LB: Dying Breed

[Steel Maniac]

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.

Better Oline , and hopefully a bit better offense, I think he’s in store to have his best year.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

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

So, defining run-stuffing NT wasn't enough for ya, huh?

He's an NT. He's run stuffer. I'm not sure how else you need that explained.

(For any questions, feel free to refer to my sig)

[NorthCoast]

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

Is this realistic?

Let's look at a few numbers.

• In 2022 the Steelers had 1071 offensive snaps; 500 rushing attempts
• The RBs had the bulk of rushes, 385; then QBs with 74; and finally 41 for WRs.

A 60/40 run split means they will need roughly another 150 attempts. Harris might be good for another 50. Warren maybe another 25. I don't think it would be a good idea to increase QB rushes. That leaves 75 more rushes by others. Who can take the extra pounding on offense? Maybe Connor gets a couple a game?

No team in the last 7 years has hit 60% rushing. (OK, I'll give you CHI last year at 59.7%. But they had a rushing QB to help do it and they were pathetic at passing.)

I'm thinking they will be maybe 50-55% rushing. Since 2020, three teams have made the postseason when rushing >50% of snaps (PHI, BAL, TEN). All three did it twice. Two of those teams have running QBs and the other has a RB like no other.

[NJ-STEELER]

(For any questions, feel free to refer to my sig)

was that your 4th or 5th version of a mock? did or didn't you have ika in one of your previous mocks. be honest

[NJ-STEELER]

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.

lining up in the A gap is also his preferred position. heard him say that on a radio interview leading up to the draft.

makes sense.
penetrate/attack those gaps and accumulate stats like sacks and tackles for loss, then hope to get paid in free agency.

kind of like hargrave did. an average player in our mostly obsolete system, a star in philly's 4-3
i hope we dont make the same mistake

[whisper]

Better Oline , and hopefully a bit better offense, I think he’s in store to have his best year.

Plus not start the season hurt, with Tomlin allowing him to play hurt in the last preseason game, like a idiot.