Some quick thoughts: Chase Winovich is the best player on that defense. Joshua Uche needs to move to DE. Put about 15 lbs on him and that's a future draft NFL draft pick at DE. He is explosive. Ditto Kwitty Paye. Both of these guys need more reps. Aidan Hutchinson needs more playing time as well. Rashan Gary needs to move inside. They need to get those 3 young guys more reps at DE. All 3 have been getting more pressure on the QB than Gary. I know Gary is battling through an injury, so maybe it's time to sit him for a couple weeks and let him heal.
I think that undervalues Gary's game and production. He reminds me of Will Ghoston. With the main goal of being elite at holding the edge versus the run.
Teams almost always run away from him. That means they are deliberately choosing to run at Winovich instead (somewhat accentuating Winovich's TFLs). Think about that and watch again. It's true. And on its own says a lot of somethin about somethin for what Gary is accomplishing despite some fans' hand wringing.
No doubt Gary's pass rush isn't as rampant as Winovich's. But Winovich is one of the nation's top few in that regard. And when Gary actually uses his speed-to-power, it's reminiscent of (or better than) Chris Wormley. These are all compliments.
Counting stats aren't everything in football.
On the other hand, I would like to see Gary work on adding more hand moves to his repertoire.
When he's healed up...move him inside to DT. That's the weak spot of that DL right now. DE is the strength. They've got 4 DE's who are flashing at a high level right now in Winovich, Paye, Hutchinson, and Uche. Move him inside, let him wreck shit inside, shore up that middle and get the other DE's more reps.
Depending on whether he can make that transition midseason (without an offseason of prep), I agree and would like to see this too. But not because Gary's been a disappointment to me. Just because the depth outside is really blossoming now, and the inside, though improving, could afford an extra bullet in the chamber. Not on every down. Just on passing downs.
Other defensive thoughts: Josh Ross needs to be starting at LB'er over Devin Gil.
He already has a starter's snap numbers. The ratio has gone from 50-50 to 66-33 and is only further incrementing toward Ross.
David Long and LaVert Hill are having slumps. They were a lot better last year. If they were thinking of leaving early for NFL- they might want to think again.
Painfully true. I'm not sure what's with them. The surrounding defense isn't putting more strain on them. They are suddenly less sticky than they were. Granted, near perfection is hard to follow up, but they've been consistently less than they were. To be clear, we're talking about two A++ guys become A- guys. But still.
On the other hand, what a luxury, to have a defense where the disappointments are like that.
Brandon Watson has been the best CB by far this year.
Amazing, isn't it? All hail Zordich.
Oh and Josh Mettelus needs to be benched for Brad Hawkins. Immediately. Hawkins is just a better athlete and football player.
You say this a lot. Hawkins has a bright future, but you're really underrating Metellus (as if calling a B+/A- guy a C). At safety, the concern isn't Metellus anyway. It's Kinnel. His tackling is the most inconsistent on the team.
Offense is just a mess. Don't even know where to begin. Shea Patterson saved the day. He is ridiculously good. This would be the same team as last year without him. Sean McKeon continues to be horrible. Nick Eubanks needs to play over him. Period. Zach Gentry is awesome. They need to get the WR's more involved. Where are the fades or jump balls to their big WR's like Nico Collins and DPJ? Offense just sucks period.
Lots to improve but they have the time and film to do it. This week, I thought the issue was largely a matter of scheme. BAB may jump in and say that's a common fan bugaboo/fallacy, and I'm open to that, but the drive ending with Higdon's first TD hailed an entirely different offensive strategy and it worked immediately.
On the other hand, the OL is definitely getting better each week. I think Warriner could really be the guy and may already be seeing gains. Needs to keep proving itself, but if true, the past is not the future and the playcalling will naturally change, so I vote to relax here too.