Free Agency/Franchise Tag thread 2011

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

A 7th round choice and Bryant (mostly unproven) is not gonna cut it IMO. Our only true focus in free agency on the defensive side should be NT.

Actually I think they can. Are the dominant Vince Wilfork Pro Bowl type NT's? No, however they're (Neild and Bryant) both capable of taking on double teams and holding the line of scrimage. The main problem at the start of last year was that teams found out in week 2 or 3 that they could block Kemo one one one with a Center on top of the fact that they were able to easily drive Golston off the ball.

Knowing this teams simply ran away from the only quality lineman up front in Carriker. You look at the difference once Kemo and Golston were replaced by Bryant and Holiday and it's like night and day. In fact the switch was a big reason Carrikers production went up in the second half of the season, since teams were no longer able to run away from him. And a big part of that was the play of Bryant.

Now they have Bryant returning to start and another guy that can hold his own in Neild along with Jenkins to keep people off our linebackers. Personally I feel comfotable with our D-Line. Especially when you throw in Kerrigan and Orakpo who are both good at shedding blockers.