Bolstering Our DL
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I think his best fit is to gain 10-15 pounds and play under tackle in a 4-3. He'd be the same size as Jonathan Babineaux, who plays 4-3 UT for the Falcons.
The LB projection thing can be a bit tricky. He came to Iowa as a 230 pound linebacker, so he has some experience at the position. But what does it say that the coaching staff moved him to DT?
There was some similar LB talk about Rutgers DT Eric Foster last year, and he ended up playing UT for the Colts.
Should be interesting to see how he fares at the Combine. If he runs a 4.75 40 at 275 pounds, his stock could rise a little bit.
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Alex Magee (3rd round) 6'3" 295 (quick feet)
Evander Hood (2nd round) 6'3" 298
Jarron Gilbert (2-3) 6'5" 287
Ricky-Jean Francois (3-4) 6'3" 290 (fast for a big guy)
Mitch King (3) 6'2" 275 (4.75 40, nonstop motor)
I think we need to be focusing on the DE spots to allow our LB's the freedom to move without having OL in their face. If we can put a couple of bookends around Rogers/Rubin...we will likely see a huge improvement in the play of ALL our LB's..but Wimbley and Hall in particular.
Alex Magee (3rd round) 6'3" 295 (quick feet)
Evander Hood (2nd round) 6'3" 298
Jarron Gilbert (2-3) 6'5" 287
Ricky-Jean Francois (3-4) 6'3" 290 (fast for a big guy)
Mitch King (3) 6'2" 275 (4.75 40, nonstop motor)
I think we need to be focusing on the DE spots to allow our LB's the freedom to move without having OL in their face. If we can put a couple of bookends around Rogers/Rubin...we will likely see a huge improvement in the play of ALL our LB's..but Wimbley and Hall in particular.
Isn't that what we did last year and they finally realized that LBs make the 3-4, not DL. Our DL is good enough our LBs suck and it isn't because the other teams OL is in their face. Slow LBs who can't get off blocks or over run plays aren't going to be helped by more DL.
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Alex Magee (3rd round) 6'3" 295 (quick feet)
Evander Hood (2nd round) 6'3" 298
Jarron Gilbert (2-3) 6'5" 287
Ricky-Jean Francois (3-4) 6'3" 290 (fast for a big guy)
Mitch King (3) 6'2" 275 (4.75 40, nonstop motor)
I think we need to be focusing on the DE spots to allow our LB's the freedom to move without having OL in their face. If we can put a couple of bookends around Rogers/Rubin...we will likely see a huge improvement in the play of ALL our LB's..but Wimbley and Hall in particular.
Isn't that what we did last year and they finally realized that LBs make the 3-4, not DL. Our DL is good enough our LBs suck and it isn't because the other teams OL is in their face. Slow LBs who can't get off blocks or over run plays aren't going to be helped by more DL.
Isn't that what we did last year and they finally realized that LBs make the 3-4, not DL. Our DL is good enough our LBs suck and it isn't because the other teams OL is in their face. Slow LBs who can't get off blocks or over run plays aren't going to be helped by more DL.
What DL did we have last year?
C.Willams was hurt and playing a new position
R.Smith was on the IR
S.Smith is a NT playing DT
Thomas is a journeyman at best
Rubin was a rookie backup
Our DL was a HUGE mess. So many holes not even Rogers could plug it.
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you can never have to much depth on either line, at any position, really, so it's a good idea to look at low-round guys as either developmental or rotational players to help your team stay complete in every phase of the game. yes, LBs drive the 3-4, but if there's no d-line to keep the opposing team's o-line off our LBs, then the defense will still suck. it's the same problem that ray lewis had for a couple ineffective years in baltimore before they got haloti ngata.
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Pitt's defense really struggled last year ('07) after DE Aaron Smith went on IR. For the season, their defense gave up 89.9 yards per game. But when Smith was out, they gave up 158.5.
Not having scrubs like Shaun Smith and Santonio Thomas playing DE should really help our run defense next year. Hopefully, Robaire comes back strong, but we need to sign or draft a guy who can start if he doesn't.
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Pitt's defense really struggled last year ('07) after DE Aaron Smith went on IR. For the season, their defense gave up 89.9 yards per game. But when Smith was out, they gave up 158.5.
Not having scrubs like Shaun Smith and Santonio Thomas playing DE should really help our run defense next year. Hopefully, Robaire comes back strong, but we need to sign or draft a guy who can start if he doesn't.
Aloysius said:
Pitt's defense really struggled last year ('07) after DE Aaron Smith went on IR. For the season, their defense gave up 89.9 yards per game. But when Smith was out, they gave up 158.5.Not having scrubs like Shaun Smith and Santonio Thomas playing DE should really help our run defense next year. Hopefully, Robaire comes back strong, but we need to sign or draft a guy who can start if he doesn't.
VERY good points Aloy!
- Tom F.
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Will Johnson Michigan - Tall hardworking kid who played both DT and DE in college. Current Projection: Undrafted
Sounds like this guy has the strength to play 3-4 DE:
William Johnson measured 6042/281-pounds to start the day. He ran sub 5.10 seconds in the forty, 7.43-seconds in the three cone, 4.55 seconds in the shuttle. His vertical jump measured 27.5 inches. Sources who watched Johnson complete the bench press told us he did 35 reps without stopping, then did the final twelve with small breaks at completion. The room went crazy after he completed the 47 reps.
Johnson reportedly looked a little tight-hipped during his workout, but he may be a guy to consider on Day Two of the draft.
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Will Johnson Michigan - Tall hardworking kid who played both DT and DE in college. Current Projection: Undrafted
Sounds like this guy has the strength to play 3-4 DE:
William Johnson measured 6042/281-pounds to start the day. He ran sub 5.10 seconds in the forty, 7.43-seconds in the three cone, 4.55 seconds in the shuttle. His vertical jump measured 27.5 inches. Sources who watched Johnson complete the bench press told us he did 35 reps without stopping, then did the final twelve with small breaks at completion. The room went crazy after he completed the 47 reps.
Johnson reportedly looked a little tight-hipped during his workout, but he may be a guy to consider on Day Two of the draft.
Aloysius said:
Sounds like this guy has the strength to play 3-4 DE:Johnson reportedly looked a little tight-hipped during his workout, but he may be a guy to consider on Day Two of the draft.
I like it. We need to concentrate on getting more agile and quick on the DE's or our OLB's are still going to get mauled this year.
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We definately need to get more agile on both ends but at the same time not sacrifice size and strenth to remain versitle..
I like moala,clemson,miller,gilbert and jackson any one of these guys would easily replace robaire smith immediately..im not convinced williams cant be a great DE but he may soon get a restructure/release offer williams is tuff as nails and mangini has to like that...
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Isn't that what we did last year and they finally realized that LBs make the 3-4, not DL. Our DL is good enough our LBs suck and it isn't because the other teams OL is in their face. Slow LBs who can't get off blocks or over run plays aren't going to be helped by more DL.
What DL did we have last year?
C.Willams was hurt and playing a new position
R.Smith was on the IR
S.Smith is a NT playing DT
Thomas is a journeyman at best
Rubin was a rookie backup
Our DL was a HUGE mess. So many holes not even Rogers could plug it.
What DL did we have last year?
C.Willams was hurt and playing a new position
R.Smith was on the IR
S.Smith is a NT playing DT
Thomas is a journeyman at best
Rubin was a rookie backup
Our DL was a HUGE mess. So many holes not even Rogers could plug it.
You forgot Leonard and Purcel. Now we also have Mosley.
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A name to add to the list is USC's Kyle Moore, a guy the Browns are bringing in for a visit. He needs to add some bulk to his 270 pound frame, but he's the type of athletic DE WPB's looking for - Moore ran a 4.70 40 at USC's pro day.
Another guy I like is Louisville DT Adrian Grady. I've read some teams are looking at Grady as a developmental 3-4 NT, but I think he moves well enough to play some DE.
The knocks on him seem to be that he's not a great pass rusher (2 sacks in '08), lacks great length (6'1 3/8" tall, 31 1/2" arms), and has had some trouble in the past staying healthy. Still, I think he could help us as a rotational run-stuffing d-lineman. I'd take him in the late rounds or sign him as a priority rookie FA.
The folks at Draftguys TV put together a nice profile of the Louisville product:
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