Depth Chart - Defense

[DarthMonk]

At the end of last year it looked something like this:

Jenkins Baker Hatcher

Kerrigan Riley Robinson Miller

Breeland Thomas Clark Amerson


Now it looks more like this:

PAEA KNIGHTON HATCHER w/BAKER AND FRANCOIS IN ROTATION

KERRIGAN ROBINSON RILEY MILLER w/KEARSE, MURPHY AND COMPTON IN ROTATION

HALL IHENACHO ROBINSON CULLIVER w/BREELAND, AMERSON, AND THOMAS IN ROTATION

The line is brand new, better, bigger, deeper. The corners are a very good group. The backers ( - Riley?) could be real good. We've done more at safety than people realize. There are guys we can let go (or not) and gain as much as $10-$15 M if we really wanted to. We haven't even drafted yet.

I like what I see.

[yupchagee]

At the end of last year it looked something like this:

Jenkins Baker Hatcher

Kerrigan Riley Robinson Miller

Breeland Thomas Clark Amerson


Now it looks more like this:

PAEA KNIGHTON HATCHER w/BAKER AND FRANCOIS IN ROTATION

KERRIGAN ROBINSON RILEY MILLER w/KEARSE, MURPHY AND COMPTON IN ROTATION

HALL IHENACHO ROBINSON CULLIVER w/BREELAND, AMERSON, AND THOMAS IN ROTATION

The line is brand new, better, bigger, deeper. The corners are a very good group. The backers ( - Riley?) could be real good. We've done more at safety than people realize. There are guys we can let go (or not) and gain as much as $10-$15 M if we really wanted to. We haven't even drafted yet.

I like what I see.

I see Breeland starting at CB. Thomas may start at SS over Ihanacho. I don't see Miller starting, more likely Murphy. Kearse is not a LB.

[Irn-Bru]

At the end of last year it looked something like this:

Jenkins Baker Hatcher

Kerrigan Riley Robinson Miller

Breeland Thomas Clark Amerson


Now it looks more like this:

PAEA KNIGHTON HATCHER w/BAKER AND FRANCOIS IN ROTATION

KERRIGAN ROBINSON RILEY MILLER w/KEARSE, MURPHY AND COMPTON IN ROTATION

HALL IHENACHO ROBINSON CULLIVER w/BREELAND, AMERSON, AND THOMAS IN ROTATION

The line is brand new, better, bigger, deeper. The corners are a very good group. The backers ( - Riley?) could be real good. We've done more at safety than people realize. There are guys we can let go (or not) and gain as much as $10-$15 M if we really wanted to. We haven't even drafted yet.

I like what I see.

I see Breeland starting at CB. Thomas may start at SS over Ihanacho. I don't see Miller starting, more likely Murphy. Kearse is not a LB.

Agreed on Breeland and Murphy. Boy, it would be nice to see Thomas grow into a starting role, too.

[DarthMonk]

I see Breeland starting at CB.

Me too. Edited due to re-injury of Achilles.

Thomas may start at SS over Ihanacho.

Might but I think that's a job he'll have to take.

I don't see Miller starting, more likely Murphy.

I'd like to see that happen but not his job right now.

Kearse is not a LB.

Oh yeah, another 310 lber in DL rotation. Darn. Thanks. Edited version:

At the end of last year it looked something like this:

Jenkins Baker Hatcher

Kerrigan Riley Robinson Miller

Breeland Thomas Clark Amerson


Now it looks more like this:

PAEA KNIGHTON HATCHER w/BAKER, KEARSE, AND FRANCOIS IN ROTATION

KERRIGAN ROBINSON RILEY MILLER w/MURPHY AND COMPTON IN ROTATION

BREELAND IHENACHO ROBINSON CULLIVER w/HALL, AMERSON, AND THOMAS IN ROTATION

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

We all hope Thomas can develop...
I also hope Harcher can play more, but it looks as tho when he is out we wont have as much drop off as last year.. the Dline looks to be a strength now with solid depth. Where does run stuffing Jarvis Jenkins figure in to the mix?

[DarthMonk]

Kearse is not a LB.

Oh yeah, another 310 lber in DL rotation. Darn. Thanks. Edited version:

At the end of last year it looked something like this:

Jenkins Baker Hatcher

Kerrigan Riley Robinson Miller

Breeland Thomas Clark Amerson


Now it looks more like this:

PAEA KNIGHTON HATCHER w/BAKER, KEARSE, AND FRANCOIS IN ROTATION

KERRIGAN ROBINSON RILEY MILLER w/MURPHY AND COMPTON IN ROTATION

BREELAND IHENACHO ROBINSON CULLIVER w/HALL, AMERSON, AND THOMAS IN ROTATION

Where does run stuffing Jarvis Jenkins figure in to the mix?

Good point.

Oh yeah, another 310 lber in DL rotation. Darn. Thanks. Edited version:

At the end of last year it looked something like this:

Jenkins Baker Hatcher

Kerrigan Riley Robinson Miller

Breeland Thomas Clark Amerson


Now it looks more like this:

PAEA KNIGHTON HATCHER w/BAKER, KEARSE, JENKINS, AND FRANCOIS IN ROTATION

KERRIGAN ROBINSON RILEY MILLER w/MURPHY AND COMPTON IN ROTATION

BREELAND IHENACHO ROBINSON CULLIVER w/HALL, AMERSON, AND THOMAS IN ROTATION

That's 7 DL weighing in at 310 + and everyone is considered an above average talent - and they are NOT OLD.

Kerrigan and Robinson are above average. These DBs have a chance to play well behind this front 7. A truly disruptive LB/DE would be nice.

[Prowl33]

The big thing is, those 3 guys up front change EVERYTHING for the other 8 guys.

You can get creative in bringing the OLBs for a rush

Your ILBs can play in coverage

Pressure on the QB means your DBs can jump routes easier and get more takeaways

Penetration to the backfield means better run stopping, less runs, and more predictable play from an offense

The benefits go on and on...

[SkinsJock]

getting better play out of our offensive and defensive lines should not be too difficult considering ... the additions on defense are great to see - we should also see better play from our offensive line this year but that's not going to be hard to achieve either

the key is to add about 7 good starters on defense and about 4-5 on offense before the 2017 season

I'm looking forward to seeing these guys continue to add good young players here

[Prowl33]

Im hoping if we stay at #5 we get Donte Fowler... kid is very smart and skilled, and with this d line and kerrigan would be ridiculous. The way we would be able to move him around disguise him in coverage, swap him and kerrigan...qbs would not be able to figure us out at the line and assign blockers.

[yupchagee]

We all hope Thomas can develop...
I also hope Harcher can play more, but it looks as tho when he is out we wont have as much drop off as last year.. the Dline looks to be a strength now with solid depth. Where does run stuffing Jarvis Jenkins figure in to the mix?

Jenkins is not under contract. He is a UFA.

[markshark84]

I may be missing something, but why at this point is Miller starting over Murphy?

It is still very clear DB and DE are our areas of concern. I think I am beginning to understand what Scot wants to do at the DE position and don't disagree with it --- as long as we have OLBs that can apply pressure. We have one in Kerrigan, but that isn't enough and neither Murphy nor Miller have the ability to execute this on the other side. Based on this, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Scot draft an OLB at #5.

That said, DB would still be the more obvious choice..... we still need another DE, though.

[Irn-Bru]

Looks like we've got a new SS, for now at least. Let's see what Jeron Johnson can do.

[riggofan]

I may be missing something, but why at this point is Miller starting over Murphy?

Scratching my head over that one too. The guy we signed off our practice squad is starting over Trent Murphy?

I'm really hoping some improvement up front helps out some of these guys like Thomas and Amerson in the secondary.

Also gotta say that looking at your possible depth chart it does make me excited about possibly taking an OLB with our first pick.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

^
Riggo- is there OLB top 5 talent out there this year?? I dont follow NCAA super close.. didnt know much about Kerrigan when we drafted him, and we all knowbhow well that worked out.
I reserve hope for past draftees- Thomas, Amerson, and Murphy.. Murphy wasn't Rak his rookie year but he was serviceable- when he wasn't making bonehead penalties that is.

[riggofan]

^
Riggo- is there OLB top 5 talent out there this year?? I dont follow NCAA super close.. didnt know much about Kerrigan when we drafted him, and we all knowbhow well that worked out.
I reserve hope for past draftees- Thomas, Amerson, and Murphy.. Murphy wasn't Rak his rookie year but he was serviceable- when he wasn't making bonehead penalties that is.

Seems like it. Maybe Dante Fowler or Vic Beasley?

I haven't given up hope on those guys either. I think all of the guys you listed played ok at times, don't you? Maybe improving the overall quality of the defense will help those players out. I would think so.

[Irn-Bru]

I think we've done well since January to shore up SS. Bringing back Inenacho and signing Jeron Johnson were both good moves. I anticipate that those two will fight it out for the starting job, and Philip Thomas is still there to provide additional depth. All of that seems solid to me. Maybe our long-term starter isn't in this group, but I have confidence that this position will be stronger than it has been in years.

Of course, free safety is still a disaster waiting to happen. Trenton Robinson as a backup is OK I guess but doesn't inspire confidence. I've never been a fan of the talk of moving Hall to safety — I remember back when Springs made the same kind of noise, and it just never made sense to me. We need a starter to come from somewhere.

[oj]

I may be missing something, but why at this point is Miller starting over Murphy?

It is still very clear DB and DE are our areas of concern. I think I am beginning to understand what Scot wants to do at the DE position and don't disagree with it --- as long as we have OLBs that can apply pressure. We have one in Kerrigan, but that isn't enough and neither Murphy nor Miller have the ability to execute this on the other side. Based on this, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Scot draft an OLB at #5.

That said, DB would still be the more obvious choice..... we still need another DE, though.

I agree, I see Murphy starter.
I don't see Riley making it, I think he'll be gone.

[yupchagee]

I may be missing something, but why at this point is Miller starting over Murphy?

It is still very clear DB and DE are our areas of concern. I think I am beginning to understand what Scot wants to do at the DE position and don't disagree with it --- as long as we have OLBs that can apply pressure. We have one in Kerrigan, but that isn't enough and neither Murphy nor Miller have the ability to execute this on the other side. Based on this, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Scot draft an OLB at #5.

That said, DB would still be the more obvious choice..... we still need another DE, though.

I agree, I see Murphy starter.
I don't see Riley making it, I think he'll be gone.

If Riley goes, who replaces him? You can't replace someone with no one. I also see Jeffcoat as being a rotational player at LB.

[DarthMonk]

If Riley goes, who replaces him? You can't replace someone with no one. I also see Jeffcoat as being a rotational player at LB.

How about a scarecrow. At least it wouldn't run AWAY from the ball.

[oj]

If Riley goes, who replaces him? You can't replace someone with no one. I also see Jeffcoat as being a rotational player at LB.

How about a scarecrow. At least it wouldn't run AWAY from the ball.

LOL, My Buddy, thats a little strong - lets say Riley gets confused to the direction of the play, esp when he is in 'pass protection'.

[Bishop Hammer]

Digging the new defense. On paper it looks way better than the previous units, of the last three years. Note how I wrote on paper.