Lots of RBs, DBs, LBs, but why no DT or DE?

[Tahoe Skin]

Can someone please help me understand: Why HAVEN'T we picked up another DT or DE? Don't get me wrong; I love what GW is doing. Great scheme + great judge of talent = Great D. But I've thought all along the pass rush from our D Line last year was sorely lacking, and I'm not sure that Philip Daniels alone will change that. So, I really AM curious about what GW is thinking in not picking up another D Lineman, while at the same type bringing in lots of linebackers and DBacks. I can only guess that the real answer lies in that old saying that you can usually win a ball game if you win on 2 of the 3 teams. In the Skins case, I think this year we're bringing in sooo many LBs and DBs because we're trying to do everything we can to win on Defense and Special Teams. But that brings me back to the same question, if we really are focusing on trying to win on D and STs, why not get another DT or DE??? I just don't understand why we're not working to get better/better depth there. Anyone have a clue?

[jrocx69]

the skins last year were a perfect example of why games are won in the trenches. o-line was very mediocore, and DL did great with run support but absolutely no pass rush besides griffin. and when your starting CB is tied with your best DL in sacks... something isnt right. our oline was horrible at picking up zone blitzes and our DL was horrible in the pass rush. i love that we blitz, but when we blitz the outside, we have almost no penatraton up the gut allowing the opposing qb to step up in the pocket.

[Krills]

I think we might pick up a DT or DE after tommorow's cuts. I hope so anyway.

[MTK]

It's simple, who is out there to pick up??

[Daseal]

Maybe this is me speaking... but from what I've seen Greg William's doesn't rely on a bigtime DE to get sacks. We blitz a lot of the time. Our defensive line has 2-3 great ends to play the run. We have enough power inside to push the pocket a little bit and stop the run. I think that's their job and they do it just fine.

We're going to bring a lot of outside pressure. As long as our Dline can occupy their O line, they are doing their job.

[JWsleep]

Matty has it right--there's no one we can get that's worth it, and we don't have the cap space anyway. These guys all will compete for the positions we need some depth at, and--this is a big factor--they all can most likely help on special teams.

And I agree with Daseal about Williams' D--he brings the pressure from all over, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

(What does "maybe this is me speaking" mean??? Are you not sure that you're you? Could you be wrong about that one, Daseal? )

[Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor]

i was wondering the same thing about no de or dt. maybe they know something that we don't know. i think we have tricks up our sleeves for the big day tomorrow. i know we supposedly don't have no money but i think we are going to get some quality players and let go some surprising people tomorrow.

Sean Taylor will be the greatest safety to ever play the game, period!!

[MTK]

I'm sure Williams would love a stud DE, trouble is it's not easy to find these days.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Maybe this is me speaking... but from what I've seen Greg William's doesn't rely on a bigtime DE to get sacks. We blitz a lot of the time. Our defensive line has 2-3 great ends to play the run. We have enough power inside to push the pocket a little bit and stop the run. I think that's their job and they do it just fine.

We're going to bring a lot of outside pressure. As long as our Dline can occupy their O line, they are doing their job.

I completely agree. Dline is just to keep blockers off our LBs and DBs. They did the job they were asked and did it well. Sure, it would be great to find a pass rushing DE, but just as Matty said, they are hard to come by and even in the first rounds of the draft, there's just no guarantees with DEs.

[GoSkins!]

We tried to grab Courtney Brown but he didn't like our offer. I think it's cool that we can finally say to guys "Hey, come over and be part of the best defense in the league" and let them take it or leave it. Trying to buy our way to a winning roster didn't work.

[GoSkins!]

I'm sure that we are still looking hard to find a stud DE, but I think that Williams thinks we can get it done with Daniels, Evans, and Clemons.

Next years may be the year we try to shore up those position a little more.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

If we could get it done with Clemons just EMERGING as a great pass rusher and Daniels out of the line-up for most of the season, I think we can REALLY get it done at full strength.

[Riggo44]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

If we could get it done with Clemons just EMERGING as a great pass rusher and Daniels out of the line-up for most of the season, I think we can REALLY get it done at full strength.

Great point!
I don't really see any major upgrades out there for our D-Line. Maybe somone will get cut Jun 1st that would help us. But there is nothing to drool over out there right now.

[Drift Reality]

This is definately a focus-area for the next off-season. If they can't sign someone early in free agency, they are sure to look at trying to use either their 2nd or their 3rd rounder on a DE, possibly both considering their draft tactics this year and last - drafting double at positions of need in the hopes that one of the two will work out.

[Tahoe Skin]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

We tried to grab Courtney Brown but he didn't like our offer. I think it's cool that we can finally say to guys "Hey, come over and be part of the best defense in the league" and let them take it or leave it. Trying to buy our way to a winning roster didn't work.

And that was my point exactly in starting this thread. We have seen many free agent DT and DEs go by the board, and we saw many DT and DEs getting drafted. The only D-Lineman we've considered was Courtney Brown, and the 4 UNDRAFTED rookies that are on our squad. SO, SURE, there's may be no quality D-Linemen out there now, but my question remains: Why have we being going after soo many LBs and DBs and not any D-Linemen? We can spend the $$$ on LBs and DBs, but not DLs?? I think the most intelligent response I've seen is that we may be considering the using the 3-4 a lot more.