2017 Front Seven Projections

[bugeater17]

Nose Tackle

1) Carlos Davis

2) Khalil Davis

3) Damion Daniels or Watts

Left D-Tackle

1) M. Stoltenberg

2) Khalil Davis

3) Peyton Newell

Right D-Tackle

1) Freedom Akinmoladun

2) Daishon Neal

3) Ben Stille

WLB

1) Collin Miller

2) Sedrick King

3) Quayshon Alexander

SLB

1) Marcus Newby

2) Tyrin Ferguson

3) Avery Roberts

Strong Side MLB

1) Chris Weber

2) Tryin Ferguson

3) Greg Simmons

4) Luke Gifford

Weak Side MLB

1) Dedrick Young

2) Mo Berry

3) Luke Gifford

 

[Lyons in the Sea of Red.]

What's daishon Neal at these days? I could see this change in system being a good thing for him.

 

[RedDenver]

Here's a list of the weights of the starters of every 3-4 NFL team in 2014: http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2014/3/17/5509510/nfl-34-defenses-atlanta-falcons-mike-nolan

Note that the NT's range from 297-350 lbs and the DE's 285-337.

If the NFL can have a 297 lb 3-4 NT, then we should be able to get by with 280-290.

 

[BigRedBuster]

To be fair, isn't that 297lb nose tackle Glenn Dorsey? That's a pretty special player to be able to do that.

 

[RedDenver]

To be fair, isn't that 297lb nose tackle Glenn Dorsey? That's a pretty special player to be able to do that.

Could be, I didn't look at the names, but most NFL players are going to be pretty special in one way or another.

 

[GBRFAN]

Tough to use NFL as a guide - all those guys are special and we are not sending a half dozen players to the league per year (currently). Only teams I can think of that use 3-4 (not named Alabama) are Wisconsin and Stanford. The projected starters are both 6 ft 4 inches and in the 285-290 range - doesn't seem very big. Any other teams that I'm missing? by the way, one of those two referenced players grew up in Nebraska.

 

[Mavric]

What's daishon Neal at these days? I could see this change in system being a good thing for him.

He'd be at the top of my list for guys who are the odd man out. He's very tall for an interior lineman. And I'm not sure he's quick enough to play LB. I would think he'd have to play the run-oriented OLB (can't remember if that's Cat or Dog) but .....

 

[HuskermanMike]

What's daishon Neal at these days? I could see this change in system being a good thing for him.

He'd be at the top of my list for guys who are the odd man out. He's very tall for an interior lineman. And I'm not sure he's quick enough to play LB. I would think he'd have to play the run-oriented OLB (can't remember if that's Cat or Dog) but .....

I believe he would play the Cat. They need to be good pass rushers and good at stopping the run. They can also put a hand down and line up in a 4-3 on some occasions, apparently Diaco did this at ND.

 

[LumberJackSker]

What's daishon Neal at these days? I could see this change in system being a good thing for him.

He'd be at the top of my list for guys who are the odd man out. He's very tall for an interior lineman. And I'm not sure he's quick enough to play LB. I would think he'd have to play the run-oriented OLB (can't remember if that's Cat or Dog) but .....

Calais Campbell is 6-8 and does just fine playing DE in a 3-4. Campbell is a very talented player but just because you're tall doesn't rule him out.

 

[Red Five]

Tough to use NFL as a guide - all those guys are special and we are not sending a half dozen players to the league per year (currently). Only teams I can think of that use 3-4 (not named Alabama) are Wisconsin and Stanford. The projected starters are both 6 ft 4 inches and in the 285-290 range - doesn't seem very big. Any other teams that I'm missing? by the way, one of those two referenced players grew up in Nebraska.

Even Bama's NTs aren't "huge" (in the Wilfork sense), 6'2" 320 and 6'4" 315.

Also, I think that Wisky's starting NT got hurt during the year and missed some time (Sagapolu). He is a big boy, 6'2" 340.