feelosofer
#ninergang
Ok Guys lets take a look at our vaunted defensive line today.
Defensive Linemen
Nick Bosa - Just one sack short of a 10 sack regular season, Nick Bosa proved himself as he was one of the most disruptive tackles in the NFL. Even when he is not accosting QBs his speed off the line of scrimmage is lightning fast causing him to always be accounted for in every game plan. Nick is an elite pass pusher and only has room to get even better from there. On top that he is good as run support as well due to his length and athleticism. If there thing he can improve on, it's finishing when he closes in on the QB but I think that will improve with experience as I think he left a few sacks on the table. Eiither way he has proven he was worthy of the #2 pick last year and is probably the best overall player in that draft class.
Skills: A
Performance: A
Potential: A
Overall: A
Arik Armstead - 2015 Draft pick has been a somewhat contentious subject for 49er fans on this board and others. After dealing with injuries the entire time he has been with the organization, he finally put together a healthy year and with it led the team in sacks with 10. As such he got an 85 million dollar extension for the next 5 years and while some balk at keeping him and trading away DeForest Buckner for the #14 pick, I understood the rationale. Armstead loves the team, is a team ambassador, puts in a lot of charity work in the bay area and was willing to take a hometown discount to stay on the team. DeForest wanted well over 100 million dollars and for as good as he is, that's Aaron Donald money and and Buck is no Donald as much as I like him. Health is going to be the name of the game for Armstead, when healthy and along this elite pass rush, he should be just about at productive as we was last year. At 6'7 he is long enough to grab opposing QBs and runningbacks out of the backfield which he was already very good at. I think if his snaps are managed as well as his health, it should be another very productive year for the young Mr. Armstead.
Skills: B+
Performance: A
Potential: A-
Overall: A-
Dee Ford - Acquired from Kansas City, Dee Ford was injured for a lot of the season and still managed 6.5 sacks. Because of the way his contract is structured, it is something of a make or break year for Dee Ford. He needs to prove he can stay healthy to justify his enormous contract or my guess is that he will be most likely asked to restructure. When healthy he is an elite pass rusher even though he's not much against the run, which is fine, we have other guys for that. But for someone making around 17 million this season the expectation are going to be much higher.
Skills: B+
Performance: B-
Potential: C+
Overall: B
Javon Kinlaw - 2020 1st round draft pick. Many scouts consider him to be the best defensive lineman in this previous draft. A lot like Buckner, Kinlaw is one one of those guys where he does more than what the stats show. He is disruptive in the pass and run, he is excellent at collapsing the pocket and causing interior pressure, not only pressuring QBs but forcing hurried passes and some sacks. At 6'5 315 lbs, he carries very little 'bad' weight and is equally built from top to bottom. As a follower of SC football he is a compact space eater and pass rusher, though there are times his considerable strength does always show up because he is occasionally stalled by offensive lineman who out leverage him but that is a correctable technique issue. I don't know if he'll ultimately br as good as DeForest Buckner but he has all the tools to be part of the flesh eating disease which is out defensive line for the next 10 years. Something like a Richard Seymour type player.
Skills: B+
Performance: B+
Potential: A-
Overall B+
Ronald Blair III - One of the last of the Trent Baalke picks still on the team, Blair has established himself as a very good rotational defensive lineman. Not only has he made key plays in 3rd and 4th down but he is an ideal goal line tackle capable of making plays in the pile. He'd be a starter on a few teams so it's quite the good fortune we have retained his services. He's an important piece of the and will continue to be as long as he's in scarlet and gold.
Skills: C+
Performance: B-
Potential: C
Overall: C+
DJ Jones - Essentially the teams 'nose' tackle. While not much of a pass rusher. DJ Jones is a classic space eater. He is very effective in finding the seams in a blocking scheme and stopping would be runners from making plays inside. This is crucial because it allows other players to play 3 or 5 techs in their natural positions as opposed to putting the other players at risk of getting washed out. DJ Jones will likely get a deal once his contract is up, as a 6th round pick, he wouldn't cost too much and would like to stay on a top 3 team in the NFL.
Skills: B-
Performance: C+
Potential: C
Overall: C+
Solomon Thomas - Former #3 Overall draft pick. Considered by many to be a bust. While I won't go that far it was clear he was overdrafted and even then I didn't see him as anything more than a mid-late 1st round value. As such he has been an solid if unremarkable player. He is due for breakout but some wonder if that will even happen. He's been a solid hole plugger but you can find guys like that in the 3rd round or later. Perhaps he can arise as part of the ensemble of pass rushers this upcoming season otherwise it may be best to let his rookie deal play out and let him walk if he's not willing to take a cheap deal.
Skills: C+
Performance: C-
Potential: B-
Overall: C
Julian Taylor - 2018 7th Round pick. Taylor was looking very promising before tearing his ACL. As of now Taylor is on the PUP list meaning he probably isn't all the way recovered. Which is fine the D-Line has the depth to let him heal and get back to at least taking some special teams snaps.
Skills: D+
Performance: D
Potential: C
Overall: D+
Kerry Hyder - 2014 UDFA. Kerry Hyder is an NFL veteran that has made a nice career for himself. Albeit a little undersized to be an inside player in Saleh's modified 4-3, he can probably sub in as a rotational end to spell some of the star players. He can also play special teams and act as a Leo in sub packages. He's not a lights out player but he's experienced.
Skills: C-
Performance: C
Potential: D
Overall: C-
Darrion Danniels - Sneaky UDFA Pick. At 6'3 310lbs, you would think nose tackle, but a lot like DJ Jones, he is a better athlete than his frame would suggest. He fits a very specific need and that's if DJ Jones gets hurt. He is a non factor as a passrusher but we don't need him for that. So long as he doesn't get hurt, he'll likely make the roster.
Skills: D
Performance: D
Potential: C-
Overall D+
Kevin Givens - Penn State has a knack for making decent to very good NFL defenders who may be missing something on the physical front (see Navorro Bowman). As another school adjacent to my almamater, I follow them. Kevin lines up everywhere on the defensive line and he holds his gap responsibilities reasonably well. If he weren't a little undersized he'd be an easy 3rd or 4th round pick but as such he flew under the radar. He is a stash and dash player but one with the potential to fill in should there be a departure or injury.
Skills: D+
Performance: D
Potential: C-
Overall: D+
Kentavious Street - Another cautionary tale of why you don't 'pick and stash'. Street looks amazing in the weight room but has not even made it out of training camp healthy. I got nervous when he was picked over Josh Sweat or even Bilal Nichols, and there is a chance he may still emerge as at least a solid rotational and he is still young at only 24 years old but history is working against him.
Grade: INC
Unit Analysis:
This is a Super Bowl level unit. Elite pass rushers as a whole and almost as good stopping the run. This is a unit made up up highly paid/high pedigree players for the most part and more 2st rounders invested than just about anywhere in the NFL. We have the depth to absorb a couple of injuries. it's a smart move to potentially bring in Ziggy Ansah and Dion Jordan as depth pieces (I much prefer Ansah). But even as it is, the team is brimming with talent help moreso by Chris Korucek who has established himself as one of the leagues premier postion coaches and Robert Saleh who is growing into becoming one of the leagues best defensive coordinators.
Unit Grade: A
Dion Jordan - If signed. Dion Jordan can be a 3rd down pass rush specialist, spelling Dee Ford. Drugs have derailed an otherwise promising career but perhaps he can shine amongst all that elite talent on the line.
Skills:C
Performance: C-
Potential: D-
Overall: C-
Defensive Linemen
Nick Bosa - Just one sack short of a 10 sack regular season, Nick Bosa proved himself as he was one of the most disruptive tackles in the NFL. Even when he is not accosting QBs his speed off the line of scrimmage is lightning fast causing him to always be accounted for in every game plan. Nick is an elite pass pusher and only has room to get even better from there. On top that he is good as run support as well due to his length and athleticism. If there thing he can improve on, it's finishing when he closes in on the QB but I think that will improve with experience as I think he left a few sacks on the table. Eiither way he has proven he was worthy of the #2 pick last year and is probably the best overall player in that draft class.
Skills: A
Performance: A
Potential: A
Overall: A
Arik Armstead - 2015 Draft pick has been a somewhat contentious subject for 49er fans on this board and others. After dealing with injuries the entire time he has been with the organization, he finally put together a healthy year and with it led the team in sacks with 10. As such he got an 85 million dollar extension for the next 5 years and while some balk at keeping him and trading away DeForest Buckner for the #14 pick, I understood the rationale. Armstead loves the team, is a team ambassador, puts in a lot of charity work in the bay area and was willing to take a hometown discount to stay on the team. DeForest wanted well over 100 million dollars and for as good as he is, that's Aaron Donald money and and Buck is no Donald as much as I like him. Health is going to be the name of the game for Armstead, when healthy and along this elite pass rush, he should be just about at productive as we was last year. At 6'7 he is long enough to grab opposing QBs and runningbacks out of the backfield which he was already very good at. I think if his snaps are managed as well as his health, it should be another very productive year for the young Mr. Armstead.
Skills: B+
Performance: A
Potential: A-
Overall: A-
Dee Ford - Acquired from Kansas City, Dee Ford was injured for a lot of the season and still managed 6.5 sacks. Because of the way his contract is structured, it is something of a make or break year for Dee Ford. He needs to prove he can stay healthy to justify his enormous contract or my guess is that he will be most likely asked to restructure. When healthy he is an elite pass rusher even though he's not much against the run, which is fine, we have other guys for that. But for someone making around 17 million this season the expectation are going to be much higher.
Skills: B+
Performance: B-
Potential: C+
Overall: B
Javon Kinlaw - 2020 1st round draft pick. Many scouts consider him to be the best defensive lineman in this previous draft. A lot like Buckner, Kinlaw is one one of those guys where he does more than what the stats show. He is disruptive in the pass and run, he is excellent at collapsing the pocket and causing interior pressure, not only pressuring QBs but forcing hurried passes and some sacks. At 6'5 315 lbs, he carries very little 'bad' weight and is equally built from top to bottom. As a follower of SC football he is a compact space eater and pass rusher, though there are times his considerable strength does always show up because he is occasionally stalled by offensive lineman who out leverage him but that is a correctable technique issue. I don't know if he'll ultimately br as good as DeForest Buckner but he has all the tools to be part of the flesh eating disease which is out defensive line for the next 10 years. Something like a Richard Seymour type player.
Skills: B+
Performance: B+
Potential: A-
Overall B+
Ronald Blair III - One of the last of the Trent Baalke picks still on the team, Blair has established himself as a very good rotational defensive lineman. Not only has he made key plays in 3rd and 4th down but he is an ideal goal line tackle capable of making plays in the pile. He'd be a starter on a few teams so it's quite the good fortune we have retained his services. He's an important piece of the and will continue to be as long as he's in scarlet and gold.
Skills: C+
Performance: B-
Potential: C
Overall: C+
DJ Jones - Essentially the teams 'nose' tackle. While not much of a pass rusher. DJ Jones is a classic space eater. He is very effective in finding the seams in a blocking scheme and stopping would be runners from making plays inside. This is crucial because it allows other players to play 3 or 5 techs in their natural positions as opposed to putting the other players at risk of getting washed out. DJ Jones will likely get a deal once his contract is up, as a 6th round pick, he wouldn't cost too much and would like to stay on a top 3 team in the NFL.
Skills: B-
Performance: C+
Potential: C
Overall: C+
Solomon Thomas - Former #3 Overall draft pick. Considered by many to be a bust. While I won't go that far it was clear he was overdrafted and even then I didn't see him as anything more than a mid-late 1st round value. As such he has been an solid if unremarkable player. He is due for breakout but some wonder if that will even happen. He's been a solid hole plugger but you can find guys like that in the 3rd round or later. Perhaps he can arise as part of the ensemble of pass rushers this upcoming season otherwise it may be best to let his rookie deal play out and let him walk if he's not willing to take a cheap deal.
Skills: C+
Performance: C-
Potential: B-
Overall: C
Julian Taylor - 2018 7th Round pick. Taylor was looking very promising before tearing his ACL. As of now Taylor is on the PUP list meaning he probably isn't all the way recovered. Which is fine the D-Line has the depth to let him heal and get back to at least taking some special teams snaps.
Skills: D+
Performance: D
Potential: C
Overall: D+
Kerry Hyder - 2014 UDFA. Kerry Hyder is an NFL veteran that has made a nice career for himself. Albeit a little undersized to be an inside player in Saleh's modified 4-3, he can probably sub in as a rotational end to spell some of the star players. He can also play special teams and act as a Leo in sub packages. He's not a lights out player but he's experienced.
Skills: C-
Performance: C
Potential: D
Overall: C-
Darrion Danniels - Sneaky UDFA Pick. At 6'3 310lbs, you would think nose tackle, but a lot like DJ Jones, he is a better athlete than his frame would suggest. He fits a very specific need and that's if DJ Jones gets hurt. He is a non factor as a passrusher but we don't need him for that. So long as he doesn't get hurt, he'll likely make the roster.
Skills: D
Performance: D
Potential: C-
Overall D+
Kevin Givens - Penn State has a knack for making decent to very good NFL defenders who may be missing something on the physical front (see Navorro Bowman). As another school adjacent to my almamater, I follow them. Kevin lines up everywhere on the defensive line and he holds his gap responsibilities reasonably well. If he weren't a little undersized he'd be an easy 3rd or 4th round pick but as such he flew under the radar. He is a stash and dash player but one with the potential to fill in should there be a departure or injury.
Skills: D+
Performance: D
Potential: C-
Overall: D+
Kentavious Street - Another cautionary tale of why you don't 'pick and stash'. Street looks amazing in the weight room but has not even made it out of training camp healthy. I got nervous when he was picked over Josh Sweat or even Bilal Nichols, and there is a chance he may still emerge as at least a solid rotational and he is still young at only 24 years old but history is working against him.
Grade: INC
Unit Analysis:
This is a Super Bowl level unit. Elite pass rushers as a whole and almost as good stopping the run. This is a unit made up up highly paid/high pedigree players for the most part and more 2st rounders invested than just about anywhere in the NFL. We have the depth to absorb a couple of injuries. it's a smart move to potentially bring in Ziggy Ansah and Dion Jordan as depth pieces (I much prefer Ansah). But even as it is, the team is brimming with talent help moreso by Chris Korucek who has established himself as one of the leagues premier postion coaches and Robert Saleh who is growing into becoming one of the leagues best defensive coordinators.
Unit Grade: A
Dion Jordan - If signed. Dion Jordan can be a 3rd down pass rush specialist, spelling Dee Ford. Drugs have derailed an otherwise promising career but perhaps he can shine amongst all that elite talent on the line.
Skills:C
Performance: C-
Potential: D-
Overall: C-
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