engaging with blocks. But he’s so strong it works. Great at using OL’s momentum against them and can push/pull them. Great at hitting the backdoor on run plays to penetrate and get to the backfield. Not the best at reading blocks themselves, mainly reads the RB and backfield. Can push the pocket very well and is a solid contain player. Mainly push and pulls on pass rushes. Solid lateral movement, a bit stiff in the lower body.

Im surprised at the fit, because he looked like he would be a good attacking front NT. But here he can be good in the even front looks where they use a ton of 3T and 2i techniques on the interior. He will have to develop as a react/attack DT but is starting from a solid point with his traits/skillsets he already has.

Aaron Hall

My only predraft notes were, “attacking DT who mainly played on passing downs. Solid slant step.” 

Terah Edwards

All I remember was seeing him play some NT in preseason snaps, but didn’t really look in depth. Didn’t expect him to make a 53 man roster but i’ll re-evaluate next year after he gets nfl snaps.

Parker Petersen

PS candidate

Tywone Malone

Attacking DT who mainly played over Gs. Solid vs doubles but late to feel it. Solid at getting knockback and lockout. Contains and stunts well. Can push back weak OL. Decent rotational upside. PS candidate.

Kyon Bars

Here for a bit

Elijah Garcia

Here too.

Base Units

As of 8/31, including PuP players

(OLB-DE-NT-DE-OLB)

Phillips-Brown-BB3-Wharton-Jones

2nd unit

Princely-Lee-Cam-Hall/Terah-Gipson

Starting unit looks very good. Can split Princely and Patrick Jones for the most part. The 4th edge won’t play a ton here. That DT room looks very solid for the first 5 players when healthy.

Pass Rushing Packages

Phillips-Brown-Wharton/Jones-Jones/Princely

Matchups set up as:

1. Jaelan

2. Derrick Brown/Wharton

3. Patrick/Princely/Lee

Honestly typing this out… it looks so much better than last season. Having an ace pass rusher will improve the rush a ton. Phillips can get the majority of rushes set up for him. Derrick Brown can be that caliber of player, but it’s best to use him to focus on run defense and have him win later, which he is great at. Together JP and DB should form a great duo that compliments each other. JP as the main focus off the edge. If you want to change it up, can set up DB or Wharton on the interior. Can even run stunts that should be great as well. With the 2nd unit rusher or if you want to use Jaelan and DB as decoys, can set up a rush for Patrick Jones (preferrably on the interior), princely or Lee Hunter. 

Overall it’s a much improved DL. Have youngins with talent who are still improving, and veterans who are legit players. Having that main pass rusher will change this defense the most.

Scheme Hybrid? Attacking Front

DC Jeff Ulbrich

DL Nate Ollie

OLB John Timu

Scheme

It’s an attacking front. Mainly have the DL shoot gaps and penetrate. Or have them slant and penetrate. Or stunt and penetrate.

The hybrid part comes from the last regime. They wanted an attacking odd front, but Ulbrich wanted to have an attacking Even front. Stefanski will lean to that even front since that’s what he has had. The preseason showed a mix of both. The personnel here fit both types of fronts and some players can do things in either. They can base out of an odd front look or even front one on early downs. 

Player Profile

Jalon Walker

Sucks so much that he is going to miss the season. Showed a lot of growth and would have made an impact on the defense. Part of writeup for him and James Pearce are from the article I did about their pass rush plans changing from college to the NFL.

In college, Walker was a weapon as a pass rusher. Bama didn’t necessarily use him as a 1 on 1 winner, but more as a schematic winner. They would blitz him as a LB, run stunts with him at edge or walked up over Guards, or use him as a spy. When rushing inside or running a stunt or blitz, he would use a club and swim working inside. He would mainly use a stab move which is what Bama mainly teaches. The reads are simple; first attack the outside shoulder and hit a stab move on the OT’s inside shoulder or middle of his chest, then if OT oversets, work a swim inside, if he undersets, dip underneath or run past him, if he sets square then transition into using speed to power. It’s great as a contain rush because you create extension to make it easier to have eyes on the QB and react to the OT and QB and it is one of the best moves to use to win late. He also would dip underneath OT’s who would overplay his stab move.

They used his versatile skillset early on. Lining him up across the line, using his ability to contain at a great level. They also let him use a chop and rip early on. He used the side scissors move, but it looked more like it was used to contain first. Whenever he used it, he would be eyeing the QB and only used it as a way to knock hands off to make it easier to contain. Of course he would use a Stab move and then add a club or forklift after. On the interior he walked up and used a cross chop attacking the Guard’s outside shoulder for a read stunt.

In the second half of the season, they unleashed him as the weapon he is. Blitzing him more, using him on stunts, and gave him more chances to rush with more 1 on 1s set up.

He has good speed and explosiveness, as well as being fluid and strong when turning the corner. Was able to play off ball LB seriously and lineup anywhere in the box. He was legit at setting an edge. 

James Pearce Jr.

Suspended for 8 games. Another player who was set to make a lot of strides but messed it all up for himself.

In college his plan was built off of speed. Attacking the Outside shoulder with his explosiveness and speed. He read the OT with their set. If he could beat em outright, he would, or would use a chop and rip if they could catch up to him enough. If they matched his set, usually they would be out of position, and he could hit them with a powerful Bull rush. If they overset, which rarely happened, he could work a club and swim inside. He would use some other moves depending on what the OT did, it wasn’t limited to that, but his plan for the most part was this. He also contained with a Bull rush and was a legit looper, being way too fast for OL to pick up stunts with him.

The plan was simple to start off while in the league.. Contain with a Bull rush, which helped use his speed to push the pocket and create separation from the OT. Use side scissors (or double swipe) as a way to win technically. And then a hump/club to work back inside when he got to QB depth. I think he was trying to use a club and swim, but the way he worked it looked like a hump move, and he would forget the swim part. He was a very effective looper, being way too quick for OL to pass off. Then they added in a stab club and cross chop as different ways to win. The Stab Club was a different form of contain rushing. He would use it to contain on passing situations, either as a pure C gap rusher on blitzes, or to push the pocket and win a bit later once the QB is contained. The cross chop is more of a technical move that anyone can do. But you can set it up easier with a threat of power. Getting OL to shoot their hands and anchor down as you chop their hands, club em and rip through. JPJ has a weird issue where he can threaten you with speed to power, but isn’t fluid enough to flip his hips at the top of the move, so he has to do it with a straight-line path.

In the second half of the season is when they let JPJ loose. He started working a club with a rip or swim, the latter move being familiar from his college days. Same with his chop and rip/dip. attacking the outside shoulder and using the chop to knock hands off of him. He started unleashing a spin move more.

Leonard Floyd Jr.? He moves very similarly to Floyd, same strengths with explosiveness but similar weaknesses with being a bit stiff. Floyd developed as a player by getting good at a cross chop and side scissors move. As a stiffer rusher, he would attack vertically and either hesi to slow the OTs feet and turn his body before making contact with his move or turn his body after taking a few steps upfield and reacting to the OT. It helped him get his hips flipped before working a move and still let him use his speed to threaten the outside shoulder. He also had legit speed to power and was super fast as a contain player. I bring him up because we can see JPJ developing a similar plan and there is a pathway to become a successful player. A few of his issues are getting his hips flipped at the apex of the pass rush, which is made worse with the path of some of his rushes being a straight line up the field. He did use more jab steps in the second half of the season to help mitigate this issue.

Samson Ebukam

A starter now. Can see some regression.

Pass rush is still solid. He bases a lot of rushes around power. Uses speed to power bull rushes and stab clubs/forklifts. Does great at getting forklifts in and can get double forklifts. Times it very well. Handfighting is good, but traits aint as traitsy as they used to be. All around solid, with solid speed, explosiveness and some fluidity. 

Very good looper with good lateral movement. Run defense is solid. He uses speed to power to drive into the OL and stop their momentum. Does well shedding after. Good spiller against pullers.

Za’darius Smith

Came out of retirement. Another shot at being a starter.

Mainly just power rushed. A lot of bull rushes where he opened up the inside shoulder and would crossface inside. Still a very good pocket pusher, but a bit slow when containing. Strong player with okay speed and explosiveness. Solid stunter. Run defense is good. Strong edge setter who destroys TEs.

Bralen Trice

Pls get healthy. Was a speed to power rusher and solid looper. Just waiting to finally see some tape.

Azeez Ojulari

Solid depth. Loves the stab club move. Solid athlete. Just fine at every role. Fine stunter, contain player and run defender. Not much to it.

Cam Sample

Heavy end who can bump inside. Loves double swipes. Was used as an interior rusher at times with the Bengals, but lost that gig to Ossai over the last few years (because of injury). More of a technical winner who can use some power. Strong pocket pusher and crasher on stunts. Run defense was fine enough, wanted to see more. Got thrown around too much and lost ground. Could set a decent edge, but would get sealed off easily. Maybe he can return back to pre injury form, that's the main bet with claiming him from the Niners.

Cameron Thomas

Another Cam who is a heavier edge. Pass rush improved a lot. Mainly a power rusher. Lot’s of stab forklifts. Uses power to speed, gets a bull rush and then transitions to a club and rip or handfights after using power to create separation from the OL. Good pocket pusher who can force the QB to another rusher. Okay run defender overall.

Deangelo Malone

Mainly a special teamer. DPR at best. Showed a crosschop. Neat looper and blitzer. Looks more like a LB. 

Keshawn Banks

Special teamer.

Zach Harrison

Solid player. Large human being. Played some OLB, mainly a DE who bumps inside a ton. Has power. Strong bullrush and pocket pusher. Can open up a shoulder and rip thru. Good crasher on stunts, can run through weak OL contact like nothing. Run defense was good when he played attack/react. Shot gaps, slanted, and power stepped through OL very well. Main issue is doubles and getting control of OL. Can handle doubles at times, but late in other times because playing an attacking mode makes em look at the backfield after engaging instead of reading blocks. He can feel them if they happen right away. Long arms and strong, but seems to engage with bent arms a lot more than you like. He can bench press the OL off of him, but it won’t be super consistent. Also would look to see more handfighting as a rusher. Still growing, and might be the best run defender here.

Maason Smith

Tall DT. Traded Ruke for him. Decent talent. Moves decently all around. Not much as a pass rusher. Wants to hit swim moves (typical for a taller DT). Did get into some club and reps. Good crasher and pick man on stunts. Did a lot to free up loopers, would even secretly hold the OL to prevent them from picking up his teammate. Some savvy-ness in his roleplayer abilities. Run defense was okay. Did fine in a reacting front. Got sealed off too much. Okay against doubles, always the issue with taller DTs. Attacking style potential is there. Very quick slant step and might just be able to shoot gaps and run through contact. Mainly a project DT.

Brandon Dorlus

Pretty neat. Major jump in year 2. Even then I always want to call em the Doofus.

Very good role player pass rusher. He nearly shuts down the middle for QBs to run thru. They’ll see a wide open gap and take off, but he’ll shed off of the OL and get the sack (how some of his sacks came about). He’ll use power to contain. He’ll get into the OL’s chest and swat hands away to establish control. Still developing as a 1 on 1 winner. Wants to hit a club and swim. Some double swipes too. He’s fast. Has some speed to power potential. Can see his speed utilized the most on stunts. Just runs through OL as a crasher. Fluid hips which help turn the short corner and flip them to the QB constantly. A bit lighter and can get moved away from the QB with strong enough contact.

Lacale London

NT type. Neat pocket pusher. Developing some power. Neat bull rush where he fights for control of the chest and drive OL back. Neat club and rip move. Got 5 sacks which is neat. More of an attacking DT.  Not great against doubles and can get overtaken a bit easily. Good at shooting gaps and working upfield. Gets a lot of penetration and knockback.

Da’Shawn Hand

Neat player, weird fit. Power rusher with a nice bull rush and can get into a hump move. Tries to work double swipes. Good stunter especially as a crasher. Better at playing gap and a half. Was able to shed inside or keep his main gap. Not easy to move and reacted to blocks quickly. Okay at shooting gaps and solid slant step. Got turned or sealed off with double teams a bit too easily. Struggled to sink low or keep leverage against them. Can say he’s this team’s most stout run defender, but low bar.

Chris Williams

Neat DPR type. Small but fast DT. Double swipe and club and rip moves. Good stunter who can get penetration as a crasher or be an effective looper. Good contain player as well. Run D is bleh. Gets washed and moved very easily. Can penetrate well and take his gap. Double teams can destroy him. Was played at Edge a bit with the Bears.

 Anterio Thompson

A surprise pick. Idk if he started, in the games I saw he was mainly the 4th/5th DT. Attacking DT who was very light. Got moved a lot, but was able to stunt and slant very well. Gets lockout okay. Decent contain player. 

Carlos Allen Jr.

Mainly played as a NT who also did a lot of 2i and 4i. Very small for it. Mainly slanted and stunted. Can get low against doubles but just too light at times. He has good leverage and solid reaction, but inconsistent with hand placement. Lotta knockback, shoots hips thru contact at a great level. Good slant steps. Good push and pull, feels leverage very well. Stubby issues and lower body a bit stiff. Uses swipes and club and swims. Lateral movement is fine. Sleeper gem.

Devonnsha Maxwell

Depth. UFL legend. Rooting for him.

Eric Johnson ii

Depth. Mainly a run defender who can barely move. Neat at playing react/attack and solid enough against doubles.

Marlon Tuipulotu

Neat run defender.

Base Packages

(OLB-DT-NT-DE-OLB)

JPJ-Dorlus-Lacale-Zach-Walker

2nd unit

Samson-Hand-Maason-Williams-Za’darius

Idk. Doing it from an odd front base to see it out. The edges are going to be missing the top 2 for a while. The next two depth options may be Cam Thomas and Azeez. For DT I have no idea how it’ll play out. Dorlus and Zach seem like certified starters. Besides that, anyone can slot in everywhere else. 

Pass Rushing Package

(Factoring in injury and suspension)

Samson-Dorlus-Insert DT-Za’Darius

This is it for a while. The matchups if healthy would go as:

1. JPJ/Walker

2. Blitz

3. Dorlus/Samson/Za’Darius

But with the main options out… I have no idea. I guess Za’darius and Samson get the matchups? I just can’t figure out how to have a legit enough pass rush with just the DL. It’s a struggle without the 2 2nd year former first rounders. Zeus and Samson can get rushes in, but are not the same players they once were. Dorlus is interesting, but a bit far from a true 1 on 1 winner. Everyone else on the team is missing too much of something to be a legit enough guy to set up pass rushes for.

Going to have to scheme it up. Blitzes, stunts and movements galore. A lot of quick and fast moving DL. Stunts should be killer here. Whether it’s a 2, 3, or maybe even 4 man stunt. 

Overall it’s an untalented DL. Missing the 2nd year edge badly. Besides them, there isn’t much room for optimism. You hope the young DTs can grow, but how much will they improve? Hate to say it, but this is a typical Falcons DL.

Scheme Attacking Odd Front

DC Brian Flores

DL Ryan Nielsen

OLB Thad Bogardus

AsstDL Patrick Hill

Scheme

Attacking Odd Front. So much slants and 2 gapping and slanting to 2 gapping for the DL. Edges mainly played Gap and a half or set the edge. The DL will do some deuce techniques, where they play the interior gaps when the run comes to them, but look like they are playing the outside shoulders of OL. Flores liked to use his DL to create chaos and change up looks to free up his LBs and DBs in the run game.

With how he’s used his personnel, he usually has a strongside OLB, DE, DT, NT, and weakside OLB type. The strongside DE (Greenard last season, Dallas, TID, etc.) play OLB but can bump inside to a hands down DE. The weakside OLB (Dallas, Gink, Chaz, etc.) can bump outside the box and play off ball LB. The DE can play 5t or in the C gaps as well as play like a true DT. The DT mainly plays inside of OTs. The NT mainly plays head up or 1T.

The main thing with Flores is versatility. He can line up in so much different ways. His odd front looks or even front looks can have the same players out there. When teams get run heavy he can run a 4-4 personnel out there. Have 4 IDL playing hand down in an even front and the 2 OLBs line up outside of them.

Player Profile

Dallas Turner

A tale of two halves for Turner. In the first half he was more used like AVG with him out. 2nd half he took over the Greenard role with him being out. The pass rush went through him.

He was a player that this team gave up a bit to move up a few spots for him. As a prospect, he was a very athletic Edge. Coming from Alabama, he was taught mainly how to stunt, contain, and use a stab-forklift move. He also gave the best of both worlds from AVG and Greenard. He was athletic, fast, explosive, and fluid, while being able to play off ball LB. He was strong, long and could use his explosiveness for speed to power. The main thing is that he only knew how to Stab-Forklift, and his rookie year was mainly about working on him as a speed rusher.

As a pass rusher now, he is Fast as Fucc. His pass rush plan is close to Greenard’s in moves, but the approach is different. He works upfield for two hard steps and either angles towards the OT, or takes a jab step if he is close. He threatens OTs with speed to power, and because he is explosive and fast, that power scares OTs a lot. He can hit strong bull rushes or stab-clubs. He can hit spins inside if you overset. He’ll also just dip around the corner or use a ghost move and fake his stab move.

Good roleplayer and stunter. Can drop like a LBer. Run defense was solid. Did bump inside as the strongside Edge like Greenard sometimes. Was able to play his gap or gap and a half pretty well. Was able to handle TEs easily. Got worked against double teams.

Overall, he is the main guy now. The pass rush will go through him in some way. This is one reason the vikes were fine with trading Greenard. You have the next guy up. They saw him as the main guy for a bit and are comfortable with it.

Andrew Van Ginkel

(Mostly from Vikes edge article I made)

First it’s Ginkin’ time. The Ginkening. The MotherGinker that will steal screen passes from you. The Ginkster that has no regard for Ginking up plays. In the Gink of an eye he will jump in front of passes.

Anyways, neat player. He did deal with concussions and neck issues that sidelined him for a majority of the first half of the season. As a player, he is a smaller speed rusher. A versatile player that can play any LB spot. He did lose a step which maybe it could have been due to injury. When pass rushing, his main moves are the side scissors, stab club, or using a spin move inside. He had a lot of schematic wins and pressures. A majority of his wins where he was able to tee off came against TEs.

After charting the Gink, it turns out that he was asked to drop into true drop back looks on over a 1/3rd of the time. And then contain a ton too. He was rarely asked to win or stunt. When he did loop it looked great. Great contain player too. Elite at dropping into coverage as an edge. Reads the QBs eyes and can cover the checkdown or flats instantly. Solid run defense, much better over TEs. Plays in space well and keeps lockout. He’s a versatile chess piece that is a high end roleplayer in specific roles.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Mainly a DE type that plays over OTs and can bump inside.

Mainly played on early downs. Not much pass rush wise besides slanting or containing. Moves fine, has a little pop and power that can grow. Noticed a double swipe a few times. Would make sense with long arms.

Run defense was solid. Felt close to being good. Slanted a ton. Use his long arms to get extension and lockout. Was able to get solid knockback. Read blocks decently. Struggled a bit when a TE/OL crashed into his hip. Got sealed off quite a bit, but less as the season went on. Potential as a run defender.

Bo Richter

Short OLB. Special teamer. Pass rush tries a double swipe or stab forklift. Mainly contained. Slanted a ton. Okay run defending when he power steps through blockers. Play his gap well or falls back inside. 

Tyler Batty

Tall and large OLB/DE type. Also mainly a special teamer. More interested in him as a backup. Was very solid at slanting and hitting the backdoor with a club and swim. Struggled to shed. Got decent knockback. Also didn’t do much pass rush wise to stand out here.

Chaz Chambliss

Another special teamer. More of a LB than a true Edge. Dropped a lot on passes. Okay power stepping through blockers. Neat blitzer.

Cam’Ron Stewart

Only positive notes I had were “decent fluidity, okay 1 gapping and playing over TEs”.

Kenny Dyson

OLB. UFL legend. Had a great season there and got signed. Just seen a couple clips but looked good at timing the snap. Good luck to him. 

Jalen Redmond

Another UFL legend on this team. His growth has been crazy to see.

Pass rush is solid. Really good stunter and pocket pusher. Can be the setup guy on stunts or the main penetrator and get pressure with it. 1 on 1 winning is solid. Has power. Uses bull rushes or 2 to 1 bulls. Can work double swipes and club and rips/swim. Neat jab step, lateral movement is also solid. Still has room to grow. 

Run defense is great. Hard to tier though. Feels close to being high end. He’s one of the best players in the league against single blocks. He plays so violently. I don’t think he knows that injuries are turned on. If he’s hitting a QB on a pass rush or a RB, he throws his body on them, dives at them while gaining a ton of height, or throws them to the ground like it’s WWE. He does a great job of playing with extension and gets a ton of knockback. He uses great leverage and hand placement. My main reservation is how he plays blocks sometimes. He’ll do a great job of playing his gap, he’ll shoot his hands and stop the OL in his track. But sometimes it’s a downblock or drive block, and the OL wants to seal him off. I prefer guys crossing the OL’s face or just committing to 1 gapping and penetrating that gap. He just condenses the space every time, drives the OL back to try to close the gap. It’s just unusual to play it like that all the time. It also makes him so hard to tier, because he does great at what he does, but if he plays it the normal way he could either take out more gaps or get more penetration to force the RB elsewhere. Just a weird thing in between. He gets great backfield vision and reads what’s going on, doesn’t read block out much. When he does get a downblock, he’ll sometimes play through the OL, and then work around them late. Which can take him out of the play more often than not. Fights reaches well. Doubles are iffy, can hold his ground and work back to his gap when one OL climbs. If a blocker crashes into his hip, he can get overtaken a bit easily. Also a TE destroyer. Overall a legit run defending DT who is a legit roleplayer on pass rushes.

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Draft prospect X. Lot of growth from him. Always fun to see.

Neat handfighting. Showed a double swipe and a crosschop. Moved well overall, solid lateral movement. Some stiffness issues let OL recover against him a bit easily. Has some power that can improve. Gets good leverage and can use some speed to power. Solid stunter too.

Run defense is fine. Does solid at 2 gapping. Good at shooting gaps and hitting the backside. Good slanter too. Can get sealed off a bit. Struggles a bit with doubles. He’ll stay on the climbing OL, but can lose a lot of ground. Played a bit as a NT in odd looks. 

Caleb Banks

Behemoth of a man. Massive human being.

6'6 330 lbs with 35' arms. (Writeup from 2 minute drill video I made).

As a pass rusher, he uses his strength and length effectively. Relying on push and pulls to toss OL away from him. He has also used swipes and bull rushes (with some quality reps in 2024) , as well as using a spin move as a counter if his initial rush doesnt win. He is great as a late winner, was asked to contain a lot in Florida vs being the main name called in a pass rush. And there is some power rushing potential which we have not seen enough of. Which isn’t a big deal since colleges don’t teach power like that.

He does all of the roleplayer stuff well. He understands how to contain the QB and keeps extension from the OL. He uses his length to get his hands up and affects the QB's vision on pass rushes. He is solid at running stunts.

As a run defender, he is suited for an attacking front that lets him shoot gaps and play fast. He loves to club and swim on the backside of runs, which can take him out of plays or lead to TFL Oppurtunities. He is great at using the leverage and momentum  of offensive lineman against them. Tossing them to the side if they try to block him with bad technique. He reads keys and blocks pretty well along with having solid hand placement.

His biggest issues will be against double teams. He is a tall human being who isnt flexible enough to get low versus them, and can lose ground way too easily against them. He also isn't a high end athlete to become a legit pass rusher. He lacks the high end explosiveness and lateral movement that can lead to quick wins, having to rely on hesis to slow OL feet. He can become more of a power rusher, but it’ll take time to develop.

As a prospect, I felt like he was in between a 2015 Jordan Phillips and Javon Kinlaw type. Just a massive human being that fits better in attacking schemes. I am interested in him here. Excited to see what Flores has got up his sleeve.

Domonique Orange

Their new NT. Brings a lot of beef up front.

Strong and had a great reaction to blocks. Had great vision in the backfield. Got a ton of knockback and played with lockout. Legit at 2 gapping. Struggled against doubles and horizontal combos. Tried to out strength them, did fine when he threw hips into them.

Pass rush was okay. Did a great job at getting his eyes on the QB and following where he was working to. Worked well in space and kept handfighting. Didn’t push the pocket that well, but wasn’t asked to as much. Mainly went for lockout and tried to get hands up for a PBU or messing with QB’s vision.

The most interesting part was that he did play in a reacting front. But he got a ton of knockback, was a great slanter, and can 2 gap. All things Flores needed more of from an attacking NT. Also, Orange did so much cardio every game.

Elijah Williams

Does fine against the run. Neat slant step. When 2 gapping he struggles to shed. Can get decent knockback. Plays a bit light.

Taki Taimani

Big boi. Another NT. Honestly, I am a fan of him.

Aesthetically, looks like and plays like Harrison Phillips. Has a solid reaction to blocks and reads them out well. Good slant step and can get solid knockback. 2 gaps well, sheds fine. Surprised he didn’t play more, but they already had a few guys playing NT. And he doesn’t add much to a pass rush.

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Another DE body. Tries his darndest. Better doing attacking stuff. Can move decently.

Smith Vilbert

Depth

Jahvaree Ritzie

Depth

Base Units

(OLB-DE-NT-DT-OLB)

Dallas-Redmond-Orange/LDR-Banks-Gink

2nd unit

TID-Loudermilk/Batty-Orange/LDR-Elijah-Bo/Chaz

Seeing this written out, starting group looks solid. The 2nd unit… yeesh. Dallas and Gink are gonna play a ton anyways. The edge depth is iffy, relying on growth from TID as a run defender and seeing anything else from the others.

The DT room is tough to sort. Redmond is the dude. Banks should be penciled in as the starter. Main battle is NT between Orange and LDR. If you want more size and stoutness, go with orange, want more movement ability, go with LDR. Backup DT looks a bit rough, but it’s a young group that can grow. It’s just tough expecting it to happen. I like Batty and Elijah was neat. I like taki taimani as well but as another NT, will be hard to get a roster spot.

Pass Rushing Package

Dallas-Banks-insert whoever-AVG

Dallas and AVG are for sure slated to be in. Banks should be the dude inside, his main value is being talented enough for passing downs as a roleplayer. Redmond can do a bit inside. Orange and LDR as 0T/1T rushers too.

Or the Vikes can go crazy. Flores is a mad man. Will attack protections with so much blitzes and different presnap looks. Forces teams into making mistakes. Loved having like 7-8 guys on the LoS and either dropping 8 or blitzing everyone. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Gink, Golday, and other 2 LBs as roaming blitzers. Line them up anyway and run crazy blitzes with them. Can have them off ball, on the edge or over the interior as a standup blitzer. The insert whoever guy can also be Golday or another LB/DB. Whatever Flores wants to do.

The pass rush will go through

1. Dallas Turner

2. Blitz

3. Blitz again

Pass rush is just Turner and blitzes. Last season I charted the top 3 Edges season, and the Gink almost never had pass rushes set up for him. Would be able to get a rush going a bit, but it was usually to rush upfield to open up a blitz elsewhere. Greenard had quite a bit of rushes set up for him, but a low amount for a main edge. This team doesn’t set up 2 way gos and 1 on 1s like that. Dallas experienced both roles, and in the 2nd half he was used like Greenard. He didn’t get the same amount of 2 way gos as Greenard, and some rushes were manufactured to be way more favorable for him, but he excelled there.

One thing Flores did a ton was forcing a TE/RB matchup for Dallas, or holding the OT with a blitz threat to slow them down as Dallas goes off the edge. The biggest difference between Greenard and Dallas, is that Dallas is so fast, he can take advantage of these schematic wins at a high rate. I think Flores has been dreaming of crazy blitzes he can make work with Dallas at the helm.

Besides Dallas, there's no one else I would want to set up matchups for. Gink isn’t the same player he used to be. He mainly had rushes over TEs. There's a few DTs you can have try to work a rush, but no one seems like a legitimate winner. Redmond isn’t there yet, but one I feel like is the closest. Banks maybe can develop into that, but have a bit of a way to go. There’s not a true DPR type in the DT room. Mainly just roleplayers.

Overall it’s a weird DL. May not look as talented as past years, but it is built for a Flores scheme. I have no doubt he will figure it out and maximize the players here.

If you get this far, Jalen Redmond is the next Shemar Stephen. 

Scheme Reacting Odd Front

DC Jonathan Gannon

DL Vince OghoBaase

OLB Demarcus Covington

Scheme

Gannon comes from the Fangio tree. DL plays React/Attack and reads the OL blocks. Play a gap and a half or 2 gap and reset the LoS. Have OLBs who mainly play an attacking style. 

He adjusts what he runs based on his personal. It’s why he says he doesn’t have a true scheme but usually has odd front principles. With the Cardinals he ran a lot of tite fronts and some okie fronts. He had weird OLB/LB hybrids who would play in the box or off ball or outside the box. His defense looked very college-like, moreso than Hafley’s did. I think Gannon will stick with playing more gap and a half with the DL with a lot of slants and stunts on early downs. Hafley had the DL 2 gap or lag behind a lot. Hafley did have the edges play standup quite a bit, but it depended on if they were on the weakside and other stuff. And it was one where the Edges were more OLB/DE hybrids. Even had reps where Parsons would bump inside of OTs when they went to odd front looks. 

We’ll see exactly what he does in the regular season but he showed a ton of React/Attack from the preseason and some odd front looks. He did shift the DL around a lot, but it looked like a typical 3-4 scheme on base situations. 3 down DL and 2 true OLBs. 

Player Profile

Micah Parsons

For Packers sake, hopefully he comes back close to full form. Cause man, what a game changer.

Pass rush plan: Yes. He’ll mess you up. He can punish mistakes and force mistakes in every way. 

Pass Rush Plan Context: Short summary on his athleticism, he is very fast, super explosive, and has some of the best lateral movement in the league. Can threaten OTs outside, inside or through them. Rare 3 level threat who does each at a high level. His outside winning is overrated, still great but easier to slow down with chips and outside releases or with the OT overplaying it. His power way to win is underrated, has a ton of speed to power and punishes OTs who set soft or square. His inside moves are unstoppable, he gets a tiny crease and even elite OTs can’t recover when he works inside. 

Real Pass Rush Plan (outside/power edition): If he doesn’t get an oversetting OT or somehow doesn't get a chip or outside release, he’ll work outside with a double swipe, chop and rip or just dip off the edge. If there is an outside release or chip, he can use power against soft sets. Can get into stab moves or a 2 to 1 bullrush. Usually transitions to winning outside or inside after the help leaves. 

Pass Rush Plan (inside moves edition): His main way to win is inside. Insane lateral movement to the point where he teleports side to side. No one can matchup with it. Offenses can’t slow it down unless they do crazy stuff. If Parsons sees the OT setting outside just a little too much, he’ll hit a jab step, plant his foot and work inside. He doesn’t need a lot of space, just barely enough to run through the OT’s contact and get to the QB. When he works inside he can try to use a double swipe. His main move which I have not mentioned yet is his club and swim/rip. He does it in a very unique way. Usually DL are taught to work in space and create extension away from the OL. Parsons sometimes will invite contact and work this move super close to the OL when working inside or on the interior. When he hits his club and rip/swim, he aims for the back of the shoulder rather than the hands. It ends up being like a pull slide move in a way. He is able to knock the OL’s shoulder over and makes it extremely tough to recover and get a punch in. It also leads to situations where he gets held more or OL have to let him go to avoid a penalty. Or when he works inside he almost uses a pull thru move with his club and rip. He can run into the arm of the OL and press it close to his body, preventing the OT from getting his body in front and making the contact weak.

The short version of his pass rush plan is that he has multiple ways to beat you. The funniest part is that his handfighting isn’t even good, he misses a ton. It just doesn’t matter, being an elite athlete gives you so much room for error. What he does do at a high level is choose the right move and ways to win. It’s just so hard to stop.

He has elite traits to get to winning positions, but his biggest weakness athletically is his finishing traits. He can find ways to make OL contact and punches not effective or move laterally so fast to avoid it entirely. When the OL gets contact, he can generally turn the corner against it. He has very fluid hips and good flexibility. If the contact is pretty strong, he can still be fast enough to run around the contact to get to the QB even after getting moved off his path a bit. I know I said his finishing traits are a weakness for him, but it’s still high end. The biggest issue comes against very strong punches and contact. He is still very light and small, so if you can get a ton of weight on him or be in a good enough position, you can shut him down. For OL, it feels like luck to get to these positions. Good luck doing it because even elite OTs can have trouble doing it too.

His traits make him an elite roleplayer. If he isn’t just a 1 on 1 winner or given a 2 way go, he can be an elite asset elsewhere. He is an elite stunter. As a looper he does insane stuff. Seen em loop from C gap to the opposite C gap for a pressure. His elite lateral movement shows up here as he just moves at 5x speed when looping. He is great as a crasher too. He just penetrates inside so quickly that OL can’t pass him off. As a contain player, there is no one with the mix of speed and explosiveness he has. He just prevents the QB from scrambling so often. Crazy burst and closing speed. It’s unreal. Was a former LBer so the coverage looks elite for an Edge.

In short, the run defense looked good overall. Was able to play as an OLB or DE who was able to bump inside. He was able to generate a lot of power with his speed and get some knockback. He could play gap and a half pretty well and would maintain solid leverage. He didn’t have issues shedding into his secondary gap. He is lighter which makes him lose ground at times, but he’ll still keep his main gap.

Elite player who this team needs badly. 

Lukas Van Ness

Nice to see improvement. Former first round pick. 

Pass rush was solid. Based stuff off of power. Bull rushes, stab forklifts/clubs and push and pulls. His power is a bit lacking off the edge, OTs can anchor well against him and he doesn’t do enough to punish that. He can work double swipes and pull slides as well. He has speed he can build up to and a strong lower body to run through weak contact. I always thought his interior pass rushing should have been tapped into more, and they started to use it a lot. His power is way more legit inside. He has good lateral movement (mainly what 3-cone measures) which helps rush inside. Sucks that Parsons will be hurt, because LVN should be used as an interior pass rusher more.

He is a good roleplayer. Can contain and run stunts from anywhere. Looked better as a crasher this season and was always a good looper (main skill measured by 3-cone). Run defense was solid. He played OLB and DE. Did better slanting or power stepping to blockers. Solid shedder and read blocks well.

Gotta hope he takes a leap because he’s the main guy for most of the year. 

Barryn Sorrell

Showed a bit on pass rushes. Stab clubs, double swipes, pull slides. Moves well overall. Was able to play inside on passing downs. Did well stunting and containing. 

Collin Oliver

He fast. A very fast player who shows off that speed on backside pursuit or working to a player downfield. Not much pass rush wise in 1 game. Used quite a bit of speed to power. Generated some power to drive OL back. Good contain player and stunter. Run defense was solid when he shot gaps. Would work upfield and then work back inside sometimes. Got moved easily. Former LBer in college who is a bit new to the position.

Brenton Cox Jr.

Looked a bit better handfighting wise. Neat spin. Solid stunter. OLB type who can drop. Run defense was fine enough when he attacked gaps. 

Arron Mosby

Okay depth. Used a forklift a few times and timed it well. Not bad at using athleticism to run into an OL to set an edge.

Dani Dennis-Sutton

Main note was that he played like year 20 Preston Smith. Meh athlete with some strength and power. Has massive stiffness issues that hurts turning a corner. Double swipes and stab clubs, but misses a ton. Decent run defender who can set a strong edge. Solid stunter and can drop in coverage.

Nyjalik Kelly

Neat stunter and slanter. Fine at 1 gapping. 

Arden Walker

Depth

Devonte Wyatt

DPR DT? Got paid a lotta money. Was a very disappointing watch. I don’t know if I watched the worst 5 game stretch (along with pressures and tackles) or what, but I’m more confused about him as a player. I felt like last season was a lot better. Got paid pretty sizeable money and I’m unsure why.

Pass rush is the best part of his game. But he didn’t win as much as I remembered him doing last season. Was mainly used as a role player and setup guy as Parsons got most of the matchups. When he did get chances to rush, he missed his moves a lot more.

The main move Wyatt wanted to get to was a hump or a strong club. He would either get underneath the OL’s armpit and hit it or aim for the back of the shoulder pad. He has a very strong club where he generates a ton of power from his hips. He can also use swipes and a great spin move. He is a solid all around athlete with good lateral movement. His best traits are his finishing traits. He is pretty flexible through contact. His hips are super fluid. He can turn the corner very easily, he just struggled getting to a winning position to turn the corner.

He was a good contain player who can make up for edges working inside. Had reps where he was a NT and slanted to contain off the edge. He can push the pocket and force the QB back. Good stunter who can use lateral movement to loop and is a quality crasher. 

Run defense was very disappointing. Was better in an attacking mode. But even then he would get sealed or lose ground a lot. He just loved losing ground. He would 2 gap quite a bit. When he engaged, he would aim for the outside of the shoulder pads. It let OL get into his chest and drive him back. But he was able to shed either way pretty well. He would use OL’s momentum against them to shed. If the RB was good enough or OT was strong enough, Wyatt would shed the wrong way and get sealed or get washed. I can’t think of another decently paid DT who gave up runs while in the gap the RB hits. Double teams were a mixed bag. Would get destroyed at times, lose ground at others, and occasionally hold his ground. 

I just don’t like the way his run defense is. Fixable issue. Pass rush will have to step up a ton with Parsons out. Maybe he’ll get a groove going as a main rusher. 

Javon Hargrave

Still got it. DPR pass rusher. Maybe NT?!?!

Pass rush is still exquisite. Legit lateral movement and speed. He can jab step or hesi and then hit whichever shoulder is weak or whatever gap has more space. Usually works a club and rip/swim or a double swipe. Won his matchups pretty often.

Good stunter. Neat looper and can penetrate a ton as a crasher. He has legit power. Converts speed to power and can drive OL back very well. Also a quality contain player. Run defense is….. there. He slants very well and can power step through OL well. He gets moved a lot but keeps fighting. 

Karl Brooks

Hooper. Baller.

His pass rush improved a lot. He started hitting moves more consistently. Would attack the outside shoulder and jab step inside quite a bit. It worked by having good lateral movement. He created space and was able to attack it. Would use a double swipe move a lot. Also used a stab club or club and rips.  Did a good job of attacking hands and choosing moves to attack OL’s sets and punches. Proud of his development.

Solid athlete. Main thing that’s lacking is finishing traits. Stiffer lower body lets OL recover when they get beat initially. He is strong enough to run through weak contact. Good stunter overall and contain player. Can contain off the edge and is a legit setup guy. Okay run defender. Same issue as other DTs with getting moved very easily. But he is legit at penetrating and shooting gaps. Can hit the backdoor. Creates a lot of knockback when he power steps or slants into OL. Does solid shedding. Gets moved a ton on doubles but works back to his gap when one OL climbs. 

Chris McClellan

From predraft writeup:

Attacking DT who played mainly 2i/2T/3T. Okay against double teams, can be stout and throw hips into them. Gets lockout and extension well, but not a ton of pop. Catches blocks too often and doesn’t shoot hips through contact. From playing attack/react, he usually gets hands inside the OL first, when he doesn’t he can get wrecked. Gets reached a bit too easily but played lag technique a few times. Can hip toss OL off of him and torque them out the way. Has good backfield vision and peeks well. Usually stays in his gap and doesn’t crossface even if RB commits elsewhere, or gets washed on downblocks and doesn’t crossface when gaps exchange. Handfights well and resets them to regain control of blocks.

Loves to hit push and pulls, swipes, getting to a swim move or hitting a hump move when working the inside shoulder of OL. Does great at attacking different sets and punches. Punishes OL for making mistakes. Meh athlete. Lacks explosiveness, has some strength and power. He has little lateral movement and a stiff lower body. It makes it harder to attack space inside and OL can recover easy when he gets to winning positions. Limited athlete for an attacking front, has reacting front potential.

Warren Brinson

I'm surprised it took so long to get him to start playing. He was very solid. A favorite late round gem of mine from Georgia.

He was way better pass rushing than I expected. He was hitting double swipes or club and rips/swims or a SPIN MOVE!!! Used a bull and a 2 to 1 bull rush to attack a weak shoulder. Moved well enough and had flexible hips to turn the corner. Solid stunter and contain player. 

I see why it took him so long to start playing. It’s his run defense. It was solid, but not what the packers needed. Much better at attacking gaps. Hit the backdoor great, would club and swim blockers and get to the backfield. Played his main gap very well. Had issues shedding and getting control of blockers. Would get reached a bit too easily. Did solid holding his ground against doubles. Would throw hips in between to hold his ground. But against combos he would get overtaken very easily. There’s a solid player in there somewhere.

Nazir Stackhouse

A UDFA from Georgia I was not a fan of. Honestly he did surpass expectations.

Pass rush is whatever, he’s a NT. Can push the pocket okay. Run defense is where his game is at. Was asked to 2 gap a lot… and did okay!!! Was probably the best at shedding blocks cleanly. Did lose ground too often at times. But he’s a big boi and isn’t the easiest to move. Did okay against doubles and combos, very stiff lower body makes it tougher against true doubles. Just a fine NT to have. Also the only real NT this team has.

Jonathan Ford

Big body DT. Was used as a NT here. Can push the pocket well. Neat moments of handfighting. Did solid at 2 gapping against C’s. Too tall which hurts against doubles and combos. Not the easiest to move but can get around him easily.

Jaden Crumedy

DE type. Moves well and is close to being a decent depth option. Solid at reading and reacting to blocks.

Anthony Campbell

Depth player. Heard he is having a good camp.

Jordan Riley

NT Depth. Big body who did fine playing react/attack. 

Base Units

(OLB-DE-NT-DE-OLB)

Parsons-Wyatt-Hargrave-Karl-LVN

2nd Unit

Oliver-Brinson-Nazir-McClellan-Barryn

What a DL. The backups and youngins mainly played in the first preseason, so who knows how the DL will look in week 1. I’d say the top 2 OLBs and top 3 DL are clear. But with Parsons out, I have no idea who the 4th edge will be. Most likely it would be DDS. With the starting DL, the biggest question is NT. Hargrave played a lot of NT for Minnesota. I don't know if he will be the starting NT here with how small he is, unless he slants a lot. The NTs in house are okay enough, but nothing crazy with Nazir, Ford, and Jordan Riley. The backup DTs/DEs seem set with McClellan and Brinson.

Pass Rushing Unit

Parsons-Wyatt-Hargrave-LVN

Parsons injury makes the other pass rusher hard to figure out. Insert anyone else at edge.

When healthy, the pass rush was built around Parsons. They set up a ton of 2 way gos for him. Since he is an elite player, teams would do a lot to slow him down with chips, outside releases, doubles, and slides his way. They would force protection his way. If he didn’t have a great shot of winning a rep outside or through an OT, he would work inside. Inside moves are allowed if you scheme for it. This team would use a 3T to hold the G and work a bit inside to create space for any inside move. But the DT would have to be able to contain outside too. 

They didn’t set up a ton of interior rushes. Mainly had the DTs contain or stunt. Kingsley last season had a decent amount of matchups set up. Maybe LVN takes those when the DL is healthy? Ideally LVN rushes inside quite a bit, his traits would make him a better winner inside. Wyatt and Hargrave would be better as secondary winners. The DT to Parsons sets him up, and the other DT probably can get a rush in. When healthy, the matchups can be set up as:

1. Parsons

2. Wyatt/Hargrave

3. LVN

With Parsons out, I have no idea what the plan is. Maybe LVN gets bumped up to the main guy? Maybe this team sets up plans similar to pre-Parsons. Where they ran TT stunts with edges containing, two ET stunts, or a 3 or 4 man stunt from an overload front. Or Gannon will rely on other ways to manufacture pressures, like with blitzes. Did quite a bit of double mug looks in preseason. Might just attack protections that way, he does have a solid DL to slant and contain while a LB or DB gets freed up to blitz.

Overall, it’s a DL that is missing Parsons so badly. There’s a lot on Gannon’s plate. Have to make up for losing an elite player with a lot of young talent that still needs quite a bit of development. Seems like he’ll have to scheme up in ways no one has schemed up before.

Shoutout my pookie Possum!

Scheme Reacting Even Front

DC Kelvin Sheppard

DL Kacy Rodgers

OLB David Corrao

Scheme

The front is based off of an even one with 2 DEs, a DT and a NT. But they do get into odd looks quite a bit. They have a Sam LB (who I didnt look at, counted them as LBs) who can play on the edge. Or they get into even fronts with a LB walked up. They are a base even front that can shift around into whatever look they want.

They have the DTs and DEs play react/attack. They do slant away from the back or the weakside a ton with usually a DB coming off the edge. 

Player Profile

Aidan Hutchinson

A very polarizing player. Lot’s of stuff to talk about around him. The type of player where people with respectable opinions can have him as a top 5 edge, or barely top 20. It comes from how he is used and his skillset. He is a player that constantly feels overrated and underrated.

Pass rush plan: Let’s understand the player first. He bases his plan around power. He usually sets up his rushes by working towards the outside shoulder of the OT and using a lot of hesis or jab steps. He’ll use a bull rush to drive the OT back. He’ll either turn that bull rush into a push and pull to work outside or he’ll target the inside shoulder and work inside at QB depth. Uses that power threat to work other rushes off of it. He’ll use a stab move, usually with a forklift. He is one of the best in the league at timing and reacting to hands to use the forklift as efficiently as possible. He’ll use that forklift to pull the wrist and then he’ll rip outside. He can also use that stab to crossface inside. If he feels the OT’s feet stop or undersetting, he can use a strong stab club move. With the stab also being established, he can hit a ghost move. Fake the stab and then dip underneath the arms of the OT when he anchors and punches early. He also can fake a bull rush and leave his arms out for the OT to punch, and then hit a double swipe and rip underneath. Or use a pull thru move like Danielle Hunter does. His main rush comes from using power and working moves off of it.

Pass rush plan 2: Electric Bugaloo. When he is teeing off, he can use other moves that also come from some of that power threat. If OT’s underset, he can work a chop move and rush off the edge. If they square set he’ll use power like above. If they overset he can hit a dominant spin move. One thing he does so great is working in space and getting to positions where the OT can’t get his body in front of him. He’ll get himself outside of the OT’s punch range enough to make their contact weaker when they try to drive him upfield or wash em inside. He can sidestep away quickly with his lateral movement. He makes OT’s overextend to attack their arms and make it harder to recover, also makes it easier to turn the corner.

Now for the main reason he gets various opinions on him. He dominates low end OTs or very slow ones very consistently. He is probably the best in the league at punishing low end players for their mistakes.

He doesn’t get the true Elite edge treatment, which isn’t a knock since only like 5 guys get it. But it leads to a lot of moments or games where he gets so many chances to rush over a low end OT without that team adjusting to stop him. Or forcing chips and outside releases his way. And when he does get some extra attention his way, he can handle it pretty well. He understands protections and knows how to attack the weak points if the OT messes up.

His usage and role is very unique. It sounds simple to say, “build around your main guy winning every rep.” But it should be harder to do in practice. Offenses should adjust and at some point it does become beneficial to have a counter punch, such as using your main guy as a setup guy for another DL matchup or using the main guy as a part of a blitz or stunt to make those work easier. But for Hutch and the Lions…. they let him rush almost every play regardless of what the offense does. They set things up by having a 3T his side which forces the slide away. So he can get a 1 on 1 opportunity with the OT. Then they have that 3T push the pocket while Hutch can win outside or inside.

Hutch is a rulebreaker. It’s what makes him so successful and a bit harder to talk about. There’s rules for pass rushes with lanes and responsibilities. With Hutch, he is able to break them and do what he wants. Most of it is schemed up as part of the overall pass rush plan, but some I am not too sure. They set up rushes in a way to where you expect him to have certain lanes or expect certain rules to occur, and he just breaks it. Like rushing inside of the OT with the 3T there, which leads to 2 guys in the same B gap. It shouldn’t be allowed or happen, but the Lions let it happen and Hutch can win a lot from doing that. Or in a similar situation, if there is PA and the OL jumpsets him and the 3T to fake drive blocks, Hutch works inside right away for a quick win. Now with PA looks you have to play the run first before pass rushing, but Hutch just breaks rules and you get 2 guys in the same gap again. OL don’t expect it which makes it work so often. How can you prepare for someone who does things in an unsound way? You never see it unless it’s from someone who wants to get benched or cut. It gets weird to see it from a great player. 

In short, a couple of the reasons there’s various opinions on Hutch is that he does things very unconventionally. He gets schemed up in a way to get a lot of pressures and stats with offenses allowing it sometimes. He also beats up on low end competition in a dominant fashion. This isn’t to say it’s a bad thing, you want your main guy to be able to destroy bad players.

Hutch is a very skilled player. He is a good athlete, but nothing crazy. Has solid power, solid speed, can turn the corner well mainly from being strong through contact, and has good lateral movement. His getoff looks quick, but it’s mainly from timing the snap and reacting to it at a high level. He does win a lot from being a legit technical winner. He doesn’t force wins at a high level which is another spot where there’s varying opinions on him. He doesn’t threaten offenses like top edges normally do. You can shut him down easier than other top edges.

He does well containing and pushing the pocket. He is a great looper on stunts, but it’s seldom used. Run defense is good when he is in an attacking mode. He can fly upfield and penetrate through, slant inside super quickly or use his getoff to generate power to set an edge.

His best usage is just letting him rush and everyone else contains or tries to force the QB to him. Either give him a 2 way go with the OT or set up rushes a certain way. One other way he gets a ton of wins is with a low side and high side rush. One edge spins inside whereas the other works very vertical, so the QB will either step up to the spin guy or backup into the outside rusher.

Lots of words to say, he is great at what he does, but he is in the best situation that lets him be great in a way no other edge gets. Gets the most opportunities to make a play. He does take advantage of it.

DJ Wonnum

The AQM replacement. A technical winner with good handfighting. Neat double swipe move. Can fake a double swipe to dip underneath OTs. Neat spin move. Use power to speed, engages with a bull and then works outside with a club and rip. He can punish major mistakes.

He’s a meh athlete. Fine enough speed. Not a + mover. Mainly used to attack technical matchups. Makes up for a lack of athleticism with hesis and jab steps, or uses power to slow OTs feet to work outside or inside of them.

Good stunter who times them up very well and takes efficient steps. Looked solid dropping into coverage. I wouldn't be surprised to see him rush inside on passing downs. Run defense is meh. It’s passable for an OLB type. Sets an okay edge and plays his gap fine. Gets moved a bit too easily. 

Payton Turner

Former 1st rounder. The Josh Paschal replacement?

Writeup from last seasons watch on him: Heavy end who can bump inside. Can set the edge well. Another good stunter who is a surprisingly solid looper (what 3-cone measures). Just a little stiff overall. Loves Double swipes as a rusher.

Didn’t play last season, weird situation in Dallas. Hope he can become a solid run defender who can be a solid roleplayer as a pass rusher.

Derrick Moore

Writeups for next 4 Edges are from pre draft evals.

Solid overall athlete. Solid speed and explosiveness. Strength and Power can be a legit weapon for him. Speed to power is his main game. Good bull rush and can contain with power. Gets great leverage and is super physical. Has solid lateral movement to work inside and hip fluidity to turn the corner well. He runs stunts very well. A TE killer, destroys them often. Shoots his hips through contact and gets lockout often when setting an edge. Can be a standup Edge.

The Davenport replacement? Seems more like the main power rusher who will be used to push the pocket and force the QB to another rusher.

Tyre West

Oh yeah, one of my favorite gems in this class. Such a weird player, was playing edge or 4i as a 280+lber. Had a lot of power and worked a double swipe move a lot. He has solid speed and explosiveness for a 280lber but is a bit on the slower end. What makes him unique is he has some of the best fluidity and flexibility in the class. Idk how a man his size does it. He can turn through contact so easily if he gets to a winning position. The toughest part will be getting to those winning positions at the next level. He won’t get to the edge as easily in college and will have to use power more. I could see him using power to slow OTs down and work outside when they anchor down. 

He can push the pocket very well, but the issue comes when he has to contain the QB. He’s a fine stunter. Run defense is fun to watch. At Edge he is a true kneecap biter. So strong and gets a ton of knockback to drive blockers backwards. He sheds very violently, like he wants to hurt people. He plays without a care for anyone’s health.

Fun player to watch. I said he was a bit reminiscent of old Brandon Graham. The biggest concern was how little he played. There’s a few games he played a ton of snaps, but in most games he was the 2nd or 3rd heavy edge Tennessee used. Who knows why, I can’t fully figure it out, but he can be a unique player to use. Maybe theres some off field issues or he is a hybrid without a true role/position in the NFL.

Eric O’neill

Only notes I have are, “tries hard, solid looper.”.

Anthony Lucas

Heavier end that can bump inside. A bit slower and lacks explosiveness. Has some power potential but needs development there. Does well playing with extension in the run game. Fluid lower body for his size. Can work with some of his traits, but a bit far away from being a viable player.

Ahmed Hassanein

Was hurt. Heavier and bigger edge. Some power and was a good run defender in college.

Alim Mcneill

Came back from a severe injury. Was a key player who can change this DL. Brings a ton of talent and pass rush on the interior. His extension is also barely kicking in. 

Good pass rusher. He has a ton of talent, which is the bet the Lions made by paying him. Very explosive with legit speed and lateral movement. His hand fighting has improved a ton. He used to just club the helmet of OL but not knock hands away. Would hand out concussions like candy on Halloween but not get to winning positions. Now he attacks hands way better. This time he tries to attack the hands of the OL, usually with a club and rip/swim move. The main way he wins is with overwhelming power. He is shorter and has natural leverage to get underneath OL. He is powerful and can convert speed to power at a high level. Just makes OL go backwards with ease when he bull rushes. He does use that bull rush to go from 2 hands to 1 and open up a shoulder, or transitions to a club and rip. It isn’t always clean but can get pressures and force the QB to step up or go to a side. Used as a 1T on overload fronts where he uses a chop and rip. 

He’s close to being a legit force. I would not be surprised to see him contend for an all pro spot within the next few years. Still has a ways to go but the talent is legit.

Great stunter, uses that speed and physicality to overwhelm as a crasher. Pushes the pocket exceptionally well. Run defense is interesting. In a reacting front, but much better at attacking gaps. Great slanter and can get penetration easily. He does fine playing react/attack. He’s just so stubby and struggles to shed off of blocks. He isn’t a true space eater either, and lost a lot of weight. But surprisingly, he is good against double teams. He attacks through 1 OL and can sink low and throw his hips into them to split doubles or hold his ground. Helps that he is shorter so gets leverage from that. Can play 5T and across the interior. Just a player you hope gets fully healthy and takes another leap as a rusher.

Levi Onwuzurike

Write up from last year’s preview: Another neat DT, more of a 4i/3T who can play 5T. Very strong player who moves well. Runs good in a straight line which helps em as a stunter and bull rushing. Double swiper who can push pull dudes and hit club and rips/swims. Great run defender. Pls get healthy.

I don’t want to watch older tape and get sad to see what could have been. Talented player whose career is on a thread because of injuries.

Tyleik Williams

Lost 50lbs?!?! Their first round rookie. More of a run defender. Player a ton of 3T in college, and played across the line last season.

Not much pass rushing wise. Can see some double swipes. Mainly will be a power rusher. Has a strong bull rush, ton of pop. Does a similar move to Alim where he bull rushes then transitions to a club and rip move go get to the side of the OL. Got a couple pressures that way. Hips are flexible and has solid lateral movement to cross an OLs face.

Other than that, solid stunter and can push the pocket very well. He’s here for run defense. He’s a typical big boi react/attack run defender. Reads blocks quickly and knows how to attack them. Can 2 gap and play gap and a half very well. Does okay slanting and shooting gaps. Strong shedder. He’s also good against doubles. It’s weird because he’s usually a little late to feeling them but can throw his hips into them and establish great leverage to not get moved. But then other times he guesses on doubles and immediately drops to a knee. But he isn’t feeling it there, he does it right away and he did it in college. I dont know if he’s guessing or finds a tell from film study. Feels like he’s more 50/50 on it, so it’s hard to tell. Could be OL communication too. Overhearing it and dropping his knee with certain calls. Overall he is a strong and stout run defender.

Mekhi Wingo

Mr one leg is an inch taller than the other. Solid athlete, can scoot around. Can see him using crosschops inside or try a hump move. Mainly used to stunt or contain. Gets pretty solid leverage against the run and sheds OL strongly. Just a bit light overall.

Chris Smith

NT depth

Tyler Lacy

More of a true odd front DE type that can play edge or bump inside. Big boi for an Edge. Has some power and uses stab forklifts a lot. He has the timing for the forklift down. Can work swipes off of it. Solid run defender that is hard to move off the edge, but it’s hard for him to move as well. 

Myles Adams

Didn’t play since 2024. Main notes from that watch was that he moves well and is a solid stunter.

Skyler Gill-Howard

Attacking DT who played mainly 4i, 3T and 1T. Run defense is okay. Just way too small, and can get destroyed way too often. Had nice moments where he holds his ground against doubles with leverage and sinking low. Not the best at getting knockback but generally has good hand placement and can hip toss OL off of him. Can generate power with explosiveness. Very fast. Good stunter and slanter.  Uses double swipes, cross chops and a hump move. Can be a good contain player too. Attacking DT who can be a good DPR.

Ben Stille

Smaller DT. A little juice. Surprisingly good as a crasher. 

Base Units

(DE-DT-DT-DE)

Hutch-Tyleik-Alim-Wonnum/Moore

2nd Unit

Wonnum/Moore-Levi-SGH/Lacy/Wingo-Ahmed/Turner/West

Idk how these units will play out. Hutch, Leik and Alim seem like the main starters. The opposite edge can be whoever. If you want an AQM replacement go with Wonnum, a Davenport replacement go with Moore. Also depends on if you want more of an OLB type or a DE type who can have more of a power element. Turner can be more of a Paschal replacement and be an End that can bump inside.

For the 2nd unit the edges can be whoever. There are a ton of heavier ends who can bump inside or be stout edge setters. The DT room is tough to sort as well. Levi was very good before injury, so I assume he’ll be penciled in here. The other DTs can be a ton of different players. Can go with a smaller and quick type or a heavier and stouter DT.

Pass Rushing Package

Hutch-Alim-Insert DT-Insert Edge

Another unit that is tough to figure out. Hutch and Alim will be the main pass rushers used. But for the other DT and Edge spot, it can be anyone. Depends on the skillset wanted. For DT can put an edge inside. Either get a quicker and faster DT like SGH or Wingo, or have a more well rounded DT like Levi or use Tyleik, Lacy or Payton Turner inside. Can even use Wonnum lined up as a standup guy inside. For the other Edge spot it depends on the goal overall. Do you want another technical rusher like Wonnum who can win rushes pretty well and help with any high side and low side rushes. Or have more power and pocket pushing ability like with Moore or Turner. The matchups will be set as:

1. Hutch

2. Alim Mcneill

3. Wonnum

The pass rush will go through Hutch as per usual. Set up every rush for him to get pressure and to win. A lot of the pass rush plans here were built for Hutch to have a 2 way go where his job is to best the OT. Usually they would have a 3T next to him to occupy the G and free up inside moves. Or they would do a high side and low side rush where one edge spins inside and one works outside. They usually have the DTs push the pocket, but Alim can win matchups himself. Wonnum can have matchups too, but it might be like with AQM last season where they have both edges trying to win their rushes.

Overall this team should have more talent than last season. Just need players to recover and a lot of youngins to step up. 

Scheme Attacking? Even Front

DC Dennis Allen

DL Jeremy Garrett

Scheme

Who knows these days. DA wants to have a reacting front… but didn’t have the personnel for it. He inherited Eberflussy’s guys and tried to implement his defense. But it was fitting a round peg into a square hole. You can tell he wanted to do more odd front stuff and shifted guys around, but it didn’t work well. The end of the season had more guys slanting or playing an attacking style. With the offseason moves, it would make sense that he shifts to more of an attacking front. Acquired multiple DTs who fit that scheme. He loves having heavier edges who can bump inside at any time, so that won’t change.

Player Profile

Montez Sweat

He is good. Hottest take of the year. 

As a rusher his game is built around power. He uses a ton of stab-clubs/forklifts, bull rushes, 2 to 1 bulls or a long arm. He’ll hesi sometimes to slow the OT and make them susceptible to an outside move or have them open up their chest to power. He has that mix of power and speed that is hard to stop. He is one of the best slow winners in the league. He can win in 3-4 seconds at a high rate. If you are a weaker tackle, he’ll go through you all game long. Or he’ll use power as a threat and work outside. Mainly will use double swipes or a club and rip move or just rush outside and get a chop in. 

He feels like he could be the best 2nd option in the league. But right now he is the main option or at the very least the most talented rusher. He is a low end main option.

He is a good stunter, great crasher. With his speed and power, it makes him one of the better contain players in the league. He has the speed to chase down QBs or keep them in the pocket. He can drive OT’s back like nothing and force the QB to the main rusher. He is a high end setup guy. Good run defender. We’ll ignore any reps against combos or doubles. DE type who can play as a standup edge. Sets a good edge, keeps lockout and is able to shed inside. Played some heavy techniques where he worked inside of the OT while lined up as a 5T. Had good backfield vision and read blocks well. Does a lot of good but would like to see more. More knockback or being more of a force. 

Good player, but as the best one on your DL, I do get Bears fans who may be disappointed.

Austin Booker

How to talk about him. If he is motivated he can be the pass rusher this team needs! I don’t know how to properly describe Booker but he feels close to being a good rusher.

A stab move king. Long arm maestro. Uses a ton of stab-forklifts/clubs/chops or long arms. Can work a club and swim inside of OTs. When OTs try to sit on his power moves, he can work outside with a ghost move or club and rip/swim.

He isn’t a crazy athlete. He looks okay overall. Fine speed, explosiveness is meh. Packed on weight from college, has solid pop and power, but a bit off from it being a legit weapon. Turns the corner fine, a bit slow when working through contact but can run through it.

With his athleticism how does he win reps?!?! He is pretty legit technically. I don’t know how he does it. Honestly, him being a bit slower and having short choppy steps helps with his long arm, because he gets great hand placement almost every time. Gets to a spot where he has leverage to get underneath OTs inside chestplate and drives them upward to destroy their base. He has a feel for leverage and momentum that few players have.

He just gets his stab in, and then works off of OT’s mistakes. If you lean in your punch, he’ll push-pull you with his stab arm. If you just place hands out without power in your punch, he’ll work around your arms and even use a ghost to get underneath them. If you open the floodgates too much he’ll feel it in his stab move and work inside. He will make you wrong.

You can stop him if you get first contact and have a strong punch. But if you make a mistake with your leverage or base, he’ll feel it and punish you. It makes him such a weird player. Advanced for a 2nd year player.

Solid stunter, good as a crasher. Neat pocket pusher. Run defense is weird too because with the stuff above. He gets a long arm in and feels your leverage. Does the exact same thing as with his pass rushes. If  you lean too much or make a mistake, he can push-pull you, knock your hands down and get around, spin around you, etc. He can take his gap very well. There’s reps he gets driven back or gets sealed off. For the most part he is a solid run defender.

Overall he is a freak. An absolute weirdo. A unique player who has a feel to the game that can carry him far in his career. Technical winning can lead to some quick wins, and that’s the main thing missing for this team.

Dayo Odeyingbo

He’s motivated this time. The league better watch out. 

Would yall be mad if I said he was really solid. A legit roleplayer who has some pass rush juice. Neat technical winner who can hit crosschops, club and rips, and double swipes. When working inside can use a spin or a club and swim. Has pretty solid power to him. Able to use that power to knock OL back to work inside or to push the pocket. When turning the corner he is strong through OL contact.

Good stunter who excels at crashing. Can bump inside on passing downs and be a more legit winner there. Run defense is solid. Can set an edge well. Engages by running into the OL and then bench pressing them to get extension and lockout. Part of it is having long arms, but could do better there. He is a good tackler who has a wider tackle range than most players. Did bump inside on odd front looks, was a heavy edge that gave the front versatility on early downs. Reads and reacts well. Gets caught up a bit too much with his chest from not always playing with lockout.

We’ll see how a motivated Dayo changes the team.

Daniel Hardy

High effort and high motor 110% of the time. Standup edge who can play off ball LB. Solid contain player and even hit a ghost move. Sheds violently on TEs.

Shemar Turner 

DT turned edge?!?! What a player. Seems to be another heavy end that can bump inside. Bears fans wanted some edge help and they got it. Another player you hope comes back healthy enough.

Good athlete for a DT. Also looks so small. Looks smaller than Dayo and Montez. Had a few neat pass rush snaps, showed a double swipe. Improvement from him using a wax on and wax off move. Neat stunter and contain player. Dropped in coverage a couple times. Played for a reacting front in college so it's okay enough there. Set a nice edge. Smallness issues showed up more as a rusher, where strong punches could knock em back and kill his rush. I get the idea of edge for him.

Jamree Kromah

Depth

Jeremiah Martin

More depth

Gervon Dexter

Another player that is pretty solid. Also feels like he gets overhated a bit by Bears fans.

Pass rush is pretty nice. He is a tall and massive human being, but for a tall guy he is pretty nimble. Has strength, solid flexibility and decent lateral movement. He uses power to contain, it’s hard for him to get great leverage but he does well enough to drive OL back. He’ll use a 2 to 1 bull rush, engaging and then extending his arm to a shoulder that feels weak. While he uses his other arm to forklift, club, or just swat away the OL’s hands from resetting and anchoring down. He does a good job at attacking hands for the most part. He kinda just does whatever, to the point where I’m not sure if he knows what move he is trying to hit. Looks like he uses a crosschop, double swipe, or club and crossface/rip move. When he gets to winning positions, he has a flexible enough lower body to turn the short corner. It’s not like most  6’5+ DTs where their lower body gets too stiff. He can win rushes and get pressures, but it won’t always be clean or be dominant wins that impact QBs greatly. 

He is very good as a roleplayer. Good stunter who is physical as a crasher and can loop multiple gaps. He can push the pocket and prevent the QB from stepping up. He can contain even if its off the edge.

Run defense is very up and down. The worst thing is doubles. It’s true for almost any tall DT, unless you can play super low or drop to a knee, doubles will mess em up. OL can get underneath him and drive em back. His size and strength as well as having decent flexibility can be enough to handle combos at times. For the most part it is a weakness. He does fine playing react-attack. Reacts to blocks and reads them okay. He mainly does a good job of taking his gap. Whether he is lagging, playing through a shoulder, or slanting, he can take care of his main gap. He isn’t great at working to a secondary gap, it’s harder for him to get control of blockers and shed. Mainly from his height.

Overall he is a good player, but mainly useful in certain ways. I like him in pass rushes, and when asked to slant.

Grady Jarrett

What a guy. Also feels like he gets hated on a ton. Atlanta legend. He is far from his prime, in the twilight of his career.

Neat pass rusher, can see signs of decline here the most. Still a bit quick and has natural leverage. Still can generate a lot of power. Power moves are legit. Has a strong bull rush and has a powerful hump move. He can work crosschops or club and swims/rips. The only issue is that he is so small. OL can punch em wide and drive em further from the QB as he works his moves. If he doesn’t use power first, the OL will have a much better chance against him. He can give weak OL work though.

Still a neat roleplayer. Good stunter. Good pocket pusher and contain player. Another DT who can contain off the edge if you need to. Run defense is… iffy. It’s a bit sad to see. I remember prime Grady taking on doubles like a NT and being a legit force in the run game. He looks smaller and can’t handle run blocks like he used to. Just gets moved way too easily which hurts when this team plays more react/attack. He can shoot gaps just fine and power step through OL to take his gap. Better in an attacking mode.

Overall he is still a quality player, but can see clear signs of decline from what he once was.

Neville Gallimore

Neat depth player. Pass rush is whatever. Decent at stunts. Has some power. Neat bull rush. Can hit some double swipes. Tries hard as a contain player. He is a bit heftier and moves like a big boi. But there’s reps of him chasing down QBs escaping the pocket or rolling out and limiting the yards they get.

Run defense is neat. Also tries hard here. Can play across the interior. He’s stout and strong. Okay vs doubles, might be the best one on this team against them. He is a lumbering mover but can hit the backside on plays and penetrate with a club and swim. Mainly played a lag technique. Read blocks pretty well and reacts fast. Solid at shedding. Nothing crazy, just a solid all around run defender.

Kentavius Street

A typical attacking style DT. Quick and athletic. Can shoot gaps and penetrate very well. Gets in the backfield with hitting a club and swim quickly. A bit light and gets moved easily. Used on passing downs from being fast. Can contain very well. Decent stunter and uses his speed for speed to power.

James Lynch

The lynchpin of the defense. Neat club and swim move. Solid mover. Fine against single blocks. Better when slanting or shooting gaps. 

Jordan Van Den Berg

Writeup from predraft eval.

So much shooting gaps. Just goes forward. Against doubles, if he shoots gaps and creates separation between the two OL, he can sink low and split it. Can penetrate at a legit level and get knockback well. Main issue with him is that he gets pancaked like 10 times a game. It stems from being uncoordinated, lacking strength/size, and from leading with his head when he engages with OL.

He can move very well in a straight line. He has a fluid and flexible lower body. Also a good club and swim move.

There’s some potential with him. Lot’s of issues to fix. But he is a late rounder I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a legit starter. 

Jayden Loving

Writeup also from predraft:

Most interesting line is that I said he has potential for an attacking scheme. Mainly played NT for a reacting front. Was solid vs doubles, able to sink low and throw hips into them. Generated a lot of knockback when slanting into OL. A bit lighter and got thrown around when he didn’t strike first. Good contain player who can scoot. Solid stunter with potential for 1 on 1 winning.  

Base Units

(DE-DT-DT-DE)

Sweat-Dex-Grady-Dayo

2nd Unit

Booker-Neville-VanDenBerg-Shemar

The hardest question to answer is who is the DE opposite of Sweat. It’s between Booker and Dayo. It’s a tossup. I’d assume Dayo because of his ability to bump inside seriously and cause he is a better athlete. Besides that the top 4 edges are very clear. The next thing is the 4th DT. It can be anyone on this roster. I like Jordan Van Den Berg the most even though it’s more from being a draft crush. I can see Street taking that spot but it’s also anyone’s choice.

Pass Rushing Package

Sweat-Dayo-Gervon-Booker

A tough one to sort. It’s a mix of not seeing the defense with Booker and Dayo healthy much and having so much players with varying skillsets that you can have multiple guys in on passing downs. There’s like 5 DTs you can use for passing downs from this team. Setting matchups is tough because it might be ordered as:

1. Booker?

2. Sweat

3. Dayo/Gervon/Grady

Idk how the pass rush will be sorted. There isn’t a true Ace pass rusher. It’s either great roleplayers or technical winners. The other issue is that there isn’t a true quick winner. Maybe they use blitzes or stunts more. Besides that, Booker might be the quickest winner. Sweat is best as the second option, and is great at winning later in reps. Dayo can win quickly inside but it’s harder to set that up. Dex and grady can win some matchups inside. This might be one of the most frustrating pass rushes to figure out.

Overall it’s a weird situation. It felt like the DL underperformed, but they only made smaller acquisitions and kept most of the DL from last season. They are expecting the same DL to improve a ton, which wouldn’t make sense unless they do change the scheme. I get having reservations as a Bears fan, but I’ll just say, there’s room for copium. 

Scheme Attacking Odd Front

DC Daronte Jones

HC Dan Quinn

DL Eric Henderson

OLB John Pagano

AsstDL Darryl Tapp

Scheme

Vikings scheme? At the very least it’ll base out of an odd front and be an attacking front. The DL will shoot gaps, slant, or power step through OL. The OLBs will have to be versatile. Usually have a strongside OLB that can bump inside into a DE and a weakside one that can play offball LB. The other thing is that they have 3 LBs who can be that edge/LB hybrid. We’ll see how the defense will look soon. 

Player Profile

Odafe Oweh

Got paid big monies to be this team’s main edge. Season was a tale of two halves. Had 0 sacks with the ravens, traded to the Chargers and bumped it up to 7.5 sacks. 

Looked much better as a rusher with the Chargers. Had more rushes and was allowed to get pressure. If OT underset, would work a double swipe or club and rip. If OT gave a square set, would hit a bull rush or use a push pull move to attack a shoulder. If OT overset could work inside with a deadly spin move.

Had a crazy combine but don’t necessarily see it on tape. He is fast, but not that explosive. He has very good lateral movement which helps as a looper or work inside. Power is a bit underwhelming. A lot of his pressures come from working inside and ignoring contain rules. Or running read stunts where he can work inside. Good stunter and contain player overall. Good run defender who sets an edge strongly. Plays with lockout and is able to shed easily.

K’lavon Chaisson

Raiders Legend. Cool to see him turn his career around. Former first rounder who was an afterthought, but revived his career. Seems to be in his mercenary pass rusher arc.

Loves his double swipe move. Also likes to hit cross chops and spins. Good athlete, there’s a reason he was taken in the first. He is very fast. Quick and has very good lateral movement. Main issue is that he is so light. Strong punches can stop his rush and he lacks power. Still can beat OTs inside or outside pretty well. More of a technical winner. Has fluid hips that help turn the corner and run around weak contact.

Legit looper on stunts. Good contain player. Run defense is fine, can set an edge fine enough and keep extension. Smolness issue leads to OTs being able to displace him. For the most part you can live with him as a starting OLB or as a DPR.

Dorance Armstrong

Neat player. Good roleplayer and setup guy. Has more of a power element he works off of.

As a rusher he can play inside, as a standup LB or edge. He’ll either use a chop and rip or just dip off the edge, use a bull rush or spin inside. Can work club and rips/swims as well, usually does it rushing inside.

Solid athlete all around, fluid and flexible as well. Very good crasher on stunts, creates a lot of pressure by running through the gaps left in protection. Can push the pocket and contain QBs very well. The 1 on 1 winning is fine, but he’s here to mainly be that setup player or win schematically. Run defense was a bit disappointing. He does very well playing 1 gap and setting an edge. But doesn’t get control of blockers and can get moved a bit too easily. I also hate how much he falls against pullers when he tries to box them. Overall a solid player who can play a lot of snaps.

Joshua Josephs

Writeup from scouting him:

Smaller edge. Mainly a 3-4 OLB type. Fast but not that explosive. Lots of hesis to slow Ots feet down, mainly used double swipes and club and rip moves. Usually won late in reps. Stiff ankles hurt turning the corner. An okay run defender, good over TEs or on weakside. Good looper and can drop in coverage.

Charles Omenihu

DE? Usually a hand down DE. Can bump inside on early downs but would rather have him over OTs. Pass rushing he can line up anywhere. Another legit roleplayer.

Power rusher. Uses that power to work a stab move with either a club or forklift with it. Can destroy weaker OTs to open up a shoulder to work through. Good stunter and pocket pusher. Run D feels the same as Dorance’s. He is good at playing 1 gap and setting an edge. Can get driven back a bit too easily. Okay at 2 gapping over TEs. 

Deatrich Wise Jr.

Shortened season. Still a legit roleplayer. Lot of power he can use to condense the pocket. Lacking in speed but eh, power is his game. Stab moves and double swipes. Legit crasher on stunts. He can bump inside. His best role is probably as a 4i. At the very least keep him over OTs. Strong run defender who can generate a ton of knockback. Reacts to blocks and gets lockout. Able to play a gap and a half and 2 gap over TEs. 

Javontae Jean-Baptiste

Looks like he gained some weight. Another player who was injured most of the season. Mainly a depth player. Looks a little stronger, might be working to add power to his game. Fine overall. Run D is meh.

DJ Johnson

OLB who can scoot a bit. Mainly just a speed to power guy. Tries hard. Not much of a winner yet.

Drake Jackson

Lot of injuries with him too. Also not too shabby. Tried hard and had a lot of motor. Used some crosschops and spins. Solid stunter and contain player.

TJ Maguranyanga

Neat to see em get some snaps. Small and quick OLB.

Daron Payne

He’s pretty good. Used to be a NT but now plays across the line. Even has reps as a standup DT or rushing off the Edge!!! Highest paid player on this team and the best DL in terms of talent.

Pass rush is cool. Loves to hit double swipes. Uses a lot of power moves like bullrushes, push pulls or stab and club/forklift. Does a great job of controlling the OL’s wrist and using it to win reps. Also uses a lot of club rips/swims. Very strong rusher who has fluid and flexible hips.

Great stunter. Sets them up and times them at a high level. Violent crasher and pick man who frees up other loopers. Pushes the pocket at a high level and keeps the QB in the pocket. 

Man…. he is a great run defender. Just makes up so much for this defense. His biggest weakness might be shooting gaps. He does it very well but when on the move it does become a bit easier to wash 'em down or drive' em away from the play. He still 1 gaps and can penetrate the backfield pretty easily. He can play 2 gap or gap and a half at a high level. Controls both gaps with ease, you can’t run into his main or secondary gap. He’ll shed there and make a tackle or force you to cut to a different gap. Just so strong and has a very fast reaction time. One of the best players against double teams. He just is so stout and strong. He absorbs contact like nothing and can reestablish control of his gap like nothing. He deserves a lotta money for his run defense alone.

Javon Kinlaw

Glad to see him turn his career around after a couple injury plagued seasons. This Javon Kinlaw is the one that was promised. Just a tall and massive human being.

He is all power. He has power that can make em ragdoll OL like they are pop warner kids. It’s harder for him to get good leverage consistently, but when he does, he can drive OL to the QB like nothing. He’ll use that power to bull rush or hit push and pulls. He can hit a strong pull slide move that he usually tries to get to. In terms of getting to a winning position with power, he is one of the best at it.

The issue is finishing rushes. And not just with getting sacks but getting pressures or maintaining a path to the QB. His lower body is too stiff to support any quick change of direction or to try to flip his hips to turn the short corner. OL can get thrown to the side but then recover enough to drive em away to not affect the QB.

That power helps a ton to push the pocket. Or as a crasher on stunts. He drives OL back so easily and it can be used as a weapon. Run defense is a mixed bag as well. He is kinda bad against double teams. He is too tall and too stiff. He can’t sink low or throw his hips into them. If he reacts early enough he can toss one OL early and then turn it into a 1 on 1 block. He is good against single blocks. He can shoot gaps and throw his shoulder through an OL into a gap. He can 2 gap and control an OL like they are bags on a sled. He can generate a ton of knockback and toss OL to the ground when he sheds.

A true player with very high highs and low lows. Major strengths and major weaknesses. But if you work around it, he can be a legit contributor.

Tim Settle Jr.

 Cool to see him return to the team that drafted him. And to see him turn from a rotational player into a solid starter.

He is also all power. A ton of power when pushing the pocket or crashing on stunts. Can use it for push pulls or pull slide moves. When he rushes, there’s times he’ll work a ton of moves until one hits, like double swipes or club and rips/swims. Run defense is good when he attacks through. Quick slant step and can work upfield. Shooting gaps is his middle name. Just goes through and is hard to stop. He’s good against doubles because he fires through and either generates enough force to knockback an OL to split the double or he’ll sink his body low and throw his hips into it.

Jer’zhan Newton

As a rusher he is solid overall. He shows flashes of legit handfighting. Using double swipes or pull slides with a swim move over the top. He has fluid hips and is quick. But he lacks flexibility which makes it easier for OL to recover against him. He’s a player who can win late as a contain rusher, but when he does disengage to the QB, he ends up falling because of his stiffness issues. Legit stunter and moves very well overall.

Idk what to make of his run defense. A few of the last couple games he looked like a completely different player. But then in some of the games before, he was nearly an unplayable run defender. To the point where the team had to keep him outside of OTs or use him as an OLB. The main thing hurting his snap count is his run defense. If he improves that… can be a solid starter. Main issue is that he is so damn light. He can get good leverage and hand placement. He is able to shoot gaps or play a gap and a half decently at times. Just has to play like the final few games for the whole season. 

Shy Tuttle

A pure NT. Not much else to say. Good run defender, quick reactor. Can knock OL back. Good at 2 gapping or playing a gap and a half. Doesnt add much as a pass rusher.

Ricky Barber

Where did he come from?!?! Practice squad player who was elevated a couple times. Played some NT. Run defense was solid all around. Handled double team fine, and was able to play a gap and a half. Not too shabby

Jeffrey M’ba

Pre draft Writeup:

Reacting NT, played mainly between 0T-2i and some 4i. Solid vs doubles, stout and able to throw hips into them. Gets solid knockback and sheds well. Reads blocks quickly and has good backfield vision. For pass rushing mainly uses bulls and club-rip moves. Was taken off of passing downs. Mainly a run defending DT. 

Base Units

(OLB-DT-NT-DE-OLB)

Oweh-Settle-Payne-Kinlaw-Chaisson

2nd unit

Dorance-Newton-Shy-Deatrich-Josephs

This is a tough one, I can see the lineups being set up in different ways. I assume the team will have a strongside edge that can bump inside and a weakside edge that can play off ball. They could also just have the two best run defending edges out there and roll with that. The DT room for an odd front is hard to decipher. Idk who will be the NT. It should be Payne, but I’d like him over G’s. Settle maybe can be a NT but didn’t do it much in Houston. The backup DT room can be mixed around. Shy is the best run defending NT but have a couple others who can play that role. Newton is best as a DE type rather than a DT, but he’s the best backup DT here. Have a few DE bodies in Omenihu and Wise. Things will change drastically if they do use one of their LBs as that Edge/LB hybrid.

Pass Rushing Package

Oweh-Payne-Armstrong-Chaisson

The only guys I would want on every passing down is Payne and Oweh. Besides that, choose whatever DT or edge to bump inside, and whatever Edge you’d like. The pass rush will probably have to come from stunts and lots of blitzes. A lot of schematic rushes. The matchups will go through:

1. Stunts

2. Blitzes

3. Oweh/Payne/Chaisson/Newton?

It’s tougher setting up matchups without a legit pass rush winner. Oweh and Chaisson can beat up on low end OTs. Payne is the most talented rusher and Newton is close to being a good winner. There are LBs here that can be a major part of the pass rush. There’s a lot of work for Daronte to figure out if a DL doesn’t emerge as a legit pass rush winner.

Overall it’s a decent DL unit. I feel much better about the early down defense and run d. But pass rush will be a major question mark. 

DC Vic Fangio

DL Clint Hurtt

OLB/DE Jeremiah Washburn

Scheme

Reacting front where the DL reacts to the blocks the OL gives and plays at the LoS. OLBs play fast and drop a lot in coverage. Interesting that the OLB coach is also a DE coach. I think it’s cause the IDL has mainly DT and NT types rather than true DE types. But the OLBs can bump inside like a DE. Usually Nolan and Jalyx were the ones that bumped inside but maybe it can be the new acquisitions that do it. 

Player Profile

Jonathan Greenard

Eagles do it again. Get the Vikings main DL for 2 3rd round picks in consecutive years. They then proceed to give him $100m. He was the main pass rusher who got the most matchups set up for him. 

Pass Rush Plan: He is a power rusher who threatens OTs with that power. His plan of attack comes from him threatening the outside shoulder of OTs. From him attacking outside hard, there’s 3 outcomes that can happen: OT oversets to match Greenard, he spins inside. OT gives a soft set and turns hips to him, Greenard will use power, usually a Bull rush or a Stab-Club. OT undersets after being scared of his power/inside move and then Greenard can hit a double swipe, dip and rip, or a ghost move.

He is a unique athlete. He isn’t that quick or fast, but he is long and powerful. He wins outside of OTs a ton by using power as a threat to slow OT’s feet down. He is fluid and flexible. 

He is a good roleplayer. Good stunter especially as a crasher. He does great pushing the pocket, using his long arms to create separation from the OT to disengage easily. Run defense is good all around. He mainly plays as an OLB but play DE. He destroys TEs easily. He mainly shoots gaps and rips around blockers on the backside. Can set a strong edge.

Overall a really good player who can take over as the main edge and pass rush winner for this team.

Jalyx Hunt

Went from a 25% snap player to a starter who overtook a former first rounder on his team. It all started from his run defense improving.

The pass rush is okay. He has good speed and good fluidity. Can use some speed to power. If he wins outside he’ll use a chop or a double swipe move. He can hit a stab move or use a club and crossface to work inside. 

He’s a solid winner but got a ton of pressures off of being a contain player or from PA. He would do a great job of predicting the QB’s movements in the pocket and work to where they step up to or try to work. He was a good stunter, quick looper and knifed his way through as a crasher.

The 1 on 1 winning was pretty disappointing. He has room to grow though, he was a former safety. The traits are solid, and the handfighting is steadily improving. The 2nd half of the season looked way better handfighting wise and technically speaking as a rusher. He is able to do things that make sense. When teams run trap protection, he works inside because there is no inside help and gets easy pressures.

Run defense was surprisingly good, this is how he became a starter. He is very physical and knocks good OTs back. He sets a strong edge and can shed inside. He can shoot gaps and even bump inside.

Good roleplayer and good run defender with some potential to grow.

Nolan Smith Jr.

Former first round pick. One of the fastest 40 times for an edge player.

Pass rush is also a bit underwhelming. He is fast, but not that explosive. You don’t really see him winning outside at a high level. He can outrun slow OTs, but by the time he runs around them the ball should be out. He does have flexible ankles and hips which helps turn through contact, but he is light which hurts against strong punches. Usually uses a chop to rush off the edge or speed to power bull/stab move. 

He can push the pocket well and is a good stunter. Just so fast running them, and when he is inside, can run through punches and contact. That speed helps a ton as a contain player. Run defense was good when he was attacking. Smallness issue meant that he can set the edge, but then loses ground slowly or gets caught up and can’t shed.

Still a good roleplayer and has nice run defense, but would like to see more.

Arnold Ebikitie

Good athlete. It feels like he is still such a raw player after years in the league. He is close to reaching that not raw status. 

He has good speed and explosiveness. He is very fluid. Likes to work a side scissors move off the edge or a club and rip. He has been using stab moves with some speed to power. And he loves to spin inside. He can get a legit rush in. He also is a quality stunter and can drop in coverage. Run defense is fine enough, but is a weakness. He’s good over TEs.

AJ Epenesa

Heavy end who can rush a bit. The Eagles did it again. Getting a quality depth piece because of whatever happened with the Browns.

Lot of power rushes. Bull rushes, stab moves with a club or forklift, push pulls. Can hit club and rips/swims as well. Has some pop and power. Looks a bit slim and moves better overall, solid athlete. Neat stunter, very violent as a crasher. I’m a little surprised at the contract. Looked good as a run defender. Very strong and stout. Can knock back OTs with ease. Sheds aggressively. Creates car crashes with pullers. Gets lockout and plays with extension. Feels very underrated when he’s playing his best ball.

Jose Ramirez

I think he had higher pff grades at Eastern Michigan than Maxx Crosby. Neat PS player

Keyshawn James-Newby

From writeup:

Smaller edge, a bit quick. Solid stunter. Stiff ankles. Weak overall. Potential CFL legend.

Joshua Weru

Trying to convert a Rugby player to a good starter again. Insane tester. I love rugby players now since I joined the sport. Good luck to em but I have no idea how he’ll turn out.

Jalen Carter

Imagine if he was good. Or if he reached 50% of his potential. Eagles are banking on it by making him the highest paid DT in the league. It sounds crazy, it is crazy, but I get it. The talent is there. He is extremely talented, but does a lot of stuff that has you shaking your head.

Hard to talk about his pass rush plan when I don’t think he even knows what it is. He just does stuff. He can hit a double swipe or Olè dudes. He can hit a 2 to 1 bull rush and rip through. He’ll work one way and then pull the OL to the side. He’ll hit a whack spin move as well.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a setup or rhyme and reason for hitting his moves. He’ll club the fuck outta OL. Or lead with his helmet when he is bull rushing or using power. Or he’ll work moves so close to the OL that they can hold onto his chestplate and kill his rush. He isn’t good, he’s just a talented rusher. He can beat high end players with Bullshit because he’s Jalen Carter.

He plays a ton of snaps. And he does try to conserve energy by pacing himself. It is hard at times to gauge his athleticism. He has very explosive lateral movement. When he wants to he can teleport to a gap over. He is crazy strong, generates a ton of power from his lower body. He is fast for a DT and shows legit burst at times. His lower body is flexible and fluid, except for his ankles being a bit stiff. That part leads to him getting pushed upfield just enough to avoid getting a sack or for a QB to step up away from him. 

It’s hard to tell how great he is as a roleplayer since he conserves energy quickly. He’s a great stunter and can use power to push the pocket. He does loaf a bit when containing. He’ll stop when he sees the QB in a throwing motion or knows he can’t win his rush. We see this more on early downs or when he is containing off the edge.

He is a great run defender when he tries. Not that he doesn’t try, just that he’ll try to overplay the pass if he see the QB rollout or boot, even if he hands it off. When he does play the run, sheesh. He can hit the backside with a club and swim and penetrate upfield so quickly. He slants so fast and can knife through OL for tackles. He can play through OL and play gap and a half or 2 gap. He sheds very well and is able to make tackles at a high level for a DT. I don’t know if he reads blocks out. He reacts well, but will peek the wrong way or get sealed off easily. He doesn’t read the blocking scheme and attacks that, he just goes where the RB is going.

I also get annoyed at him complaining about holding or whatever else too much. He plays football like a drunk driver would. I can’t believe the Eagles gave him that much money so quickly. Without proving it on the field. It is one that is heavily reliant on his development. The deal doesn’t kick in until 2028. Still has 2 more years of his rookie deal. A lot of DTs seem to hit their prime when they hit 27/28, when his deal starts. Have to hope he flips a switch and becomes the player he is expected to be.

Jordan Davis

Beast at NT. Was a rotational player until this season. Balled out and got a massive extension for a NT.

Pass rush isn’t what he’s here for. He is talented though. Neat contain player in the middle can get his hands up to mess with QBs vision or throwing angle. Can win reps with good lateral movement or power, even if he is just containing mainly. Solid stunter.

Run defense good. Not much to it. Reacts fast and has great handplacement and technique. Creates a ton of knockback from his strength. Hard to block overall. Can 2 gap and play gap and a half at a high level. Any vertical doubles/combos he handles fine, it’s mainly more horizontal doubles that causes him issue. It comes from his height and a stiffness issue.

Moro Ojomo

Breakout year, went from a low end rotational guy to playing a ton of snaps. Kind of like with Jalyx above, the biggest improvement came in run defense. More reliable you are for early/neutral downs, the easier it is to play more snaps.

Pass rush was pretty nice. Super strong club that can knock OL into running a route. Loved his club and rip move. Would work different things, like double swipes or crosschops. Would try to get to a hump move way too much, didn’t work much yet, but can be a legit move down the line for him. Would love to see more power, has the traits for speed to power. Solid bull rush or push and pull.

Good athlete for a DT overall. Hips are fluid and a bit flexible. Was able to turn the corner well at times. He’s a bit lighter so it was easy to drive him upfield at other times. Good stunter and aggressive crasher. Did a really great job at containing inside. Always had eyes on the QB and prevented him from running up the middle.

Run D improved a ton. Reacted way quicker and read blocks better. Was able to play a gap and a half well and shed inside. Became more stout and used better leverage. Good gap shooter who can turn and run against zone plays. Struggled against doubles from being light.

Overall a great DT3 to have. Great story from being a 7th rounder to this.

Ty Robinson

Didn’t play a ton his rookie season but showed some nice flashes. Had a solid reaction and moments he controlled blockers with ease. And other times he missed with his hands or would get driven back while 2 gapping. Shot gaps well. Played pretty violently. When attacking a base block or bull rushing, he would lead with his head too often. Has power and pop, and a strong club that can knock OL down. Solid athlete. Not far off from being a good depth DT, the talent is there.

Byron Young

Raiders legend, even though they meant to draft the other Byron Young. 

Nothing crazy with him overall, does a lot solid. Moves laterally well when he’s slanting. Flexible and fluidish hips. Reacts pretty fast and sheds strongly. A bit lighter so can get moved or thrown around. Gets solid hand placement and control of blocks. Mainly a contain rusher who does a solid job of keeping the QB in the pocket.

Gabe Hall

Barely played, was waived and mainly stayed on the PS. Tall as hecc. Athletic DT. Can scoot. Solid enough stunter and contain player. Just so light. Gets destroyed by doubles and any physical blocks. Can shoot gaps fine though.

Ta’Quon Graham

Bruh. He was released from camp the day I wrote him up. Anyways a solid athlete and mainly a gap shooter. Ill keep him here cause why not. Been injured a lot. 

Uar Bernard

Another international player who tested like a freak. Maybe he becomes something, maybe not. But a fun shot in the dark

Zion Wilson

Depth

Base Packages

(OLB-DT-NT-DT-OLB)

Greenard-Carter-Davis-Ojomo-Jalyx

2nd Unit

Nolan-Byron-IDK-Ty-Ebikitie

I think the units are easy to figure out. Hunt seems to be cemented as the other starting edge. I would assume Ebikitie and Nolan man the backup units. Nolan more of the strongside edge and Ebikitie as the weakside one. AJ can be another strong side edge.

DT room will be the same 3 starting. The backups will mainly be manned with Byron Young and Ty Robinson. They don’t have a true backup NT. Most teams do play with a 4 down front anyways, but it is an interesting choice.

Pass Rushing Package

Greenard-Carter-Ojomo-Hunt/Nolan

Greenard and Carter are the two surefire guys in for pass rushes. I assume Ojomo is the other main IDL guy, but can have another DT in. The other edge spot can be manned by Hunt or Nolan. Can also be Ebikitie. There’s enough similar skillsets at DT to rotate guys and different skillsets at Edge to mix guys around. The matchups will probably go as:

1. Jonathan Greenard

2. Jalen Carter

3. Ojomo/Insert Edge

This is always the issue with DTs, it takes more to set up matchups for them compared to Edges. Greenard should be the main guy, he was the main pass rusher with the Vikings and when Phillips was here he was the main guy. Carter will be the main interior guy, but we’ll see how often he is featured as the main rusher. He can beat up elite IOL but then will struggle against a backup. Just inconsistent technically. Has so much talent that it doesn’t matter sometimes, but lacking that consistency makes it harder to have him be the main rusher.

The 3rd option can be anyone. It can be Ojomo or an edge. It’ll be more of a week to week thing. I do think Ebikitie is the next best 1 on 1 winner.

Overall, this team paid a ton of money into their DL this offseason, and it checks out with how much talent they have. The most Eagle-y part is that the DL still has a lot of room for improvement.

Scheme Attacking Odd Front

DC Dennard Wilson

DL Dennis Johnson

OLB Charlie Bullen

Scheme

It will be an attacking odd front. 2 OLBs, DE, DT and a NT. Have Dennard Wilson as the new DC. In Tennessee, he had a more slanting attack. DL would shoot gaps or slant to one. It makes sense with the DTs that he brought in being good slanters regardless of what type of defense they played in.

OLBs will be 240lbers who just shoot gaps most of the time and fly upfield. Along with having a heavy edge for run heavy situations. 

Player Profile

Brian Burns

Hot take incoming. The 2nd team all pro player is kinda good. Had 8 more sacks than the previous year. A major reason was that he was getting a lot more matchups forced to him instead of Dex. (Dex had 8.5 sacks less). Super fast boi. 

Pass Rush Plan: All of it. He works vertical and then adjusts based off of the OT’s set. If the OT undersets, he can hit a dip underneath the OT. Just gets super low and rips through. He can also work a double swipe or a chop running around the OT. If you give a square set he can hit a speed to power bull rush. He has very underrated power that can catch OL off guard. If you overset a little but are still square, he can hit a stab move inside and work inside or use a club and rip. If you overset, he can hit his favorite move, the spin move.

He can work other moves, but for the most part this is what he likes to get to. He is great at beating up on lower end OT. He finds ways to make OL wrong. If you make one mistake, he’ll punish you for it. He can work a speed rush, spin inside, or use speed to power which can open up other rushes as well. He can be a handful if you don’t have the talent or technique to match up to him.

He isn’t the most fluid player, but is super flexible. He can dip low because of it but has issues turning the corner super smoothly through contact. He can destroy weak contact. There’s times the OL can give a strong punch and knock him back a few yards, but then he builds up speed and keeps his rush going. It’s a little uncanny to see.

He was used way more as a schematic mismatch. They would blitz him as a LBer or loop him a ton. He had great lateral movement to rush over G’s and beat them. Or use that lateral movement to be a high end looper and cover so much ground so fast. He is a great contain player with his speed. Run defense is better in an attacking mode. He tries to set an edge with arms extended, but doesn’t get knockback. He can get wrecked but for the most part holds ground decently. When he shoots gaps or slips blocks it looks good.

Burns is good. Making the big bucks. And this team built the pass rush around him and Carter which made Dex expendable.

Abdul Carter

What a guy. Hated the predraft talk around him because it dismissed his skillset. People said he was raw but he wasn’t. He was the most pro ready pass rusher and he showed it. Very technically skilled as if he was a 10 year vet.

Pass Rush Plan: Let’s talk. He gets off the ball and will usually try to hesi or jab step to slow the OT’s feet down. His biggest threat is his lateral movement. He is so shifty side to side that it can scare OL and make them stop their kickset. When the OT undersets, he’ll usually hit a dip move. Gets super low and turns his back to the OL to not give a surface they can punch. He’ll finish with a rip and get it high and away to turn the corner. If they overset he can hesi and jab step inside with a club and swim or a spin move. Now if they set him up over a C, he’ll work one way hard then cross the C’s face with a club and swim or a spin move as well.

He was a pass rush weapon. A pressure getter. They would line him up anywhere. Off ball blitzer, over C’s or G’s, edge rusher. 

He is a good athlete. His best trait is his lateral movement, which can be a high end threat. It’s an odd way to attack OL as an edge, but it can work if you get a lot of matchups set up, which Carter did. Lateral Movement helps work inside of OTs or helps pass rush on the interior. With how good he was as an interior rusher… it made someone like Dex very expendable.

He had good speed and explosiveness, but nothing too crazy. It’s why he does have to rely on a lot of hesi’ing and jab steps to slow OL down to win outside. His traits to finish rushes are pretty good. He has very flexible hips and is pretty fluid overall. But he is still pretty light. There’s times OTs can wash him down and drive em upfield, even drop him with a strong punch. Or crumple him if he can’t get outside the OT in time. But if the contact isn’t that strong he’ll be able to flip his hips and get to the QB.

Speaking of upside, Carter felt close to his. This is pretty much what Carter will be as a rusher. That instant impact made him a top 5 selection. His skillset was very technically sound with a pass rush plan ready for the NFL. Not to say he can’t improve. He can still add some power element to his game or perfect his technique, but his traits are his traits and he learned how to use them to its full advantage.

He is a good stunter, but a high end looper. Again, it’s his lateral movement ability. Makes him able to attack space working inside so quickly. Solid contain player but can lose contain from working inside too quickly. Run D is fine. Good in an attacking mode. Can one gap and slip blockers. Can also drive through OTs and get knockback. Struggles to shed and get control of blocks. 

Overall Carter is a good player. And he is the main reason Dex isn’t here anymore.

Kayvon Thibodeaux

Former 5th overall pick. Neat player albeit a limited one. Has a lot of drip though.

He uses a lot of stab forklifts or will hit a double swipe outside. Will try to act like Burns and Abdul with spins or dips, but it doesn’t hit the same.

He has speed and decent explosiveness. It lets him hit speed to power pretty reasonably. He is very stiff through contact. When an OL is driving him out or washing him down, he struggles to turn his hips to the QB. He does it fine without any contact. It hurts him finishing rushes. He has to angle his hips to the QB the whole time and try to win with handfighting, which he can do. He can rack up pressures, but a lot of it wasn’t as impactful as you’d like.

Good crasher on stunts, was great in a tandem with Burns/Carter. Good at pushing the pocket. Run defense was fine enough. Played with lockout and was able to shed solidly. But would get driven back consistently and give up too much space for his LBs to make up.

Overall a solid 3rd edge to have that can be a DT on passing downs. Technician who was worked a lot on his craft. 

Chauncey Golsten

Neat roleplayer. Listed at DE, played a lot more edge on early downs and IDL on passing downs.

Decent athlete, mainly has power and a strong stab club move. A bit stiff lower body. Good stunter and contain player. Gets good vision on the QB and follow his movements well.

TE destroyer. Mainly plays in an attacking style. Steps through OL/TEs and gets a ton of knockback. Drives em back a few yards consistently. Struggles to shed against OTs. Can play his gap very well but can’t work in the gap next to him. Good edge 4 to have. And a nice changeup for the small edges they have.

Khalid Kareem

Honestly, can pretty much use Golsten’s writeup here. Another heavy edge who is mainly a run defender. But he does it as a OLB. Another TE killer. Struggles to disengage on TEs but can create knockback and chaos at the LoS. Also has some power and has a strong stab club/forklift. 

Caleb Murphy

First thought that popped up with him is that he’s a typical Giants edge. Another very small and quick OLB. Nice stunter and was a solid crasher from penetrating and knifing through quickly.

Trace Ford 

He’s happy to be here.

DJ Reader

What a fun NT. At the downturn of his career he found a contract with this team. Much needed after the departure of Dex. He isn’t a replacement for Dex, rather he is a true NT who is here for run defense.

He has some pass rush ability. He is very strong, when he tries to win he has a strong club that moves people or uses a stab forklift. He has quick feet for his size and is very flexible through contact. In his prime he had better bend than a majority of edge rushers. He can scoot. Is a really good crasher on stunts who frees up loopers.

He’s here for his run defense. The Betz phrase gets stuck in my head when watching him. He always “reshapes through contact.” He bends and contorts his body into the weirdest positions and into ways that 99.999999% of people would not be able to still take on contact with. He bends in odd ways to reestablish control of blocks. It’s hard to explain fully but he does it. He can 2 gap and play gap and a half really well. He is able to handle doubles and split them. He reads blocks so quickly and reacts fast. The worst part about him is how often he ends up on the ground when he does get into his weird positions and the OL can run him over. But even when he does lose a rep, he can cause a pile up and still affect the run. He can be a stout force in the middle, but the thing is that this is washed up DJ Reader. Who knows how much he can make up for others here.

Roy Robertson-Harris 

Sucks he tore his achilles. Hope this isnt the end for him.

Was a heavy end and IDL depending on the team. A bit of a true 3-4 DE here.

Strong pull slide or push-pull move. Would work inside with a long arm first then cross face inside. 

Neat run defender. Way better in an attacking mode. Really good gap shooter. Hope he recovers well.

Shelby Harris

Another old head to rely on. Shoutout this Raiders legend for having a long career. Mainly played over Gs as a 2i or 3T.

Not the mover he used to be, does every role pretty solidly. Solid stunter. Can win rushes with his club and swim. Pushes the pocket fine.

Run defense is very unaesthetically pleasing. He just looks so goofy. He played on an attacking front so he shot gaps or power stepped a lot. He would just run into the lineman and then turn and run towards the play. It works though. He can shed well and work in the opposite gap. He does well against doubles when he feels them. He can drop to his knee or sink into them. He also is someone that ends up on the ground more than you’d like. Just have him go and he’ll do his thing.

Darius Alexander

Another Old head to rely on. Just kidding… sort of. He was an older rookie, but came in pretty raw overall.

He has some interesting ability as a rusher. He is strong and has good straight line speed. He can use power and generate it with his speed. He started to tap into it with using bull rushes, stab forklifts and push-pulls. He was able to get some pop and knock dude back, but has to find ways to turn those advantageous positions to wins. He would use the bull to open up a shoulder and hit a club and rip to run through the OTs contact. He has some flexibility, and that with his strength makes him able to run through weak contact well. He struggled to get to working through half an OL. His lateral movement is very low end. It made it easy to recover or to mirror his movements. He is going to have to get stronger and get more power.

Neat roleplayer. Was able to play on passing downs because of his speed. Should be able to become a solid stunter. Run defense was solid against single blockers. He was able to play gap and a half well. He was able to peek and shed into either side of the OL. He struggled against anything more horizontal like reaches and downblocks. He struggled even more against doubles and combos. He is very upright and can’t move sideways, so any contact from the side moves him like paper in the wind.

Just a player with massive weaknesses with little chances of improving, but strengths that has a lot of room to grow.

Sam Roberts

Attacking NT. Can play a lot of 1T and 0T. Can move well and is a good slanter. Pushes the pocket and has a decent bull rush. Mainly shot gaps. Would hit a club and swim to penetrate. Or would play lag technique a lot. Can generate knockback on the C. Struggled to shed off. 

Leki Fotu

He’s tall and does his best. Better at shooting gaps or slanting. Doubles can be rough for him. He is large so he can handle combos okay at times. He sheds well. Can push the pocket a bit. Besides that, mainly a depth DT who can play NT.

Bobby Jamison-Travis

My Writeup on him.

Was More of a React front NT who played between 0T and 3T. Very long and strong. Can hold up good vs doubles, very stout and has some flexibility to sink low. Great at getting knock back and lockout. Lot of reps destroying base blocks, or knocking OL into the gap he was in when he gets downed/reached. sheds violently and has long arms to make tackles a lot of DTs cant. Does so much right. Pass rush is fine, scoots really good for a NT. Good contain player who has good vision on the QB Can push the pocket very well. Tries to work club moves but lets hands Into his chest easily. Can stunt very well. NT with a lot of upside.

Some Travis Jones flashbacks.

Anyways, he was taken to an attacking front team which seemed odd at first. But the Auburn DL coach did coach a bit of both styles. Bobby has the traits to be a very good NT. Im excited for him.

Zacch Pickens

I have a hard time saying anything positive. He’s there. Also I don’t like how his first name is spelled.

Josh Tupou

I don’t have much to say either. PS candidate. 

Anquin Barnes Jr. / Ben Barten

Gonna save time by not watching notable UDFAs.

Nevermind its hard not to. Anquin a big body NT.

Ben Barten though…… not bad. He is a big body DT who can attack okay enough and runs stunts decently. Maybe a sleeper? Fun player.

Base Units

(OLB-DT-NT-DE-OLB)

Burns-Shelby-Reader-Darius-Abdul

2nd Unit

Kayvon-Fotu-Roberts-Bobby-Golsten

I’m not gonna lie, the IDL room is a bit rough. Starters seem set overall, Edge room has a clear 4 that you can mix and match depending on the situation. IDL room has a clear top 3 and then… who knows. I do like Bobby, but he was also a late round DT. After him, I wouldn’t be surprised at whoever gets snaps.

Pass Rushing Package

Burns-Darius-Abdul-Kayvon

They used this package a few times, and it may be the best one on this team. But first the matchups will be set as:

1. Brian Burns

2. Abdul Carter

3. Kayvon/Darius

Burns is the guy until he ain’t. Can rush off the edge or be used as a blitzer. Abdul can attack matchups across the OL. Will be the main interior rusher and can destroy low end OL. Kayvon can win some technical matchups, and you hope Darius can get to that level. This package can have so much lineup versatility with all of the players being able to line up anywhere. They are going all in on a stunt heavy, inside pressure dealio. They would have the edges work inside a ton as well, which led to a lot of “pressures” by tracking data and stuff, but how impactful those pressures can be is debatable.

Also as a sidenote my Arvell Reese writeup:

Good speed with okay explosiveness (maybe a stance change can help). Stiffish lower body that hurts turning the corner through strong contact. So much pop, able to generate a ton of power from his hips and has elite hand placement. Was an elite college run defender and so technically sound. Elite over TEs. Not a great 1 on 1 winner and upside isn’t high. Run defense upside is through the roof. If you use him as a pass rusher, use him as a blitzer, stunter or contain player. He can do all of that at a high level. Looks so much like Donta Hightower in playstyle and traits. Use him similarly!!!

Overall the unit can have a good pass rush, but getting there will be a challenge. It will be very scheme dependant and reliant on the LBs/DBs for early downs. Which they did invest a ton into that position. We’ll see how things go.

Scheme Attacking Odd Front

DC Christian Parker

DL Marcus Dixon

OLB Chidera Uzo-Diribe

AsstDL Demeitre Brim

Scheme

I am assuming it will be an attacking odd front. At the very least it will be an odd front. Coaches indicate more of an attacking odd front, but the DL additions did come from reacting fronts. Hard to tell. Parker did say he wants to play gap and a half defense. You can still do that from an attacking style. Power step through the OL and play from there. Have DL control blockers and free up LBs. Focus on creating displacement and knockback. The OLBs have their own rules but can also play gap and a half from a standup position with the attacking style.

The team most likely will have 2 OLBs, 2 DEs and a NT type out there as their base defense. Parker talked about being multiple, but that’s coachspeak. Teams already run multiple packages and fronts. With basing out of an odd front, the standup edges can drop in coverage more and do more movement stuff. A major theme with this team is how much quality stunters and slanters they have. 

Player Profiles

Rashan Gary

What to make of him. He was on track to getting himself into uncomfortable conversations with how much he was trending up. Then an ACL tear slowed things down as well as the Packers defense changing in a way that limited his role. Went from a guy that looked like he could be an Edge you build around, to just a high end set up guy and roleplayer. I think the trade and renegotiated deal for Gary was worth it. Worst case scenario you have a high end roleplayer that’s worth what Gary is being paid, and best case scenario he returns back to form. It’s a low risk move that can have a high reward.

Gary is someone that can play with his hand down or standing up. He is pretty explosive and fast. He has some power and good lateral movement. He looks like he is running upright the whole time. He has very fluid and flexible hips but is stiff below them. Really good athlete with some limitations.

Pass Rush Plan: Stab Stab Stab. His pass rush is based off of his stab move. He gets the inside stab and works off of it depending on the OTs set and reaction. If OT undersets, he can work a stab club or dip underneath them. If the OT gives a square set he can use speed to power or turn that stab move to a bullrush. If the OT oversets he can use that stab to work inside, usually with a swim/crosssface.

His stance in a 2 point looks odd, his back foot is almost straight behind his front foot, to the point where it looks like he is crossing his feet when he lines up. Most of the time in the last few years he was mainly asked to contain or stunt. He rarely got matchups set up for him. Maybe things will change here, but if not he is a high end stunter and contain player.

He is a great looper, he is able to long stick and loop multiple gaps very quickly. He can crash at a high level and free up other loopers. He is a great contain player. When he contain rushes, he always has his eyes on the QB and reacts to their movements to chase them down. He didn’t have crazy power when pushing the pocket, but did it very solid and always had extension when he used his stab move for it.

He is still very talented. He dominates low end competition. Even when’s just asked to contain he can win consistently against these OTs. His speed to power and athleticism can be overwhelming to low talent OL.

Run defense is odd. He is good at 1 gapping and slipping blocks. He can handle TEs for the most part. But when he gets a block from an OT, he catches blocks a lot. Instead of driving through them, he’ll have his hands out and play to keep extension instead of knocking the OT back. He ends up being a bit underwhelming as a run defender since OTs can drive block him out the way. 

Good and talented player. Gets over-hated, and might be more by being a Cowboy now. Hopefully he can get back to what he was trending to becoming, but it’s been so long that I doubt it would happen.

Donovan Ezeiruaku

Neat rookie season. Small but long OLB. Very long arms.

His pass rush is built from his long ass arms. Uses a lot of stab moves or long arms. Can hit a club and swim inside of OTs. When OTs underset or double punch early, he’ll either hit a double swipe, try to dip underneath or hit his favorite move, the crosschop.

He is super long with crazy arm length. He is an okay overall athlete. Fine speed and explosiveness. He is stronger than he looks. When turning the corner, he has flexible hips but isnt super fluid and has stiff ankles. He has a strong enough lower body to run through weak contact, but strong contact can drive him upfield or wash him down.

He ends up on the ground way too often or will throw a random move and get caught up easily. One issue with his long arms is that without great power and leverage as a run defender or pass rusher, is that OL can chop his arms or snatch him down.

He came into the league as a solid player off the bat and showed it. He is a good stunter. Good looper from his lateral movement ability. Solid contain player who can use his arms to keep extension away from the OL. He was a solid run defender. He was able to use his arm length to keep blockers away from him. He could handle TEs pretty easily. He was able to push and pull blockers away from him. He is small, so if he misses a bit he can get worked and destroyed. But overall a much better run defender than expected. Solid player with some room to grow.

Sam Williams

Special Teams Beast. Was a gunner on punts. Had a few blocked kicks. Resigned with Dallas on a prove it deal.

He is fast, very fast. It shows on special teams, but edge athleticism is different. His speed helps a ton when running stunts or containing. He can chase down QBs with ease. He can use speed to power or run around OTs who are slow. He just doesn’t win pass rushes at a good enough rate. Can get thrown around when he’s caught up. At the moment he is mainly a role player as a pass rusher. He is an okay run defender. If he uses his speed to create power to set an edge or shoot gaps he can be good. He just struggles controlling OL and gets tossed around too easily. This is what he is, the Cowboys love taking cheap shots. Another player affected by a leg injury a few seasons ago.

James Houston

DPR edge. Just a hooper. Had 8 sacks as a rookie but didn’t much after until this season.

It’s so tough as a true DPR edge without high end athleticism. You are capped in how many snaps you can be useful for. DPRs get at most about 35% of snaps.

Houston can hoop. He is quick and fast. He has a multitude of moves he can hit on a whim. Crosschops, dips, swipes, spins, etc. The most interesting aspect is his speed to power. He is legit at it. He can open up OTs inside shoulder and get to the QB with that. OTs don’t always expect it and can get caught with it.

Good stunter and solid contain player. Run defense is much better from what I remember, but it’s just fine enough to have him in neutral situations where you expect a pass play a bit more. Can slip books well, but can get thrown around like a sack of potatoes. He’s a very limited player who is a good DPR.

Malachi Lawrence

Former First Rounder. A bit of a surprise where he was taken, but felt like a player who varied wildly depending on who you talk to.

He is a solid athlete. He is fast but has to build up to that speed which isn’t easy playing edge. He had fluid enough hips and flexible ankles to turn the corner well. He’s just a bit lighter which makes it tough to turn against strong contact. He has solid length and strength. As a rusher he loves to use a stab forklift, push-pull and double swipes. His biggest issue as a rusher is working moves too close to the OL, which leads to him getting caught up a ton. He also runs with short choppy steps, which makes him not look as fast.

He should be a solid roleplayer off the bat. He can be a really good looper and contain player. He’s a fine enough run defender. He always plays with extension and continuously fights OL’s hands off of him. He can get solid knockback as well. Overall he projects as a solid rotational player right away who can be a bit more, how much more depends on who you ask.

Jaishawn Barham

Writeup I had:

Smol bean OLB. Quick and fast. Neat athlete overall but more of a linear one. Hips are fluid and flexible. Struggles to turn corner vs contact, smallness shows up here the most

Fun vs the run, gonna go 100%, 110% of the time. Flies around with his hair on fire. Will drive through the chest of OL and shoot gaps fast. Sheds okay but stubbyness issue and some teams targeted em vs the run. Good stunter, very quick, solid contain player. Issues disengaging Not much as a pass rusher, good blitzer. Works upfield and jab steps to just rip outside or try some swipes? Edge 3 with some edge 2 upside Nolan smith jr jr?

Marist Liufau

Was a true off ball LBer. Listed at OLB now. He was more of a Sam LBer who played on the line quite a bit. Some projection with how he’ll translate but have to see it first. Can move well. Was a physical and violent blitzer. Who knows, maybe he can be a LB/OLB hybrid.

Charles Snowden

Raiders legend. He’s just a roleplayer, not much to him. Can drop and play off ball LBer. Also uses stab moves quite a bit. Solid stunter and contain player. Catches blocks against the run too much. But plays with extension well.

Tyrus Wheat

I’m a little surprised. Bigger DE / OLB who has some pop and clearly ate his Wheaties. Barely played and was mainly a special teamer, but had some nice ability. Had enough power to drop OTs to the ground or to destroy pullers. Played physical and violent. A true kneecap eater. Another Stab move user. The power is close to being great. Was used quite a bit on passing downs. Interesting player to look out for.

Isaiah Land

Not too shabby. A bit quick. Only had 3 defensive snaps. Mainly useful for passing downs. 

Quinnen Williams

Beast. This team traded a lot for him midseason. Tried to save him from the fate of being stuck on a bad team. They got a DT who they can build a DL around. A DT version of that is much cheaper than an Edge version. 

Pass Rush Plan: Power and more Power!!! His move choices depend on the OL. If he works the outside shoulder of IOL, he’ll usually go to a double swipe if he’s working vertical or sees the OL double punch early, or try to hit a club and rip/swim. If these moves don’t work initially, he can keep working another move or go back inside with a pull slide or a HUMP Move! If he’s working inside of an OL he’ll usually hit a pull slide move with a swim over the top. The move he loves using the most is either a stab forklift, or a 2 to 1 bull rush where he bull rushes and then throws all of his power to open up a shoulder. He wants the OL to set square or try to jump set him. He’ll knock you back to the leather helmet age if you give him what he wants. 

He is a powerful powerful human being. So powerful that I have to say it twice. Insane strength that looks unreal at times. He just tosses guys aside or pushes them back to have a path to run to the QB. He makes it look so easy. He’s a really good athlete overall. Super strong legs that run through contact on the inside. Weak contact does nothing to faze him. Lower body is pretty fluid and flexible. Weird issue where he angles himself to the inside of QBs and they are able to escape outside of him. 

He is a great roleplayer and run defender. One of the best crashers in the league. He’ll crash into an OL and be able to penetrate without them stopping him. If he gets an okay enough angle and space, he’s running to the QB like nothing is affecting him. It’s unreal how easy he makes it look. He’s also a good looper who times stunts well. He can contain off the edge and will usually work a double swipe. Looks pretty nice turning the corner off the edge.

Run defense great. When he’s in an attacking mode, he is so hard to stop. Not only can he knock the OL back a few yards consistently, he can 2 gap during it at a high level. He is a rare DL where he makes the RB wrong on reads. The RB’s job on runs isn’t just to run to open gaps, but to trick DL’s eyes so they shed or work to gap too early and block themselves. Q fakes this and peeks his whole body one way to shed back inside when the RB thinks the gap is open. It’s kinda bull shit how good he is at run defense and controlling OL. He also does his 2 to 1 bull thing against the run. Engages with both arms and then throws all his power to one shoulder to open up the OL. He’s good against doubles, but from playing an attacking mode, can be late to react or feel them. He does play a bit higher which isn’t a real issue until doubles/combos come into play.

Overall a great player who can still improve. It’s been a while since his all pro season, but this team looks poised to helping him get his 2nd one.

Kenny Clark

Kung Foo Kenny cause he makes OL look like Foos. They traded Micah Parsons for him!!! 

NT who can play across the line and even be in on passing downs. Had a couple reps rushing off the edge too. He has a strong pull slide and swim or a club and swim move. He also uses a bull rush and can drive OL back in the pocket. He is a bull in a china shop. He looks so outta control when he rushes but always seems to get penetration.

For a NT type he can move very well. Quick and has solid burst. Very strong with some pop. Lower body is a bit fluid and flexible, with his ankles being Super flexible. He can turn the short corner or play in weird positions because of it.

He is a really good roleplayer. Good stunter, especially as a crasher who can run through weak contact and get penetration. He can loop around and be nimble doing that. He pushes the pocket well and can contain good, even contain off the edge. 

Run defense was a bit underwhelming, it’s good, but kinda expected more. He is best in an attacking mode where he is penetrating, taking a power step through a guy or slanting to a gap. He can get a ton of knockback and drive OL back a few yards. He does really well getting eyes in the backfield to make plays. He is one of the best DL that transitions from Run Defense to getting a pass rush on play action. Feels like he got some pressures by being quick at that. Against doubles he can sink low and drop his knee against them. His biggest issues come from playing this attacking style, he can shoot a gap and feel doubles or combos late which move em far from his gap. Or he can get washed from it too. This defense should emphasize more playing with hands through OL rather than just shooting gaps more often. 

Kenny is an underrated DL, he’s good. He was worth trading for!!!

Otito Ogbonnia

Run defending DT. Can be a DE here or be a slanting NT. Probably signed him because he had solid games against the Eagles and Cowboys. 

Not much pass rush wise. Neat stunter and pocket pusher. Mainly signed for run defense.

Did well either in a reacting or attacking mode. He was able to read blocks well and had a solid reaction. He was able to control blockers well and hold his gap. He did struggle to shed a bit. Or you can have him shoot a gap or slant to one. He took good slant steps and was able to rip upfield. He took on doubles okay. Was able to drop to a knee. Was a mixed bag on holding his ground or getting run over. Neat player though.

Jay Toia

Run defending NT. Barely played and was inactive a lot. But honestly… not bad for a 7th rounder.

Nothing pass rush wise. As a run defender he is great at being a big boi. He’s the biggest, the largest. He was surprisingly good against doubles. Whether playing through an OL or shooting gap, he was so hard to move. His biggest issues come from other stuff. He struggled with reach blocks, it was very easy to seal him off. He also had issues disengaging and would let the RB run in his gap while he was in it. He has some run defense potential. He was able to shoot gap pretty well for his size. He could generate some knockback and drive OL back. He can definitely be the backup NT.

LT Overton

The DT?!?!? Imma just post my predraft writeup.

Heavy end that can bump inside. Okay speed/explosiveness, solid power. Great in frog stance, bad with pass rush and stand up stance which hurts explosiveness (false steps and too upright). Handfighting solid, does well to work in space, misses a bit (overuses spin that rarely works, club rip, stab club, crosschop)

Ankles are stiff but hips pretty fluid. Fairly strong through contact, ends up on ground more often than you'd like. Run defense is solid, playing react/attack is good. Solid pop and knockback, issues with extension and shedding blocks. Great slant step (used to react/attack stance) and solid stunter

Day 2 type player, can be a 3-4 DE or 4-3 DE that can bump inside. Potential to be solid starter and role player as pass rusher with some power potential. Josh Paschal vibes?

He’s gonna be a 3-4 DE here. He mainly has a stance issue that limits him. Mainly has to fix that.

Jonathan Bullard

Also a run defending DE. Looks bigger than I remember. Played for a reacting front. Just here for run defense. Was solid against any block.

Adedayo Odeleye

Mainly a tall DE. Played 2nd half of preseason games.

Tommy Dunn

Played for a reacting front as a DE. Slanted a lot to contain off the edge.

DJ Withers

Dunn's teammate. Did the cowgurls just scout Kansas udfas? Same thing where he slanted a lot and contained off the edge a bit.

Kelvin Gilliam

A bit of a surprise. Shot gaps pretty well. Played a lot of 0T. Can scoot a bit.

Base Packages

(OLB-DE-NT-DE-OLB)

Gary-Q-Kenny-Otito-DE

2nd unit

Malachi-LT-Jay-Bullard-Insert OLB

Listing the DE spots as two DE spots instead of a DT and DE spot because Q is listed at DT and played 5T. Same with Bullard. 

Not much of a difference between the Ourlads depth chart. I can’t imagine a different DT making the starting or 2nd unit. Top 3 edges seem set. The real question is who is the 2nd unit edge. I assume it would be Sam Williams. But maybe Houston gets a bit better as a run defender. Or someone else steps up.

Pass Rushing Package

Insert Edge-Clark-Q-Insert Edge

Idk. The only thing set are the pass rushing DTs. It should be Clark and Q. No one has close to the same amount of juice as them. For the edges though, your choice. I would prefer Rashan Gary and Sam Williams if you want to set up the DTs more. But Houston is probably the best technical winner and Ezeiraku is a solid winner and good stunter. There’s a unique strength each edge has for passing downs. The order of matchups should go:

1. Q

2. Stunts

3. Clark/DE/Houston

This team is built through Q. His power is what makes him a high end force winner. The only issue is that he wins slower, even if it is very consistent. The best way to supplement that is with quick rushers off the edge (Sam, Malachi, Barham?, Houston) or run a stunt on the opposite side. This team is also built to stunt at a high level. So many good stunters. If they win quick, it’ll come through that. Stunts, stunts, and more stunts. Also can have Gary be that super roleplayer who forces the QB to the stunt side or interior rusher. And can’t forget the TT stunts here, Q and Kenny ran them at a high level last season. 

That’s how I envision the pass rush being. It should be similar to last season.

Overall this DL is a major improvement from last season. They have a legit 2nd option at edge. Having Q from the start will help. And the DL they brought it are legit run defenders. A whole new looks for the Cowboys.

Scheme Reacting Odd Front

DC Chris O’Leary

DL Mike Elston

OLB Dylan Roney

AsstDL Julian Campenni

AsstOLB Denzel Martin

Scheme

Reacting Odd Front. This team is a massive believer in the DTs taking care of the run and the OLBs help out and are the main pass rushers. They have two OLBs, two DTs and a NT. Even though it’s a 3-4 team, they don't really have true DE types. The DTs for the most part are true interior players.

React/Attack rules for any DL with their hand down. Set the LoS and don’t give up any clear space between the tackles. Play through the OL and free up LBs. This team has been a firm believer in versatility, more so in having a few OLBs who can bump inside of tackles or IDL who can shift from a NT to regular DT. 

Player Profiles

Khalil Mack

Such a sad watch. Khalil Mack is my favorite player. He is a Raiders Legend and the player that got me into football and interested in DL. He still looks incredible. Can easily play a few more years if he wanted to. Just watching makes me remember his prime and how dominant he was. He put fear into offenses. He was the type of player where OCs were afraid to drop back against him. They didn’t just force protection his way, they had to change up their play calls and offense because of him. He brought fear to the league that I haven’t seen since. Myles will have some teams who treat him this way, but they aren’t as afraid of dropping back in the pocket. 

Mainly just wanted to remind folk’ll of the dude Mack was. He is still so talented. Can still make a case that he’s a top 10 Edge athlete. Still explosive and quick, with an insane 2nd gear when chasing down QBs. So much power and raw strength.

The washed version of him is still a guy you can set up matchups for. They didn't do it as much because of how he won. Can talk about his pass rush plan but it’s pretty much just using a 2 to 1 bull rush or getting into a long arm on the inside shoulder and going through the OT or working inside of him. With the way he wins, he usually gets caught up and can’t get off the OT to turn a dominant power rush into a sack or getting to the QB. He doesn’t have the length or ability to do it consistently. He isn’t a great winner outside of OTs. Can see him work a crosschop but that’s the main part he is washed in. He’s mainly just a pure power rusher who is best suited as a setup guy or 2nd option.

Great stunter, especially as a crasher. Can knock OL to the ground. With the disengaging part, that’s his biggest issue as a pocket pusher. He can drive the OL to the QB, but then the QB can still run around him and make his throw. Insane power still.

Run defense is legit too. Slips blocks like nothing. Tosses around Tes. Sets a very strong edge. Can play a gap and a half. Makes plays in the backfield. 

Even as a super washed version of himself, he is still a legit player.

Tuli Tuipulotu

Man… one of the few players where it’s hard to convey with the tiers. Just hard to not feel like I am underrating him and overrating him at the same time. His thing is that he has one of the most unique skillsets and traits combination.

To start with the traits. He isn’t that great with his forcing traits. He is very underwhelming with his speed and explosiveness. Just looks fine in that regard. His lateral movement is solid. He has good power, but nothing crazy. The traits he has to get OTs in bad positions are not really there. But… his finishing traits?!?!? He has some of the most fluid and flexible hips in the league. He also has a very strong lower body. There’s reps where he contorts his body into weird positions and can run through strong contact like it’s nothing. Or reps where OTs start to drive him upfield and he can just turn into that contact to get himself into a position to get to the QB. It leads to a weird issue where I have no idea how to properly rate him.

As a pass rusher he usually works a double swipe off the edge. Or works a club and rip/crossface/swim or a crosschop usually as an interior rusher. Off the edge is where his athleticism gets funky. He can miss his moves but if he gets to an okay enough position, he can finish his rush to the QB. Without getting to a clear winning position, it leads to slower wins which he gets quite a bit. The interior rushes has less of this issue, he can win quicker with better timing and a shorter path on the inside. Much better interior winner. 

He is a great stunter. Another reason why the tiers don’t do it justice is that he is great, but doesn’t have that higher end athleticism that guys in the high end stunter tier have. He just runs them as efficiently as possible. Takes the shortest path as possible, times them up and sets them up at a high level. When he’s looping or crashing, can transition to penetrating and use his lower body to run through contact. That’s the main reason he is great at stunts, he is so fluid and flexible and strong through any contact even when he faces them on stunts. Just able to run through guys by being too flexible and balanced.

He gets a ton of his pressures off of stunts, a stunt king who can win matchups on the interior at a legit rate. Also a quality roleplayer. Run defense was solid all around. Solid at 1 gapping or destroying TEs as well as setting a great edge. He is one of the better schematic weapons in the league.

Bud Dupree

Former 1st rounder. Felt like he was overhated a ton when he was with the Steelers, but he was good enough for a 10+ year career. Kudos to him.

Declining athlete sadly. He is still very fast, but not explosive, takes a while to build up that speed. He has flexible hips, but is one of the stiffest players I have ever seen. He cannot move sideways or turn his body. When looping, he almost has to hop around the OL to loop around them. Or he can have a free shot at the QB and start to breakdown, but if the QB moves a foot away, he will overrun him. 

Bull rush is still legit. Can work a crosschop or chop and rips. Pushes the pocket well. Better as a crasher on stunts. Very strong run defender who can 2 gap and bump inside as a 4i/3T. Very solid backup.

Akheem Mesidor

Man oh man. Former 1st rounder. One of the oldest players in the class. A major part of Miami making it to the National Championship.

He was drafted early despite his age for two reasons, pass rush and his instant impact. His handfighting was legit and was able to win off the edge or over the interior. He loved double swipes off the edge or a club and swim on the inside. He was a dominant college pass rusher from overwhelming college OL with NFL level technique. Quick reactions and timed things up perfectly. Always seemed to choose the right setup and move to attack sets and punches of OL. Had to use a ton of hesis and jab steps to slow the OLs feet down.

He was a solid overall athlete, quick and fluid with good lateral movement. He has okay flexibility and is a bit weak turning the corner. His fluidity helps turn the corner against weak contact, but strong contact was enough to shut him down. Lacked power and strength. It was too easy to anchor or shut down his power. But he was able to transition to other moves to still beat guys. I think one reason it took him so long to become a legit prospect was that he was a decent athlete, but needed to develop technique to push him into a surefire top 2 rounds caliber prospect. He ended up pushing himself to a 1st round prospect. I am a bit wary of the upside. He is a very maxed out prospect, but who knows how close he is to his ceiling as a pass rusher.

He is a good roleplayer, quality stunter. Can be a very good contain player on the interior. Lots of versatility with where he lines up. Can drop into coverage and look like a LB. The biggest concern is run defense. He is best in an attacking mode. Shooting gaps and 1 gapping. Had moments where he destroyed TEs. But had way too much moments where TEs destroyed him. Did bump inside in college, when OL had control of him, they would throw him around with ease. I think he can be viable as a weakside OLB who plays attack/react, folds inside, or slants a lot. I would be worried about him playing through OL.

At the very least he can be a quality DPR who can line up anywhere. He can have an instant impact on the pass rush. The run defense is something that can improve a lot.

Kyle Kennard

Tries his best….

… but for real was okay. Felt similar to Bud Dupree traits wise. Has some speed, but not explosive, has to build it up. Stiffer lower body that hurts him overall. He just lacks real strength. Has some speed to power potential. Was better as a weakside OLB who shot gaps. TEs were able to handle him too easily. Okay stunter. Can push the pocket fine. Neat depth.

Nadame Tucker

Smaller, quick weakside edge. Loved his double swipe. Used a lot of hesis and jab steps to slow OTs feet down. Super smol bean and easy to recover against. Off balanced way too often. Lot of effort against the run. Potential depth edge.

Garmon Randolph

Physical PS type of guy. I like the way he played in the preseason. 2 gapped over OTs and solid edge setter. Able to drop in coverage. 

Dalvin Tomlinson

Good NT. Bounced around the league quite a bit and has played for more attacking fronts the last 5 seasons. Signed with a reacting front which is interesting.

Neat on pass rushes. Does a lot of the basic stuff solid. Quality stunter and pocket pusher. Can win pass rushes with power. Has a strong Pull slide move and can have decent bull rushes.

Run defense is good overall. Can sink very low against doubles and reacts quickly to them. Very flexible lower body for a big boi. Very stout. Gets good leverage and hand placement. Can reset the LoS. Better at playing a lag technique as a 0T.

Teair Tart

Good for him for working hard to turn his career around. Got a sizable contract after proving himself. He is here for run defense.

Pass rush wise he tries to use power. Will work club and rips/swims and even work to a hump move. He is not made for this. Good crasher on stunts. Does roleplayer stuff fine enough. Doesn’t have much traits or athleticism to win pass rushes.

He’s here for run defense. Legit run defender. Mainly plays over G’s. Asked to mirror step and reads plays out very quickly. Gets control of OL with hand placement and leverage. He’ll look like he’s playing with a tall pad level but he is in full control of blockers. Sheds great and uses his hips to throw guys aside. When they slant him or have him rip through on reach blocks, he can penetrate through to the backfield. He is strong enough to run by blockers trying to push em out. 

Whatever you have em do run defense wise, he’ll mess up the run game. Pass game wise he can get messed up.

Jamaree Caldwell

My pookie. Pretty much my favorite player in his class. One of the most interesting NT prospects. A Bowling Ball of a man.

He was able to play on passing downs! Rare for a NT to do. He is very explosive for his size. His best traits were his flexibility and fluidity. He is crazy fluid, sometimes a bit too fluid. He’ll flip his hips past the QB at times, which is an odd problem to have. He was even asked to contain off the edge at times. Used a lot as a stunter and contain player. Was able to push the pocket and use speed to power bull rushes. Very strong crasher from his size and explosiveness combination as well as being very aggressive.

Run defense is very good too. He is a legit NT who can play anywhere on the interior. He is a very large human who is also very stubby. A true bowling ball build. And he even plays like one too. Against doubles he can throw his hips into them or drop to his knee to split them. If he gets knocked away from his gap, he’s usually able to shed back to it after one of the OL climbs. He is super flexible to handle contact. He can bend his body in weird ways to stop any forward momentum from the OL. He can mirror step and read blocks very quickly. He strikes violently and shoots his hips through when making contact. He can 2 gap and shed in either one. The real issue with him is that he can get to the right spot in run defense, but his stubby arms prevent him from making more tackles or slipping off of some. He can even attack very well. There’s times he’ll slant or power step into a gap and throw his shoulder into a dude to knock them back a few yards. He’s a DT that lives at the LoS and sometimes behind it.

Justin Eboigbe

The DPR DT! He was used a lot more on passing downs for his stunting ability.

He isn’t much of a pass rush winner yet. But he can move well and has fluid/flexible hips. He has some pop and can contain well. He is a great stunter. That's why he’s used a ton on passing downs. Great crasher who can drive OL out the way and get vertical for pressure. Or he can free up any looper. Great at running TT stunts the most.

Run defense is fine. Reads blocks okay, can get decent control at time. Gets washed and driven back a bit too easily. We know the deal with him, fine run defender and good roleplayer. 

Nick Barrett

Mainly played in an attacking front, interesting selection here. 

Bigger body that can handle doubles by sinking low and getting skinny in between them. Reactions and reads are a little slow, but can be a product of playing more attack/react. Leans forward when engaging and doesn’t always shoot his hips through. Still very strong and stout. Very hard to move and generates a ton of knockback. Gets good hand placement and control of blocks to shed violently. 

Good slant step and can stunt very well. Has his club and cross face move and the push pull. He’s a solid athlete with good lateral movement. Has fluid hips and is a bit flexible for his size. Brings run D with a little pass rush to this team.

Terah Edwards

Played some NT in Preseason. A PS body.

Scott Matlock

This team’s Patrick Ricard. FB/DT hybrid. Honestly mainly here for an extra run defender. Got into some short situations. Wasn’t bad vs the run. Able to control OL well and handle doubles fine enough.

Jacobian Guillory

Bigger body DT. Leans a lot and got snatched down a bit. Can hold his ground well overall. Pops straight up out of his stance too much. Reacting DT tho. Won’t add much to a pass rush. 

Terry Webb

Was more of an attacking NT. Stout with solid leverage. Was able to hold his own against doubles and could push the pocket.

Jahmeer Carter

Played for a Reacting Front. Good at playing through base blocks. Struggled against other blocks and didn’t add much as a pass rusher.

Base Units

(OLB-DT-NT-DT-OLB)

Mack-Jamaree Caldwell-Dalvin-Teair-Tuli

2nd Unit

Dupree-Eboigbe-Barrett-Insert Whoever-Akheem

A chalky DL room. The Edges are pretty set with the starters and backups. The real competition is for the depth edges and making the team. 

DT is a clusterfudge. You can honestly organize them in any way you want. You have 4 DTs who can play NT and then build from there. The biggest competition will be that 6th DT spot. Maybe it’s just Matlock again. Or someone else steps up for it.

Pass Rushing Unit

Mack-Tuli-Akheem/Eboigbe-Bud/Akheem

You can roll with a 4 Edge lineup. Mack/Tuli/Akheem can rush from the interior very seriously. They can win matchups on the inside. The order they should get setup is

1. Mack

2. Tuli

3. Akheem

I think this is one reason Akheem was drafted so highly. They wanted another serious pass rush winner. The only issue is that there isn’t a legit enough edge winner. Khalil Mack is the closest, he can still dominate OTs with power, but he lacks traits to turn those powerful rushes to impactful pressures or sacks. The pass rush has to be good as a whole. The best way to get pressure is to have Mack do his thing and then run a stunt with Tuli and whoever else. Tuli and Akheem should get set up matchups over the interior. I wouldn’t want to over OTs that often. Eboigbe and Bud are just roleplayers. Can also have Jamaree out here too.

For the most part you are relying on beating pass pro with interior rushes, stunts, and blitzes. 

Overall a solid unit that is built to get to passing situations very well, but lacks a true main pass rusher to build around. It’s a team full of great secondary options and run defenders.

Scheme Attacking Hybrid Front?

DC Rob Leonard

DL Travis Smith

AsstDL Kenyon Jackson

Scheme

Who knows how the defensive scheme will truly look. The coaching staff suggests it’ll be based off of an even front or be a hybrid DL. But then Rob himself said he wants to run an attacking odd front. But then the personnel is built for more of a hybrid look. Who knows what it’ll truly look like. All we know is the team will be an attacking front.

Last season they shot gaps a ton, and had the DL work vertical a ton. They would also slant and stunt a lot on early downs. The defense was built to move. They didn’t control gaps as much, they penetrated and made plays. Maxx is a DL you build around, and they put him in positions to make plays. Should expect the same thing as the Leonard hire felt like a safe bet to keep Maxx happy if he stayed with the team. 

Player Profile

Maxx Crosby

He good. It sucks that the team around him has been so bad, because it limits a lot more of what he can do, especially as a pass rusher. He’s just a playmaker.

He is one of the very few players who get what I call the Elite Edge treatment. So far after watching the AFC teams, can say Watt gets it now. The Texans guys are too good to focus on stopping just one of them. With Crosby it’s a little different because teams gameplan against him not just as a pass rusher, but also a run defender. You can see teams change up how they call their offense just because of him. It’s so valuable to a defense. It frees up everyone else. Also why Maxx was initially worth two 1st rounders till ya know, Ravens acted like snakes. It’s a little annoying watching Maxx because he can still make plays and get TFLs as a run defender. But then as a pass rusher there’s some games he gets too much attention that he doesn’t have many notable plays. The raiders account for this with his usage and have em be a decoy for a majority of the time. Before that let’s talk about Maxx the pass rusher.

Pass rush Plan: Just Double Swipes and nothing else.

New Pass Rush Plan: Huh?!?!? He changed his pass rush plan?!?!?! I am so surprised. I can’t believe it. The last few years he would almost exclusively use a double swipe. His approach was the same, 2 steps vertical then a jab step and hit the double swipe. He would miss a lot and it wouldn’t matter, he could still turn the corner for a win. Occasionally he would spin inside. This year he still used the same approach, but changed it depending on protection. Teams wouldn’t just chip him and have outside releases slow him down, they would have a TE/RB block him, then he would have to beat them before they ran off for a route and before he was able to rush over the OT. He had to pace himself more by using power. I am surprised he changed his game so quickly. If he expects an outside release or chip help, he’ll use power to speed. Either hit a bull rush or get his hands on the OT, and then pull them to the side and finish with a rip. 

Maxx changing his pass rush plan is very unexpected. He is an elite athlete and could have a great career doing the same ol’ schtick. This change is very interesting, might be enough to have an All Pro type season. 

He is very explosive. Quick and fast. Has one of the most malleable lower bodies in the league. His hips are insanely fluid and flexible. He can turn the corner with ease. If the QB can’t step up, Maxx will get there.

The biggest issue with Maxx is his technique. It’s so tough with elite athletes. He can just bullshit his way to winning reps. He’ll miss with his double swipe and can still turn the corner. It does lead to a lot of bad habits and just spamming moves without reacting to the OL. He’s been able to get away with it until teams started focusing on him a bit too much. He has to adjust and not just read the OL, but also learn to beat protections. He has improved massively since last season. It also feels like he’s not even 50% of what he can be. Still has so much room to grow.

Elite roleplayer. Elite stunter, especially as a looper. His burst and lateral movement is rare. Along with the fact that he can bend in crazy ways through the line. Good contain player overall. Loses contain some reps but it has to do more with the scheme and rules rather than being an issue with him.

Run defense is elite. But mainly when he is penetrating and 1 gapping. He is disappointing when trying to play through OL. Way too many times he gets driven back or out of his gap. But when he attacks the gap instead of the OL, he is unstoppable. Will hit a club and swim around the OL and get vertical to the ball carrier. Just so quick and can play through contact at a high level.

As for his usage, he was able to play across the line as a rusher and run defender. He can bump inside of OTs and shoot a gap. Or play over TEs.

Because he gets the elite edge treatment, it’s harder setting up matchups for him. They use him as a decoy a lot. They also use stunts to get pressure. On a lot of early downs or neutral situations they have him contain or be a fallback player. When he contains he reads the QB’s vision and tries to get in the way of the passing lane. When he’s a fallback player, he works back inside and finds the first open gap. It’s almost like a stunt where he’s a looper, except it’s more just about finding any space rather than a specific spot. Doing this also helps a ton if they blitz or stunt elsewhere. 

Overall Maxx is an elite player who will have to adapt more to getting treated as such.

Kwity Paye

Neat player. Solid all around guy. Such a typical Colts edge. Former first rounder too. And technically the Colt’s 1st or 2nd option. 

He’s an odd athlete. He is very strong, but not necessarily powerful. He can toss OL and reverse pancake them, but he doesn’t threaten OTs enough with that power. He tries to use that power to get OTs to anchor or punch early for his cross chop or double swipe, but they rarely bite. He isn’t noticeably fast or explosive. And runs like he is stomping on grapes. He does have underrated lateral movement.

He can use his bull rush, and at times it looks great. He is super strong, so he can eventually win late or have moments where if the OT is caught lackin, he takes a smackin. And then gets into a crosschop or double swipe outside. Can also use a stab forklift. He does stack moves very well, if one doesn’t work he can keep working another move until he wins. Always fighting.

Good stunter, the looping surprised me with how legit his lateral movement was. He was able to long stick and loop multiple gaps. A physical crasher who can get skinny to penetrate through the line. Solid contain player, just always able to play with extension and disengage easily to wherever the qb goes.

Run defense is good all around. Was able to play as a standup edge or even bump inside with his hand down. Did some reacting stuff. Can play a gap and a half well and 2 gap over TEs. Super physical, see it a lot against pullers. Sets a very mean edge. Holds his ground pretty well.

Paye was signed after Maxx was initially traded. He got a hefty deal but I don’t mind it. It’s weird because he seemed like he could make a good duo to pair with a main edge, which we didn’t have till the trade was rescinded. A certified starter his whole career who earned it with run defense and being able to be a reliable role player. Will be neat to see him as that 2nd edge.

Malcolm Koonce

DPR pass rusher!!! Kudos to him for developing. His first two seasons he barely played, wasn’t there technically as a pass rusher but had upside, and the run defense was unplayably bad. Became serviceable enough in 2023 and had a breakout year. Had a solid season last year and re-signed with the team.

He’s an okay athlete all around. Solid speed and explosiveness. A bit stiff in the lower body. He built a pass rush plan to avoid his deficiencies and it works. 

He could have tried being more of a technical winner and tried winning on the outside shoulder as his main threat. But he doesn’t have the traits to threaten OTs and they can drive em upfield pretty easily. So he built his game around POWER!!! He attacks with bull rushes, stabs and long arms. He can use that power to hit a push pull on the outside, a stab forklift or even a pull slide. He can catch some OL off guard and drive em back with that power. He can use a long arm or inside stab and work inside at QB depth.

When the OT expects power, then he can work his speed rushes. Usually hitting a chop and rip or trying to dip around the edge. Can also work a double swipe and even spin inside if he needs to.

He’s become a quality rusher with leaning into more speed to power. He’s a quality role player as well. Good stunter, times them well. Good contain player overall and can push the pocket. Also can drop into coverage. Run defense is solid when he’s playing attack/react. Controls TEs and can 2 gap over them. Also sets a nice edge.

Overall Koonce is a very quality Edge 3 to have.

Keyron Crawford

More of an OLB type. He had solid speed and explosiveness. A little stiff in the hips but had solid ankle flexibility. A bit weak against contact when trying to turn the corner. Doesn’t look great trying to win the outside shoulder consistently, mainly uses a double swipe. But has some underrated speed to power.

He’s really just a Malcolm Koonce replacement. This is just copy and pasting the stuff from above. Crawford should get better with power, already has a solid bull rush or stab move. The good news is he has at least a year to develop. 

Good looper and solid contain player. Can drop. Better at 1 gapping or defending the run over TEs.

Brennan Jackson

Mainly a PS guy. Used some power with a stab or long arm move. Solid roleplayer. Doesn’t have the talent or skillset to be a legit pass rush winner at the moment. More of an OLB type.

Jahfari Harvey

Okay stunter. Felt so mean to have em rush off the edge. Tried to work double swipes and used some speed to power stuff. More of a PS type. Run D was iffy.

Cian Slone

My main notes were “Very physical, super aggressive against pullers. Always plays 110% 100% of the time. Very conditioned. Can play off ball LB.” Maybe a PS candidate?

Adam Butler

First off, I'm gonna say, shoutout Butler for his development. Improved a ton in his career. He’s been so underrated the last few seasons. Been a legit starting DT who’s played over 70% of snaps the last two seasons. He was an undrafted player who maximized his talent. Also very versatile, can play NT and DT. 

As a rusher he does so much as a stunter. He can read stunts at a high level and times them up. He finds the most efficient path as a looper. Solid contain player. He isn't necessarily a good athlete, lacking that speed and lateral movement to force wins. He can win by punishing mistakes. If the OL has bad leverage, bad punch, or opens up too much in one way he can hit his club and swim, stab-club, or his favorite move, the spin move. He is a certified spinny boi. He wasn’t given much chances to get a real rush, mainly being asked to stunt or contain. When he does, he can win a few matchups.

Run defense is good all around. He can play all across the DL. He has a very quick reaction and read blocks out fast. He can take on doubles and drop to his knee or sink his hips to split them. He can 2 gap and take control of the OL. He can play both react/attack or attack/react very well. Hand placement and leverage is usually great. Legit slanter. Lot of ways to say he does a lot of the technical parts of run defense at a high level. Maximized his skillset here as well.

That's what Butler has been. Super reliable, very fun, and a player who is fun to support.

Thomas Booker IV

Traded for him, and he ended up being a solid DT.

As an athlete he is a pure linear speed guy. It’s always a weird type of athlete to be on the inside, since it’s hard to use speed to power to win on the inside. The main ways to force wins on the inside are with lateral movement or power. Booker isn’t a pass rusher winner just yet. The one interesting trait he has is some hip flexibility, but has stiffness issues elsewhere that makes it easy to drive him upfield. 

His real value with his speed is as a roleplayer. He is legit at running stunts with how fast he is. He can get penetration off of that alone and win reps that way. Can use that speed to power to push the pocket. Does a solid job at getting leverage. He can contain decently enough.

Run defense was fine. Better at shooting gaps and penetrating. Can get decent control of OL to 2 gap. Can generate knockback. Way better in an attacking mode, gets too lost in the sauce when diagnosing the play. Way too light to handle doubles consistently.

Jonah Laulu

Okay!!! This might be our DPR DT. Another player I was surprised to see develop a ton since last season. Tall and light DT. 

His handfighting… he’s close to being good. Feels like he spams a spin move because of Butler. He has a great spin move but overuses it to where he can get wrecked when his back is turned. He hit quite a bit of moves. Had a nice crosschop, stab forklift to a swim, club and rip, etc. he was probably the most consistent DL with handfighting. Partly because he had way more opportunities than Butler. Even set up rushes for him a bit. He’s a solid DT athlete. He is flexible and fluid enough to turn the corner. I don’t know where the ceiling is, but he’s someone to look out for.

Roleplayer stuff was fine. Good looper. Fine contain player. Does some goofy stuff though like spinning for no reason and losing contain. Run Defense….. he tries hard. He’s too tall so double teams wreck him. He’s fine against single blocks. Has some nice reps with solid hand placement or leverage or power stepping and getting knockback. He’s mainly here for pass rush.

Benito Jones

MY BOI, WE GOT MY BOI!!! He’s been one of my favorite NTs ever since I got way more into studying DL play a few years ago. I’m so hyped for this acquisition.

Pass rush wise he can do a lot of roleplayer stuffs, but he’s mainly here for run defense. The handfighting isn’t bad. Some club and swims or bull rushes here and there. Can stunt well and contain using power.

He’s here for run defense. Good reaction and read blocks well. Can play as a true NT and 2 gaps. Does well sinking low or dropping into doubles. Very stout and strong. Can fight reach blocks. Plays with extension and can knockback the OL. OL can get around him to seal him off, but he’ll condense the gap by driving them back. Just overall a very sound NT.

Tonka Hemingway

My favorite SC player from the 2025 class. Smaller and quick DT. 

He is a bit raw overall but moves very well. He can contain off the edge and ran stunts well. Mainly uses a double swipe and spins going back to his college days. Quick with solid lateral movement. Fluid lower body for a big guy. He can become a decent pass rusher, but won’t get a lot of opportunities unless his run defense improves. It’s a bit of a mess, he has good moments where he shoots his hands and gets good leverage/knockback. Or has moments where he penetrates through the line. But then will get blown off the ball by doubles/combos or get crumpled by a stronger OL. Did play some true edge snaps on early downs. It helped make run defense responsibility easier.

JJ Pegues

Another Draft crush from last season’s class. Also the namesake of my username “JJ Pegues Cross Chop”. Also known as the Pegasus, he flies high with his cross chop move.

Fun college DT. But in the NFL still has a lot of ways to go before being a solid backup. He was okay as a pass rusher. He has good NT athleticism, but okay DT athleticism. Has a lot of untapped power. Some neat reps of pushing the pocket or opening up an OL with a bull rush.

Run defense was fine. He was able to use that power to get knockback and was able to drive C’s back a few yards. He attacks very well and just throws his body through guys. He is stout enough against doubles, but can feel them a bit late. He can get caught up when he focuses more on attacking a gap instead of playing through a guy. Solid slant step. He feels close to being good as a run defender. Main issue is his backfield vision isn’t good, he’ll miss RBs cutting into a neighboring gap or seeing where the play is going.

He can play NT and DT for this team.

Treven Ma’ae

Mainly a preseason guy. Didn’t look too bad, probably can be a PS DT. Moved well, played hard. Mainly a smaller attacking DT. 

Brandon Cleveland

Neat NT. Played for a reacting front. Was fine against doubles, had moments he was able to sink and moments he got wrecked. Was able to 2 gap very well against C’s. Had great backfield vision and played with lockout. Was able to shoot hips through on contact. Got reached super easily, was best at holding his ground. Could move decently enough to be a fine stunter and contain player. Mainly a NT you just want to get 1 on 1s against the C vs the run. 

Gary Smith ii

This dude is built super wide. He is probably the widest player in the league. Mainly was a reacting NT. Plays super low and was naturally stout against doubles, despite not dropping a knee or throwing his hips into it. Moved laterally very well and read blocks out quickly. Not easy to reach for a big boi. Could 2 gap and shed very violently. Didn’t get much knockback and played at the LoS. Could stunt and slant fine enough. Didn’t add much as a pass rusher. Pure space eater who can scoot a little.

Laki Tasi

He’s just a massive human being. Former rugby player. Was a G last season but transitioned to DL. Maybe he can be something. Who knows. 

Base Units

(OLB-DE-NT-DE-OLB)

Maxx-Laulu-Butler-Booker-Paye

2nd Unit

Koonce-Tonka-Benito-JJPegues-Crawford

Overall a pretty easy guess for how the units will play out. I think the starting unit will base a bit out of an odd front, they have gone to it quite a bit often. Paye should be the opposite starter across from Maxx due to his run D and role playing ability. The 2nd unit edges shouldn’t have much competition. The DT units can be whatever you want it to be. The only guy that is a sure starter is Butler. After that it’s just whatever flavor you want. Benito can be a starting NT. There can be a battle for another NT spot. Have two rookie NTs who can compete for the roster. Depends on if the team wants more beef and stoutness or keep on being light and focus on movement. 

Pass Rushing Package

Maxx-Butler-Laulu/Booker-Koonce/Paye

This one is tough. Can be matchup dependent or vibe dependent for which ever other DT/Edge you want. Maxx is Maxx and Butler is like a Butler to a main Rusher with how he supplements them. If you want another quality winner or attack a technical mismatch, you can use Laulu on the interior or Koonce off the edge. If you want a better role player or stunter and help force the QB to Maxx, then use Booker/Paye. Either way it can change game to game. The order of matchups should be:

1. Maxx

2. Koonce/Laulu

3. Paye/Butler

The way the pass rush should work is that Maxx is the main winner you try to set up. The only issue is that he gets treated like an elite player, so you will end up having to use him in other ways. You can have him be a decoy that helps contain while another rusher gets a matchup set up. Or stunt him, either for pressure or for containing. Either way Maxx is enough of a forcing element that makes everyone around him better by just being on the field.

Overall it is a surprisingly solid DL. As a Raiders fan who hasn’t watched Raiders tape yet of this season, I was very surprised at how well it looked. There’s enough young guys to be optimistic about, and enough talent to be a quality unit.

Scheme Reacting Even Front

DC Steve Spagnuolo

DL Joe Cullen

AsstDL Terry Bradden Jr.

Scheme

Reacting front. The DL sets the LoS and controls OL. They use a strongside and weakside edge. The strongside edge plays with his hand down and can bump inside, whereas the weakside edge can play standup and is used to drop on the blitzes or creepers they run. The DTs usually have a DT and NT type. Chris Jones usually handles the DT spot and plays 3T mainly. The NT mainly plays 1T and 2i. They can have a true NT type or play with two lighter DTs who are more interchangeable. The front takes care of business and frees up the LBs.

Player Profile

George Karlaftis 

A player who seems to have a bit of a negative perception. Mainly a strongside edge. Great partner for Chris Jones. He is a high end roleplayer who can win matchups himself.

Pass Rush Plan: His pass rush comes from his Stab move. He contains with his stab move to create separation from the OT and can get eyes on the QB. Because he has legit power and it’s a threat, he uses that power threat to open up inside or outside moves. OTs will anchor down early and he can use a Stab-Club or Side Scissors move to knock hands away and win off the edge. Or he can use that stab move to push OTs away and work inside or use a spin move.

He was used to free up Jones a lot. Based off of my pass rush charting, he contained about 70% of reps which was a pretty high rate on real pass rushes. I think a lot of talk of him not being able to win rushes or not being a legit pass rusher himself comes from his usage. When he was asked to win reps, he did it at about a 36% win rate, which is a high mark. He can win like a legit 2nd option and maybe a pseudo main option.

Great contain player, mainly as a pocket pusher. Wasn’t asked to stunt a lot but was good at it. Good run defender. Physical and uses hand placement and leverage to his advantage. Very nice slanter and when asked to penetrate. Can 2 gap on TEs.

He is pretty explosive and athletic. Very smooth mover. His lower body is strong and with fluid hips, he can turn the corner like a $20m+ APY type of guy. 

Very good player who is used as an integral part of a machine rather than the main feature. But that shouldn’t diminish who he is.

Ashton Gillotte

Almost a budget Karlaftis. Playstyle and aesthetic looks very similar. Was used as the strongside edge.

Didn’t do a ton pass rush wise. Was mainly asked to contain for Chris Jones. Was able to play edge and the interior on passing downs. In college he was a bull rush and stab-forklift/club spammer. Would also hit a chop and rip to win outside or use a club and swim if he was working inside or was rushing off the interior. Another player who bases his game around his power. Can see some of the college playstyle translate to the NFL.

He is stubby. That’s the main thing. For better or for worse he is stubby. He’s strong though. Solid speed and burst. His best traits are his finishing ones. He has fluid hips and a strong lower body that he can use to turn the corner well. 

Able to contain well as an edge or interior rusher. Tries hard to fight for extension away from the OL, but so hard with short arms. Can get caught up too often and lose contain. Able to win late. Solid at stunts the few times he runs them. Run defense was neat. Did a lot of react/attack. Read blocks quickly and was able to control TEs with ease.

Felix Anundike-Uzomah

My boi. My favorite player in his class. I am very sad he hasn’t panned out yet and missed the season with injury. Former first rounder.

Solid athlete, also has fluid hips and a strongish lower body. Did use swipes and stab-forklift a bit. Was mainly a contain player for Chris Jones. Won late pretty well and was able to keep space between him and the OL. Good slanter and looper. Run defense was fine. Read blocks well and did fight to keep extension and lockout. 

I still believe!!! There’s a little there for him to be a good rotational player, he showed a bit in the playoff run.

R Mason Thomas

Smaller edge who packs a punch. He may not seem like a typical Chufs edge pick, but he is more than you think.

Pass Rush Plan: He uses stab moves to get into OTs chest and can use a forklift or club to get their hands off of him. He forced tackles to anchor down and double punch early to respect his power. Once they respect it too much he can work outside them with double swipes and club and rip moves.

He is an explosive rusher who bases his pass rush around his speed to power. Even though he ran a 4.67 40 yard dash, his speed to power is effective from a mix of his explosiveness and natural leverage from being smaller. He is explosive but not that fast to threaten outside shoulders of OTs. His size makes it easier to toss em around. His short arms hurt making tackles. He has a decently strong lower body, but lacks fluidity and flexibility to turn corners well.

He shifted from playing with his hand in the dirt as a true DE or standing up as an OLB. He can be a weakside edge or one you put over TEs on early downs for him to destroy. His physicality shows up a lot when setting an edge, he has good hand placement and leverage. He is aggressive vs the run and tries hard. R mason is a great stunter who has good timing when running stunts as a looper or crasher. He has experience dropping into coverage.

Ethan Downs

Bigger DE.

Didn’t play like it much. Slow reaction. More of a PS candidate. 

Tyreke Smith

Smaller Quick OLB type. Not much else.

VJ Anthony

My writeup on him was just, “Tall, Unathletic, tries hard, more times pancacked than making highlight plays.” That's the nicest way I can put it.

Anthony Dunn

Tries best. Played as a DE. Used swipes, stab moves, and a spin. Good luck in future endeavors

Chris Jones

He still has it. Elite pass rusher still. With no signs of dropping off from that tier.

https://open.substack.com/pub/juniorj/p/built-from-the-inside?r=27ltt4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

(Article above goes in depth on Chris Jones and George Karlaftis as well as pass rush plans)

Pass rush plan?: This is hard to talk about because of how rushes are set up. There is a lot of reading when he rushes, mainly for early/neutral downs. He reads the protection, the sets, the depth of the OL and the QB drop before starting his rush. Most of the time the tempo on 2 way gos or contain reps can look the same. As he determines this he can shoot his hands on the OL and usually push-pull them or hit a double swipe if they anchored or punched early. He forces you into mistakes and can do all the technical stuff at an elite level. His setups, timing, reaction, hand placement, and move choices are all elite. He doesn’t have a real plan besides making you wrong. He can win in different ways so OL will be scared and overplay one of those ways. He can also work a stab forklift, side scissors, club and rip/crossface, etc. He will choose the best move to attack you. Not only that but he can stack moves together and work a move to open up a different move to hit. It’s such BS.

As an athlete he is still legit, but here is where you can see some regression. Still quick and explosive, with an insane burst to the QB that few players have. His finishing traits are getting worse. He is flexible at the hips and has a strong lower body, but has stiff ankles and isn’t as fluid. There’s times he can win quickly but QB movement and the OT recovering can be enough to turn a dominant win into just pressure.

Good stunter and contain player. Run defense was quietly good when he tries. He reads and reacts quickly. Sometimes hits the backdoor on runs, does it a little too much at times. He is able to shed and play multiple gaps while having control of OL. Good hand placement and backfield vision. Feels like he constantly can see what is happening in the backfield.

I said it a bit earlier, but he does tempo himself a lot. He is a soccer player on the football field. Paces himself. It may look like he isn’t trying or gives up, but he is conserving energy for when he really has to go 100%. It can come about in different ways. Like if the run is away and RB gets tackled or gets too far across, he’ll slow down and even stop. Or if during a rush as he’s reading the pass pro, he slows down when he is on the slide side and it’s a neutral/early down. Most likely a quick pass so he pauses and gets his hands up. Or if the boot is away from him, he’ll stop as well. Feels like if has at least a 25% chance of making the play, he’ll try. 

He is very football smart. Great athlete and maximized his skillset as a pass rusher. Dominant player still.

Khyiris Tonga

NT time. But he’s a NT who can scoot.

Neat pocket pusher. Has a lot of power to drive OL back. Solid stunter and set up guy. He isn’t here for pass rushing.

He’s here for run defense. Very stout and strong. Can control OL by getting his stubby ass arms into their chest plate and steering them like a wheel. Legit 2 gapper and quick reaction. Can even penetrate a bit and shoot gaps. Against doubles he feels them quickly and drops his knee while throwing his hips into them. Just hard to displace and can set the LoS. Very quick slant step.

Peter Woods

Smaller and quick DT. Had a ton of hype before the draft. Seemed to have fallen a ton. 

He’s a player where he can be used in so much different ways that I have no idea where they will go. Will they keep him light or bulk him up like the year before? He played more edge snaps while he was heavier for a few games. He can play all across the line.

He was a pretty good pass rusher the few times he was able to get a real rush in. Very strong club and crossface move. He has really good lateral movement as well as speed and explosiveness for a DT. His lower body is fluid and flexible enough to turn the short corner and even turn off the edge pretty well. Was asked to stunt and contain a lot. So many TT stunts in Clemson. 

Against the run he was used as an attacking DT. This defense is more of a reacting one so it’s an interesting fit. Some of his issues stem from that attacking style where he would have a high pad level or get eyes to the backfield right away and not read blocks out. He could sink low against doubles and combos but the issues above as well as being small made him get moved a lot more than you’d want. He is great at shooting his hips through on contact to generate power. He sheds very violently and uses OL’s momentum against them.

Attacking DT who is going to have to learn how to be a reacting DT. It’s worth the bet with the talent he has. 

Omarr Norman-Lott

Injury plagued rookie season. Another example of an attacking DT taken for this reacting front. They did ask him to put on weight and you can see it affect him. In college he was mainly used as a DPR or on pivotal 3rd downs. All he did was just go and attack.

The weight gain may seem detrimental to his development, but I get it. He was very light and small, this can help him be less of a true DPR. That’s the issue with true DPR dts, you are so limited in snaps and roles, that it’s not worth rostering them.

There was a lot of neat stuff with his run defense. He did get manhandled a bit too much, especially on doubles and combos. He was able to get into OL’s chest and shed very violently. He could shoot gaps or slant quickly. A lot of issues stemmed from his eyes. He kept looking in the backfield right away and would get reached or downblocked easily. It did look a bit better as the season went along. Improvement here would lead to a lot more snaps. He was able to play 1T/2i/3T.

There wasn’t a lot pass rush wise. You can see moments where he has good handfighting. Would use stab forklifts and time his hands well. Mainly was asked to contain for Chris Jones. Ran stunts a few times and looked okay. Biggest issue was containing. He would get too narrow and caught up with the OL, would lose contain a few times. He is athletic enough to be solid as a roleplayer. 

There’s enough shown to where you can see him being a neat depth piece.

Marcus Harris

Tries his best.

Cole Brevard

Short writeup, but huge NT body. Big boi. Played for a reacting front and had a good reaction. Solid against any solo block, and shed okay enough. Struggled vs doubles, couldn’t sink low or throw hips into them well. Can push the pocket a bit.

Damon Payne

Reacting DT who played a lot of 2i and 4i. Was solid against doubles, able to hold his ground. Read blocks well and had good hand placement. Was able to shed good, but didn’t get much knockback or lockout. Was a bit easy to reach and overtake. Not much there as a pass rusher. Can stunt and slant well. 

Amari Mcneill

Another attacking DT brought to a reacting front. Can scoot a bit. Hit an array of pass rush moves in the couple games I watched. Run defense wasn’t that bad, technique was decent, handled doubles fine by dropping his knee. I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the PS and developed into a rotational guy down the line.

Base Packages

(DE-DT-NT-DE)

George K-Chris Jones-Tonga-Ashton

2nd Unit

FAU-Peter-ONL-RMason

This team is very straightforward with the top 4 Edges and top 4 DTs. Besides George and Chris Jones, I can see the other starting spots be handled by any of the other 3 Edges/DTs. George K can play the strongside or weakside age. The starting unit depends on if the other DT is a NT type or not. The hardest part about guessing who will play in what unit is that the players are so similar in talent levels and are slightly differentiable with their skillsets. It can even be a gameplan thing with who the other starting DT/Edge are. Although I do think ONL and FAU are going to be just backups. I can see scenarios where they do start.

There’s so much hinging on development of youngins and rookies.

Pass rushing package

George K-Chris Jones-ONL/Woods/Ashton-Ashton/RMason/FAU

Same issue here. Who the hell starts as the other pass rushing Edge or DT it can be one of three people for each. I would wager it would be Woods and Ashton at the edge, but who knows. Ashton was used as a pass rushing DT. 

The matchups would go through

1. Chris Jones

2. George K

3. Blitzes/DBs/LBs

This pass rush goes through Chris Jones. It’s all based around him. As a changeup they can have Jones as a decoy and set up George. But both of these pass rushers can win at a high rate, it does come slower. If they want a quick win they can use blitzes for that. For the most part everyone contains for Chris Jones. 

https://open.substack.com/pub/juniorj/p/built-from-the-inside?r=27ltt4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Article on pass rush.

Overall it’s a unit that has a wider range of outcomes. It will be really solid with Chris Jones as the main force you build around, but it can be a lot better depending on the youngins’.

Scheme Attacking odd front

DC Vance Joseph

DL Jamar Cain

OLB Isaac Shewmaker

Scheme

Attack attack attack. Thats the main goal of this defense. Based off of an odd front so have two OLBs and two DEs and then a NT. Usually the DEs play inside of OTs or over Gs, rarely out as a 5T or wider. Then the OLBs play sides. They can switch them to attack matchups but for the most part have a right OLB and a left OLB. 

The main goal with this defense is for the DL to take the inside and force everything out. They will have a NT and DE play the A gaps and the the other DE play his B to force the run to bounce. It’s an attacking style so the players attack first then read after. With all of the movements and stuff, they usually slant inside a lot rather than penetrating upfield. Attack gaps and play thru the OL that shows up there. They do ask their DL to 2 gap sometimes. They can also ask their DL to shoot gaps if needed.

OLBs for the most part play outside of TEs. They widen out a lot. Bonitto shoots gaps a lot. Most guys set an edge and can br asked to play gap and a half.

Player Profile

Nik Bonitto

Speed, he is speed. Kachow!!! One of the fastest players in the league. Mainly plays the right OLB or over LTs

Pass Rush Plan: He go Zoom. That’s the basis of it. He’ll work vertically very hard and rush based off of OT’s set. If he has a step on the OT, he’ll either double swipe or chop and rip around the corner. He can also use power to speed, shoot his hands and dip under, making it look like he is going to use a speed to power bull. If OT sets too wide, he’ll work back inside with a stab move or long arm on the inside shoulder and throw the OT upfield as he goes inside. He can also hit a spin move inside as well.

Pretty simple plan. Nik is the hardest player for the tiers, it’s difficult to represent him well enough. And then I don’t want to overate him as well as not to disrespect him.

The best way to describe Nik, is he is a true intelligence check for OC’s and for OTs. He tests how smart they are. He is extremely fast, but a bit weak against strong contact. It’s way easier said than done, but if you can set deep to him and get a strong punch in, you can shut him down. Ideally you force him to use speed to power and anchor down. He can drive you back a bit, but because of how smol bean he is, it’s usually not a major issue recovering against it if you have decent recovering ability. Just get him to try to go through the middle of you. This is why he can destroy low talent OTs. They can’t match his speed. And for talented OTs, they just need to not get freaked out. Don’t jump set him and stop your feet. Don’t quick set. He stresses them to play with good technique. 

The intelligence part is also a schematic thing. The donkeys do a great job of holding the OT from setting deep to quickly. Usually they force the OL into sort setting which slows the OT’s kickset and leads to him getting destroyed by Bonnito. Chips are something teams can use to slow rushers but they hurt so much with Nik. Some teams will have their OT set deeper and have the RB release in the B gap, ideally stopping Nik from working inside, but he’ll attack the space vacated anyways. You can’t chip him with a TE and RB and hit him in a way that pushes him more outside the pocket. You want your OT to make contact with him, widening em out will lead to a loss as there will be too much space between them. If you have a TE inline or even a WR lined up super tight, bad idea bucko. Nik will line up wide outside of them and use that wider space when attacking. Either chip him and push him inside (like the Pats did in their playoff game) or find ways to hit him first.

Nik is fast, super fast. Easily the fastest edge and sometimes player on the field. (Ras doesn’t matter. Football speed >>>> shorts speed). He has fluid flexible hips that help him turn the corner, especially against weaker contact.

He has legit power. Speed to power is very underrated. But when he uses speed to power bull rushes, like when they cage rush, he struggles to disengage. He gets caught up and can only put his arms around the OT. It’s why his pocket pushing tier is a bit lower even though the power he has is nice. He is good on stunts, very fast as a looper. He is solid as a crasher when he’s penetrating rather than being a pick man. Contain should be better, but he loses it a bit too often from rushing too wide, getting washed from working inside or getting caught when using power. But at the same time he is fast enough to make up for any mistakes. Also run defense is fine, small so he gets tossed around a bit too much but can get in the backfield often. 

The hardest player to tier and rank. Has a rare skillset that leads to a lot of plays that few players can make, but also has too many moments where he can get wrecked badly. So difficult to not feel like you are underrating him and overrating him at the same time. Great player at the very least.

Jonathon Cooper

Neat 2nd OLB to have. More of a run focused edge. The LOLB who lines up over the RT.

Pass rush was a bit underwhelming. He’s harder to rate now too. Have him also in an in-between tier. I remembered him being more athletic overall. He’s still pretty fast and explosive, but not in a legit threat type of way. The main traits he has that are good are his finishing traits. He has fairly good ankle flexion and hip fluidity. He can turn the corner very well in winning positions, it’s just harder to force his way into those positions.

He was mainly asked to cage rush (pushing the pocket) or just straight up contain rush. Because he would use a ton of speed to power bull rushes, his pass rush was built around it. He would mainly do a double swipe, stab forklift, or fake a bull and dip under. 

He was a pretty good contain player even when pushing the pocket. He was able to keep extension away from the OT and disengage when the QB started to run pretty consistently. Good stunter too.

The pass rush didn’t stand out as much as I would have liked. He started off the year hot with 7.5 sacks then only .5 in the last 7 games. To be fair to him, part of it is his role being much less winning focused on pass rushes. Cage rush or push the pocket a lot. Or he faced bad OTs who teams forced a lot of help to. Or a great OT who was able to handle him well. This team plays sides so he wasn’t always able to be used to matchup hunt or be put into more advantageous situations.

His main thing is run defense. It’s very good for someone of his size. He is able to 2 gap or handle TEs like nothing. He can play both gaps as well as shed off of them quickly. He sets a strong edge. He rarely gets overmatched. He can generate knockback and always seems to play with lockout. He also constantly fights hands to get advantageous hand placement. There is a ton of things he does to be a legit run defender.

Neat player. Feels like the run defense was more impressive than the pass rush. I have no idea if he gained weight or strength to play stronger or if he looks a little zapped as an athlete due to karmic justice. But he’s a really solid starting edge.

Jonah Elliss

OLB depth, mainly played over RTs in Cooper's spot. Just a solid all around player.

Okay athlete. Has some pop and power to him, speed and explosiveness is meh. His best traits are his flexibility and fluidity, helps him turn the corner in winning positions. It’s just hard to get there with traits, he has to use handfighting. He has an array of moves, can hit double swipes inside, bull rush, club and rips outside, etc. He does a good job of choosing moves that make sense to OT’s sets and punches.

Solid roleplayer. Lacks traits to be a high end one, more better as a depth guy or backup. Can drop pretty well. Okay run defender overall. Can take his main gap. I’d be more interested in him getting more power.

Dondrea Tillman

Another backup OLB who mainly plays over LTs in Nik’s spot. Another solid all around player.

 Can pretty much take Ellis' writeup as his own. Okay athlete. Has some pop and power to him. Will hit a spin outside or inside if he feels like it. Solid roleplayer.

Main thing is that he is a very legit run defender. He is able to control OL and TEs very well. He is able to play his gap and the inside gap if the RB commits inside. He gets extension and lockout pretty well. His role is just to be a legit run defender on the 2nd unit.

Que Robinson

Now here’s a guy who can move. The speediest backup here. He is someone with more strengths but more weaknesses then the 2 above. I am more interested in his development. I think a major issue is just cage rushing. He is a smol bean. He isn’t that strong and powerful, so he either has to get better at using speed to power or like the two above, pack on weight and strength. I would not be surprised to see him overtake a backup spot.

He is pretty fast and fluid. Pass rush is okay, not a great winner at the moment. Another player who spins a bit. He can drop and do LB things. His run defense was very surprising. He was able to handle TEs and 2 gap over them. He set a strong edge and showed moments where he was able to shed inside. Worst case he is one of the better Edge 5 in the league.

Johnny Walker

I was a fan of him predraft, mainly as a potential PS player. Super unathletic, but tries so hard and had great handfighting. My unathletic boi. Wishing the best for him.

Drew Sanders

Idk why he’s listed at OLB. Position change? Or just mislisting him? Either way was mainly an off ball LB who would be on the line for their double mug looks. Just tiering him based off of athleticism.

Dasan McCullough

Very light. A little quick. Tries hard against the run. Did a lot of off ball LB stuff as well. Neat PS candidate.

Zach Allen

You know, this guy who made 1st team all pro, he’s kinda good. But for real, I do have a hard time setting biases aside for most Broncos players so it does hurt a bit to admit.

But first let’s roast him. He isn’t a great athlete by any means, at least compared to higher end players. Had an average combine and ras score. He doesn’t have the speed, power, explosiveness, or lateral movement to force wins at a high level or force OL into mistakes like other high end players. The main positive is that he has good length. He also has a bit of a stiffer lower body that hurts converting wins to sacks/pressures or even finishing rushes instead of getting washed down the line or upfield. Without being an exceptional athlete, why is he good?

Pass Rush Plan: A mistake punisher. He’ll punish any little mistake you make. If you are too patient with your hands or give up your chest, he’ll start to bull rush you. Then when he feels pressure back he can hit a push-pull or a pull slide with a swim over the top. Can hit a double swipe and club and swim move as well. He’ll work these moves if you punch too early or set with your hands out already. He gets some help from the scheme with LBs being legit blitz threats, especially from double mug looks that hold OL from immediately helping out on him. Or from the DTs slanting and whichever way the C works, the opposite DT gets a 2 way go. But because they slant, it’s easy to work back outside with the G’s feet stopped. He is able to even punish protections for their issues and mistakes too.

This is who Zach Allen is as a player. Any protection mishap or any little technical issue, he’ll punish you for it. He may not be a high end athlete or a dominant forcing threat. But for DT you don’t need to be an elite athlete to become a high end rusher. The interior has quicker sets and less space, you can become great technically and succeed at a high level. Zach Allen is a good athlete who maxxed out his skillset.

He’s a good roleplayer. With his length he does a great job of containing and winning late. He can use his length to keep the OL away from him and have separation to knock hands away easier. He is a good stunter. He mainly just times them and sets em up at a high level. Run defense was pretty good. A bit on the lighter side so was able to get washed or doubled a little too easily. Was great at getting penetration or slanting to a gap. 

Overall he is the true definition of a player who reached close to 100% of what he could be, but who knows, maybe there is more to go…

DJ Jones

Good NT. Also one of my pookies. Mainly plays 1T. Just a fun short king.

Pass rush is neat. Runs stunts very well. Keeps his eyes on where the QB is moving in the pocket and can predict their movements very well. He can win rushes pretty well too. Has a nice club and swim or double forklift move!!! Grabs both wrists and controls them on his rushes. Does very good at handfighting for a NT.

Run defense is fun. He does all the NT stuff very well. Very typical short king NT. He has natural leverage and can sink in between doubles. He is strong and uses that leverage to hold his own. He gets great hand placement and control of blockers. He can easily shed inside of blocks when the RB commits. Great slant step. Can penetrate and get in the backfield, as well as play down the line to make plays and tackles. Just a really fun NT who is a + run defender.

Sai’vion Jones

DE type. Barely played but looked a little promising. See quality backup upside for sure. He can move a bit well.

Run defense has upside. Should be able to do attacking stuff well, neat slanter. Tall and a bit long. Had moments he was able to get knockback and extension, as well use that separation to shed very strongly. Can penetrate well. Hand placement, leverage, and shooting hips thru has to get more consistent.

Pass rush was okay. Has upside as a stunter. Did club and swims. He doesn’t have much forcing traits, if he does he will have to develop more power. When he does get to winning positions, he struggles to finish rushes. This mainly comes from a stiff lower body that makes it way too easy to recover against him. If he doesn’t win cleanly, he can’t win a rep. He either has to get much stronger or win quicker with handfighting.

Some upside but some questions which is why he only played 3 games.

Malcolm Roach

He was signed for run defense and he brought that and more. Most likely the other starting DE next season.

Pass rush is pretty solid. Hand fighting looks legit. Able to hit double swipes, club and swims, and double forklifts pretty consistently. Solid all around athlete, but his lower body is his best trait. He has some fluidity, and flexibility in his hips and ankles. He is able to contort his body to turn corners pretty decently, can even argue it’s the 2nd best on the team. He is able to do roleplayer things. Asked to contain a lot, did great at working off of QB movement and knocking hands away from the OL. He was able to contain off of the edge. Another very good stunter and setup guy.

Run defense is the main reason he was here. He was mainly a DE but was able to play 1T and handle it well. He could take on doubles and sink low. He was able to slant and penetrate quickly. He was able to control OL and shed in the opposite gap. It all started with leverage and hand placement. Technically sound run defender with ability to get knockback. Don’t be surprised if he is the starter next season.

Tyler Onyedim

Lighter DT that can play between 5T-2i, mainly

played React/attack in college. Solid strength and athleticism. Can get solid knockback. Sheds well with 34' arms. Can  get moved at times, Inconsistent with leverage/hand timing. Late to get hands on OL at times (from playing react mode). Way too iffy vs doubles, biggest weakness. Solid enough pass rusher with his club swim, spin, club rips. Did well at getting to winning positions, stiff ankles and being light made it hard to turn short corner, and made him a bit too easy to recover against. Neat stunter and contain player. Right now he’s more of a reacting DT who can be better in an attacking role and is currently a good roleplayer.

Jordan Jackson

Feels like a budget Malcolm Roach as a run defender. Can sink and throw his hips into doubles. May get knocked over but stays on his man long enough to recover back into his gap. Does well fighting reach blocks and base blocks. Can play gap and a half. Struggled against down blocks and more horizontal ones. Was mainly a pass rush role player. Did well on stunts and containing. Not much as a winner but can see him attacking hands and knocking them away.

Eyioma Uwazurike

Large human being. Tall and big. Solid role player and run defender. Had some very interesting power. There’s times he was able to drive OL back into the QB. Had a strong bull, long arm and stab-forklift move. He has the size and strength to treat OL like a sled. He moves well enough to stunt and contain, even off the edge. Run defense was fine. His size made up for a lot. Anything straightforward he would handle. Base blocks and reaches at times. Struggled against any side contact as his lower body was stiff. More horizontal doubles would punish him. That size and strength gives him enough of a floor as a run defender. Neat backup player.

Jordan Miller

Mainly was a preseason NT. Did well shooting gaps. Was able to use OL’s momentum against them to shed. Struggled against any contact from

The side. Could see some decent handfighting and some forklifts. Scoots enough. Can fight to make a roster, maybe this one.

Matt Heningsen

He’s happy to be included.

Kristian Williams

Not too shabby attacking in the preseason. Got penetration and was able to play his main gap. Struggled to do much else. 

Base Units

(LOLB-DE-NT-DE-ROLB)

Cooper-Zach-DJ-Roach-Bonitto

2nd Unit

Elliss/Que-Eyioma-Roach?-Onyedim/JJ-Tillman

I have no idea who can be the 2nd team NT. Maybe it's just Roach who can play that spot. Maybe it is Jordan Miller. No one else can do it seriously, but it doesn’t matter too much for a spot that will be out here for a few reps.

Starters look set, I do think Roach will take that other starting DE spot. There’s some talks of needing a JFM replacement, but for easly down he wasn’t a real positive. Roach is! Lose some of his pass rushing ability but there’s other ways around it.

The backup spots are tough. I think Tillman and Eyioma are set. Everything else is a competition. I think Que and Elliss will fight for the other edge spot. Elliss is fine all around with limited upside, Que is more athletic, but a bit smaller and a question mark in other roles. And then for the other DE spot it can be a competition between Onyedim and others but personally I think Onyedim will win it easily.

Pass Rushing Package

Bonitto-Allen-Roach-Cooper

Who replaces JFM?!?! It doesn’t matter!! The pass rush will go through Nik and Allen. Everyone else is just pretty much a roleplayer anyways. The pass rush order will be

1. Nik Bonitto

2. Zach Allen

3. Jonathan Cooper

And then everyone else after. The pass rush comes in 2 different ways. Either you set up Bonitto and have everyone push the pocket and contain or set up Allen and have the edges force the QB to him. The Donkeys love getting into double mug looks and walking up LBs/DBs to force the OL into protections that make their pass rush easier when they rush 4.

Cooper and Roach can also have matchups set up for them as well, they can do it too if Allen/Bonitto aint on the field. The team does quite a bit of TT stunts. A lot of the DTs pressures can come from there. This is a big cage rushing team. Which just means they all push the pocket. Sometimes I do feel like they do it a bit too much, where they don’t get real pressure on the QB for the sake of containing. But Bonitto is quick enough to where he can contain or chase the QB down after losing contain. I would get it more with bigger or more powerful DL, but they do it with lighter ones a lot. At the same time a lot of their rushes come from that power threat. They build off of that. 

Overall a solid unit with a ton of players who can play a decent amount of snaps. They lost a talented player but the impact he had wasn’t that irreplaceable. There’s a lot of developing talent and youngin’s who can change the outlook of this front. 

Scheme Attacking Even Front

DC Gus Bradley

HC Robert Saleh

DL Aaron WhiteCotton

Asst DL Tanzel Smart

Scheme

Typical Attacking Even Front popularized by the Niners but maybe with a slight twist. Have a strong edge, weak edge, DT and NT. The strong edges will play with their hand in the dirt and can bump inside of TEs. The weakside Edge will be able to play standup and drop and will line up outside the TE or wide. The DT and NT are pretty interchangeable, they both play 3T and 2i like 90% of the time, but the NT body is usually heavier. Basic scheme that has the DTs shoot gaps,  penetrate or drive the OL back as much as they can. Attack first, ask questions later. The edges generally are stronger to be able to make up for any issues inside. They can trot out two heavy edges who can play gap and a half.

Player Profile

Jermaine Johnson ii

DE? Played as a standup edge mostly. Also nice to see him be a similar caliber player after a devastating injury. They traded Sweat for him and it makes sense. Has that Saleh connection. Gonna be in the Jermaine Johnson role.

Pass rush plan? Is he the main edge rusher? He’s good enough to be. He is bursty and has some power. His plan uses all of that. It starts with his stance, outside foot up means he’s using power as a threat, inside foot up is for speed threat. Of course power is a more legit threat. When he has his outside foot up, he’ll be quick to use hesis. He reads the OT’s set. If the OT is square or over sets, he’ll hit a bull rush. If OT punches early or undersets, can his a crosschop, club and rip or double swipe. If he needs to, he can also hit a spin.

He is still bursty and explosive. Can turn that explosiveness to power. Has solid lateral movement as well. There’s signs that the achilles is still affecting him. He did use a 2 point stance quite a bit before injury, but he rarely gets his hand down. He doesn’t have the same burst he did pre injury. When turning the corner, his hips are fluid and lower body is strong, but he doesn’t bend much in his ankles and lower leg area.

Really exceptional role player as a pocket pusher and stunter. Better as a looper with his lateral movement. That burst helps close the gap when a QB tries to scramble.

Run defense was disappointing. He is outstanding as a backside pursuit player. But he was okay taking on blocks. Got moved off his spot way too often, even by TEs at time. He can generate knockback though. I think a lot of issues come from not wanting to plant down and use lower body flexibility to stop an OL’s drive. He also plays as an attacking DE. There’s time he’ll get eyes in the backfield before shooting his hands, so he either is too late and catches the block, or misplaces his hands. The talent is there, another removed from injury can help. With JJ2 as the main edge… I think he is fine enough in this role.

Keldric Faulk

Funny enough I called him a Dorance Armstrong type player. Was in a more reacting front, but his body type fits this style of defense. Just realized he is gonna be in that Michael Clemons role.

Solid all around athlete with decent Speed, explosiveness, fluidity and ankle flexion. The last two along with strong legs make him able to turn the corner. He’s very nimble for his size. Has size and strength this scheme covets. Uses double swipes, push-pulls, and club and swims/rips. Handfighting wasn’t great but improved through the year. Was able to play across the line. Used as an interior pass rusher often, even as a 0T. Good slant step and stunter, mainly as a looper.

Run defense was okay. Hand placement was inconsistent but also improved through the year. He’s strong so he can get control of OL and knockback. He looks worse when he bumps inside.

Overall a solid player who is a dream fit for this type of defense.

Jacob Martin

Mainly been a DPR for hire. Also has the Gus Bradley connection. Weakside edge who just balls out as a rusher, plays basketball on grass. Damn, he’s gonna be the Will Mcdonald of this DL.

Pass rush cool, he just balls out. Very good winning technically. He just hits the right buttons almost every single time. Can win outside with a dip, double swipe, cross chop, club and whatever. If you give a soft shoulder, he can hit you with a power move. Uses speed to power for his Stab move. Usually gets the inside shoulder so he can either use his outside hand to knock yours away and win outside, convert that stab to a bullrush, or keep working upfield and use that stab to throw the OL by as he works inside. Also can spin and just work inside. Lots of hesis and changeups in approach. Mercenary DPR. Been in the league so long he knows how to win in so many different ways. He destroys technical mismatches, put em against a backup OT, and he’ll make them look like they never played football.

He is quick and pretty explosive. But not in a way to threaten OTs, most can match with him physically. His handfighting and technique is the main deciding factor if talent levels are similar. He is also pretty fluid and flexible, but tbf most smaller Edges are. Just a solid enough athlete.

Run d was solid in an attacking mode. Mainly played for attacking teams or as an OLB for that reason. Explodes off the ball and uses that speed to generate power to set an edge. Does well getting extension and keeping himself in positions to not lose much ground. Can shoot gaps and slants very well. Even though he is small, he isn’t an unplayable early down guy. Good roleplayer as a stunter and container. Whether he is looping or crashing, knifes through the line so easily because ot how smol bean he is. Very fun player who maximized his skill set.

Oluwafemi Oladejo

Rookie. Wasn’t a fan as an Edge player….. but I see the vision if you see him more as a blitzing LB. Does a lot of versatile things, and assuming he is a hard worker and leader, I get the selection more.

Doesn’t add much as a pass rush winner. Lacks quality traits. Has some speed, but lacks burst and explosiveness. Can use that speed to power, I think he can tap into power more. If he does develop a threatening trait to force wins, it’ll be that way. His bullrushes and power moves had a little pop. Handfighting was a mess. Was a crosschop king in college. Missed so often or would shorten his arms too much or work moves too close to the OL and get caught up. Lot of work as a winner.

Solid roleplayer though. Ran stunts well. Moves solidly. But his real value came as a blitzing LB. True versatile schematic piece. He can contain from anywhere. Standup across the line. Run any stunt you want with him. Drop into coverage and use his former college LB skills. Does quite a bit to make the pass rush plans harder to figure out. 

I was more impressed with his early down work. Was a true OLB. Would play outside the box at times too. Keep em outside the furthest guy on the line. He set a solid edge. Didn’t get manhandled much. Hold his ground and keep his gap. Shows off more of his power potential here.

I’m very low on him as a pass rusher, but as a versatile chess piece, I do see some value you can obtain. To keep the bit going, i guess he’s the Sherwood or Quincy Williams of this Defense now.

Malik Herring

Another stubby power rusher. Can scoot and is a really nice stunter. Uses stab clubs to contain. Used inside as well, but mainly to contain. (Writeup from last season.) only played like 5 snaps so who knows what happened between then and now. Thought he was a quality role player and run defender. 

Jaylen Harrell

Another OLB who does LB things. Played off ball LB sometimes. Just the most 7th rounder off all time. Lack traits, has short choppy steps. Pass rush will do a dip and rip or usually uses a stab club. Okay contain player, just does well working to open space or wherever the QB is moving to in the pocket. Run D fine enough as an OLB type. 

Jalyn Holmes

Heavier end. Not great as a winner. Has some pop and power when he pushes the pocket. Neat stab move and can get a long arm in. Also asked to loop quite a bit. Run D was meh. Could set an edge and drive OTs back at times, but also got driven back himself and struggles to shed. Did bump inside as a 4i quite a bit. 

Truman Jones

Not too shabby. Neat looper and had some power. Lots of Stab moves, usually with a club. Can also do LB things and played as a standup guy a lot. Neat depth player.

David Ebuka Agoha

Didn’t play at all last season for pre and regular season. Idk, but the year before was a Raiders Legend. Just preseason but had some neat power rushes.

Jeffery Simmons

All pro season. He is truly one of the hardest players to talk about. I have no idea where to begin. Had a lot of good seasons, but somehow got 11 sacks in the worst Titans year in his career. 

Pass Rush Plan: This could end up as a whole essay itself. I’ll do my best to keep it short. I’m not sure if I didn’t notice it last season or if he improved, but he looks great with how he attacks OL technically. What makes him different is that he doesn’t just attack the OL, he attacks the protection itself. It’s something I noticed that Chris Jones does a lot (great company). They set up matchups with C’s, G’s, and OT’s at times. His plan changes depending on where he lines up…..

Pass Rush Plan: C edition. Another thing of note is alignment and front the Titans show which can change things. He mainly plays 1T over C’s. He’ll change his width depending on how he attacks. The front can dictate the protection and where the offense slides. Usually as a 1T the offense slides your way. When he gets a 2 way go on the C, he can work across the C’s face without worrying about contain. His approach is pretty much the same, C’s will step towards him from slide rules, so he threatens them with power. He gets to the middle of them, hesis, and then crosses their face with a club and rip. This does stem from his power and bull rush being legit. C’s have to respect his power. He waits until they punch with their hand away from the slide side before hitting his move. This is because the C is responsible for that A gap he is lined up in, and has inside help from the G. He crosses their face when they shoot their hand away from it to take away any help and ways to recover. 

Pass Rush Plan: G edition. This one varies more. As always his plans stem from his power threat with his dominant bull rush. The rules as above does apply here too. Except as a 3T, that usually means he is on the man side where the G has a 1 on 1 with him. He approaches his rush by working a bit more vertical then hesis to threaten with a bull or power move. His move depends on the set. If the G jump sets and opens up quickly, he’ll cross their face and hit a club and swim inside, mainly because they punch quickly and he has to clear their hands right away. If the G sets normally, he uses his alignment and hesis to get them to set wider, then punch early or turn their bodies towards him. Then he crosses their face with a club and rip!!! Pretty much does the same thing, but it works. Then if the line slides his way, he’ll work depending on the G/OT distance. If the OT is setting too wide, he’ll hit a double swipe and attack that space now, since either the G will lose quickly or the OT will help with a post hand inside and get beat by the edge. If the G/OT distance is close, he’ll create space and use a stab forklift. He uses power, hits his stab by grabbing the V of the chestplate, then grabs the G outside arm and throws it aside. He attacks and creates space whenever he rushes.

This is the simplest way I can explain his pass rush plans. There’s a lot to it but can boil down to, he attacks and creates space. He tries to attack the space inside the most, since it is the most open area.

He is a great athlete overall, but when rushing you don’t always see it. His lateral movement is solid, but not enough to attack space with it. It’s enough to be a good looper. He doesn’t always play or rush with high end burst. Part of it is his approach, using power as a threat and using a lot of hesis. And he looks faster than he is moving because he reads the ball for when he gets off the line. Leads to a faster getoff and looks like he takes two steps before the OL takes one.. His burst is seen more when he is in a position to get to the QB. When he hits his move and the OT is trying to drive em out, he has a burst to run through that contact. And when he is able to chase the QB whether in the pocket or not, also shows an extra gear to close that space. He is very unconventional.

He does have a lot of power, and has great hand placement and leverage. He mainly uses it to push the pocket and contain. He drives OL back like he’s pushing a car on drive down a hill. There’s times he’ll grab the OL’s chestplate by the neck area and push-pull them down. His bull rushes are scary and the basis for his pass rush plan even without using it at all when trying to win reps.

His hips are very flexible and fluid. That’s the main thing that lets him turn the short corner at a high level. He can bend into contact and rip through the OL. He has very strong legs which helps too. His main issue stems from his ankles. Which is true of any big men, it’s so hard to bend and be flexible through contact while above 300 lbs. it does limit him from changing direction right away when the QB does, but it’s a nit picky issue. 

Overall a great roleplayer, but also a great run defender. Crazy in an attacking mode. The type of player where the C can down block em, and he’ll turn the corner to tackle the RB for a TFL. He can create so much knockback, drive the OL back into the RB. He can penetrate through at a high level. Solid vs doubles and solid when trying to control OL. Gets vision in the backfield at a high level. He does have a ton of Looney Tunes ass reps. He’ll toss dudes around or get tossed around himself. And he’s also very mean. See em trash talk a ton and even give some friendly shoves after the whistle.

Just a high end player. He can be your main pass rusher which is rare for DTs to be.

John Franklin-Myers

Great as a robin to a batman DT. Perfect partner in pass rushes on the interior. Listed at DE. Was a DE for a 3-4 scheme with the Donkeys, but also a DE in a 4-3 with Saleh. Who knows where he’ll be here. He’s paid for his pass rush anyways.

Really great roleplayer, perfect for complimenting another DT. He can win himself with his main move, the club and swim. He usually is used for stunting or slanting, so in his rushes he fakes like he is doing that. Also has very underrated power. He can bulldoze Gs if they set too softly on him. He punishes you for your mistake.

He is great as a setup guy. Forces the QB to the main rusher. Pushes the pocket well and works to where the QB wants to scramble or maneuver in the pocket. Great at running stunts, especially TT stunts as the crasher (perfect for Simmons who is used mainly as the looper).

On early downs…. idk what the plan is for him. He can play edge and set a strong edge. He can play inside mainly as a 4i and slant or play attack/react well. He struggles getting control of OL. He can play his main gap well, but can’t always shed to his second gap or make a play. Gets moved way too easily inside.

He was paid big bucks for that pass rush. Can figure out ways to get him more snaps.

Jordan Elliott

Now this is a Saleh NT. Large and tall.

Doesn’t add much as a pass rusher, meh mover. Can push the pocket well at times. He just has to get good leverage and hand placement, which isn’t always easy for him. Okay stunter. Does well reading the QB eyes and going to where he is looking.

He’s here for run defense. He is pretty good at attack/react. Gets knockback and plays his gap very well. Can’t shed well and if it's a zone play and he’s running down the line, can’t turn back if the RB cuts back. He takes on doubles well, can drop his knee and sink low.

Solomon Thomas

Just a DPR DT. Been an even attacking front slut. Gets passed around to the same scheme. That's true of most attacking even front DTs but he’s a poster child for it.

Mainly useful on passing downs. Good stunter and contain player, fairly quick and athletic. Can win 1 on 1s with a double swipe or club and swims/rips. Pretty fluid hips.

Run defense is something we ignore. He’s here for passing downs.

Earnest Brown IV

Mainly a preseason guy. Uh he does some attack react stuff fine. Scoots a lil. 

Jackie Marshall

I’ll try to keep this writeup positive. Was more of an attacking edge that shot gaps. Had little pop but then will be violent towards pullers. Got reached too easily and ragdolled often. Bad edge athlete but decent DT athlete. Strong club. Lower body was stiff. And tried very hard.

Cam Horsley

Barely played, got pancacked or destroyed on half of his reps. Hard to be positive. Can do attacking stuff and a depth NT for this scheme?

Timmy Horne

More of a NT in this scheme, can push the pocket a little. Mainly a PS player.

Base Units

Will sort it as

(Strong Edge-DT-NT-Weak Edge)

Jermaine Johnson-JFM-Simmons-Jacob Martin

2nd unit

Keldric-Solomon-Elliott-Oladejo

A bit of a tough unit to sort. It depends on what they do with the 2nd edge. Im assuming they use a weakside OLB type. They can also use another heavy edge like Faulk or put JFM there again. If JFM is used as an edge on early downs them that changes everything the most. Hard to figure out, I assume they put their best 4 out there and just rotate a ton based off of team and situation. Saleh did mention a heavy rotation. I think it’ll be some mix of these 8 players who will man the 1st and 2nd unit.

May sound odd to put Simmons as the NT, but the NT does play so much 2i and 3T, which he mainly did last season along with quite a bit of 1T too. In an attacking front it doesn’t matter that much what he’s listed as tbh.

This team can also get to odd fronts from their base even front package or get into true odd front looks if they need to. I think that’s the main reason they have an OLB type body out there.

Pass rush Package

JJ2-Jeffery-JFM-Jacob Martin

Pretty much the starting unit. Have to have Jeff and JFM as the DTs, both are great. Jermaine and Jacob Martin are the two best pass rushing edges here. I can see Olu being brought in as a blitzing LB type to add more versatility in their rush. Faulk and Solomon can man the DT spots if needed. If Saleh needs to keep the DTs fresh, he has plenty of options for passing downs. The order of who gets rushes set up should go as

1. 1. Jeffery Simmons

2. 2a/2b. Jacob Martin/JJ2

3. 4. JFm

I think the order is pretty clearcut. Jeffery gets a ton of rushes and the pass rush is built around him. Can use him to set up matchups or run stunts at a high level. He is also a great decoy for setting up someone else. The edges are two opposite rushes, JJ2 is a power rusher who is more talented, then Martin is a technical rusher who can dominate bad OTs. Set them up depending on if you want more of a talent winner or technical one. And then JFM can win matchups as well if you want to target an interior one with Simmons getting attention.

Depending on how other players like Olu are used, can be very versatile in the rush. Can blitz the LBs and drop an edge or DT. Can destroy teams with TT stunts which should be great with Simmons and JFM. And can cage rush and condense the pocket.

Overall Saleh has built a DL that has a dream DT duo for him. The real question is if these edges can step up. Cause if so, then this DL can be a legit force.

DC Anthony Campanile

DL Matt Edwards

Asst DL Derrick LeBlanc

Scheme

Reacting Even front. Just like with the Bengals and Colts, did use some odd front principles, but not enough to say it’s a hybrid front. They did like up in odd fronts quite a bit, but normally from their base even packages. Have a strongside DE, Weakside DE, DT and NT.

The strongside DE is a true DE. Mainly plays with their hands down and bump inside when they need to. Who ever played this would wind up playing some 4i and 3T. Have to be a solid enough IDL as well as being able to play off the edge. The weakside DE was able to play standing up and dropped at times. They also played hands down and would line up inside of TEs. DTs mainly played over Gs and then NTs mainly played over Cs whether as a 1T/0T.

Reacting front so the players set the line of scrimmage and try to take on blocks to free up LBs. They also stunted a ton. 

Player Profiles

Travon Walker

Hardest profile to write. He got hurt and broke his wrist, but still played through it with a club on his hand. A lot of this writeup is based off of clubless Walker and the season before. With the way he started the season, there would have been some uncomfortable convos with him. 

Former 1st overall pick. Feels like someone that people disregard a little too much because the stats are not high end as a pass rusher. He was a game changer as a run defender and roleplayer, with elite athleticism (on field, not just in shorts) and potential as a rusher. He had back to back 10 sack seasons prior to this one, while maybe being 50% at most of what he can be as a rusher. The first couple of games looked very promising, and looked like he turned a corner as a rusher, but then injuries stopped us from seeing more. The team saw enough to pay him $27.5m a year and make him a top 15 paid player.

It checks out, one of the best run defenders in the league. He is able to play across the line as an OLB or DE and even be a serious IDL. He is an elite roleplayer. He pairs perfectly with a more technical rusher from being an elite set up guy. 

Pass rush plan? What to say. He does a lot of different stuff but nothing sticks as much as his power moves. Very dominant power rusher with a bull rush OTs get dominated by. He builds his pass rush around his power. He threatens OTs with it and tries to work outside with a double swipe, chop and rip, or crosschop move. On the interior can work double swipes and club and swims. 

The handfighting looked decent at times. Last season saw a turn in the 2nd half of the season where he was treated as a true 1b to JHA’s 1a option. He still misses so often with his moves… and it doesn’t matter.

He is an example of why elite athleticism matters. He is crazy bursty, very fast, and super strong. When turning the corner he is insanely strong and pretty fluid and flexible. He can force wins as well as elite players at times. He’ll work outside, miss with his swipes or crosschop, and be in the worst position to win a rep where the OT is in control. Then he just powers through and turns the corner like it’s nothing. It’s BS how often he can win reps while he misses with his hands and gets to positions that are favorable to OL.

It’s also what makes him very frustrating. Uber talented, but still so far away from reaching his ceiling. His traits give him a super high floor. Dominant power rusher who pushes the pocket at an elite level. Drives OL back and can still contain from it. Forces the QB to the other edge rusher!!! An exceptional stunter. I would have expected him to be a better crasher, but he is an elite looper. So fast and explosive, while being able to run through contact inside while looping.

Run defense is top tier. He is able to 2 gap and control OL with ease. He can play his primary gap extremely well, and still work to his secondary gap. Gets extension and lockout, and able to get good vision on the backfield. Reacts and reads quickly. Can shoot gaps and create a ton of knockback. He’s able to set a strong edge. Long and athletic enough to make tackles close by. Great on the backside of runs. Not bad against doubles/combos, can hold his ground decently. Just overall a very high quality run defender.

We’ll see how he looks next season. Things were trending up before his injuries. Hopefully they keep him as the 1B option. Way too talented. Maybe 60% of Walker can be a pro bowl level player.

Josh Hines-Allen

High pressure getter. Another disrespected player by the media? Give me two nickels for that. At the time of this article, the espn article where they ask league execs and higher ups who the top edges are came out. Walker was an honorable mention, but JHA wasn’t? While I personally believe that Walker is the better player overall, he was injured while JHA had a really good season. He was hooping. And he doesn’t get a ton of recognition. I have an idea why but before that…

Pass rush plan: Cross chop king. One of the best crosschoppers in the league. Channeling his inner Jags legend Yannick Ngaokoue. Last season it felt like JHA added weight and didn’t look as athletic overall. But it seems like he shed a bit of it while keeping his strength and power. He uses that power now to threaten OTs. He has a pretty strong bull rush and uses a stab move to open up the inside of OL. He then angles himself in a way where it looks like he is going to use power, only to hit a jab step and use his CROSS CHOP!!! He’ll also hit double swipes or if he feels like the OT is undersetting or punches early, he can hit a chop while using a speed rush. Plan is to use power, then can use power to work inside, and then threaten with power to work a move outside of OTs.

JHA biggest issue… is that he is more of a pressure getter and technical winner. His lower body is very stiff and not that strong against contact. His hips are a bit flexible and fluid. It’s very easy for OTs with decent recovery skills to wash him down if he works inside, or drive him upfield. One thing I do like is that despite that, if he is close to the QB he will sell out and dive in weird positions if he can’t turn the corner well.

This doesn’t mean he is secretly a bad player or doesn’t deserve an honorable mention for top edges. But there’s a massive difference in the pressures he and Walker get, and how well they can force wins against better quality OTs.

JHA is a technical mismatch weapon. The Jags use Walker over the better OT to force him back with power. Then they put JHA over the worse OT so he can win more at a consistent rate. He destroys lower end OTs. That’s his main value, if you have a bad OT, good luck to that guy. 

JHA is also a good roleplayer still. He is a great looper and got a ton of pressures off of that. He can push the pocket well with his power of he has to set up Walker or if they are cage rushing. He can drop in coverage as well. His run defense is very solid too. He can 2 gap on TEs and is good in an attacking mode. Can get decent knockback and control of his gap.

He is able to play as a standup or hand down edge. It wasn’t too long ago he had his 17.5 sack season. I do agree with Jags fans with JHA being underrated overall and with his run D which is solid. He isn’t Ngokoue 2.0. He’s a lot more than that. Maybe it’s the crosschop spamming that throws people off on him.

BJ Green ii

Uh. Better than expected. Moves kinda funny, almost hunched over. More was used as a DPR. Showed a crosschop, stab forklift and double swipe. A lot of pushing the pocket with bull rushes. Decent run defender, a bit slow with his reaction and reading blocks. Neat backup/depth you want to root for. The BJ Green replacement.

Danny Striggow

Ooh, where did he come from?!?! Really good looper, checked his agilities and they were all great. (3-cone measure looping ability not turning the corner ability, great example of it here). Some solid power. Stab moves, chop and rips, double swipes! Moves very well overall. And is stout against the run. More of a backup type DE who bumped insids at times. The Ogbah replacement.

Wesley Williams

Man. The biggest challenge with him is being nice. All my predraft writeup said was, “Big, stout, unathletic, always look swaggy, more times pancacked than highlights.” Hopefully for the Jags sake I just watched the worst 3 games of his career. Did show a crosschop and club and rip. Solid stunter. Can bump inside on passing downs. Mainly a DE type. Duwaune Smoot replacement?

Zach Durfee

Prospect X. Certified Spinny Boi. Really good lateral movement and great looper on stunts (7 second 3 cone!!!). Solid explosiveness, fluidity and flexibility. Just a very weak player. More of a weakside or OLB type here. Some speed to power potential, had nice bull rush reps. Can compete as a DPR. Maybe the Dennis Gardeck replacement?

Bryan Thomas Jr.

Kinda fast but lacks explosiveness. Very stiff ankles and hips. Used ghosts and dip moves and spins a lot. Solid stunter, better as a crasher. Weakside OLB type.

Quindarius Dunnigan

DE type. Spin move user. Mainly asked to contain. Moves like a slower BJ Green. 

Arik Armstead

Pretty good. Now this is someone who even gets underrated by their own fans. He’s just a good all around DT. A very tall and long man.

With being a tall man, you can expect him to hit swim moves for days. He is very lengthy, he uses it with his power moves. Can hit bull rushes that OL can’t anchor well against. Or hit a stab forklift and control a wrist. He also uses double swipes for quick punches. He is built weird. His lower body is very flexible. When turning the short corner, shows better bend than most edges. Lacks some fluidity, which is enough to drive em by the QB at times. One thing he does very well is being able to get skinny when working moves to knife his way through.

He is a great roleplayer. Pushes the pocket very well with a bull or stab forklift, then can disengage with his long ass arms. He can stunt at a high level, which is his main value and main way he can get pressure. He is a good contain player who can use his arms to get in passing lanes and chase QBs down.

Run defense was very good as well. Reacting DT who read and reacted well. His length becomes a major factor here. He can create a ton of extension and lockout away from the OL. It makes it much easier to shed guys through when they can’t get a hold on you. He 2 gaps well. He can get that lockout and read the backfield. Gets control of OL. Struggles with doubles at times. Tallness issues makes it difficult to stay low every play. Can get caught up by downblocks the most. Besides that, best going up against a single blocker.

Davon Hamilton

Another player that I feel like Jags fans underrate. Now Jags fans owe me two nickels. Anyways just a neat NT.

Nothing crazy as a rusher. Push pulls and bull rushes. Mainly a roleplayer. Runs stunts really good. Can push the pocket and disengage while containing. Gets eyes on QB and can fill open gaps to prevent QB from escaping easily.

Really good reacting NT. He is flexible and powerful. Reads and reacts quick. Great at shock and shedding. Gets extension on the OL and can pull them down. Not easy to reach. Good vs doubles. He either holds his ground or he may get moved, but will shed to work back in his gap.

Neat NT.

Ruke Orhorhoro 

Traded Maason for him from Atlanta. Really interesting trade. I like him as the backup DT. Mainly played for an attacking front, so getting to a reacting front is interesting.

Neat pass rusher. Club and rip/swims and double swipes. He has fluid hips, which helps turn the corner but has stiff ankles and lower body which hurts him in the end. He can knock hands away and have a path to the QB, but stiffness issues makes it harder to finish and turn while moving or getting pushed. Lacks + traits to force win. Solid all around athlete, but nothing that can dominant certain mismatches. Lacks lateral movement. Who knows how high the upside is.

Good roleplayer and stunter. Doesn’t get a ton of push when bull rushing to push the pocket. Can contain off the edge. 

Run D was okay. Mainly attacked but did fine getting control of OL. Got decent knockback when power stepping through OL. A bit slow to react to blocks and that part will need to improve here. Can get wrecked at times with downblocks and doubles.

Weird fit, but I do get the upside aspect, especially as a pass rusher. Rooting for Ruke

Albert Regis

Oh Hell yeah, Regigigas, one of my favorite pokemon and a favorite sleeper NT prospect. Another player underrated by the media, now the media owes me 3 nickels. Was constantly ranked very low when he looked like a typical round 3-5 type DT. Part of it is that reacting DL just get underrated so often when their skillsets are always valuable.

Regis can 2 gap extremely well, gets lockout and peeks in his gap before reading the RB to know where to shed. Solid vs doubles/combos because he can sink low, after the post man climbs, he can reestablish leverage and reset his hands. Hand placement and knockback is iffy, misses at times and loses control of blocks. Lighter NT body, so can get washed too easily. Good slant step.

Moves very well for a NT type. Can do a bunch of roles like stunting and pushing the pocket. Has a very strong club move. Not going to add much to passing downs, but he’s here for early/neutral downs. Potential Davon replacement?

Matt Dickerson

More of a DPR Dt. Can scoot and do roleplayer stuff. Run defense….. yeesh. Not much to say, gets wrecked a lot, has some nice speed to power bulls when pushing the pocket, solid stunter and container.

Keivie Rose

Big boi. Reacting DT. Played preasons. PS type.

Jalen Hunt

Played for a reacting front so he’s used to it. Played 4i and 5T a lot. Very unathletic. Does neat holding his ground and being stout.

TJ Bollers

I have no idea if he exists.

Quinton Bohanna

He’s the biggest, the largest. Massive human. Of course he’s a NT. He is a brick wall. Wherever he lines up, he’ll stay in that spot for better or for worse. Can barely move. Easy to reach and get around. Struggles against doubles. Can’t bend low or split them, so he ends up going for a ride.

Base Units

Will list these as…

(Strong DE-DT-NT-Weak DE)

Travon-Arik-Davon-JHA

2nd Unit as

Strigow-Ruke-Regis-Durfee

Think it’ll end up like this and I’ll be very surprised if anything changes. The strongside DE has to be able to play DT seriously. Durfee fits the best as a OLB type. I highly doubt any other DT replaces Ruke/Regis.

I’m not the biggest fan of the Edge depth. I do like Durfee but besides that, it feels very underwhelming. They care way more about stoutness. Their backup Edges could barely move last season and it didn’t matter. DT depth felt like a massive weakness last season and I like it a ton now with those two youngins.

Pass Rushing Package

Travon-Arik-Ruke-JHA

The depth for this isn’t great. Durfee can be fine at the edge. Striggow can do a little. Have a few Edges, even Travon, who can bump inside and put another Edge out there. The package should end up being this. With the order of pass rushes going as…

1. JHA

2. Travon Walker

3. Arik Armstead

JHA and Walker work best with JHA getting more matchups and Walker containing. But Walker is too talented to not give matchups to. Mentioned it a bit above, but JHA can win matchups way more consistently against low end competition. But Walker can win higher quality matchups more consistently. So it’s best to have JHA target the weaker OT and then have Walker push the pocket and use his elite traits to drive the OT back into the QB. Walker can win late and shed after the OT starts to anchor down. As a change up they can give Walker the matchup and then stunt JHA with a DT.

Arik can win matchups on the inside pretty well. But for the most part, if it isn’t a JHA or Walker getting a matchup or 2 way go, then it’ll be stunts galore. Stunts, stunts, and more stunts. Their team is full of quality stunters. Ruke and Regis are good crashers and pick men on stunts. Then Striggow and Durfee can be good loopers to pair with them. Also have BJ Green, Matt Dickerson and Wesley Williams who are quality stunters too.

Overall, the starting unit is very good, but I am not the biggest fan of the depth at Edge. They did build a DL that fits exactly what they want, even if it’s very unconventional. This is a team that’s zigging while everyone else is Zagging.

DC Lou Anarumo

DL Marion Hobby

Asst DL Kalon Humphries

Scheme

The Scheme is very similar to the Bengals one. It bases more from an even front but uses odd front principles too. Based off of the coaches, it is more of an even front base. The style is more of a reacting one. Usually you have a strongside DE, DT, NT and weakside DE. The strongside DE is someone that plays with their hand down and can bump inside of OTs if they shift to an odd front. They also can play standup edge if they need to but mainly are playing react/attack. The weakside DE more so plays as a standup edge most of the time. They usually act more like an OLB, with some LB responsibilities and play more attack/react. The DT mainly plays over Gs and the NT usually lines up over the C or works in the A gaps.

There is a lot of versatility. They can bring out a true odd front look, or bump into it from their even front package. This team has had a reacting front for a while. Play at the LoS and take on OL. This teams has been able to make do without much LB investment from the DL taking care of business. 

Player Profile

Laiatu Latu

Man, where to begin. A very disappointing watch. It’s not all on him, he was used almost exclusively as a role player. The fact that he got 8.5 sacks is very impressive. He was used as a strongside DE. He did some stuff as a standup edge and dropped in coverage. Or when they shifted to odd fronts, he would bump inside to a 4i. He was a setup guy for Raiders Legend Kwity Paye. His rushes each game would end up like: cage rush, contain, drop, cage rush, drop, cage rush, stunt, cage rush, contain, drop, cage rush, cage rush, then a 2 way go or jet rush.

Can’t even talk about his pass rush plan, because he wasn’t allowed to rush enough to figure one out. From college, he was a cross chop king. Was a bit of a limited athlete, very fluid hips and had great lateral movement. His rookie season saw him be used as their main pass rush source. His handfighting looked NFL ready which is rare for rookies. Super up DPR type.

That all changed. He looks fatter, and I am someone that is generally all for putting on weight over losing some, but it’s almost too detrimental for him. He didn’t have great explosiveness and speed coming out, so the weight is dragging him down a ton in that department. One thing from last season, is that he was only able to win outside if the OTs lost the handfighting battle. He didn’t have great traits to force wins off the edge or had the strength/power to go through OTs. I get the idea of packing on weight and building strength to have a more legit power profile. Force OTs into bad positions that way. But they didn’t set up rushes for him to develop a new pass rush plan with his newfound strength/power.

He was used to contain or drop a lot. They did have him push the pocket quite a bit. His growth in power was very evident. He was able to condense the pocket very consistently. His bull rushes were respectable. He was able to win slowly at a high rate. The 2nd half of the year showed some promise with the new Latu.

He rarely did crosschops which was very disappointing. With his bull rush or using power, he used a pull slide more often. Grabbing the shoulder of the OT and pulling them inside as he flips his hips to the QB and rips/crossfaces through them. He tried different moves. He took the pull through move from Danielle Hunter (patent pending). It worked with power since he would fake a bull and then hop into it. He wasn’t much of a quick winner unless he worked a move inside, which when he was allowed to, it looked great. He has legit lateral movement, strong lower body, some hip fluidity, and flexible ankles.

Idk, maybe fatter Latu can become a good player and rusher, but the ceiling was very limited even before the weight gain. He was weird in the sense that he wasn’t a typical sure fire first round caliber athlete on tape. His ceiling was that of a low end main option for a pass rush. He is better as a supplementary rusher and 2nd option. Checks out because of all the rumours of the Colts trying very hard to get a main rusher. They didn’t, so maybe they pivot to having Latu be the main guy again.

Solid stunter, looping ability didn’t look as dominant because the weight gain slowed him down a bit. Run defense was fine enough. He would do his best to get lockout and hold his ground. It was too easy for OTs or Gs when he slanted/lined up inside to take him out of his gap or seal him off. OL can just torque him out the way. He is best 1 gapping and working outside the OL, but that can also get him out of position too often. He did play both as a standup edge and hand down. Versatile chess piece.

Who knows what Latu will be used as. He’s been a main option before, and has newfound forcing elements that can help target more matchups and win in more ways. But he also was a high end roleplayer this past season, and there’s a chance he can be relegated to being just that. For Latu and the Colt’s sake, hopefully he becomes the rusher they need.

Arden Key

Alright, maybe this is their main pass rusher. Fits as a weakside DE that plays standup most of the time. Former Raiders Legend. Lanky build.

Pass rush plan: He changes his stance with what foot he has up. Usually has his inside foot up. Main difference is when he reads the set. Inside foot up means he’ll make a read on his 2nd step vs 3rd step with his outside foot up. He usually works vertical at first. Inside foot up means he’ll read the set and try to win with handfighting and jab steps. With the outside foot up, usually means he is going to work outside as hard as he can. He can hit double swipes, cross chops, chop and rips, dip and rips, and has a strong bull rush.

He is still pretty explosive and quick with great lateral movement. That lateral movement makes him a threat working inside of OTs and as a looper on stunts. He can win outside at a solid level. And he has a lot of pop when using speed to power. Enough to crumple OL to the ground at times. 

With his handfighting and traits, he can get to winning positions pretty well. He is pretty fluid in the hips but has stiffish ankles. He can flip his hips to the QB, but can’t stop his momentum when moving full speed. It leads to him overrunning the QB with some contact as the OT drives him upfield or gives him a push past the QB.

Good roleplayer. Okay enough run defender. Gets moved easily, and gets caught up too much. Good at working around OTs against the run.

Can be the pass rusher this team needs. Also has so much funny reps. A lot of reps he crashes into OL and knocks em down like bowling pins. Or reps he gets decimated and embarrassed. Besides that neat player.

JT Tuimoloau

The spinniest boi. Loves spinning. Bigger end who mainly played the strongside DE spot. And was used as a pass rushing IDL.

Pass rush is very solid technically. He has a very usable power profile. Mainly uses stab-forklifts to contain. Was able to hit his spin move over OTs and even over Gs. Has solid speed and explosiveness. Pretty strong. Turns the corner solidly, strong through contact.

Good stunter, was better as a looper. Can be a quality roleplayer as a IDL or Edge on passing downs. Solid run defender. Gets good lockout and can play gap and a half well. Some upside to be a legit 2nd option. Who’s to say he can’t also be a starter?

Michael Clemons

Heavy end. Another strongside DE that can bump inside. Also mainly a DT on passing downs. Overall fairly solid.

Handfighting was nice, can hit a crosschop inside and always keeps fighting hands away. Mainly pushed the pocket from the edge with a stab move. Had enough power to bulldoze weak OL. Very strong rusher who can scoot.

Good crasher on stunts, can loop fine but looks slow moving laterally. Better as a contain player on the interior. Run defense is best in an attacking mode. Has size and power to set a strong edge. Gets lockout and knockback often. Can miss with his hands or lose ground when he gets eyes on the backfield. 

Caden Curry

Budget Jack Sawyer. Fine enough athleticism. Super stubby. He does have okay power, it comes from good leverage, hand placement and is just violent as a player. He does have to sell out when using power which makes it very difficult to disengage and make plays. Works side scissors, bull rushes, push-pulls and a swim move. Containing and stunting is just meh. Tries hard as a rum defender. Does a good job of shooting his hips through and being stout. Stubby arms makes it harder to disengage and make a tackle, even if it’s in his gap. Low end weakside DE/OLB type player. Probably will also prefer him to be a standup edge. 

George Gumbs Jr.

More of an OLB type, another weakside edge. Was a good looper. Lower body had decent flexibility and fluidity. Besides that, meh.

Mitchell Melton

Smol bean OLB. Lot of hesis and chops and stuff. Rooting for the lil guy. 

Durell Nchami

Played a little bit. Strongside edge. Push pulls and chop. Can be a PS candidate.

Deforest Buckner

Was an incredible player. I hope he recovers because he was a very integral part of the DL. Super tall and long.

Pass rush was great. Push-pulls with a swim or club and swim were his go to moves. Could hit a spin and forklift moves too. Hard to block because he can always use his length as a weapon. He’ll knock you back and use his long ass arms to pull you through. It’s hard to get a clean punch because he can knock your hands away.

He has a mix of great athleticism for a DT as well as legit strength. He is bursty and shifty along with having quality lateral movement. He turns the short corner with his fluidity, flexibility and strong lower body. He can demolish players with okay or worse talent profiles.

Run defense is very high end for more of a lighter DT. He is super tall at around 6’7. He was able to play 5T-3T seriously. He can play over OTs and Gs on early downs. His strength and length come into play a lot here. As a reacting DT, he mirror steps and reads the blocks of OL. He reads and reacts quickly. He’ll shoot his hands and either 2 gap or play gap and a half in this mode. With his long ass arms he can create a lot of extension which makes it easier to shed and disengage. He can be a very violent shedder that tosses OL to the ground. His athleticism and flexibility makes him hard to reach. He can be a bit susceptible to doubles from being such a tall player. At times he can get moved a ton if he misses with his hands. OL can get underneath him and take him for a ride.

Great DT who can do so much. Can be a player who you give a ton of matchups for. Was even used to rush off the edge to push the pocket. And was used as a blitzing LB at times. + run defended who does so much right. Need him to be close to what he was after this injury.

Grover Stewart

Beast. NT. Monster. Great run defender.

Pass rush is limited because he is a NT. But he is crazy strong. He can move decently too overall. He’s mainly just asked to be a roleplayer and contain. When he pushes the pocket, he can condense the pocket like a can of sardines. Has so much power. C’s cannot stop him, just slow him down as best as they can. He’s an okay roleplayer, huge NT so containing is fine overall. Okay stunter, lacks + movement to do more damage with them.

Run defense is very simple. He good. That's it. Great reacting DT who controls OL with ease. Gets perfect hand placement and leverage. Reads blocks and mirror steps very quickly. Gets lockout and can throw OL in any direction. Not easy to reach because he can move well enough and reacts fast. Also very good versus doubles/combos. He’s just too stout and strong for them. Whether it is more vertical or horizontal ones, he can hold his ground and split them like it’s nothing. Not the best in an attacking mode or even slanting to a gap, but eh it doesn’t matter much with him.

Great run defending NT. With insane power.

Colby Wooden

The backup NT? Looks a lot heavier than before. Very slow athlete, this dude ran a 4.79?!?! Played a ton of 0T/1T and was able to bump out, even to a 5T sometimes. Lotta versatility with this DT.

Didn’t do much pass rush wise, mainly asked to contain, seen him win with a double swipe or a club and swim move. More of a NT athlete. Very flexible though, few times he turns the short corner and shows better bend than most Edges. Can’t get to positions to use that enough though. Okay stunter and contain player. Lacks pop and power, can’t condense the pocket that well and showed little power.

Run defense is the thing I’m more interested in. Was fine overall, but can see improvement and upside. Did some 2 gapping and was able to control the OL pretty well. Feels close to being good. Wasn’t bad vs doubles, wasn’t great at splitting them but could hold his ground decently enough. A bit too slow to do much slanting or penetrating. I get the trade for him as a bet on getting a potentially solid NT who can line up anywhere.

Adetomiwa Adeboware

He is speed. Very fast and light DT. Went from averaging a bit above 30% of snaps before Buckner’s injury, to around 60% of snaps after. Mainly plays over Gs. Filled in very nicely and showed some promise.

Run defense will be short. Better in an attacking style just because of how fast he is. Did fine 2 gapping and playing gap and a half, but couldn’t play his secondary gap well. Had issues shedding and disengaging off of blocks. Better at playing 1 gap or penetrating through. Wasn’t too bad against doubles. Same thing with attacking, if he could shoot a gap or slant and use his speed to create knockback on an OL, it could be enough to split the double/combo. Overall a solid run defender now. Run defense was a major issue the past two seasons but looks fine enough at the very least.

Ade was always a supreme athlete. He tested off the charts with a 9.7 RAS and running a 4.49 40 yard dash. But he barely played his first two seasons. He is an example of why DPRs don’t matter, and why speed itself isn’t as important inside. Unless you have elite functional athleticism for DTs or are an elite pass rusher, run defense is going to matter a lot. Speed is great to have… for an edge. Winning reps inside is tougher with certain traits captured by RAS. You have much less space inside to attack, so ideally you create that space with power, or use lateral movement to be able to hit a gap quickly with an IOL trying to mirror you. Ade had speed, but lacked some power and doesn’t have good lateral movement.

But his pass rush improved a ton. Last season he did rush off the edge to use speed to power to condense the pocket. This season he found a way to use it inside. He was able to push the pocket with speed to power inside. Then he was used as a crasher or pick man on stunts/read stunts. He would work vertically very hard and create a lot of space for the looper. When trying to win rushes, his best ones came from engaging and forcing the OL to try to stop his power, then he would work around them or cross their face inside while hitting a double swipe or club and rip/swim move. Can do more to use power to force wins. His lateral movement is lacking, so he will try to rush one shoulder and then work across the OL, or use hesis, and it wasn’t as much of a threat. When winning a rep his lower body was a bit stiff but he has fluid hips. He was able to flip his hips decently well, but struggled to against strong contact.

He changed his rush plan and became way more successful as a rusher. With how much his run defense improved, he can be more than a DPR DT.

Derrick Nnadi

The most typical NT. Just a NT. Only here for run defense. If there was a hint of a pass being called, wasn’t on the field. Don’t have to mention anything pass rush wise, too unathletic for it.

Good run defender, very strong and sturdy. Hard to move with his size and leverage. Reads and reacts at a high level. Can control OL’s pads and 2 gap. Played a lot of react/attack. Okay slanting. Reliable against doubles, can hold his ground and split them.

Jerry Tillery

Another Chufs player?!?! Makes sense cause they also played in a reacting front. More of a DPR type DT. Another example of DPRs not mattering. Former 1st rounder, but a player who was a very low end run defender. Wasn’t able to become more than a rotational DT. I’d be surprised if he makes the team outright, can see PS for sure.

Run defense is bad, just gets moved so easily. Reads blocks okay, better 1 gapping. Besides that, good luck in this department.

Pass rush was weird, he was basically neutered with the Chifs. Used to be a double swipe merchant, but didn’t see it as much. Used more push and pulls, pull slides, and club and rips. He’d work through a shoulder of an OL, and then try to work back across by using a hump move. Juice wasn’t there either. Had very little power, push-pulls worked using good leverage. The most former 1st rounder a player has been.

Tim Smith

Bama boi. Lighter DT. Mainly a PS player this season. Looked fine in preseason. When he mirror stepped and reacted to blocks, misread them at times. Strong and was able to hold his ground okay enough. Did well getting lockout. Didn’t do too much pass rush wise but can run stunts well. Depth DT option.

Cameron Ball

DT from a reacting front who mainly played over Gs and OTs. Lighter DT. Can sink low vs doubles, but when he reacted late got destroyed. Was able to shoot hips through contact decently. Had a solid reaction time and read the backfield pretty well. Neat stunter and slanter. Has fine lateral movement and a little burst, but stiff lower body. Mainly showed a club and rip move. Another depth option.

Base Units

Ill say the units are based off of an even front.

(Strong DE-DT-NT-Weak DE)

Latu-Buckner-Grover-Key

2nd unit

Clemons-Ade-Wooden-JTT

Seems pretty chalky and straightforward, but I have no idea how the edge room is going to shape up. The DT room will most likely stay as is, biggest issue is Buckner being healthy. Edge is very weird. Latu was used mainly as a strongside edge, but should be a weakside one. But he didn’t show the juice or LB ability Key had last season, so idk if Key gets bumped down in favour of Latu. But then for the strongside edge, I think JTT would be better in that role. But do you have Latu as a backup? Sounds too much like you would be giving up on him. Tough room to sort. The way it is should be fine. I doubt anyone else can make a push for the starting or 2nd unit.

Pass rushing package

Latu-Buckner-Adeboware/JTT-Key

Another tough unit. What to do on passing downs? The biggest issue with this team, is how do you build a pass rush? Who is the main guy? A lot of reports in the offseason indicated that this team had tried looking into a high end pass rusher. At the moment, Buckner was treated as the main and barring health, it should stay that way. There are a lot of solid rushers and good roleplayers, but not the guy. This team relied a lot on cage rushing, stunts and blitzs/creeper calls. The way I would set up the order of pass rushes would be like:

1. Deforest Buckner

2a/2b. Latu/Key

4a/4b. Adeboware/JTT

There’s way too many similar caliber options. Things will change a ton if Buckner isn’t the same player after his injury. Then it becomes a battle between Latu/Key as to whom the main guy is. If last season was a sign, it would lean to Key over Latu. The pass rush last season featured Buckner the most, with Paye as a standup edge getting a ton of opportunities to rush. Latu was used almost exclusively as a roleplayer and set up guy. I think you can be optimistic for Latu’s chances because I think he packed on weight to build more of a power profile and is still getting used to it. He had a ton of pressures, more sacks, and better advanced stats without being a featured rusher. Lou has spoken highly of Latu this offseason, hopefully it isn’t just coach speak.  Arden Key felt more like a worst case scenario bet. If he has to be the main guy, it’s not the worst thing in the world, but it would be very reliant on the other DL being high end roleplayers.

The interior pass rush can be handled by so many players. You can have Buckner, Grover, Ade, JTT, Clemons, Tillery, and Wooden out here seriously. Another tough room to sort but it should be Buckner and Ade. JTT can make a serious push. Grover and Wooden might just be focused on run defense and base downs.

Overall, a solid DL that works well as a unit, but lacks that high end talent to build around. Has some older veterans but have done a good job of having young pieces waiting in the wings waiting to be developed. 

DC Matt Burke

DL Rod Wright

Asst DL Frank Okam

Scheme

Typical Attacking Even Front. Every DL plays with their hand in the dirt for the most part. Have 2 DEs and 2 DTs. One DT usually plays more 3T and the “NT” in these fronts play more 2i. Usually have a lighter DT and heavier one. They shoot gaps a lot or step through OL. Mainly play 1 gap and occasionally 2 gap. The DEs are generally heavier bodies that can play gap and a half. They are usually the ones that can make up for the DTs inside by having a second gap inside. 

Player Profile

Danielle Hunter

Just a freak. He is one of the hardest players to explain because of how unconventionally he moves. You can’t talk about him without his weird movements. He has a unique playstyle and pass rush plan that stems a lot from it.

So what makes his movement unique? He almost eternally hops around. And his feet almost always end up pointed out. My guess is that he is flat footed and has an extreme case of duck feet where his toes are pointed outwards naturally. It does stem from one of my legs being that way and dealing with a similar issue.

It looks weird because of how it affects all of his movements. With his duck feet and maybe having flat feet, instead of generating power from his knees pointed forward and pushing off of the balls of his feet, he has to rotate his leg outward and push off of the inside of his feet. It makes his get off look weird because his toes can be pointed forward, but for his toes to point forward he has to bring his knees inward. This causes him to look like he is eternally hopping/skipping since he has to rotate his legs with each step. If he does run normally for him, it looks like he is dragging his feet since his knees are pointed out as well.

Essentially when he runs how his body is built, he is always hitting a jab step. It also makes him move very upright with his feet in front of him. He looks very slouchy and it looks like he has to exert more effort to move full speed. His movement gets extremely hard to read for OL. Usually you get used to the feet and legs telling you where the defender is going, but with Hunter, his legs are pointed outwards so you never know if he’s going inside, outside or forward.

He doesn’t look super fluid or flexible when turning the corner. But it all stems from his feet, he is eternally rotated, so when turning the corner, his legs are already in a position to run around contact. Since he moves by pushing off the inside of his feet, when an OL punches or makes contact, Hunter can just push off laterally to get around the OL and create space again. You almost can’t ever get hands on him.

Weird combo of duck feet, maybe flat footed, extremely explosive, very fluid, and pretty flexible. I have no idea if we’ll ever see someone with his size move the same way.

With his toes being pointed out as his main way to move, he also has similar movements to an OL in pass pro. They can be taught to kickset with their legs staggered and back leg pointed out. OL are taught to anchor against power and can do it by hopping to change levels and generate power to stop the DL’s force. With Hunter, against the run he also has to anchor like an OL by hopping to stop an OL’s force. He also generates so much power as a rusher due to him always hopping/skipping when he runs anyways. Can see him hop into bulls because of it.

The weird part is that he has built his game around something that can be considered a deficiency. His body/athleticism feels maxxed out with abnormal movement that even if “fixing” his duck feet makes him more athletic, there’s no real benefit in trying to change anything now. He’s moved the same since college and HS. It isn’t a new issue, this is who Hunter is. You have to understand his movement to get to know him as a player. He is hard to explain because of it. Now we can finally talk about Hunter the player…

Pass Rush Plan: Most players have the same approach, but Hunter changes it so much. It depends on potential chips or outside releases. He makes sure there isn’t a TE outside of him or a RB is releasing outside during his rush. You can see him scanning the field during his first two steps.

If there is a RB releasing outside or potential chip. He’ll run towards the OL at a 45 degree angle, get 2 steps, maybe slow his pace with jab steps/side steps and then hit a lunging jab step or a hop step on his 3rd step. Here he reads the OT. He decides whether to just zoom inside, convert to power, or work outside usually with his pull thru move. 

(The Pull thru move is done in space which helps with his eternal jab/side steps. Get the OL to punch and you rip while using your outside arm to grab the wrist of the OL and pull him in. What this does is pull the OL which should stop his feet or slow them down. It makes it easier to run around the OT because he can only get his arm out in front and can’t get enough contact to drive you upfield.)

Anyways, he can hit a chop outside as well. He does other moves as well, but the main constant is that he is great at attacking hands. Without an outside chip or release, he gets free reign to do whatever he wants in his approach.

Just one of the hardest players to defend because his constant side steps make his movement so difficult to read. And he can change the pacing/timing of his steps since he can generate the same amount of power in each step. Even if you match him upfield and don’t bite on his jab steps, he can hit a dominant spin that feels like it comes out of nowhere.

Like I mentioned above, he is great at turning the corner. Since OL drive defenders upfield, usually they push the DL where their momentum is going. Despite not being the most fluid player, he can turn the corner very well. Because of his constant jab steps, he can change direction very easily, so if you try to drive him upfield, it doesn't have the same impact as with 99% of players. He can push against that contact so well. It’s what makes him feel like an inevitable rusher. He’ll get into a position where he can affect the QB. His pressure always feels very impactful even if he doesn’t get to the QB. 

Also a great looper and crasher on stunts. And can push the pocket at a high level with how easy it is to generate power. He just hops into it and can shock OL back like crazy.

Run D is whatever. Gives up his chest too much and doesn’t always get lockout. Can drive blockers back, but for the most part just plays at the LoS.

He is this team’s main rusher, most of the pass rush gets filtered through him. But he can be an elite roleplayer for when they change things up and set up a rush for another player.

Will Anderson Jr.

Phenomenal player. All pro 2nd team. Perfect compliment to Hunter. To understand Willy, have to know his background

Alabama. Played for Saban and that defense. They never really taught players how to win rushes. For Anderson, he was a DE and an OLB. They were taught and played differently but he was able to do both. To play at Bama you had to learn how to defend the run, stunt, and contain. DEs were taught to bull rush to contain and OLBs used the stab-forklift move a ton. OLBs after him or from Georgia were stab forklift kings. Most of the time the pass rush moves used were for the purpose of containing. As a DE at times, Willy played a lot of 4i and inside of OTs. For the college level, he was a very dominant player who showed high end strength. He was able to take on doubles and power rush. He had a ton of production, and it was mainly from being an elite contain player and high end stunter with high end athleticism. That itself in college can make you one of the best college players in the 2020s.

With that being said…

Pass Rush Plan: He was able to rush from a 2 point or 3 point stance. Did more of a 2 point stance the 2nd half of the season. He embraced his OLB Alabama era. If there wasn’t a threat of a RB/TE/WR releasing outside or chipping him, his approach would depend on the OT’s set. As a power rusher, he would force OT’s to do 1 of 2 sets, either a normal deep set or jump set to try to shut down his ability to power rush. His angle would be more of a 45 degree angle aiming for the outside shoulder of the OT and he would be able to distinguish between a normal and jump set right away. If on his 1st step he saw it was a jump set, he would jab step outside the OT. He could hit a double swipe, use Hunter’s patented pull thru move, or fake a bull rush and rip underneath. He could also just bull rush and go through the shoulder that feels weak. If the OT sets normally, he can use his bull rush the same way. He can also use a pull thru, club and rip, or just rip thru. And he always goes to his roots whether he is trying to win or contain… by using a stab forklift. He is able to control OL’s wrists at a high level, times punches and reacts quickly.

He’s also tried using some of Hunter’s quirks when pass rushing, and it doesn’t hit the same. He’ll hop into a rush, but because he isn’t duck footed, it’s easier to know where he is going. He’ll even hop into using power, which isn’t as effective. He started using the pull thru move, which is a move that can fit in with his playstyle very well. 

As an athlete, WAJ is great all around. He’s very explosive, strong, powerful, fast, and flexible. Enough of a mix to be a high end player.

I don’t think he is there just yet, made it to 2nd team All Pro. Had a lot of hype and was ranked highly in DPOY voting (2nd place). While the hype might be a little too high, I think he can reach those heights fairly soon.

While he has traits to win reps at a high level, they come a bit slow. It’s the main thing with power rushing, you can drive OL back consistently, but it is a slower way to win. WAJ lower body is very flexible and very strong through contact. When he gets to winning positions, OTs try to drive him upfield, but it’s tough to. WAJ lacks high end fluidity to finish turning the corner. If he’s running towards the QB in the pocket, and the QB steps up, he can’t flip his hips enough to get to the QB. You can see him dive to try to make an impact, but it’s hard for him to change direction while his momentum is high. That lack of fluidity and being a power rusher means that he gets a ton of pressure, but they are not always as impactful (doesn’t feel as impactful as his teammate above). This may seem like nitpicking, which it is, but it’s a huge difference between being considered an elite rusher or being a major factor that teams have to gameplan against, vs being in the top of the great tier where you’ll rack up stats but teams don’t treat you as an elite force to gameplan against. As a rusher, is he going to be a player with similar notoriety as a prime TJ Watt or Trey, or can he get closer to that Parsons or prime Maxx Crosby and Nick Bosa tier. Are you going to be just a great player with impactful plays, or an elite one who makes their defense as a whole better by how much teams force everything they can to slow you down. I think with even better handfighting and move selection, WAJ can be in the low end of that Elite edge tier. 

It’s a very controversial topic to say WAJ isn’t as great yet, but he is young and still such a high end talent. You can probably call him a top 5 edge despite his shortcomings.

As a roleplayer, WAJ is perfect for any other high end rusher. He is a high end late winner who is used to containing first, then winning after. This is where his power and explosiveness comes in. He can contain and rush upfield, once he gets to QB depth, then he can work inside to get to them. Or he can use his power and condense the pocket to force the QB to the main rusher while getting to his spot late. He’s a great stunter as well.

Run defense. This is another controversial topic. He is good, but I don’t get the elite run defense talk. He plays a lot of attack/react, where he is shooting gaps or power stepping through OL. He can get knockback very well and penetrate great. But when playing through OL, he can get a bit too high and almost chest to chest. So he does drive them back, but then he can’t shed and loses his gap way too often. Can’t get consistent lockout or extension against the OL. He’s great as the backside defender, can chase down RBs from behind. Sets a strong edge. And can work around OL well. From what I remembered in college, felt like his Run defense should have been way better. Especially with playing 4i and DE for Bama.

Hard to not sound too negative, but this is a player with a ton of hype and considered to be in the elite tier. I don’t think he is there, but he can be. At the moment he is the best 2nd option in the league. He can be a great main option himself, there’s just tiers to it.

Dylan Horton

Bigger DE. Can push the pocket and bull rush okay. More of a roleplayer. Doesn’t do much as a pass rush winner. A bit unathletic which hurts as a contain player. Run d is fine. Gets some pop and good lockout. Able to shed pretty well. Violent against pullers. Neat run focused backup.

Dominique Robinson

Looks like he gained quite a bit of weight. Good for him. Looked way better as a pass rusher than I remembered. Neat club and swim move. Has a very good slant step. Okay athlete, a bit slower. Has a little power. Solid enough run defender, gets good lockout and reads plays well. Neat 4th type edge.

Solomon Byrd

Tries best

Ali Gaye

Bigger OLB who can play DE. Another big body. The hand fighting was really surprising, stab forklift king. Grabbed wrists, timed punches, and reacted very well. Overall lacked traits to do much with his handfighting. Run defense was fine overall. Able to control TEs easily. But got moved too much against OTs.

Sebastian Harsh

Smol bean. Quick feet. Better in an attacking mode for run defense. Stunts well.

Sheldon Rankins

Really good rusher. Looks so small, smaller than most of the edges. He’s here for pass rush and shooting gaps. He is great at playing attack/react, creates a lot of knockback and sheds super quick and violent. He is small so he can get thrown a bit and gets decimated against double teams.

Pass rush is exquisite. Very quick and athletic. Bursty. He has very fluid hips that can flip instantly and is a bit flexible turning short corners. Also noticed he has duck feet too like Hunter. His lateral movement is a trait he uses to force wins. He also wins with legit handfighting. Won reps with a pull slide and swim, club and rip, double swipe and rips, and bull rushes. Even used a hump move after a move didn’t initially work. Very hard for low end OL to block in pass pro. Great role player for a DT. Runs stunts and contains at a high level. He has quite a bit of power from how quick he is. Helps push the pocket with using speed to power and having great hand placement and leverage.

Tommy Togiai

Their NT! Sorta, attacking even front NT. Mainly plays 2i, but also 3T. Went from a rotational DT to a starting one. Very strong and powerful. Neat run defender. Gets good knockback and lockout. Drives OL back with ease. Strong shedder. Okay vs doubles, easy to seal off and drive back a bit.

Pass rush gets interesting, mainly just a power rusher. Can use that power to push and pull players or open up a shoulder with his bull rush. He is great at pushing the pocket, can drive Gs to the QB very quickly. Generates a ton of power. Overall he’s fine at other pass rushing roles. Can be a starter or a quality depth DT.

Logan Hall

He’s very long and tall. Mainly an attacking DE who played over Gs. More of a IDL, but for this team, may be the edge depth they needed. Would fit their edge profile and can do both IDL/Edge things.

As a run defender, same type as DTs above. Good in an attacking role. Creates knockback and can penetrate. Great at hitting the backdoor with a club and swim. Can 2 gap. Okay against doubles, can drop to a knee and sinks very low. But height issue makes it easy to get underneath him and drive him out. Also easy to seal off.

Pass rushing is neat. Club and swim king. His favorite move, fits for a tall rusher. He can hit crosschops into a swim inside, double swipes, and has a solid bull rush. Even though he is tall, he can get a bit low to use power effectively. He also has very effective lateral movement that he can use to win rushes. Also leads to a great slant step. He can get to winning positions at a solid rate, but it’s hard to finish them. He lacks fluidity to turn his hips to the QB, and can get pushed past them. Good stunter and pocket pusher. Overall, he’s a really nice rotational DT who can be used as a DE for this team.

Kayden Mcdonald

Attacking DT who played a lot of 0T/2T

I hate to say this but he's not good at the technical stuff....... still has more room to grow!!! From playing a more attacking style at Ohio State, pad level gets high because he’s more focused on movement and immediately getting eyes in the backfield. Can get wrecked by doubles because he’s too focused on reading the backfield, feels and reacts to them late. Ends up on the ground more often than you'd like. Just very stout overall, and can recover well in bad positions. A Center destroyer, wrecks em with ease. Can 2 gap well, gets great vision in the backfield. Knockback is inconsistent, can be great at times, especially on the move. But from moving and playing tall, doesnt always shoot hips through. Can shed really well with inside control, hip tosses dudes. Inconsistent shedding because he drops his hands down and doesnt play with much extension (part of 2 gapping too much). 1 gaps and hits the backdoors wellZ Not easy to reach. Great at reading blocks initially and reacting to them after attacking. Knows how to attack blocks he sees, crossfaces on downblocks well. very strong.

Pass rushing wise nice at role player stuff. Can push the pocket, especially when over the C. Drives em back with ease. Solid slant steps and runs stunts well. BVery nimble lower body, hips fluid.

More of an Attacking NT who can 2 gap. Can just plug 'em into an odd front as a NT as well. Have em destroy Centers and develop em more overall. (Writeup from rookie DT previews.)

Overall, more raw than expected but very talented for a NT. Can compete for the starting “NT” which means he’ll play a lot of 2i and some 3T. I think it would be best to get into odd fronts for him. At the same time, he can face a ton of single blocks anyways and won’t have to worry about being good against doubles. Will be interesting to see how he is used and how much snaps he plays.

Naquan Jones

Bigger body. Has some power. More of a run defender. Good slant step. Strong and can drive OL back. Not much to say besides attacking even front NT.

Junior Tafuna

Has solid size, okay attacking DT. Mainly preseason reps but lot of effort. 

Kyonte Hamilton

Got hurt last off season so we’ll see what he is.

Dominic Bailey

Was an attacking front DT who also played edge. Not a great enough athlete for edge, but for this team… maybe he is edge depth too. A bit too light against doubles and gets moved very easily. Solid penetrator and stunter. Pushes the pocket well across the line.  

Base Units

(DE-DT-NT-DE)

WAJ-Rankins-Kayden/Togiai-Hunter

2nd Unit

Dominique Robinson-Logan Hall-Kayden/Togiai-Horton

The NT will be more of a 2i and still play mainly over Gs, but it’s more of a body type thing. The units look pretty chalk for the most part. The 2nd unit DE spots are one’s where I am not fully sold on. I can even see Logan Hall or Dominic Bailey competing for DE spots as well. 

Pass Rushing Package

WAJ-Rankins-Logan Hall-Hunter

Also very chalky. Of course WAJ and Hunter will be the DEs. The DT spots can be handled by different ones. For the most part, this team would have the DTs run a TT stunt or contain as the DEs get 2 way gos. The pass rush runs through the DEs. Most rushes get built around them. As for setting up matchups, the order will still be

1. Hunter

2. WAJ

3. Insert DT

Hunter has been the main option the last two seasons and shows no signs of slowing down. The pass rush runs through him. Will Anderson is used more as a 2nd option and roleplayer to keep the QB in the pocket. But he is so great at winning late that he can rack up pressures and wins himself. There’s quite a few plays where both DEs get a 2 way go or matchup set as the DTs contain over Gs. Generally one player gets that 2 way go, but with this team, you can have your two DEs get them at the same time.

Overall, this team has an extremely talented edge duo that you can always build a formidable force with. 

DC Patrick Graham

DL Domata Peko

OLB C.J. Ah You

Scheme

I have no idea. This is the toughest question to answer. What is Graham going to run with the front?

The front was a reacting odd front the last two seasons. I’m not sure about how it was before that. The DL would live at the LoS. One thing they did was play sides. Generally, the “strongside” OLB TJ Watt lined up over RTs with Sawyer being a main backup. And then the “weakside” OLB Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig lined up over the LT. Cam Heyward would line up next to the weakside OLB to make up for their run defense deficiencies. The weakside OLB would play attack/react and shoot gaps a lot. The strongside OLB would play head up on TEs and play react/attack… which also hurt pass rushes on early downs for Watt. No matter what you did on offense, Watt, Heyward, Highsmith/Herbig, Keeanu Benton and whoever else at the other DE spot would always play in the same side.

The only thing I could find on a scheme change is Watt saying that Graham is going to move guys around more. I think a major change would be to not play sides and attack OLs with with your DL more. 

Graham has mainly been an attacking front guy, but he is also very malleable. He’s ran whatever fits his personal. It sounds simple, but it’s hard to execute. Whatever he has on roster, he’ll make a defense that puts everyone into the spot or roles that maximizes them. It’s interesting that so far, they kept the top 3 edges and extended Herbig. I think he wants to keep this DL unit as the main strength of this defense.

Some of the new moves were players who fit more in an attacking front, but at the same time there weren't any major commitments that would indicate a sure fire change. The main DL he brought in, Sebastian Joseph-Day, is someone that can play across the line. There seems to be a bit of a push to being versatile, and with bringing up Herbig again, he can play LB and line up anywhere as a standup player. Versatility, maximizing players, and timing blitzes and stunts at the right time is Graham’s signature defense. With the coaches he brought in for the front, Peko and Ah You, they are coaches who are also not necessarily tied to a philosophy. Peko himself has played in different fronts in his long career. Who knows what the scheme style will be, but all we know is it will base from an odd front based off of the roster and coaches. 

Player Profile

TJ Watt

A very polarizing player for someone who was considered one of the best edges. Still a great rusher with a knack for the football. Was always an all around athlete with good power, speed, explosiveness, fluidity, flexibility, etc. As well as being a very technical winner. Mainly an OLB on early/base downs and can rush in a 3 point stance. Mainly rushes over RTs. 

Pass Rush Plan: Work two hard steps upfield and make a move by the 3rd step. Now as a technical winner this plan has a lot of steps. Usually he threatens with a stab move as his base. By the third step if the OT undersets, he can hit a ghost move or a normal dip and rip. If the OT is even or a TE/RB releases outside he can hit a stab move and either convert into a power rush, or use it to push and pull the OL. He uses his inside hand as the stab move and usually the outside hand as a forklift hand. He usually aims for the middle of the chestplate or the V of the neck with his stab hand. If the OT oversets, he can use that stab move to hit a push and pull move inside or hit a spin move. The OTs punches and sets can change his plan. If the OT is a strong double puncher, can change up with a cross chop. If the OT is lighter, will use more bull rushes and power rushes. He has his main plan, but is very willing to adjust to hit a move that will work.

Watt is a tough convo because of how much varying opinions there are of him. In my opinion, in his prime he was a borderline elite pass rusher at best, but teams didn’t give him the elite edge treatment or gameplanned for him at the same rate as other high end players. He benefitted a ton from teams being fine with having a backup 1 on 1 against him. But the last two seasons he’s been getting more protection forced his way and his production has dipped a ton. I would say his last two seasons have impressed me more than his all pro seasons. He does so much right and has to work more to get rushes to hit. He’s gotten much better as a player from it.

He doesn’t look the same athletically as his prime, but his technique makes up a ton from it. As I said earlier, more of a good all around athlete, so he doesn’t have a main elite trait to build around or threaten with. But he can target different things and has access to quality speed rushes, power rushes and inside moves. Just hard to deal with his varying styles of play. He has fluid hips and flexibility to turn the corner well. He keeps working moves and tries hard, can win late in reps if the initial rush doesn’t win. 

Great roleplayer, good stunter, looks great in coverage but I don’t look in depth at it. Run defense is good. He tries hard and sets a strong edge. Controls TEs well. Somehow always finds the ball. Even without elite talent, he is very skilled and makes a massive impact with his ability to get forced fumbles, interceptions and just plays on the ball.

Alex Highsmith

OLB who is small but quick. Mainly played over LTs. A certified Spinny Boi. Another legit 1 on 1 winner.

Pass rush plan: He gets off the ball and angles towards the OTs outside shoulder. Good all around athlete who reads the OTs set. If the OT undersets or if he gets a whiff of being able to win outside, he’ll hit a dip and rip or chop and rip around the corner. If the OT matches his set or backpedals, he’ll use power and work outside/inside depending on QB depth and whatever shoulder is weaker. If the OT oversets, he’ll hit his spin move. 

Good athlete. He has weird finishing traits. His ankles are stiff but strong, and he has very fluid hips. He is a bit lighter too. He can turn the corner against weak contact very easily, but strong contact is enough to drive him upfield or stop his rush.

Neat roleplayer, and solid run defender. Great at shooting gaps and slipping blocks. Can chase RBs from behind pretty consistently. 

Nick Herbig

Hooper. DPR, LB, blitzing LB. Does a lot as a schematic weapon. Already the 3rd player with a…

Pass Rush Plan: Whatever the hell he wants. It’s a mix of Highsmith’s and Watt’s approaches. He’ll either start off with a jab step and widen out the OT, get two steps vertical then read on his 3rd step, or angle towards the OT’s outside shoulder. The moves he uses depend on the OT. When working outside, usually uses a double swipe and a rip, just a speed rip or can use a crosschop on heavier OTs. Will try to punish OTs with speed to power and open them up inside or outside depending on what shoulder is easier to go through. Can hit forklifts and stab clubs. Depending on the pass rush, when he is the low side guy, he’ll work vertically and wide to open up the OT and then work inside. Sometime he opens up the OT enough to where he can just outrun them inside.

Main thing with Herbig is he is a slow OT killer. Since he is quick and fast, as well being very technically sound, gotta be quick enough to keep up when you get beat.

He is pretty fluid and flexible, which helps turn the corner. But he is also very small and light. OTs who can move well can recover fine against him. I think that is one reason for some inconsistent production. About half of his pressures (according to ngs) and a majority of production came against the Patriots, Browns and Bengals. As well as his role being a DPR and 2nd unit player when the team is healthy.

On passing situations, this team would find a way to get Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig out there when healthy which speaks to how they view all of them, as well as paying big bucks to this trio. Usually Herbig would rush from inside or be a blitzing LB. With his handfighting, he is a viable interior rusher who is too quick for IOL.

Run defense is a weakness but best in an attacking role and avoiding blockers. Does fine playing gap and a half and constantly fights to get OLs hands off of him. But OL can control him pretty easily. He can play off ball LB. Good stunter who uses his quickness and small size to knife his way through OL. Versatile weapon with a potential bigger role incoming.

Jack Sawyer

Tries his darndest. A bring you lunch pail to work typa guy. Coaches son. First one to clock in, last one to clock out. Sneaky Athlete.

But for real, a bit of a surprise to me, was completely fine overall. Neat crosschop. He’s an okay athlete, with fine speed and burst. Easy to recover against because of his stiff lower body. Doesn’t threaten OTs with traits. Has some solid bull rushes, gets good leverage and hand placement, as well as being physical. Can drop into coverage and is solid over TEs in run defense.

Julius Welschof

Tries hard. Can drop. OLB. Seen em try a crosschop a couple times in preseason. Camp body

Jacoby Windmon

Played Lb so idk if he’s meant to be listed here.

Cameron Heyward

Iron man Cam. Almost a little too sad of a watch. Can see massive regression athletically. But he still has his old man strength.

As a pass rusher, he will win, but it may be very slow. He can bull rush OL and they can’t stop him. Whether he is pushing the pocket or acting a COP player off the edge, he can drive OTs and Gs back with ease. His power makes him a very consistent crasher on stunts. At this point he is still a great enough role player to be used on passing downs, but as a 1 on 1 winner, he ain’t the same. 

Run defense is still exceptional. Did a lot of react/attack and he reacted so fast, I had to watch in slow motion to make sure he wasn’t playing attack/react. Crazy fast reaction to reading keys and blocks. So stout and powerful. Controls OL with ease. Takes on doubles like it’s nothing. 

Based off of his contract and the Steelers future situation, this may be his last season. Gotta enjoy this legend while we can.

Keeanu Benton

I'm still surprised Benton stayed as a true odd front NT, even though he did it in college, was very light for it. Another good reacting DT who can play anything on the interior, and at this point… talent wise in contention for best DT on the team. Where Cam has better strengths in his game, Keeanu is an all around player. Just good at every role.

Pass rush surprised me the most. Was able to force wins well and use his strength. Had a strong club that could knock OL sideways. Usually finished it with a swim. Also showed a double swipe move. Got way better with his handfighting. The way he tries to win is based off of his traits and the scheme. He would widen out to get C’s or G’s to overset and then cross their face and work across them. Benton has very fluid hips, would be great for an edge rusher. The issue is that he is lacking in lateral movement and has a stiff lower body. It’s hard to just cross an OL’s face with movement, he has to set it up and use strength for it. And then when he gets to winning positions, he can flip his hips with ease, but OL can recover and drive him upfield enough due to stiffness issues. The main way to overcome this would be to get even stronger. And because of spacing issues from rushing inside along with his lower body problems, he does end up on the ground a bit. Mostly from tripping, or getting OL bumping him, but it also shows up in the run game.

Good all around run defender. Reaction is also crazy fast. I had a hard time figuring out if the defense did true react/attack because of how fast he reacted. As a NT, he did play with a ton of rules. When lagging, he could hit the backdoor on the C. He was asked to 2 gap and did it well. He was able to fight in his main gap and read the OL’d shoulder. He did a great job of getting hand placement and getting knockback/control of the OL. This knockback let him handle doubles because of the OL being in different levels. Like with pass rushing, stiffness does become an issue here as well. He ends up on the ground too much because he can get bumped easily. Horizontal contact is his nemesis, whether it’s a down block or comes from a combo block. Another thing that happens is he spins when he is out of position. It makes it harder to get into a good position after. He also has noticeably good backfield vision. He can read his blocker and then see where the RB is attacking. 

The steelers did a lot of read stunts, and he was able to read them like a picture book. He was able to contain off the edge. He is athletic which helps overall as a contain player. Quality contain player and 1 on 1 winner. I think he is very underrated, but at the same time, I’m not sure where the ceiling is. Intriguing player.

Derrick Harmon

Long and strong. A very good rookie outing where he showed a lot as a roleplayer and run defender.

Pass rush winning is far off, but it’s fine for a rookie DT, almost always needs to develop. Has power potential. Showed reps where he did push the pocket but it was inconsistent. Lateral movement is also lacking. Weird athlete because he has legit linear speed for a big boi. The main way he wins reps, is trying to constantly push and pull OL or working one way then the other until the OL loses his base and he can toss them aside. I don’t think he has the traits to be a quick winner, but can be a nice late winner. Also deals with a lack of fluidity and flexibility to turn the corner at a high level. But he is strong which can help run through contact. He was able to contain off the edge and ran stunts like a veteran. 

Run defense was a bit up and down, but mainly up. He had NFL ready power, strength, and length. He is very hard to deal with as a 1 on 1 blocker. He can bench press OL away from his chest with ease. He reads blocks and reacts well. He 2 gapped quite a bit and can handle it. Because he is a linear athlete, he was able to get reached a bit easily. Doubles or horizontal blocks are also a nemesis of his. He is very stout and strong which can make up for a bit. For doubles/combos, he can split them by creating separation from knocking back the point man and throwing his hips in between them. Also played some tilted NT as a 1T. Did pretty well at it, so can be a odd front DE or a even front 1T.

Overall, was a more pro ready DT who showed he was pro ready. Has room to grow.

Sebastian Joseph-Day

Weird fit. He’s been more of an attacking DT. Could be a sign of a defensive shift, maybe not. Played DE and even lined up at 5T and rushed over OTs.

Best at shooting gaps. Can create power from his athleticism to get knockback. Also gets tossed a bit from not feeling downblocks or doubles, but part of that attacking style is to react later.

Pass Rush is solid, quick and moves well. Good club and rip/swim move. Strong bullrush with power that comes from his athleticism. Pretty good for a 4th DT.

Logan Lee

Didn’t play much. Another DE body. Played lighter and got moved a lot. Was easy to reach. He was able to get lockout well and even 2 gap decently. Has a very interesting club and swim or crosschop and swim!!! 

Yahya Black

Bigger body DE who is also the backup NT. 

Okay roleplayer pass rusher. Slower mover but strong. Can hit push and pulls and condense the pocket.

Run defense was solid all around. Tough to move straight on. Another player who struggled with any horizontal blocks. Read blocks well. Good slant steps.

Esezi Otomewo

DE body that can scoot a little. Okay run defense, reads blocks well. Catches blocks a bit too much and can lose ground. Works hard to keep his gap. Neat stunter and contain player. Reads QBs in the pocket and works to where they step to. Neat depth player.

Dean Lowry

DE type. Lighter but solid technically. Sets his gap with lockout and good leverage. Gets moved a bit easily at times especially against double teams. Moves well to be a decent stunter and contain player. Depth at best.

Kyler Baugh

Bruh why did I watch all of his preseason snaps. He only played in the 4th quarter of them at best. I’m doing this for you nerds. Better like and subscribe and read all my other previews cause yeesh.

Anthony Goodlow

Finally back to regular season snaps. Clearly a PS player at best. Good luck to him in his career. Better as an attacking DT, a bit confuzzled on the fit here. 

Gabriel Rubio

More of an Attacking NT. Has size and can attack doubles fine enough for college. Way too much times both feet were off the ground, a little scared for his well being. Played A bit out of control. Solid shooting gaps and attacking thru OL. Can move well enough on pass rushes if they happen on early downs.

Kevin Jobity

Probably a PS player at best. Good luck to this young man. Rookie. Did reacting stuff in Syracuse.

Base Units

Since this team doesn’t play sides anymore, the unit will be based off of

(Strong OLB-DE-NT-DE-Weak OLB)

Watt-Harmon-Benton-Heyward-Highsmith

2nd unit

Sawyer-SJD-Yahya-Esezi-Herbig

Honestly, even if the scheme changes from a reacting front to an attacking front, I believe the units would be the same. I could see Logan Lee or Dean Lowry pushing for a backup DE spot. Besides that, everyone else seems like depth.

Pass Rushing Package

Watt-Herbig-Benton-Highsmith

I think you have to get the 3 top edges out here. No matter how they line up, get them here. Herbig is the more versatile piece that can line up anywhere and even play legit LB if you bring another DT in. If so you can have Heyward or Harmon in. Maybe even SJD. Usually Heyward was the pass rushing DT with the other 3 edges. It can be the same but Cam showed some signs of decline. I think the main pass rushing DT battle will be between Benton and Harmon. I would be very surprised if it isn’t Benton. The main thing they can do is set up matchups anywhere. You can set it up for Watt or Highsmith outside. Can blitz Herbig and set up a 1 on 1 with a RB or IOL. Can use all 3 edges as roleplayers and give a DT a 1 on 1. So many ways to attack offenses because you have 3 legit winners. 

The order I would set up matchups would be

1. Watt

2. Highsmith

3. Herbig

4. Insert DT

But if Watt goes out, I would bump Herbig to the 1st spot and keep Highsmith as the 2nd option. Mainly because I prefer Highsmith as the 2nd guy. With constructing rushes, this team did a high side and low side winner rush. One edge would win outside the OT and the other would inside the OT. This would force the QB to make a wrong decision. Step up into an edge working inside or run around and get chased by the high side winner. Stunts played a major role last season. And with the Steelers, expect a lot of blitzes. They would do a Mike/Will LB blitz a ton up the middle and set it up perfectly. They did a great job giving the LB a free lane. That LB can be Patrick Queen or Herbig.

So much ways to attack protections.

All in all, this is a great DL with a ton of talent and solid depth. 

DC Mike Rutenberg

DL Jacques Cesaire

Assistant DL Ralph Street

Scheme

Attacking even front in the typical Niners style. 2 Edges, and two interchangeable DTs. The DTs usually play either 3T or 2i. The DTs body types are usually way lighter, as they are made to shoot gaps and just fire through. The DEs are usually bigger to be able to play gap and a half or 2 gap over TEs. They make up a lot for the DTs at the point of attack. 

Player Profiles

Jared Verse

The main part of the Myles trade. Verse was a unique player in a unique situation. The Rams found a way to maximize his skillset to the extreme. He came into the league as a very high floor player who was technically advanced and had a DROY season. People will say he is just a bull rush merchant, but he is more than that as a power rusher. Although… I would say he is very limited for a good player.

Pass rush plan: the plan itself starts off simple. Usually works vertical and then hesis to slow the OT down. If the OT oversets, can work inside with a club and swim. If the OT gives a soft set, will hit him with an array of moves. Can hit a normal bull rush. If OT leans a lot, can hit a stab club to finish his rush outside. If OT more upright or unbalanced can hit a push and pull. If the OT undersets or anchors way too early, can hit a double swipe outside. 

For the power rushes, the leverage, hand placement, and physicality is so hard to match. He can drive elite OTs back into the QB. But for most of his dominant power rushes he has to commit fully to them. It hurts him as a contain player the most. He’ll get into the OT’s chest and won’t be able to disengage easily. There's a lot of reps where QBs can just work around his bull rushes, since the OT is still engaged with him.

He is a very stiff player. His stiffness makes it easy for OTs to recover even when in the worst positions. When he does transition from power to a speed move or works outside, OTs can drive him upfield enough to run past the QB. When he does work his club and swim inside, same thing where OTs can wash him down. There’s way too much reps where the OT is unbalanced, leaning too much one way or in the worst spot, and can recover just enough.

This all goes into a major theme with Verse. Good player, but very maxxed out. There’s little room to improve. He’s very technically sound in his rushes, has a good reaction, chooses the right moves.

He is great at getting pressures according to PFF/NGS. But a majority of those pressures were schemed dependent or one of those bull rushes or pass rushes that don’t affect the QB. He is very dependent on interior pressure, which the Rams had great DTs for. He would get a few highlight rushes a game, but for the most part, he wouldn’t feel as impactful as you’d want from someone with Edge 1 expectations.

With his limitations, you do have to build around it. The Rams gave him a ton of freedom. There were a few too many times where he would work in the same gap as another player. There’s some B gap blitzes where he works inside because the OT oversets. He always takes the path of least resistance. It’s a good and bad thing. To maximize that, they let him work inside when he wanted to. Since he would break conventional pass rush rules, it made it very hard for OLs to expect it, but also led to losing contain more. Because he would have a lot of freedom, it gets more difficult to compare him to other rushes who don’t get allowed to do what he did, or have too much attention on them.

One underrated thing is he does try so hard and has a motor. There’s reps he gets pancacked or dropped to the ground, and he’ll keep fighting to get to the QB (and get a pressure according to NGS/PFF). Very good at getting late pressures from never giving up.

Okay contain player, good 1 on 1 winner, great crasher on stunts. For a player you can build a pass rush around, I would say he is on the low end of that tier of player. He relies a lot on a good interior rush, and might have that with Graham and Maliek. With him being the main guy, maybe they will build around him and he can keep racking up stats like he did with the Rams. 

Alex Wright

Just a Solid starter. Not much to it. Typical even front DE. Mainly played attack/react, slanting, or shooting gaps. Bumped inside of TEs a lot. Okay backfield vision, and can miss with his hand placement at times but its all a part of playing in an attacking style.

Pass rush, he is a quality role player. He has solid speed and explosiveness, as well as having solid fluidity to turn the corner well. His lateral movement is good, which helps a lot when slanting or working inside. Works a double swipe move a lot, which helps him flip his hips to the QB. Works 2 steps vertical then his 3rd step is usually a jab step where he reads the OT’s set. That’s where he chooses to work inside or jab step back outside. Overall a solid rusher who is a good stunter and contain player.

Isaiah McGuire

A solid depth player. Does a lot really well as a roleplayer. Over half of his pressures according to NGS was him beating a TE or ending up on the ground. Seemed to have been surpassed by Cam Thomas later in the season, most likely due to injury. 

Run defense is pretty good. Same thing as Wright, doing a lot of attack/react stuff. When he engages with blockers, he’ll work to push and pull them to get around the blocker. Surprisingly good at getting to the ball. Will try to work around blockers too quickly and lose his gap or ability to make a play.

Pass rushing is fine. Didn’t win as often as you’d like. I remembered liking him a lot more last season so I have no idea if I was wrong on the eval or if there is another issue. Would work a double swipe and hit it at a weird angle. Also used a lot of stab clubs/forklifts but would hit the move too quickly. Usually you hit the stab and when the OT anchors is when you hit a club to work outside. He’ll rush it and work outside before the stab move has a chance to knock the OT back enough for him to anchor. There’s moments when you see flashes and power potential. Really Good looper.

Julian Okwara

Neat DPR type blud, dips underneath dudes and has solid speed to power. (Writeup from last season, i don’t think much will change, mainly a PS player).

Logan Fano

Okay speed and explosiveness. Tall and lengthy. Double swipes and club n rips are his main moves. Very stiff lower body with super choppy steps. Okay run defender, better over TEs and Can drop. (Writeups from Edge eval article for him and next two players).

Also realized he was a Nepo signing.

Tyreak Sapp

Heavier end that can bump inside. Slow athlete, but has a little bit of power. Okay mover overall. More of a run defender. Solid stunter. Pocket pushing lacking, doesn’t have speed/explosiveness to generate power. Solid lockout and knockback. Iffy vs doubles

Khordae Sydnor

Has good size and length. Okay mover for his size. Bigger end who can play OLB. Just a little.... soft. Never has moments where he plays like his size. Has a little bit of power and length to be a solid contain player. Stiff ankles but little fluidity in hips. Solid stunter, can drop. Vs run is disappointing. Focuses a lot on lockout and opts to not care about generating knockback. Can get out-physicaled easily, even by TEs. Potential is there, but needs to get more aggressive which might be the hardest thing to teach. 

Benton Whitley

Maliek Collins

Typical attacking NT. Mainly plays 2i/3T. Has some of the best lateral movement in the game. Lateral explosiveness and all of it is top notch. Great pass rusher.

Run defense is fine, lives in the backfield. Shoots gaps and great slanter. Works to get around OL very quickly. Run D doesn’t matter too much for him.

Pass Rush maestro. Elite at hitting inside moves or working across OL’s face. Usually works vertically hard to open OL up. Can hit a dominant spin move, or jab step inside with a dominant club. He is so strong, his club can crumple OL. He uses OL’s leverage and momentum against them. He can set things up to hit his moves or work multiple moves stacked upon each other. Perfect 2nd option who can punish protections and mistakes (such as the mistake of overhelping to Myles’ side). You never want to give him an angle to attack.

Good roleplayer. Great stunter, especially as a looper. Insanely quick and uses his lateral movement to the fullest here. Saw a rep where he had a long loop across the line that happened so quickly. He times stunts at a high level. Can push the pocket and contain well. Power isn’t his game.

We’ll see if his usage is any different. Didn’t get a ton of matchups set up, more so had some natural matchups because of Myles. Might get more 1 on 1s set up now. Was asked to stunt a lot. That should be the same, used on a bunch of TT stunts with Mason.

Mason Graham

Neat rookie season for the 1st rounder. Was drafted to please Myles, and was a major factor in Myles’ record breaking year. Great roleplayer who helped force QBs back in the pocket. Perfect partner for Maliek Collins too.

Attacking DT who 1 gapped, slanted, and took power steps when playing through OL. Asked to 2 gap a bit, did well and used OL’s leverage to push them through as he went to his secondary gap. Shot gaps well. Sheds violently, stubby arms let him create a lot of torque. Too many reps he gets destroyed (common theme for rookie  AFC North DL so far !!!). Part of it is playing in an attacking mode, so he is late to feel doubles or feel blocks attacking his side or even trap plays. Not his fault, mainly a play style issue. For the most part does well taking up space if he needs to. Very technically sound, but stubby arms and being a bit lighter hurts him if he messes up.

Pass rush….. is okay. He’s built different. An absolute freak. The Stay Puft marshmallow in human form. He has solid athleticism in terms of speed, explosiveness and lateral movement. He is weirdly one of the most fluid players, he can flip his hips with ease to turn the short corner. Did some spin moves, club and swims, club and rips. Same issue with being built stubby, less room for error with his handfighting, but can generate more torque. 1 on 1 winning needs more work, should become good with experience.

At the moment… he’s a great roleplayer. Legit stunter especially as a crasher. Perfect compliment to Maliek who is a great Looper on TT stunts. They can create so much pressures with that alone. Pushes the pocket better than Collins, has more of a power element. Can contain off the edge if needed to. Interesting player who is built in a way I haven’t seen.

Michael Hall Jr.

Quick and fast DT. Neat backup. Easy DT to understand. Loses his gap a lot even when playing in an attack mode. Always wants to take the easy route. Asked to 2 gap and double team a bit, does fine overall. Really good slant step.

Pass rush is whatever. Rarely won any 1 on 1s, still raw there. Mainly a role player. Good stunter and pocket pusher. His speed and explosiveness makes his pocket pushing interesting. Mainly a depth piece with some potential

Kalia Davis

Another typical attacking DT. Can play 3T and 2i. Generates knockback well. Neat at shooting gaps. Sheds way too early before the RB commits to a gap and gets out of position a little too often. Alright roleplayer pass rusher. Can stunt and contain. Pushes the pocket well, uses his speed to generate power on bull rushes. Works a club and rip move. Doesn’t have traits to grow more as a 1 on 1 winner. 

Adin Huntington 

Very small and fast DT. Played some Edge as well. He is very quick and has some explosiveness. He can shoot gaps and has some plays where he nearly gets to the mesh point. Great slant step. When he moves too fast for OL to get a hand on him or hits a gap he looks like he can become a starter. But then once OL gets some pop on em, I start to feel bad for the lil guy. He can get manhandled very easily. His run defense ends up being a net negative with how often he loses his gap or loses ground.

Pass rush is good enough to be a DPR. His quickness let’s him be a quality stunter and contain player even as a true edge. Some club and rips or pull slide moves. Weird athlete for DT, more linear speed which is best for speed to power. Has better speed to power reps off the edge. Turns corners solidly for a bigger player. Biggest issue is that DPR DTs usually don’t play much. Need to improve his run defense.

Sam Kamara

Light attacking DT. Mainly a practice squad guy. Didn’t have much + traits. Got thrown around a lot. Can move well enough to be a decent stunter and pocket pusher. Has some speed to power ability but is pretty capped out. 

Elijah Chatman

DPR DT. The main example of not overvaluing DPRs at the DT spot. He does a lot good as a pass rusher. Good stunter, athletic, can contain and use speed to power to push the pocket. But he can’t do much as a run defender. It gets hard using DPR DTs because they don’t add anything against the run. They end up useful on at most around 30% of snaps, but if you need a pass rushing roleplayer, you can always use an Edge rusher and bump them inside. Get more athletic and that Edge can be more useful on more snaps even if run defense ain’t great. Tough issue. Should make the rotation, but hard to predict unless he improves run D wise. Looked serviceable enough shooting gaps. 

Base Units

Starters should be

Verse-Graham-Collins-Wright

2nd unit can be

McGuire-Mike Hall-Kalia-Rookie Edge/Okwara

The last edge spot is a tough one to predict. Starters and backups seem pretty set. Not much of a discussion with these units. That 4th edge will most likely be one of the rookies.

Pass Rush Package

Verse-Graham-Collins-Wright

The starters can pretty much be the pass rushing unit. For DTs can put in Mike Hall or Adin Huntington (maybe chatman?). For Edges can also put in Mcguire, Mcguire and Wright can bump inside.

The pass rush plan seems like it will be built around Verse and the DTs. Verse is best when he gets more freedom, and the DTs here can make up a lot for him. You can push the pocket and have the DTs run a ton of TT stunts or read the protection to see who gets the 1 on 1. If the OL slide away from you then you win, and if they slide to you, then you contain. The order of rushes getting set up might be

1. Verse

2. DTs 

The pass rush plan as a whole might not be too different from last seasons. Main thing is Verse won’t free up others as much. Pass rush should still be viable if they can get to these situations often.

Overall the DL is still a very solid unit, especially for what they want to do. Will be interesting to see how things play out. Losing the impact that a generational edge brought is difficult to replace.