Offseason Position Primers: Defensive Line

by DCSportsFan28 on Feb 16, 2012 11:03 PM EST

Ok, I've done this once already with the Offensive Line, which is a long, but informative read. This one should be a little more simple as we have a lot of players under contract for the 2012 season. Lets take a look at our depth heading into the offseason:

DE - S. Bowen/A. Carriker (FA)/J. Jenkins/K. Golston (FA): Kentawn Balmer and Darrion Scott are also on the depth chart, but I don't really consider them significant. They may be back in camp to compete for a spot. They may not. They key decisions to be made are on Carriker and Golston. I am very inclined to bring both of these guys back, simply because they have been good solid Redskins. They have consistently performed their jobs on Sundays and on the practice field and should be rewarded by Dan Snyder. We paid for it in the past not resigning core guys like Antonio Pierce and Ryan Clark and we need to start rewarding our own players. Besides, they play a position that is heavily rotated and will be on the lower rungs of the depth chart anyway. Carriker may be a little costly, but I don't think too much more than we are willing to pay. He's obviously not going to be at a cap killing number. Pay the man. Bring those guys back and we are set at the position.

NT - Cofield/Nield: Good, but thin. Love the way Cofield played from Day 1. But he could definitely be rotated from NT to DE and everyone knows it. We suffered against the run last year because we didn't have a true plug in the middle of the line. Nield is a nice prospects who projects out to fill a Cofield-type mold himself, with an aggressive, attacking style. He was even very good at times in his rookie season. That being said, I think that we will definitely look to bring in a different style of NT this year so that we can use more effective sub packages against the run. Lets look at the top available players:

FA- Sione Pouha (NYJ), Paul Soliai (MIA), Brodrick Bunkley (DEN)
Draft- Dontari Poe (MEM), Alameda Ta'amu (WASH), Nick Jean-Baptiste (BAY)

Wow. I would be more than happy to land any one of these guys. The market is such that if we do not get one of these guys or a similar guy that Shanahan and Allen have on their radar, it would be a failure. For a reasonable contract a big run stuffer like the above should be a no brainer for the Skins. Poe and Ta'amu are probably first and second round picks, which I have project us using on OT and QB, I would rule them out. Pouha is the oldest of the bunch at 33, so I also rule him out. I've read some promising things about Jean-Baptiste and maybe we could use a 3rd or 4th on him or somehow trade around to get him in that range. He sounds like a bull, and lining him up with Jarvis Jenkins for years to come could cause havoc at the line of scrimmage. I also like Soliai and Bunkley alot. They both fit the mold of what we need in pure run stuffer, rotational run sub nose tackles. I'll take any of the 3, but I'll pencil in Soliai, just because he makes the most sense. He is leaving the Dolphins as they switch to a 4-3 and we will likely over pay a little bit, but won't get crushed on the cap number. The move allows us to save a roster spot with the luxury of rotating Barry Cofield to DE, so you have to like the shrewd roster management as well.

Projected 2012 DL:

DE: Bowen/Carriker/Jenkins/Cofield/Golston
NT: Cofield/Soliai/Nield

Solid. Flexibility to dominate against the run and the pass at the point of attack. I think Haslett's expectation would be that Jenkins and Cofield would be the two every down guys on the line and Carriker, Soliai and Bowen are the main rotational/situational guys. Only one addition which shouldn't impact chemistry to much and the cap allocation is not at all unreasonable for this unit.

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I would love to see us get a real plugger at NT

and move Cofield around to maximize his talents. I think our DL would become a top 10 unit if we did this and well worth the effort/cost.

by aFan4Life on Feb 17, 2012 9:14 AM EST reply actions

Lol Fan4Life I was about to comment the same thing!

Great minds think alike… I would love for us to pick up Alameda Ta’amu from Washington. We need more pressure upfront. With Jarvis Jenkins hopefully healthy and in Beast mode that would be scary. Not pick him up at #6 but at possibly 2nd round and focus on picking up a FA OL to make up for it. We must pick up dominant players who can contribute right away not just pick them up cuz we need them.

by skinsdag on Feb 17, 2012 9:34 AM EST reply actions

from what I've read about Alameda Ta’amu he sounds like a good pickup

by aFan4Life on Feb 17, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

Might be tempted to let Carriker walk, have Cofield pick up some reps at DE, and bring in a true NT. If Chapman falls in the draft because of his injury, I would love to pick him up in the 5th round (I think Steve S mocked this). I also Like Jean-Baptiste’s size, but cant say I know a ton about him as a player.

When I was a kid, my father told me, "Never hit anyone in anger, unless you're absolutely sure you can get away with it." -Russell Ziskey

by Redskin44 on Feb 17, 2012 10:29 AM EST reply actions

Carriker

Depends on the money he asks for. If he asks for Bowen type money, he can go try to get it elsewhere. From what Haslett has been saying he seems to like Cofield at NT so although we do some a little under-sized, I’d be quite surprised if we see any big moves at DL. Soliai would be a top signing but he would be a bit of a luxury signing IMO considering our DL play wasn’t a big problem in 2011

by JD For Breakfast on Feb 17, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

I dont think we will see much movement on the DL as well. Only major change I would expect is a replacement if Carriker leaves. I think bringing back Golston is a good thing as well. He played well last year and I think he is buddies with Fletcher.

When I was a kid, my father told me, "Never hit anyone in anger, unless you're absolutely sure you can get away with it." -Russell Ziskey

by Redskin44 on Feb 17, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Our DL wasn't that good at run defense

so while it’s not a huge area of concern, it is far from being set.

by aFan4Life on Feb 17, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Yes and no.

I think poor play at the safety postion, Cofield and Kerrigan learning a new postions, and Riley still learning contributed to that as well.

When I was a kid, my father told me, "Never hit anyone in anger, unless you're absolutely sure you can get away with it." -Russell Ziskey

by Redskin44 on Feb 17, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Honestly I don’t know much either, I’ve just read some things about the senior bowl and scouting. But they described him as a “bowling bowl” and seemed to be very effective getting penetration. He may not end up being NFL material, but he is definitely an intriguing player to target in the late rounds. IMO, at least.

by DCSportsFan28 on Feb 17, 2012 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

I have already expressed my hopes...

for months now, for in improvement @ NT. I enjoyed and appreciated Coefields efforts, but we need more beef (“Where’s the Beef” plug) at the point of attack.

I have promoted Soliai as well, so we will see if my thinking matches the FO.

by jgibbsfan1 on Feb 17, 2012 6:03 PM EST reply actions

Cofield is the man....

I don’t think my article diminishes Cofield’s ability to play the NT. In fact I think I even cited him as the best player on the DL going into 2012. We are not really demoting Cofield if Soliai is brought in. Cofield will still be the starting NT and will definitely be the closest thing on the line to any every down player. Soliai gives us a great role player that we lack right now.

by DCSportsFan28 on Feb 17, 2012 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Or Ta’amu. Which ever player in that mold is brought it….

by DCSportsFan28 on Feb 17, 2012 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

The 3 men up in the front typically are the run stoppers that keep the OL off of the linebackers -

http://walterfootball.com/draft2012DE3-4.php. In at least one of his post, UkSkins schematically pointed out the defensive line problem against the run. Cut back runs that are delayed seems to be a weakness against some teams. The line gaps in the 3/4 are on the wide side. It is somewhat of a scheme problem. The defensive linemen are usually faster than the OL, but this is not 100% true. It would be good to have NT that can handle 2 gaps. The 2011 Skins DL were not particularly known for 2 gap. Walters Football does not have many players listed as true NTs (http://walterfootball.com/draft2013NT.php). (note the number asterisk). The lighter weight DT/DE (typical of 4/3 DE) are not what Haslett is looking for and is a point missed by a number of people doing mock drafts.

by Jefferson1935 on Feb 17, 2012 7:42 PM EST reply actions