D Line Discussion,,Moving Forward

[Karst41]

We all know about the game and how we got owned and blah blah blah.

Moving forward I would like to discuss the D Line, notably Thomas and Lewis.

My thinking is that with Jerry being out that these 2 guys will be getting

the practice reps and just be much better.

I would like to open up the discussion by asking what these two players

Situational and Rotation roles will be ?

[phattywankenobi]

We all know about the game and how we got owned and blah blah blah.

Moving forward I would like to discuss the D Line, notably Thomas and Lewis.

My thinking is that with Jerry being out that these 2 guys will be getting

the practice reps and just be much better.

I would like to open up the discussion by asking what these two players

Situational and Rotation roles will be ?

I can see Johnson on passing downs. He does penetrate the pocket and he almost got a sack if not for the handoff. I think he is very raw otherwise and gets shoved around in the run plays. Lewis I think is still rusty but was starting to come into his own before his injury. I also think it is official with Bierman playing a lot more so I expect to see Anderson in the DT rotation.

[Clark Kent™]

I didnt get a chance to watch the Patriots game so its hard to make a fair assessment. Obviously the stat sheet shows that we did not get any sacks, but we also heard they ran 2 or 3 TE sets to help with protection so maybe that is why.

As far as our Run Defense i think we are very vulnerable there. I think we are going to struggle with teams that have a dominant O line.

Overall, i think if our offense can put some points on the board early we can apply some pressure in passing situations which would help our defense alot.

[JDB2688]

I want to see some variations of the 3-4 that we heard rumblings of in the preseason. Anderson and Babineaux on the ends, with Lewis or Thomas at NT, Peterson and Lofton inside, with Biermann, Sidbury, and Abraham alternating outside linebackers. It at the very least gives us some different looks.

[AutoMax]

Thomas just needs to stay motivated. They were saying that he played better after coach got in his ear the other day.

[Falcons 'til Death]

I would like to see Thomas on passing downs and Lewis on the running plays, strength to strength. That should be fair enough.

[BlazerSlayer]

There has been a lot of 3-4 talk on these boards and I am in favour of it, but so far have seen no inclination from the coaching staff to do this. While it would be a different look, I dont think it would improve the run defense anyway. Which is my concern right now.

[falcons4life]

I didnt get a chance to watch the Patriots game so its hard to make a fair assessment.

^^^BANNED FOR LIFE!!

Replacing Jerry has already shown to be a tough task. I'm hoping BVG makes use of some better schemes to clog the middle or teams will be running through us all day.

I am not a fan of the 3-4 but I think this team has the people to pull it off as mentioned in this post. At least try it two or three times a game and see what it yields.

[Dedsquirl]

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't Walker a pretty good clogger when he saw action in the Pre-Season.

We all know Babs can get penetration when someone occupies the Center and he can't chip on him.

Grady showed that.

[BlazerSlayer]

I do think if Walker was the best we had, he wouldn't have been off the 53 man roster to begin with. But maybe he can develop into a contributor.

[ConnFalcon]

I do think if Walker was the best we had, he wouldn't have been off the 53 man roster to begin with. But maybe he can develop into a contributor.

I sure hope so...

[Pacific_Falcon]

the thing i like about the idea of a 3-4 is it keeps peterson inside, because i think he is a bit slow to consistently be good in coverage as an OLB. he is good against the run but covering TE's and slot receivers scares me with him.

I think in obvious run downs you will see more of Lewis as far as a 3-4 look goes...while he hasn't played well, the coaches obviously believe that's a role he can do. I just think he need some time to get better.

[FalconFanSince1970]

We all know about the game and how we got owned and blah blah blah.Moving forward I would like to discuss the D Line, notably Thomas and Lewis.My thinking is that with Jerry being out that these 2 guys will be getting the practice reps and just be much better.I would like to open up the discussion by asking what these two playersSituational and Rotation roles will be ?

After Johnson got his as chewed out by Smitty he made a couple nice knife moves. Lewis had some decent production.

[Jaymadd]

After Johnson got his as chewed out by Smitty he made a couple nice knife moves. Lewis had some decent production.

Yeah it did seem like that Chewing was directed at Johnson, but I also think it applied to Babs, and Lewis too.

[pr0d1gy]

The biggest problem is that we don't have a Grady Jackson type of run stuffer. All of our DT's, even Babineuax, get taken out by double teams and pushed into our LB's or put on the ground. I was hopeful Lewis might be able to handle this responsibility but it's a lot to ask of anyone...especially unknown Free Agents or low draft picks. For years I have pleaded in the Draft section here for us to draft a big boy to handle the traffic in the middle and they put it off and put it off. I don't put this solely on the shoulders of our DT's though, our OLB's and DE's need to do a much better job of getting off blocks and making plays in the run game, too.

[Polar Bear Jones]

The biggest problem is that we don't have a Grady Jackson type of run stuffer. All of our DT's, even Babineuax, get taken out by double teams and pushed into our LB's or put on the ground. I was hopeful Lewis might be able to handle this responsibility but it's a lot to ask of anyone...especially unknown Free Agents or low draft picks. For years I have pleaded in the Draft section here for us to draft a big boy to handle the traffic in the middle and they put it off and put it off. I don't put this solely on the shoulders of our DT's though, our OLB's and DE's need to do a much better job of getting off blocks and making plays in the run game, too.

I disagree if all we needed was a guy like grady it stands to reason that our run defense would have been much better with him last year and I do not think it was. The "Big But Theory" as Brooking used to put it did not work. I think that this rotational gap penetration idea could work once we get the right personell. We need that guy that can rotate in and get pressure from both DT and DE position. We need our Justin Tuck or for you older falcon fans a guy like Travis Hall. If we cannot find that guy we can only hope to get a guy that can collapse the pocket from the inside and create that funnel. I believe Jerry would have been that guy and I hope the others can grow into that.

Everyone is falling in love with the 3-4 concept until you get one of our DE's in underneath coverage with a RB in space or they double our undersized NT's and push him into the secondary. I would like for our young guys to get more familiar with our scheme before the tricks come out at least the second half of the season.

[iDash]

Someone said,

we even ran the 3-4 a little last week can anyone confirm this?

I just think we should run both Defense

3-4, 4-3

because its the NFL and if Your Playing Peyton Manning,

For Example, he struggles verses the 3-4

So , it would be nice to have it in the D Arsenal.

With all our guys being Young put it in Now.

DL,

All I know is we have the Worst DL,

We always Have,

so it isnt anything new!

Grady was one of my favorite signings, EVER!

He was the Falcons best DT ever.

He will be hard to replace,

but he was to old,

so we didnt have a choice.

I like our first round pick Jerry

At first I though he would get taken out of his lane to easy,

because he is a Pass rushing UT like a Babs clone,

but Jerry impressed,

then Bamm,

gone for the Year,

I would like to bring in a Double teamed-Run Stuffer,

like Dorsey,

but we are a very young rebuilding club,

so I guess we can go with what we got!

[muskokas finest ©]

Lewis got thrown into a bad spot. First game back, playing the Pats on the road, on wet

turf with his reconstructed knee etc. I'd expect more of him in 2 weeks

[Jaymadd]

I disagree if all we needed was a guy like grady it stands to reason that our run defense would have been much better with him last year and I do not think it was. The "Big But Theory" as Brooking used to put it did not work. I think that this rotational gap penetration idea could work once we get the right personell. We need that guy that can rotate in and get pressure from both DT and DE position. We need our Justin Tuck or for you older falcon fans a guy like Travis Hall. If we cannot find that guy we can only hope to get a guy that can collapse the pocket from the inside and create that funnel. I believe Jerry would have been that guy and I hope the others can grow into that.

Everyone is falling in love with the 3-4 concept until you get one of our DE's in underneath coverage with a RB in space or they double our undersized NT's and push him into the secondary. I would like for our young guys to get more familiar with our scheme before the tricks come out at least the second half of the season.

I agree, we not need the Large body taking up space, Coach Smith wants one gap penetrating DT that have speed and quickness.

[birdonawire]

We did run the 3-4 on several plays, but it would not be any better against the run than the 4-3. give the defense time to grow togrhter. This game was more to the failings of the offense to get first downs and allow the defense to rest. Too many passes on 3rd and short when you have a 250lb RB with a 245lb FB leading him. The OC was trying to hard to fool the defense and not do what this offense does best, run the ball.

[blunttokinplaymaker]

All this talk of 3-4 doesnt make any sense its a completely different scheme for the front 7 and requires very different personnel with different skills sets and not to mention a bit of time for a coaching staff to implement it.

At DE we're going to have to with what we have this season and hope some young guys step up.

I'd like to say the same for DT but its just not going to happen, we're going to continue to get gouged in the run game, it's a good thing Gores scheduled to miss our next game. Were not going to find the answer on the street. We need to make a move but who's available?

There's talk of Glenn Dorsey being available, but he was the 5th overall pick in the 2008 draft and has been healthy every game. at 6-1 297 he' listed as a right defensive end in the Chief' 3-4, a position he's far too short for. He has the height of a nose tackle but he's too small and quickness is his game, not eating space. It's hard to imagine what we would trade for a young 5th overall pick that hasnt missed any games. A bargaining chip we could certainly use is Jamaal Anderson, the 8th overall pick in the 2007 draft who has only missed 1 game in 3 year career. And at 6-6 289 he's clearly better fit as an end in the 3-4, especially combined with his well documented inability to get to the QB. But KC drafted end Tyson Jackson over nose tackle B.J. Raji so they obviously value the position. I'd crap my pants if we could get him for Anderson and a 4th and be happy with Anderson and a 3rd, we cant give them our 2nd this year cause we already did and I cant see us giving up our first. Still TD could find a way as both Dorsey and Anderson have the size to excel in the opposing teams schemes. Throw Grimes in too.

Elsewhere around the league Cleveland is clearly going nowhere and Shaun Rogers is the type that tends to eat himself out of shape when the season is over before half the games are played. He was traded for by an old coaching staff so there's no obligation for Mangini to keep him but it really does signal a surrender of the season with him gone from thier NT position but he would be an absolutely huge pickup for us and would help every facet of our defense, he's a Albert Haynesworth/Haloti Ngata type monster of a man that collapses the line of scrimmage. The fact that he's 30 is a concern.

The Jaguars also seem to be going nowhere whether or not they want to admit it and trading for big John Henderson would be a huge boost to our run D and a great player to help establish the toughness of this defense's identity. Problems again are hes 30 and it pretty much signals a surrender Jax, but the Mike Smith connection should help here

Around the league I dont really know where else we can get someone who will make an impact, Darnell Docketts agent was lobbying for a trade and he would really boost ourr pass rush and 4 man pressure but he's light at 6-4 285 still he had 3 sacks in the superbowl and 9 the year before and only 28 and played every game in his career.

[blunttokinplaymaker]

I wonder if the Patriots would take a 1st for Vince Wilfork? Id certainly pull the trigger on that deal and lock him up long term at 27 the 6 year vet out of Miami 1st round pick is entering unrestricted free agency I do believe and the Patriots drafted what some were calling his heir apparent in Ron Brace. The trade of Seymour would leave them especially thin on the DL, though not if they keep playing 4-3 where they woulve had Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, and Ron Brace at DT. I think NE wants to resign him cause hes young but the temptation to not pay him may be too great if we offer a good deal . Id suggest we toss Anderson in but I think Belicheck would take it as an insult

[pr0d1gy]

I disagree if all we needed was a guy like grady it stands to reason that our run defense would have been much better with him last year and I do not think it was. The "Big But Theory" as Brooking used to put it did not work. I think that this rotational gap penetration idea could work once we get the right personell. We need that guy that can rotate in and get pressure from both DT and DE position. We need our Justin Tuck or for you older falcon fans a guy like Travis Hall. If we cannot find that guy we can only hope to get a guy that can collapse the pocket from the inside and create that funnel. I believe Jerry would have been that guy and I hope the others can grow into that.

Everyone is falling in love with the 3-4 concept until you get one of our DE's in underneath coverage with a RB in space or they double our undersized NT's and push him into the secondary. I would like for our young guys to get more familiar with our scheme before the tricks come out at least the second half of the season.

Please do not twist my posts to fit your agenda. I stated, in rather plain English, that our entire front 7 needs to play better; but that it would be nice to have a space eater at NT like a Wilfork. Also, don't lump me in with "everyone".

[etherdome]

I hope that we stick to the 4-3. Stop all this outsmarting the opposition stuff. Execute and perform your job well and success will follow. Just do your job. If our defense would have followed that advice, we would have beaten the Pats. The DL needs to concentrate on gap responsibility. You penetrate to the ball and stay low. If there are no ball carriers on the way, go after the QB.

I think that Trey Lewis needs to play a few more games before we can judge him. He has had some pretty devastating injuries to his knees and he probably does not feel comfortable with them yet. It will take a few games for him to forget his injuries and just play.

I don't think that our defense is playoff quality yet. Hence, we will have to depend on the offense. Time of possession will be the key to a better defense.

[Polar Bear Jones]

Please do not twist my posts to fit your agenda. I stated, in rather plain English, that our entire front 7 needs to play better; but that it would be nice to have a space eater at NT like a Wilfork. Also, don't lump me in with "everyone".

No disrespect I would not mind having a Probowl caliber player like Wilfork, Stroud, or even Jenkins. I think the Jags will probably try and move Henderson next year since he had some disagreements with DelRio. It was just my opinion that scheme wise we were not looking for a 2 Gap plugger. I think if the staff was they would have moved down for a guy like Brace or even went after Sammie Lee Hill or Terrance Knighton. No agenda just football talk. My theory would be blown away if TD and the gang grab Mount Cody in the Draft.