With the league’s desperate stampede to sign any injury riddled or character issue addled big man for the middle of their defensive line, we have overlooked a position of potential need: Defensive End
The current situation is this
Aaron Schobel – good player coming off a down year and now 31
Chris Kelsay – big contact but coming off surgery = Injury Flag?
Ryan Denney – big contract but injured all last season = Injury Flag?
Al Wallace –UFA but 34, and injured all last season = Injury Flag?
Anthony Hargrove – suspended for the season
Ryan Neill – time to panic
I am not too concerned about the failure to sign a big DT, as there is quality and depth in the draft, and we could easily draft the likes of Dre Moore and DeMario Pressley/Frank Okam in Rounds 2 and 4 respectively and get a superior starter to Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams, plus the size we need to stop the run.
However the draft at DE is lighter. Not wanting to spend a Day1 pick might leave us having to choose a Chris Harrington or Jason Jones. Picking earlier might give us a Calais Campbell (who was slow enough to be 0.15 seconds slower thanMoore ) or Lawrence Wilson if they fell. We might luck out on a Mark Anderson (Bears) type third down specialist but no more than that.
With more teams moving to a 3-4, there are fewer options for the traditional 4-3 End plus a few who might get cut. Plus they are not going to be demanding the monstrous sized overpriced salaries the DTs are asking. Candidates still available include
Greg White, Buccaneers, 6ft3, 268lb, Age 28 – 26 tackles, 8 sacks
Chris Clemons, Raiders, 6ft3, 240lbs (light) Age 26 – 20 tackles, 8 sacks
Travis LaBoy, Titans, 6ft3, 260lbs, Age 27, 13 tackles, 6.5 sacks
Darion Scott, Vikings, 6ft3, 289lbs Age 26, 46 tackles 5.5 sacks (2006)
Bo Schobel, Cardinals, 6ft5, 264lbs Age 26
Not the sexiest of signings I admit but we ignore this situation at our peril. We are two injuries away from starting Neill or a DT out of position
The current situation is this
Aaron Schobel – good player coming off a down year and now 31
Chris Kelsay – big contact but coming off surgery = Injury Flag?
Ryan Denney – big contract but injured all last season = Injury Flag?
Al Wallace –
Anthony Hargrove – suspended for the season
Ryan Neill – time to panic
I am not too concerned about the failure to sign a big DT, as there is quality and depth in the draft, and we could easily draft the likes of Dre Moore and DeMario Pressley/Frank Okam in Rounds 2 and 4 respectively and get a superior starter to Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams, plus the size we need to stop the run.
However the draft at DE is lighter. Not wanting to spend a Day1 pick might leave us having to choose a Chris Harrington or Jason Jones. Picking earlier might give us a Calais Campbell (who was slow enough to be 0.15 seconds slower than
With more teams moving to a 3-4, there are fewer options for the traditional 4-3 End plus a few who might get cut. Plus they are not going to be demanding the monstrous sized overpriced salaries the DTs are asking. Candidates still available include
Greg White, Buccaneers, 6ft3, 268lb, Age 28 – 26 tackles, 8 sacks
Chris Clemons, Raiders, 6ft3, 240lbs (light) Age 26 – 20 tackles, 8 sacks
Travis LaBoy, Titans, 6ft3, 260lbs, Age 27, 13 tackles, 6.5 sacks
Darion Scott, Vikings, 6ft3, 289lbs Age 26, 46 tackles 5.5 sacks (2006)
Bo Schobel, Cardinals, 6ft5, 264lbs Age 26
Not the sexiest of signings I admit but we ignore this situation at our peril. We are two injuries away from starting Neill or a DT out of position
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