Projected 25
Here's how I think things will pan out with the defense when it comes to the final 53-man roster:
POS |
Starter |
2nd |
3rd |
Total |
RDE |
91 R. Ayers |
90 S. Phillips |
69 Q. Smith |
--- |
DT |
99 K. Vickerson |
92 S. Williams |
96 M. Unrein |
--- |
DT |
94 T. Knighton |
92 S. Williams |
96 M. Unrein |
4 |
LDE |
95 D. Wolfe |
97 M. Jackson |
--- |
5 |
SLB |
56 N. Irving |
47 L. McCray |
--- |
--- |
MLB |
52 W. Woodyard |
55 S. Bradley |
--- |
--- |
WLB |
59 D. Trevathan |
43 P. Lenon OR 53 Steven Johnson |
--- |
6 |
CB 1 |
24 C. Bailey |
32 T. Carter |
31 O. Bolden |
--- |
CB 2 |
45 DRC |
25 C. Harris |
36 K. Webster |
--- |
CB 3 |
25 C. Harris |
--- |
--- |
6 |
S |
26 R. Moore |
30 D. Bruton |
--- |
--- |
S |
33 D. Ihenacho |
20 Mike Adams |
--- |
4 |
Here's the Breakdown:
Four (4) Defensive Tackles: Knighton, Vickerson, Williams, Unrein
Five (5) Defense Ends: Wolfe, Jackson, Ayers, Phillips, Smith
*Six (6) Linebackers: Woodyard, Trevathan, Irving, Bradley, McCray, Either Johnson OR Lenon
Six (6) Cornerbacks: Champ, DRC, Harris, T. Carter, Bolden, Webster
Four (4) Safeties: Moore, Ihenacho, Bruton, Adams
*Von Miller will be on the Reserve/Suspended List which does not count against the final 53 man roster
Tough (or not-so tough) Cuts
Quentin Jammer has never looked comfortable in his transition to safety. He's played terribly all preseason and should be cut. Quinton Carter. This guy has been a ghost. I can understand when people say "he won't be cut" but who exactly gets the axe over him? Mike Adams may not be spectacular but he's also the only vet really in that safety group. I'd rather have a guy like him than the unknown of Carter and his injuries. If you keep 5 safeties, who do you cut from the corners? Webster and Bolden stick. Do you cut Tony Carter? Remember he may very well be a week 1 starter with Champ Bailey still in a walking boot:
.@cgriego1523 Champ Bailey ditched his crutches today. Still in a walking boot. Hopes to ready for season opener versus Ravens.
— Troy Miller (@TheTroyMiller) August 22, 2013
If Champ is healthy enough to play, you might make a case for keeping Q ahead of Tony, but I just don't see enough there especially with the emergence of Duke Ihenacho. Anyway, feel free to debate this point amongst yourselves.
Other thoughts
Shaun Phillips can be played at LB, though I list him as a DE because that is where he's played all preseason. With Von gone and Doom in Baltimore, it might not be a bad idea to keep 5 here especially since the three from that right side will give you most of your rush capabilities.
Potential Starting Line-Up against Baltimore:
Base Defense (3 linebackers)
RDE Robert Ayers, DT Kevin Vickerson, DT Sylvester Williams, LDE Derek Wolfe
WLB Danny Trevathan, MLB Wesley Woodyard, SLB Nate Irving
CB1 Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie, CB2 Chris Harris Jr.
S1 Rahim Moore, S2 Duke Ihenacho
Nickel Package
RDE Shaun Phillips, DT Sylvester Williams/Derek Wolfe, DT Robert Ayers, LDE Quanterus Smith?
LB1 Wesley Woodyard, LB2 Danny Trevathan
CB1 DRC, CB2 T. Carter, CB3 Chris Harris Jr.
S1 Rahim Moore, S2 Duke Ihenacho
The Million Dollar Question ???
Who replaces Von Miller as the other rush end in nickel situations? I put the rookie here, but could be any number of folks including someone like Larentee McCray who I think makes the roster now because of the Miller suspension. Hell, why not try Nate Irving some in these situations? We will probably know more come preseason game 3, but until then your guess is as good as mine.
One positive I see is that with the versatility in the front 7, I see a scenario where we just have to shuffle folks to change from a base 4-3 look to one of our sub packages--little or no substitutions.
Something else to consider, me might see even more of that 3-LB base defense given that we now have two of our best cover LB's on the field at the same time in that package with Trevathan and Woodyard. That base doesn't have to necessarily be vulnerable against the pass.
What do you think MHR?