Anyone else still concerned over DT?

[EDS]

With Walker now in the fold the Bills top 4 DTs are pretty much locked in place. What concerns me is that there is not a 300lber in the bunch. This would be o.k. if the Bills had a T. Harris/W. Sapp type of player, but that does not appear to be the case (unless McCargo develops quickly). I will admit that I wanted the Hawks to get Okoye because he has the potential to be a Tommie Harris/Warren Sapp.

The history of the Cover 2 is that it is an effective defense when you have (1) a premier DT (i.e., Sapp/Harris) and (2) a linebacker with safety speed (i.e., Urlacher/Brooks) OR an unstopable offense (i.e., Indy).

I hope Marv and co. know what they are doing. The draft will be critical to rebuild what is now a gutted linebacker corps.

[Earthquake Enyart]

They want faster gap shooter types, not fat run pluggers.

[EDS]

They want faster gap shooter types, not fat run pluggers.

I know that is what they say they want, but my concern is that such a scheme doesn't work without a truly great DT in the middle.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Everyone has one gap.

The problem will be the LB's, not the DL.

[don137]

I would say DT is a big question mark position. They have the talent to be effective but that is rolling the dice. Triplett got better as the year went on, Walker can be a great player if he can stay motivated and McCargo and Williams were rookies last year that should take big steps forward. If all that happens the Bills should be solid at DT.
If McCargo and Williams don't improve, Triplett plays like he did early in the year and Walker stays inconsistent then the DT will be a big weakness for the team.

[Earthquake Enyart]

I think Williams was very good last year. He was the steal of the draft.

[patmoran2006]

McCargo becomes the key.

he HAS to become a good 1 gap NT

[EDS]

So does Walker start at the nose or does he split time with Triplett?

[TedMock]

McCargo becomes the key.

he HAS to become a good 1 gap NT

That's what he is. I'm more concerned with not having a true 2-gapper. I understand the defense and how it's designed. However, in certain situations and schemes, you need a quality 2-gap DT to take blockers away from the 1-gap. How much more effective could Tripplett have been had he not been double teamed? Fighting off double teams is part of the game, but guys like Tim Anderson weren't even requiring a chip let alone a double team.

Having said that, I think Walker is a good pickup at good price. He's a quality DT who will produce for us. I watched McCargo play in college and he's also a quality DT (well, at least he was in college). I think the overall rotation is a good one now. You just can't run the same defense every play.

[Saratoga Slim]

That's what he is. I'm more concerned with not having a true 2-gapper. I understand the defense and how it's designed. However, in certain situations and schemes, you need a quality 2-gap DT to take blockers away from the 1-gap. How much more effective could Tripplett have been had he not been double teamed? Fighting off double teams is part of the game, but guys like Tim Anderson weren't even requiring a chip let alone a double team.

I think you and Pat are talking about the same position.

[acehole]

yes

With Walker now in the fold the Bills top 4 DTs are pretty much locked in place. What concerns me is that there is not a 300lber in the bunch. This would be o.k. if the Bills had a T. Harris/W. Sapp type of player, but that does not appear to be the case (unless McCargo develops quickly). I will admit that I wanted the Hawks to get Okoye because he has the potential to be a Tommie Harris/Warren Sapp.

The history of the Cover 2 is that it is an effective defense when you have (1) a premier DT (i.e., Sapp/Harris) and (2) a linebacker with safety speed (i.e., Urlacher/Brooks) OR an unstopable offense (i.e., Indy).

I hope Marv and co. know what they are doing. The draft will be critical to rebuild what is now a gutted linebacker corps.

[Jan Reimers]

Less than yesterday, but I do think we could use a Ted Washington/Pat Williams/Sam Adams type to stuff the run.

[Night Train]

With 5 picks through Round 4, I could see another DT.

You make a valid point.

[ddaryl]

With 5 picks through Round 4, I could see another DT.

You make a valid point.

It's possible but then who gets cut.

We are already sporting a full rotation of DT's. If we draft a DT someone is getting cut.

Honestly I don't see the Bill staking a DT this year, they drafted McCargo and Williams last year, and traded for Walker this year. There will be no DT's on draft day IMO, but if they did Jefferson is the odd duck

99	Jefferson, Jason	DT	6-1	295	25	2	Wisconsin
97	McCargo, John	DT	6-2	295	23	R	N.C. State
98	Tripplett, Larry	DT	6-2	295	28	5	Washington
--	Walker, Darwin	DT	6-3	294	29	9	Tennessee
95	Williams, Kyle	DT	6-1	295	23	R	LSU

[Jeff1220]

Stopping the run in this system is not about "stuffing the hole" but more about penetration. If these DTs can make it into the backfield, they will be able to dispupt and blow up plays - both run and pass.

[BuffaloRanger]

Didn't the Bills prove beyond a shadow of a doubt last year the folly of the "Small, fast, DTs theory". They couldn't stop the run up the gut all year long. Period.

Seriously. It doesn't work. They will be tore up through the middle once again.

And you basically have Tripplet and Walker playing the same postion. WTF is that? Paying two salaries for one DT? I understand the rotation philosophy, but then you always have one of them on the bench. Seems like overkill.

[The Answer]

With Walker now in the fold the Bills top 4 DTs are pretty much locked in place. What concerns me is that there is not a 300lber in the bunch. This would be o.k. if the Bills had a T. Harris/W. Sapp type of player, but that does not appear to be the case (unless McCargo develops quickly). I will admit that I wanted the Hawks to get Okoye because he has the potential to be a Tommie Harris/Warren Sapp.

The history of the Cover 2 is that it is an effective defense when you have (1) a premier DT (i.e., Sapp/Harris) and (2) a linebacker with safety speed (i.e., Urlacher/Brooks) OR an unstopable offense (i.e., Indy).

I hope Marv and co. know what they are doing. The draft will be critical to rebuild what is now a gutted linebacker corps.

The Answer is very concerned. We have a great group of pass rushing DT's, but no beasts that are true run stoppers.

Also what does acquiring Walker mean for McCargo? Have they conceded to bust status already?

~The Answer

[gr8slayer]

I haven't been concerned about it, I think were perfectly fine and have some great depth now for a rotation system. I would be very PO'd if we still drafted a DT in the first round.

[patmoran2006]

For better or worse; their DT's are set. They have four rotational guys... I refuse to even count Timmay Tim Anderson

[OpIv37]

I haven't been concerned about it, I think were perfectly fine and have some great depth now for a rotation system. I would be very PO'd if we still drafted a DT in the first round.

the rotation is fine but we're rotating a bunch of guys who can't stop the run. I really do not think the "shoot the gap with small DT's" scheme works. At the very least it puts us in a SEVERE disadvantage in short yardage situations.