Benton yet another tweener?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Jordan Davis, who is exactly the type of player that most in this thread are talking about with the NT argument, played 14 defensive snaps in the Super Bowl... He played less than 25% of their defensive snaps throughout the playoffs.

Three other DTs got more snaps in the Super Bowl. Carter, obviously, who is a freak. Then Milton Williams and Moro Ojomo who both go about 290 lbs.

Do you need good players, yes, of course. Do you need the next Joel Steed or Casey Hampton? No...

ETA

Also, to be clear, that 40% was more like 30% this past year.

[url]https://steelersdepot.com/2025/01/2024-pittsburgh-steelers-defensive-charting-final-results-key-takeaways/[/url]

(I guess you can copy and paste that link since this site just doesn't freaking work...)

I disagree with the theory of eliminating a "2 down" player from the first round. If that player is going to be key in having your third down D facing 3rd and 8 instead of 3rd and 3 on a regular basis, that is a valuable player.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Does it matter? They were dominant while the "traditional NT" that people are clamoring for sat on the sideline for most of the game...

You realize Jalen Carter also profiled as NT... did they sit both of 'em? Weak argument. It absolutely matters if other guys were value above them.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Is he a traditional NT at 6’6”? Carter is 6’3”, 316 and rarely comes off the field.

Nobody’s saying that we need a “traditional NT” that can only plug up the run, at least I’m not. We need a guy who can do that and more.

I’m afraid the Steelers will pass on a Jalen Carter type because he’s not their prototype physically.

I didn't look ahead and see that you used the same guy. And right, 6'6" is NOT traditional at NT. 6'3" is better. Just like the o-line, length is less of a requirement in the middle. IIRC, Hargrave was a squatty 6'2". Casey Hampton was around the same.

I think they problem (not just here, but in the world) is that people project what they think you think and don't actually seek to understand.

I want a guy who can dominate a center and therefore requires a double team. I want a guy who has strong legs and could have a chance to stuff QB sneaks. That simply means strength and leverage. If you can rush the QB, that's an added bonus, but I'd rather you simply push the C back to the QB and shrink the pocket.

The problem is that there are too many fat guys who aren't strong (especially in the lower half), but weigh 3-fiddy. No interest in those guys. Deone Walker, for example is tall, 345 and has chicken legs - bad formula for leverage.

If you're 6'5", you gotta have thick legs to have give you better leverage - Alfred Collins on day 2 is a good example of a taller guy with thicker legs. I'd take him in a heartbeat.

[hackjam]

Is he a traditional NT at 6’6”? Carter is 6’3”, 316 and rarely comes off the field.

Nobody’s saying that we need a “traditional NT” that can only plug up the run, at least I’m not. We need a guy who can do that and more.

I’m afraid the Steelers will pass on a Jalen Carter type because he’s not their prototype physically.

You're not saying that but others definitely are. Every time a DT who's 325+ comes out, people start getting all hot and bothered. Louis Nix, Danny Shelton, Mazi Smith, etc.

Your stance is pretty much the same as mine. I guess they did take Hargrave, who wasn't a prototypical NT way back when so maybe there's something there.

[hackjam]

You realize Jalen Carter also profiled as NT... did they sit both of 'em? Weak argument. It absolutely matters if other guys were value above them.

PFF graded him at 59 in run defense and he has more sacks in 2 years than Hampton did in 12. But sure, I have the weak argument.

If your argument is that we need dominant defensive linemen, I'm 100% with you. There is a segment of the fan base that gets all tingly inside about guys like Louis Nix III and Mazi Smith because of their combine weigh ins and that is what I am responding to... Speaking of not seeking to understand.

[NorthCoast]

Combine bench reps of a few IDL... strong like ox:

V. Wilfork = 36
A. Donald = 35
C. Hampton = 34
E. Hood = 34
J. Jefferson = 34
N. Suh = 32
K. Benton = 25 (34%tile)

NFL DL Combine avg = 27 reps

(J. Davis didn't do the bench at the combine)

[SteelerOfDeVille]

You're not saying that but others definitely are. Every time a DT who's 325+ comes out, people start getting all hot and bothered. Louis Nix, Danny Shelton, Mazi Smith, etc.

Your stance is pretty much the same as mine. I guess they did take Hargrave, who wasn't a prototypical NT way back when so maybe there's something there.

I guess people just like to hear themselves talk and not actually understand the other side of the discussion. *shrug*

Cuz my post before this addressed all of your claims here and made all of this post irrelevant.