Tidestalker
Member
Fantastic insight, @TerryP . Thank you!A personal observation.
If you've taken the time to watch/listen to the post scrimmage press conferences there's one thing no one has asked about. The defensive line. Questions about WR's, ILB's, and RB's have been in all three.
It's my impression heading into game week that the strength is found in the depth. There's been a lot of rotation in the three scrimmages.
We're going to see the DL in a lot of nickel and dime sets if we're going by what's been seen this fall. In another "if they're kicking today" we'd be seeing Byron Young and Justin Eboigbe with Tim Smith and Jaheim Oatis rotating in.
It's uncomfortable phrasing this. DJ Dale is "technically" a three by a lot of other teams measures. But here he's not really a twoātaking snaps with Byron and Justin a lot is DJ with the 1'sāso if you're confused yet, hang on.
Burroughs rotates in but he's not getting as much work as Dale is with those two. So, a 2? Goodwine, Keenan, Payne, and Latham are all getting reps like Burroughs leaving us with four, two's.
Do you see what I mean with the depth comment? We're lookingāin their nickel and dime packagesāat two "base" defensive linemen. They're running four we can call 1's, and four 2's.
Snap counts will be interesting when we get to week four, week five ...
It's a great sign that there is some young competition along with Dale. I really believe this will be a breakout season for Young, which should create some opportunities for his teammates.
Not the "flashiest" bunch in terms of what they've accomplished, but this will be a fun group to watch develop. As noted, they could be a seriously different/improved group as the season progresses.