slider Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 I posted this in another thread but since it's a pet peeve of mine and a topic that might be good to discuss while waiting for the draft to begin I started a new topic. IN 1977 The Falcons had what could be called the most dominant defense in NFL history. During this time period the size of defensive lineman relative to offensive lineman was very close to the same. I'll use the Falcons O-lineman as a reference here but even the biggest o-lines (Redskins) were in the 280's. 1977 Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line: LT Brent Adams - 6'5 256 LG Dave Scott - 6'4 276 C Jeff Van Note - 6'2 247 RG R.C. Thielman - 6'4 255 RT Warren Bryant - 6'6 273 1977 Atlanta Falcons Defensive Line: LDE: Claude Humphrey - 6'4 252 LDT: Jim Bailey - 6'4 253 RDT Mike Lewis - 6'4 261 RDE Jeff Merrow - 6'4 236 I couldn't imagine a 200 pounder playing on the defensive line but in order to replicate the current day differential in weights between the lineman that's what would've been playing DE back then. I think it's time to get back to some bigger DE's. The DT's have stayed relatively large but the DE's have gone way too small in my opinion. Da_Truth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCFalcon22 Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 I like Jonathan Greenard in the 3rd if we still have one lol 6'3 263 OrthoPTSD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 AJE slider 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 3 minutes ago, 1989Fan said: AJE I'm not extremely familiar with him outside of what I can read but size wise, I think this is what I'm screaming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiruz Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 9 minutes ago, KCFalcon22 said: I like Jonathan Greenard in the 3rd if we still have one lol 6'3 263 I like Greenard too, could even slip to the 4th round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 7 minutes ago, KCFalcon22 said: I like Jonathan Greenard in the 3rd if we still have one lol 6'3 263 263 is bigger than most these days but still about 10lb's light I think. Still giving up 40+ lb's to the OT. KCFalcon22 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-train Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 I had Greeenard to us in my mock, so of course I'm down with that idea. Another guy I considered was UNC DL Jason Strowbridge. At 6'4" 275lbs he'd fit that profile the OP is talking about. bigjmw84 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuskillzz Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Fowler is in the 265-270 lb range which is a plus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 1 minute ago, wuskillzz said: Fowler is in the 265-270 lb range which is a plus NFL.com has him listed at 6'3 255. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-train Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 10 minutes ago, slider said: NFL.com has him listed at 6'3 255. As does the team's site, ESPN, Rotoworld, CBS Sports, Pro Football Reference & basically any other site worth mentioning (even wikipedia) He was 261 at the combine in 2015. Yet, for some reason, when you do a Google search for him, the information box on the right says he weighs 267. I'm assuming that's why the dude earlier said he was in the 265-270 range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 1 minute ago, k-train said: As does the team's site, ESPN, Rotoworld, CBS Sports, Pro Football Reference & basically any other site worth mentioning (even wikipedia) He was 261 at the combine in 2015. Yet, for some reason, when you do a Google search for him, the information box on the right says he weighs 267. I'm assuming that's why the dude said he was 265-270. OK, maybe he blowed up like lots of us with age. That weight will come in handy I think. 60lb weight differentials on the outside are just ridiculous I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngbloodz Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 That’s the way it is. Teams want DE’s athletic. Only in 3-4 will you see bigger DE’s. You aren’t going to see DE’s around 300lbs on the average. Not happening MasterBateser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, youngbloodz said: That’s the way it is. Teams want DE’s athletic. Only in 3-4 will you see bigger DE’s. You aren’t going to see DE’s around 300lbs on the average. Not happening Not looking for 300lb DE's. In today's world an athletic 270 pounder is no freak. It's common place actually. Every position has grown in average size with the exception of DE. I realize LB's are getting smaller but they're still around the same as 30+ years ago but a 250lb DE in today's world against 300+lb OT's are just one trick pony's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-train Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 13 minutes ago, youngbloodz said: That’s the way it is. Teams want DE’s athletic. Only in 3-4 will you see bigger DE’s. You aren’t going to see DE’s around 300lbs on the average. Not happening Yep. If you take a look a list showing the size of every DE in this class, other than Epenesa & Strowbridge (and like 3 or 4 dudes who won't even be drafted) nearly everyone else is in the 250-265 range.http://draftcountdown.com/2020-nfl-draft-rankings/2020-defensive-end-rankings/ You can see their weight listed here. youngbloodz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngbloodz Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Just now, slider said: Not looking for 300lb DE's. In today's world an athletic 270 pounder is no freak. It's common place actually. Every position has grown in average size with the exception of DE. I realize LB's are getting smaller but they're still around the same as 30+ years ago but a 250lb DE in today's world against 300+lb OT's are just one trick pony's. I thought you wanted the DE weight closer to the OT weight. My bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngbloodz Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 1 minute ago, k-train said: Yeo. If you take a look a list showing the size of every DE in this class, other than Epenesa & Strowbridge (and like 3 or 4 dudes who won't even be drafted) nearly everyone else is in the 250-265 range. True. I would suspect most of your good 4-3 DE’s are around the weight range you listed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 Just now, youngbloodz said: I thought you wanted the DE weight closer to the OT weight. My bad Closer, not necessarily the same. Claude Humphrey was a beast at 255 for the Falcons but he was still 20lb's lighter than most OT's in the league. 20lb's lighter today equates more to about 280. Jeff Merrow on the other side was 236. That would equate to about 260 today. youngbloodz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 7 minutes ago, k-train said: Yeo. If you take a look a list showing the size of every DE in this class, other than Epenesa & Strowbridge (and like 3 or 4 dudes who won't even be drafted) nearly everyone else is in the 250-265 range. That's kinda my point. The league has gone with the smaller DE's for a while now and you have to find world class guys at that size to beat athletic OT's that are 60+ lb's heavier. Those guys are as easy to find as a franchise QB. Why not reverse that trend and go back toward what has worked in the past. I realize it's a different league and passing league ....blah blah blah, I guarantee you the bigger DE's would work well in today's league. It just rags my a@@ to see DE's get tossed around like rag dolls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 14 minutes ago, youngbloodz said: True. I would suspect most of your good 4-3 DE’s are around the weight range you listed Reggie White played both 4-3 and 3-4 DE at 290lb's. He rag dolled opponents in both schemes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterBateser Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 11 minutes ago, slider said: Closer, not necessarily the same. Claude Humphrey was a beast at 255 for the Falcons but he was still 20lb's lighter than most OT's in the league. 20lb's lighter today equates more to about 280. Jeff Merrow on the other side was 236. That would equate to about 260 today. Danielle Hunter 250 DLaw 251 Brian Burns 252 I think it was. Ngakoue is 246 Size isnt as big of a deal for pass rushing ATLSlobberKnockers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 17 minutes ago, youngbloodz said: True. I would suspect most of your good 4-3 DE’s are around the weight range you listed Bruce Smith. 280. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterBateser Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 9 minutes ago, slider said: That's kinda my point. The league has gone with the smaller DE's for a while now and you have to find world class guys at that size to beat athletic OT's that are 60+ lb's heavier. Those guys are as easy to find as a franchise QB. Why not reverse that trend and go back toward what has worked in the past. I realize it's a different league and passing league ....blah blah blah, I guarantee you the bigger DE's would work well in today's league. It just rags my a@@ to see DE's get tossed around like rag dolls. That's cool but a 290lbs DE isnt catching Wilson Mahomes Jackson Rodgers Etc To sack him. The game changed for a reason. ATLSlobberKnockers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrthoPTSD Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 37 minutes ago, k-train said: As does the team's site, ESPN, Rotoworld, CBS Sports, Pro Football Reference & basically any other site worth mentioning (even wikipedia) He was 261 at the combine in 2015. Yet, for some reason, when you do a Google search for him, the information box on the right says he weighs 267. I'm assuming that's why the dude earlier said he was in the 265-270 range. One thing for sure, Fowler is a hoss ... he has to be 260 plus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 20 minutes ago, youngbloodz said: True. I would suspect most of your good 4-3 DE’s are around the weight range you listed Deacon Jones 270. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCFalcon22 Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Osiruz said: I like Greenard too, could even slip to the 4th round. If he does please let us take him. I'm truly worried about the middle of our defense this year. I want a DT, LB, and Safety. If we have anything left over get a guard or center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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