| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Chieferific
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 2603
|
 Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject: The NEW DL |
 |
|
|
Thought I'd get some thoughts on the young DL. Assuming they stick with a 3-4 scheme and taking possible contract issues out of the equation, is our future 3-Man DL already on the roster? Meaning, do you see Ziggy, Big Al and Heyward as a whole being the long-term answer or are other pieces going to be needed? Lastly, how do they compare to Keisel, Hampton and Smith?
_________________
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
FourThreeMafia
Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 40030
Location: East of Sixburgh
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell.
_________________
| cluelessororke wrote: | | I am going to laugh in your face when they don't even sniff WR until day three of the draft |
Still waiting for your laugh.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mosteelers
Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Posts: 1143
Location: Washington State
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
I just came on here to say the exact same thing. I would be extremely surpirsed if they ever compared to Smith, Kiesel, and Hampton. Seriously doubt it. Do you guys remember Keisel running down on punt and kickoffs? That guys is seriously athletic for 290.
I doubt Hood will ever be anything than very good on his best years. I have Doubts about Ta'amu and Heyward has the most potential and I can't wait to see him play more.
_________________
Sig courtesy of miafins23 Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ImissEricGreen
Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Posts: 994
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 10:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
His skills would be better served as a 3-4 DE, IMO doesnt have what it takes to hold the nose but kid would be a beast of a pass rusher at end. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chieferific
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 2603
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 10:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| ImissEricGreen wrote: | | FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
His skills would be better served as a 3-4 DE, IMO doesnt have what it takes to hold the nose but kid would be a beast of a pass rusher at end. |
That would make for a HUGE DE. Not sure that's the wisest move.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kethnaab
Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Posts: 6976
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 10:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
agreed entirely on all points.
ericgreen, Ta'amu has stubby arms. There is nothing about his game that suggest he could play 5-tech for us.
_________________
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chieferific
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 2603
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 11:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
Agree with the bolded. The "comparison" question may have been poorly worded. I agree the players are different but can they have similliar production? Can they be dominant?
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kethnaab
Joined: 05 Jan 2009
Posts: 6976
|
| Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 11:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
Ziggy can be dominant in antoher system. Being dominant in a pure read-react system is really tough, and our LDE is pure read-react. Even RDE is more of a penetrator with a "looser" requirement for gap control.
_________________
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FourThreeMafia
Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 40030
Location: East of Sixburgh
|
| Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 12:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
| Chieferific wrote: | | FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
Agree with the bolded. The "comparison" question may have been poorly worded. I agree the players are different but can they have similliar production? Can they be dominant? |
CAN they be? Sure...and I think Heyward will....maybe not in the same way Aaron Smith was, but in his own right, yes.
Ziggy, as keth mentioned, probably isnt in the system where he can dominate. He has a nice skillset and I do think he can be a good 34 DE in our defense, but he would probably "dominate" in the middle of a 43 front or maybe as a 34 DE under Wade Phillips or even Dom Capers.
I am looking forward to seeing what Keith Butler does. I have a feeling he takes over soon, and while I do think he will keep the defense the same for the most part, I do hope he doesnt try to emulate LeBeau's defense in every fashion. As much as I love the defense and what it has done for us, it is starting to become outdated to a point and needs an update....and probably a fresh mind and set of eyes to breathe new life into it.
As much as I hate to say it...I THINK the defense is done GROWING under LeBeau. It can still be good, but I do think he is at the end of his rope in the NFL. Im hoping Butler takes over and infuses LeBeau's wisdom with his own ideas, and maybe uses some of our players a bit differently than LeBeau does.
And Ta'amu....as I said...it can go either way....AND HE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT BE A 5 TECH. Thats the 3rd or 4th time Ive heard that mentioned yet I have yet to see any suitable logic behind it.
_________________
| cluelessororke wrote: | | I am going to laugh in your face when they don't even sniff WR until day three of the draft |
Still waiting for your laugh.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ward4HOF
Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Posts: 2586
|
| Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 7:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
Question for you all IRT to Ta'amu. Next year, as most of us know, there is a potential for an impressive crop of NT propsects (depending on who declares) Where would you rank Ta'amu w/ these guys and now since Mitchell is so high on McLendon, we may have our two NTs for the next 8-10 years, so do we even look at any of these prospects? Ta'amu is not well suited for the 5-T, but any of these guys w/ their length a possibility as a replacement for Hood (ala Ngata-type 5-T)? Because I agree that Hood's talents would be best suited for a 4-3.
Jonathon Hankins, Ohio St, 6-3 335
Kwame Geathers, UGA, 6-5 350
Star Lotulelei, Utah, 6-3 325
Jonathan Jenkins, UGA, 6-3 351
Jesse Williams, 'Bama, 6-3 320
Sylvester Williams, UNC, 320
Sorry to derail the thread, but think this fits in w/ the original question about how our DL looks in the future.
_________________
Props to Jamison on the sweet sig!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FourThreeMafia
Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 40030
Location: East of Sixburgh
|
| Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 8:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
I know of Hankins, Lotuleilei and Slvester Williams.
Lotuleilei is the only one, at this point, Id rank over Ta'amu in terms of being a prospect and his fit in our defense.
Hankins has an iffy motor from what Ive seen and Williams just doesnt jump out as anything special...and many UNC DTs havent exactly faired well at the next level...but thats an afterthought.
As I said, I dont know all of those players very well, but I dont really think next years crop of NTs is all that impressive at this point. Not saying it cant be good, but right now it seems like quantity over qualtiy....meaning it seems there are several decent NT prospect, but not many that really stand out.
Hopefully I get a chance to watch more college ball this season and can give a better judgment in the offseason. Right now, thats a very raw assessment.
Personally, Im hoping that Ta;amu shows enough that NT isnt really a need next year, and we can focus on reloading the LB corps and secondary...which I think will be the top two areas of need next year....maybe RB and WR depending what happens at those positions between now and next offseason.
_________________
| cluelessororke wrote: | | I am going to laugh in your face when they don't even sniff WR until day three of the draft |
Still waiting for your laugh.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
turtle28
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 53079
Location: MD/DC/VA depends on the hr!
|
| Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 12:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| FourThreeMafia wrote: | Heyward is the only one I have the utmost confidence in going forward.
I know he has alot to prove yet, but I think he will be a starter in 2013, and by 2014 will be considered one of the better 5 techs in the league.
Ziggy...he has shown he can have success at 5 tech, but in general, I dont think he will be that great. Not that he really has to be "great", but I dont think he will ever make us happy we took him with a first round pick.
Ta;amu could go either way at this point. I could see him being a dominant starter if Mitchell works his magic...or I could see him being a career backup. He has the physical tools...its all about getting him into NFL shape and molding him to the right player for our defense.
They dont compare at all to Smith, Snack and Keisel. They are all very VERY different types of players. The crew we have now is more suited for todays league because they are more athletic than the other three. NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT THEY ARE BETTER OR EVEN AS GOOD, but their skillsets are better for the current direction of the league. Although Id still take Aaron Smith in his prime over any of them.
I am hopeful and somewhat optimistic, but as I said, the only one I feel very strongly about is Heyward.
Time will tell. |
Couldn't have said it any better myself! 
_________________
 mike23md
Days until:Minicamp 21; Training camp 65; Eagles @ Redskins 111 RIP SSF |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SteelProven
Joined: 20 Apr 2005
Posts: 10936
Location: Ramstein, Germany
|
| Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
I probably a little more optimistic then most when I say I believe this crop of Steelers DL are better. While only time will tell I believe this group with prove it's worth.
Aa. Smith walked into a good situation because O. Roye was only a stop gap player. Plus O. Roye left for the the Browns the following year opening up the door for Aa. Smith. Hood didn't have the chance because Aa. Smith one armed was still on the roster and still slated as a starter.
_________________
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
3rivers
Joined: 01 Jan 2011
Posts: 1692
|
| Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
DL will be a weak spot, no Hampton or Smith. This idea of mclendon at NT is making me laugh, but I guess the DL will be what the OL was last year? I doubt it will be that bad, but it won't be as it was in years past. Maybe if Al comes in at NT and does well as does Heyward, there is a chance. Hood is decent in this scheme , which is wrong for him - never understood why teams rob a player by making them play in a scheme no suited for them.
They might have to change the scheme to the talent. Lets hope this isn't the opening day 2011 OL .2
Depth is an issue here at NT. I don't know why they never got another NT undrafted. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FourThreeMafia
Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 40030
Location: East of Sixburgh
|
| Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 1:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| 3rivers wrote: | DL will be a weak spot, no Hampton or Smith. This idea of mclendon at NT is making me laugh, but I guess the DL will be what the OL was last year? I doubt it will be that bad, but it won't be as it was in years past. Maybe if Al comes in at NT and does well as does Heyward, there is a chance. Hood is decent in this scheme , which is wrong for him - never understood why teams rob a player by making them play in a scheme no suited for them.
They might have to change the scheme to the talent. Lets hope this isn't the opening day 2011 OL .2
Depth is an issue here at NT. I don't know why they never got another NT undrafted. |
McClendon start at NT is laughable, but he can play the Chris Hoke role. Not on the same level, but he can be decent at least.
And who cares if we dont have Smith? Smith was awesome, but we havent had him at all since 08 and our like has still been solid.
Keisel is still very good and Hood, while not great (yet anyway), is still solid. NT is the question mark, but we did without Hampton before. Not saying we will have the same success, but saying its a weakness is premature. Its well coached and still has talent, so dont compare the DLine to the OLine situation. Its not even close to that.
_________________
| cluelessororke wrote: | | I am going to laugh in your face when they don't even sniff WR until day three of the draft |
Still waiting for your laugh.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
