Mathis played LDE in Indy at that size for years. As expensive as our secondary is, we should be able to keep enough guys in the box to stop the run on 1st and 2nd down to allow us the luxury of an undersized buy like Mack who can really get after the passer.
Mathis played LDE in Indy at that size for years. As expensive as our secondary is, we should be able to keep enough guys in the box to stop the run on 1st and 2nd down to allow us the luxury of an undersized buy like Mack who can really get after the passer.
He didn't play LDE full time, he was strictly a part time player and not even in nickel/dime spots but only in long yardage spots. He only became full time when he became a OLB.
He can switch between Sam and DE on obvious passing downs. Same way the Broncos do it with Von Miller.
Problem being he will be a disaster at SAM. Id have a lot more sympathy for this pick if we take him and we just say he's moving down and like smaller guys like Freeny and Rice and Haley we are gonna live with the size issues because the pass rush is so much more important - now he is small than any of those guys by 10-15 lbs unless he bulks up AND can keep the quickness and explosion.
Trent Cole is a similarly built type player, at least he was initially and did well in the 4-3. A top 10 pick is a lot for a guy who is going to be situational. Now if that situational play gives us 10+ sacks, I'd say go for it but that's leap at this point.
The weight thing is so overblown. A DE at 250 pounds is fine as long as he stays in that range. Simeon Rice, John Abraham, Elvis Dumervil, Dwight Freeney, and Robert Mathis never weighed more than 260 and still held up as dominant edge rushers. I'm not worried about him being a run stuffing end, you can scheme around that by using stunts.
The weight thing is so overblown. A DE at 250 pounds is fine as long as he stays in that range. Simeon Rice, John Abraham, Elvis Dumervil, Dwight Freeney, and Robert Mathis never weighed more than 260 and still held up as dominant edge rushers. I'm not worried about him being a run stuffing end, you can scheme around that by using stunts.
If he is 255 that is ok. He is 245 by most reports and while 255 can hold up it is sub-optimal. 245 is asking a lot. The problem isn't even so much the run defense in the pure sense but the fact that being asked to take on those OTs is gonna drain him and leave him unable to be explosive when we need it.
A 4-3 DE at 260lbs is not a big deal. When they are 245lbs or 250lb....it's a problem. And naming off a few exceptions to the rule doesn't change that.
Draft em and scheme it. This is why you hire a defensive guru as your coach.Would you rather draft another Clayborn caliber rusher because he supposedly is big enough , or would you rather draft Clay Matthews who is going to wreak havoc in the backfield. No more excuses. Fix the pass rush or bust.
We shouldn't have to scheme for a 10+ sack guy on our defense when we have DTN and Bowers who can "play". We can plug those two in right where we need them. /sarcasm
I think if we are looking at passing down-only (or primarily) guys, it's better to wait. I'd rather take my chances on somebody like Dee Ford in round 2 than use a 7th pick on Mack if I weren't sure he could play 3-downs.
Great player. Like him better than Barr. But Von Miller he is not. I think he has a lot of fans spoiled into thinking any rush LB with some size can now play with his hand in the dirt. Not the case. People don't realize just how much talent and skill Von Miller has. Mack does not have the explosive ability, the speed, the technique, nor the pass rush ability. Oh and someone was looking for a rush LB who was good in coverage? Von Miller is. I would not draft him for a 4-3 scheme.
A 4-3 DE at 260lbs is not a big deal. When they are 245lbs or 250lb....it's a problem. And naming off a few exceptions to the rule doesn't change that.
Can't think of any 245LB DE's that exist in the NFL. or any 250DE that flopped
So now Lovie has to create a scheme for both Revis and Mack???? Watkins or Matthews, who ever falls.
A 4-3 DE at 260lbs is not a big deal. When they are 245lbs or 250lb....it's a problem. And naming off a few exceptions to the rule doesn't change that.
Can't think of any 245LB DE's that exist in the NFL.
Robert Mathis was 235lbs at the combine and is now listed as 245lbs. Cameron Wake is 250lbs.Dion Jordan was 248lbs at the combine. They exist but they rarely are good. When you draft a DE under that 260-265lbs area, you really lower your odds of success.
I think dalbuc nailed it on the head - it's not so much about success in the matchups, it's the beat-down over the course of the game/season.
