LB: Dying Breed

[feltdizz]

For some QBs it's a nice to have. For others it's a must have.

I would like to see that list of QB’s where its nice to have but not
a must. I don’t think that list is more than 3 or 4 QB’s.

Some legends at QB over the years who couldn’t get over the hump until they got running games.

[Blitzer]

Do you mean as far as stat crunching and data? I seriously doubt teams are making moved based on Fantasy Football.

I think it?s cyclical. Every 5 to 7 years the game tips in a different directions.

In the 2000?s it was a rushing league
and bully Defenses.

We basically changed the game with JH, Clark and Troy P. They changed all types of rules. Brady?s leg also helped protect QB?s.

2010 to 2022 it was a passing league.

I think now we are entering another phase of bully ball. Philly came real close to winning a SB with that physical game plan.

With teams getting lighter on D, now more teams are going to run the football. Plus, its the Mahomes effect. You can?t beat him in a shootout. Best thing you can do is keep the ball out of his hands.

I don't think teams care about fantasy football. I don't think they play plays for fantasy.

But I do think the league it self has changed rules to make it more of an offensive game. Which helped fantasy football to become more popular than ever. I think the league wants fantasy football to be more popular because it introduces new fans to the NFL

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Per nfl radio

Defenses are evolving into players that can either rush the passer or defend the pass. With no in between.


can we pin this topic around draft time so the people calling for a 2 down run stuffing NT will realize this.

They just got their run-stuffing NT in Benton, so I think you just confused half the board...

[SteelerOfDeVille]

If this is true, then I think building a hard running offense will start to pay off because teams won't be able to defend against it.

I've said the same here. Teams now average close to 5ypc. I have a feeling, the Steelers are going to sway the pendulum back a little

[NorthCoast]

If this is true, then I think building a hard running offense will start to pay off because teams won't be able to defend against it.

I don't know if that will work in the playoffs (although we did beat Manning with early-career Ben in the playoffs), but it will likely be more competitive than it has been.

And maybe even more so in the AFC since every team is probably trying to design their defense to beat all the QBs in the conference?

There is one big drawback to this strategy. If your offense is built for ground and pound, then the defense doesn't practice against a high passing offense. Could be trouble for the defense when they meet up with these teams on the schedule.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

There is one big drawback to this strategy. If your offense is built for ground and pound, then the defense doesn't practice against a high passing offense. Could be trouble for the defense when they meet up with these teams on the schedule.

just because you are run heavy doesn't mean you don't pass.
If you are 60-40 (run vs pass) and the rest of the league is 40-60 (run vs pass) that's still plenty of practice.

[Steel Maniac]

If this is true, then I think building a hard running offense will start to pay off because teams won't be able to defend against it.

I don't know if that will work in the playoffs (although we did beat Manning with early-career Ben in the playoffs), but it will likely be more competitive than it has been.

And maybe even more so in the AFC since every team is probably trying to design their defense to beat all the QBs in the conference?

Najee has moved up in my fantasy rankings. LOL

[Steel Maniac]

just because you are run heavy doesn't mean you don't pass.
If you are 60-40 (run vs pass) and the rest of the league is 40-60 (run vs pass) that's still plenty of practice.

I think think a 60-40 run favoring offense is what management is looking for this year based on all the moves made.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Najee has moved up in my fantasy rankings. LOL

he's my keeper... bwahaha

[NJ-STEELER]

They just got their run-stuffing NT in Benton, so I think you just confused half the board...

nope. I think your confusing his skill set.
He?ll play DT in passing downs ( he can rush the passer) and was projected to play the 5 tech. I wouldn?t be surprised to see him line up there for snaps in a couple years.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

nope. I think your confusing his skill set.
He?ll play DT in passing downs ( he can rush the passer) and was projected to play the 5 tech. I wouldn?t be surprised to see him line up there for snaps in a couple years.

No, I believe YOU are confusing his skillset. Just because a guy can rush the passer doesn't mean he cannot be a run stuffer. Weird mindset there. *shrug*

He wasn't selected to replace Heyward or Larry O (who was recently re-signed).

Go look at any depth chart of your choosing, he's an NT.
And is known to be a run stuffer.

I'm pretty sure by definition of the two terms, that makes him a run-stuffing NT.

[NJ-STEELER]

No, I believe YOU are confusing his skillset. Just because a guy can rush the passer doesn't mean he cannot be a run stuffer. Weird mindset there. *shrug*

He wasn't selected to replace Heyward or Larry O (who was recently re-signed).

Go look at any depth chart of your choosing, he's an NT.
And is known to be a run stuffer.

I'm pretty sure by definition of the two terms, that makes him a run-stuffing NT.

Was it you that wanted that Baylor NT?

we haven’t used that type of DL for years.

haven’t you heard reports from guys that cover the Steelers that they’ll give him snaps at DE (5 tech)?
And play him all over the line?

thats your “ run stuffing NT”.
a position in a defense we used less then 25% of the time last year.

from all the reports I’ve heard about him.
he’s much more a cam/ tuiit type then a Casey Hampton type
which is good since the team used the 49th overall pick on him.
it would be disappointing to see that high of a pick only on the field every 1 out of 4/5 snaps of a game

[NorthCoast]

Was it you that wanted that Baylor NT?

we haven?t used that type of DL for years.

haven?t you heard reports from guys that cover the Steelers that they?ll give him snaps at DE (5 tech)?
And play him all over the line?

thats your ? run stuffing NT?.
a position in a defense we used less then 25% of the time last year.

from all the reports I?ve heard about him.
he?s much more a cam/ tuiit type then a Casey Hampton type
which is good since the team used the 49th overall pick on him.
it would be disappointing to see that high of a pick only on the field every 1 out of 4/5 snaps of a game

Not an expert at these designations for DL so I pulled this from PFF;

Nose Tackle - The time of the gargantuan two-gapping nose tackles is pretty much over. There are still some behemoth nose tackles in today?s NFL, but they are expected to be better athletes than their erstwhile counterparts and typically still only attack one gap. Last season, true 0-technique (head-up over the center) alignment accounted for just 4.2% of all snap alignments among players that line up along the defensive front.

Defensive Tackle - These players are smaller, quicker and faster than their nose tackle counterparts. They allow the nose tackle to occupy more than one player inside, and they work to be isolated one-on-one with a guard on one side of the formation. It has grown more complex than it once was, but this is the evolution of the original Jimmy Johnson Miami Dolphins defense.

Then I looked at Benton's draft profile:

Benton is well put together with a good build and length for the position. He is an athletic mover who can burst off the ball and quickly engage with a blocker. Utilizes his heavy hands to pop, punch and reset the line of scrimmage. Benton has some slipperiness to his game when needed, swiping and swimming toward soft edges before surging past to pressure. When facing the run, he is a ship that can anchor and hold his own against single blockers.

Benton moves well laterally to beat the reach of blockers and keep his gap, owning the play strength to strike and separate when going toe-to-toe. Shedding could be more consistent, he can be late to discard on occasion. Once a runner is within his grasp, he shows closing speed to seal the deal and bring the carrier down. Overall, Benton?s blend of brute strength and short-area quicks make him an asset against the run and pass.

As you say, it sure seems he is more a Tuitt type than a Hampton. And tbh if the Steelers found another Tuitt in this draft I am 100% hyped to watch the guy play. The combo of Heyward/Tuitt was the best DL the Steelers fielded in a long while. Unfortunately, sad how it ended for Tuitt.

My question for experts; the Steelers played in sub packages 75% of the time with 3 down linemen. Is the middle DL considered a NT or DT or does it depend on his gap assignment? Seems the 'name' you give a player pretty much depends on the defense being played.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Not an expert at these designations for DL so I pulled this from PFF;

Nose Tackle - The time of the gargantuan two-gapping nose tackles is pretty much over. There are still some behemoth nose tackles in today?s NFL, but they are expected to be better athletes than their erstwhile counterparts and typically still only attack one gap. Last season, true 0-technique (head-up over the center) alignment accounted for just 4.2% of all snap alignments among players that line up along the defensive front.

Defensive Tackle - These players are smaller, quicker and faster than their nose tackle counterparts. They allow the nose tackle to occupy more than one player inside, and they work to be isolated one-on-one with a guard on one side of the formation. It has grown more complex than it once was, but this is the evolution of the original Jimmy Johnson Miami Dolphins defense.

Then I looked at Benton's draft profile:



As you say, it sure seems he is more a Tuitt type than a Hampton. And tbh if the Steelers found another Tuitt in this draft I am 100% hyped to watch the guy play. The combo of Heyward/Tuitt was the best DL the Steelers fielded in a long while. Unfortunately, sad how it ended for Tuitt.

My question for experts; the Steelers played in sub packages 75% of the time with 3 down linemen. Is the middle DL considered a NT or DT or does it depend on his gap assignment? Seems the 'name' you give a player pretty much depends on the defense being played.

Benton has abiity in the formats of 3-4, 4-3, or nickle. Of couse short yardage and goal line. He is a bit more than a big man who is tough to move. He has some range to tackle vs. the run and can rush the passer better than your tradioanal NT. Think of him as versitle defender. And a player that keeps our linebackers cleaner or offensive players reaching the 2nd level. He really can help the defense.

[Northern_Blitz]

Najee has moved up in my fantasy rankings. LOL

Honestly, I think he's moved down for me from last year's fantasy draft.

Before last year, we were one of the only teams left that didn't divide the workload at RB.

But we know that we're going to do that this year.

And we also know that Najee will get a lot of carries, but no really big runs.

I think he's a low end RB1 or a high end RB2.

But we'll see how it plays out.