Mclendon @ DE ?

[supersteeler]

I think its worth a try to see if could make the switch. He has a high motor like Keisel and could possibly do well there instead of NT. We have fangupo and Ta'Amu to compete for NT unless Moo can't get his legal matters squared away.
I've seen enough of Hood, he's been here four years and I haven't seen the production a #1 PICK should have, maybe a visit to the bench and it will register he has to do more to be a starter.

[lloydroid]

I am in favor of giving Mc a try at DE. I feel he deserves to be on the field more, one way or another.

[Shoe]

No offense intended but... I would find it very hard to believe that, if McLendon can play DE well enough to be a starter in this league, the coaching staff hasn't already thought about this very scenario. We (as fans) aren't going to come up with a light bulb moment of (the coaches all of a sudden saying), "Hey, why don't we play McLendon at End?"

[Oviedo]

The problem isn't McLendon. The problem is that we have a Def Coord or overemphasizes stopping the run in a passing league. Stopping the run is a lot less importnat in the NFL than it was just 10 years ago. That is the source of my frustration with the DL. We have them controlling and "occupying Blockers" versus attacking the person with the ball. I would be last in the league in run defense but first in sacks and INTs in a heartbeat and I bet we would have a much better defense than we had this year from making a real impact in the game.

[BigRob]

No offense intended but... I would find it very hard to believe that, if McLendon can play DE well enough to be a starter in this league, the coaching staff hasn't already thought about this very scenario. We (as fans) aren't going to come up with a light bulb moment of (the coaches all of a sudden saying), "Hey, why don't we play McLendon at End?"

The problem was NT. We had Hampton coming off of surgery and Ta'amu didn't pan out his rookie year. Mclendon had to be the back-up nose tackle.

We also had Keisel.

We now have Fangupo, Ta'amu, and Mclendon.

We know Hampton is gone. Wexell pointed out the fact the coaches think Mclendon can play DE in the 3-4 and move to NT on passing downs.

I could see us drafting Jesse Williams from Alabama with pick 17. I think they will then let Fangupo and Ta'amu fight it out in training camp to be the back-up nose tackle in that scenario.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

With the lack of LB depth and depth on the DL we do have, if Tomlin ever planned to switch to the 4-3 Tampa 2 which he was known for....the time is now.

[lloydroid]

No offense intended but... I would find it very hard to believe that, if McLendon can play DE well enough to be a starter in this league, the coaching staff hasn't already thought about this very scenario. We (as fans) aren't going to come up with a light bulb moment of (the coaches all of a sudden saying), "Hey, why don't we play McLendon at End?"

You think NFL coaches are automatically superior in all ideas of football? You are mistaken. They allow their egos to be involved, and many of them are not even that intelligent. I have met with some of these coaches. I had a coach tell me that running backs can be taught to have running instincts; this coming from a coach who was paid by the NFL and he actually believed that. How moronic. Oh, but he carried his Bible every where, so he must know all.

[lloydroid]

I would be last in the league in run defense but first in sacks and INTs in a heartbeat and I bet we would have a much better defense than we had this year from making a real impact in the game.

I wouldn't go that far. If you are last in rushing D, you can't win. If teams can get first down after first down by rushing the ball, you will have one lousy team. The Saints, Bills and Jags were the 3 worst rushing Ds in the NFL, and all of them had a real hard time winning games, including the Saints, who have an uber high powered offense.

[RuthlessBurgher]

No offense intended but... I would find it very hard to believe that, if McLendon can play DE well enough to be a starter in this league, the coaching staff hasn't already thought about this very scenario. We (as fans) aren't going to come up with a light bulb moment of (the coaches all of a sudden saying), "Hey, why don't we play McLendon at End?"

How many years did we see endless "Move Colon to guard" threads on here before the team actually went ahead and made the move?

[lloydroid]

How many years did we see endless "Move Colon to guard" threads on here before the team actually went ahead and made the move?

Exactly. How many years did we scream that Kordell sucked as QB and we needed to move on? How long did they dilly dally with that position, finally HAVING to admit he was FAIL so many years later?

[Oviedo]

With the lack of LB depth and depth on the DL we do have, if Tomlin ever planned to switch to the 4-3 Tampa 2 which he was known for....the time is now.

Preaching to the choir brother Imagine the cap space we could potentially clear. Imo this is where Art II has potentially become too meddlesome in trying to define what this team is and does. I really doubt Tomlin has ever had the freedom to switch to the defense he really wants because of Lebeau's presence. That is why LeBeau should go so Tomlin can either make a change to the 4-3 or stay with the 3-4 because it is what he wants as head coach.

[Crash]

McClendon supposedly gets trucked a lot in run defense.

OK, so when it's 3rd and 10? Get Hampton off the field and let him be a pass rusher.

Same for Worilds. Put him at rush end and get titty dancing Ziggy off the field.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

McClendon supposedly gets trucked a lot in run defense.

OK, so when it's 3rd and 10? Get Hampton off the field and let him be a pass rusher.

Same for Worilds. Put him at rush end and get titty dancing Ziggy off the field.

its not so much McClendon gets trucked, but more that he isn't gap sound while busting by centers and guards.

[phillyesq]

With the lack of LB depth and depth on the DL we do have, if Tomlin ever planned to switch to the 4-3 Tampa 2 which he was known for....the time is now.

Depth on the DL? I'm sorry, but I don't see it.

McClendon generates some pass rush, but he has problems holding up against the run. Ziggy Hood gets no push and the verdict is still out on Heyward. Fangupo was waived by two other teams and Ta'amu was waived and went unclaimed. Why build a defense that features these guys?

Plus, even if you plug Woodley and Worilds in at one DE spot (and given their injuries, that is all you can count on), you need more defensive ends, better DTs and a more linebackers.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Depth on the DL? I'm sorry, but I don't see it.

McClendon generates some pass rush, but he has problems holding up against the run. Ziggy Hood gets no push and the verdict is still out on Heyward. Fangupo was waived by two other teams and Ta'amu was waived and went unclaimed. Why build a defense that features these guys?

Plus, even if you plug Woodley and Worilds in at one DE spot (and given their injuries, that is all you can count on), you need more defensive ends, better DTs and a more linebackers.

Do you think, just possibly, our two first round DL would play a little differently in the 4-3? Ta'amu went unclaimed due to legal issues. Keisel can play DE for a season or two and may kick butt considering he is one of the best athletes over 250lbs on the team.